Ever since I started boating, years ago, I have been looking for a helmet that is comfortable for me to wear. Over the years, I have owned and used a few helmets. But, none of them felt good. One actually impaired me a little. I'll talk and that in a bit.
Now however, I think that I have found a helmet that feels comfortable on my head. Well, more comfortable than the helmets before. Before I tell you about it, I'm going to tell you about my past helmets. My likes and dislikes, and why I either leave it at home or bring it as a backup.
My first helmet was a PRO-TEC Ace Water. For a fist helmet, for a beginner boater, it was good. The Ace Water is a rather simple helmet. It has an injected molded ABS shell, with dual density waterproof EVA liner. With 15 vent holes, which are nice on a hot day, the helmet is cool and well vented. Soft nylon straps secure the helmet to the head, around the chin.
The one thing that I dislike about this helmet, is that it does not come with any sort of strap to secure the helmet around the circumference of the head. This is somewhat nice, because it is easier to wear a hat under this helmet then the others I have. But, rather annoying when your head is just smaller then the helmet's size. the first few time I wore the helmet, I wore a Buff or hat under it.
What I like about the helmet, is how basic it is. It is a easy to understand, and use, helmet. No added fluff or wiz-bangs. Another thing is that you can ware glasses with this helmet. I know that waring eyewear with helmets sounds novelty. But to me, it is something that I look for in helmets now. I wear glasses daily as is, and I have prescription sunglasses. The Ace Water is still the helmet that I throw into my bag for a back up when I go boating.
My second helmet was a WRSI Trident. The Trident has a carbo composite shell, with a polyurethane sub-shell. The helmet is padded with removable, and replaceable, EVA liners. There are no vent holes on this helmet, but it does sport a visor. An interconnected retention system keeps the helmet in place while in hydraulics forces. The straps will self-adjust depending on the force put on them.
I used the Trident few a few years, maybe a couple more than the Ace Water, and the scratches in the shell are testament to its capabilities. I like the interconnected retention system. It really keeps the helmet in place. I have swam more then a few times with this helmet, and it never felt like it moved. Even when the chin strap was unclipped, the helmet mostly stays in place. The lack of ventilation sucks, but it does make the Trident a excellent bucket for scooping water. And, the EVA pads keep a bit of water in them too.
I wish that WRSI had put a little bit more length in the straps. When I had fitted the helmet, I had to leave less than an inch of strap out of the buckle. There are a couple of bands to secure the left over strap together. But, I was sometimes nervous when I say how much strap was left behind the buckle. I could imagine the reserve strap working out of the buckle, and the helmet coming off. Luckily, it never did. And, sometimes I could feel the chin strap pushing up into the soft tissue under my throat.
Another couple of small things. After I put the helmet on and the straps are buckled, I have to give the helmet a final push to seat it right. This may be do to how the retention system is, but the helmet needs this to feel comfortable. The helmet also feels narrow. I noticed this the first time I put it on, and many times after that, there was a bit of pressure around my temples. This pressure was more noticeable when I wore my sunglasses with the helmet. The pressure was never too bothersome, and I got used to it. This may just be my experience, others may have different opinions. I know the Trident is a well liked helmet.
My third helmet was Sweet Protection Rocker. The Rocker combines ABS and laminated carbon fiber into its shell. The padding of the Rocker is also EVA, with MIPS layers for impact protection. An occigrip system provides a secure and comfortable fit. The Rocker is finished off with a Coolmax liner, fit pads, ear pads and a shatter resistant visor.
The Rocker is probably the most complex helmet I have. And, the helmet that I have a love/hate relationship with. The helmet is really comfortable. The occigrip system is simple to use, and small enough that it does not get in the way. The large, removeable, visor is a nice touch on a sunny day. The ear pads provide nice side protection. On cold days, the helmet does a good job of keeping the head warm. All in all, I would be happy to use this helmet for a few seasons if I didn't wear glasses.
The one big dislike that I have with this helmet, is a piece of padding that extends passed the shell and impact padding to rest just above the eyebrows. This piece of padding sits right on the forehead, and does a good job of thermoregulating. But, it gets in the way of eyewear. There have been may occasions where I've had to take off my prescription sunglasses, because the helmet was pushing them down into the bridge of my nose. This may sound like nothing, but it is rather stressful to paddle through rapids while viewing the world through a fuzz filter. The ear pads are nice too, but after they get wet, it is a little hard to hear people talking to you. This is way I sidelined this helmet, in favor of the PRO-TEC Ace Water.
My most recent helmet, and the helmet I have yet to take on the river, is the Shred Ready Tdub. The shell of the Tdub is made of a fiber/fiberglass composite construction. The liner is made of multi-impact VN foam, laminated to closed-cell comfort foam. The H.O.G. 3 retention system is simple to use, and can be manipulated to wear the helmet forwards or backwards. Soft nylon webbing, with Duraflex hardware, keeps the helmet buckled to your head. The Tdub is shipped with three different sizes of fit pads. The pads can be stacked for smaller heads. The Tdub ships in one size.
So far, the Tdub is a comfortable fit. It is very similar to the Ace Water, both of them are simple to understand and easy to use. The shell of the Tdub is larger then most. It's edges stop just past the ears, and covers a good portion of the temples. This provides protection to the side of the head. The helmet feels airy, even if there are no ventilation holes in the shell.
I hope to use this helmet on a regular basis during the summer. I'll make sure to post my full thoughts after a summer of use.
If you have any thoughts or feelings, feel free to leave them bellow.
Talk to you later,
Yeti
Now however, I think that I have found a helmet that feels comfortable on my head. Well, more comfortable than the helmets before. Before I tell you about it, I'm going to tell you about my past helmets. My likes and dislikes, and why I either leave it at home or bring it as a backup.
My first helmet was a PRO-TEC Ace Water. For a fist helmet, for a beginner boater, it was good. The Ace Water is a rather simple helmet. It has an injected molded ABS shell, with dual density waterproof EVA liner. With 15 vent holes, which are nice on a hot day, the helmet is cool and well vented. Soft nylon straps secure the helmet to the head, around the chin.
The one thing that I dislike about this helmet, is that it does not come with any sort of strap to secure the helmet around the circumference of the head. This is somewhat nice, because it is easier to wear a hat under this helmet then the others I have. But, rather annoying when your head is just smaller then the helmet's size. the first few time I wore the helmet, I wore a Buff or hat under it.
What I like about the helmet, is how basic it is. It is a easy to understand, and use, helmet. No added fluff or wiz-bangs. Another thing is that you can ware glasses with this helmet. I know that waring eyewear with helmets sounds novelty. But to me, it is something that I look for in helmets now. I wear glasses daily as is, and I have prescription sunglasses. The Ace Water is still the helmet that I throw into my bag for a back up when I go boating.
My second helmet was a WRSI Trident. The Trident has a carbo composite shell, with a polyurethane sub-shell. The helmet is padded with removable, and replaceable, EVA liners. There are no vent holes on this helmet, but it does sport a visor. An interconnected retention system keeps the helmet in place while in hydraulics forces. The straps will self-adjust depending on the force put on them.
I used the Trident few a few years, maybe a couple more than the Ace Water, and the scratches in the shell are testament to its capabilities. I like the interconnected retention system. It really keeps the helmet in place. I have swam more then a few times with this helmet, and it never felt like it moved. Even when the chin strap was unclipped, the helmet mostly stays in place. The lack of ventilation sucks, but it does make the Trident a excellent bucket for scooping water. And, the EVA pads keep a bit of water in them too.
I wish that WRSI had put a little bit more length in the straps. When I had fitted the helmet, I had to leave less than an inch of strap out of the buckle. There are a couple of bands to secure the left over strap together. But, I was sometimes nervous when I say how much strap was left behind the buckle. I could imagine the reserve strap working out of the buckle, and the helmet coming off. Luckily, it never did. And, sometimes I could feel the chin strap pushing up into the soft tissue under my throat.
Another couple of small things. After I put the helmet on and the straps are buckled, I have to give the helmet a final push to seat it right. This may be do to how the retention system is, but the helmet needs this to feel comfortable. The helmet also feels narrow. I noticed this the first time I put it on, and many times after that, there was a bit of pressure around my temples. This pressure was more noticeable when I wore my sunglasses with the helmet. The pressure was never too bothersome, and I got used to it. This may just be my experience, others may have different opinions. I know the Trident is a well liked helmet.
My third helmet was Sweet Protection Rocker. The Rocker combines ABS and laminated carbon fiber into its shell. The padding of the Rocker is also EVA, with MIPS layers for impact protection. An occigrip system provides a secure and comfortable fit. The Rocker is finished off with a Coolmax liner, fit pads, ear pads and a shatter resistant visor.
The Rocker is probably the most complex helmet I have. And, the helmet that I have a love/hate relationship with. The helmet is really comfortable. The occigrip system is simple to use, and small enough that it does not get in the way. The large, removeable, visor is a nice touch on a sunny day. The ear pads provide nice side protection. On cold days, the helmet does a good job of keeping the head warm. All in all, I would be happy to use this helmet for a few seasons if I didn't wear glasses.
The one big dislike that I have with this helmet, is a piece of padding that extends passed the shell and impact padding to rest just above the eyebrows. This piece of padding sits right on the forehead, and does a good job of thermoregulating. But, it gets in the way of eyewear. There have been may occasions where I've had to take off my prescription sunglasses, because the helmet was pushing them down into the bridge of my nose. This may sound like nothing, but it is rather stressful to paddle through rapids while viewing the world through a fuzz filter. The ear pads are nice too, but after they get wet, it is a little hard to hear people talking to you. This is way I sidelined this helmet, in favor of the PRO-TEC Ace Water.
 |
| What happens when I wear sunglasses with this helmet |
My most recent helmet, and the helmet I have yet to take on the river, is the Shred Ready Tdub. The shell of the Tdub is made of a fiber/fiberglass composite construction. The liner is made of multi-impact VN foam, laminated to closed-cell comfort foam. The H.O.G. 3 retention system is simple to use, and can be manipulated to wear the helmet forwards or backwards. Soft nylon webbing, with Duraflex hardware, keeps the helmet buckled to your head. The Tdub is shipped with three different sizes of fit pads. The pads can be stacked for smaller heads. The Tdub ships in one size.
So far, the Tdub is a comfortable fit. It is very similar to the Ace Water, both of them are simple to understand and easy to use. The shell of the Tdub is larger then most. It's edges stop just past the ears, and covers a good portion of the temples. This provides protection to the side of the head. The helmet feels airy, even if there are no ventilation holes in the shell.
I hope to use this helmet on a regular basis during the summer. I'll make sure to post my full thoughts after a summer of use.
If you have any thoughts or feelings, feel free to leave them bellow.
Talk to you later,
Yeti
Comments
Post a Comment