An Alternative to Commercial Skydiving Helmets

[piisfish 140]

Sorry for the tone this thread is taking.
DFF has some good points about his protection, Dave also has a point with the statistical result of actual impacts.
Definitely in my opinion some real decent protection could do no harm incorporated in actual skydive helmet.
Please keep it classy. This is no pissing contest

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[monkycndo 0]

Phishy, don't you go and end this pissing match. This here is entertaining.

The idea of a form fitting helmet that can provide actual protection, looks sexy and you can bolt a camera to would be a nice thing, especially if it were cheap. I say, build it and buyers will ask for it in custom colors because everything has to be matchy matchy.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[davelepka 4]

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Definitely in my opinion some real decent protection could do no harm incorporated in actual skydive helmet

Protection from what? You're not going to save anyone from going in clean, so anything you build is going to come up short in one instance or another. It's the classic slippery slope, at what point to you decide that enough is enough?

Let's face it, sooner or later you run into a level of impact such that the rest of your body is going to be in rough shape even if your head remains intact. What about neck fractures? How much impact do you need protection from beyond the level that will snap your neck?

Let's keep it classy, and logical. Aside from minor bumps and impacts from general skydiving, you're looking at two basic problems - impacts with and without a canopy.

Without a canopy was mentioned above, nothing is going to help you.

With a canopy, look at the injuries from open canopy incidents to include swooping, collisions, and honest mistakes. The vast majority of them involve impact from a more-or-less upright orientation, thus explaining the huge number of leg, pelvis and back injuries. Ever notice that there are few broken arms, shoulders, and yes, heads?

It's just not the sort of impact you see from the majority of 'bad' skydiving accidents, and the reason that you don't see many helmet failures being pointed out in post-accident reporting.

Jumpers are willing to accpet the level of protection provided by the current offerings. Stronger helmets will not help any other part of your body, and when you find a way to hit hard enough, head first, your helmet is only going to one of many problems you're going to have.

[piisfish 140]

I would say just a bit more protection to protect from the scrapes and shock from the helmet shell itself, there are enough videos of people "hurt" by their helmets.

For me the actual size/fit/function of helmets on the market is already very good. Just a better padding would be better.

Am I for normed helmets in skydiving ?? HELL NO . We couldn't sticker/paint/screw stuff on them anymore.

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[airtwardo 7]

http://www.riddell.com/shop-riddell/helmets/varsity-football-helmets/


200 bucks...helmet designed with padding enough to take a 'hit'

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[skyjumpenfool 2]

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http://www.riddell.com/shop-riddell/helmets/varsity-football-helmets/


200 bucks...helmet designed with padding enough to take a 'hit'

Yep! And just look at how good those helmets are working. You never see players with head injuries?

Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

[airtwardo 7]

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Quote

http://www.riddell.com/shop-riddell/helmets/varsity-football-helmets/


200 bucks...helmet designed with padding enough to take a 'hit'

Yep! And just look at how good those helmets are working. You never see players with head injuries?

Never see 'em with SKYDIVING head injuries...works GOOD!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[floormonkey 0]

Helmets and their ratings are specific to the sport they are designed for. A bicycle helmet, for instance, has increase protection in the front-where the majority of impacts from a bicycle crash occur. Skateboard helmets have the extra protection in the back.

The current European Standard for downhill skiing has the most impact protection for the entire head, EN 1077. The EN 966 standard is lower, but still provides more protection then say, a snowboarding helmet.

The problem with a full face helmet with the extend back (such as some paragliding helmets) or front (such as the one DFF posted) is that the extension will often cause a rotational injury that otherwise would not have occurred i.e. whiplash/spinal cord injury.

The vast majority of "skydiving" helmets are not intended to protect the head in a crash like a bicycle helmet does. They are intended to protect in a similar speed collision, i.e. bumping heads in freefall, impact with plane on exit, and fall-down-go-boom on landing. Many are not intended even for that, the helmet is simply a way to mount a camera, or, like the old Gath helmets, to skirt a restriction.

Very few skydivers put on a helmet with the preconception that it will protect them in a serious crash. Some, like me, wear a helmet with crash protection to prevent brain injury in a crash. I am firm in my belief that wearing a helmet with true impact protection has prevented me from having at least one concussion.

While it is (relatively) easy to function in life with a busted extremity or permanent physical disability, functioning with a high level brain injury is not.

I don't think that the statement "Jumpers are willing to accept the level of protection provided by the current offerings" is completely true; I believe, like many things, many jumpers have not fully contemplated the consequences of a massive brain injury and the impact it would have on their lives. Physical limitations can be adapted for, being a vegetable cannot.

DFF-be careful extending a big "fuck you" to any skydiving company...it is a small sport with an even smaller group of manufacturers. Pissing them off is not the best idea for your long term satisfaction in the sport.

Oh yeah, before you start dissing everything, try doing some research next time and posting GOOD reasons, not just angry drivel. It doesn't go far in this community.

As a plug for a company I am not associated with except as a customer, Icaro helmets http://www.icaro2000.com/Products/Helmets/Fly/Fly.htm builds some of the best out there. The link is to the one I wear, and can be had for under $200. The chin strap isn't perfect, and the sizing runs about 2cm on the small size. They also have a great video somewhere on the site about testing and how it works.