Open face helmets
Discussion
I normally wear a traditional style helmet for track days, but I feel the sound deadening and full face enclosure dulls the senses somewhat.
I'm pretty sure the weight has also contributed to me pulling a neck muscle on a least two occasions!
Would switching to an open-face helmet improve things? Something like this: https://gsmperformance.co.uk/product/omp-star-helm...
It might make me look a bit uglier, but I'm hoping it's an improvement. Has anyone had similar experiences?
I'm pretty sure the weight has also contributed to me pulling a neck muscle on a least two occasions!
Would switching to an open-face helmet improve things? Something like this: https://gsmperformance.co.uk/product/omp-star-helm...
It might make me look a bit uglier, but I'm hoping it's an improvement. Has anyone had similar experiences?
Well, you will have just as much sound-deadening around the ears so that won't change, and I'll bet there are open face helmets that are heavier than full face helmets, so if that is your issue, perhaps weight and weight alone should be your criteria for choosing your next helmet.
Not saying it will be heavier, just that you need to check and perhaps also consider a seat with "wings".
Not saying it will be heavier, just that you need to check and perhaps also consider a seat with "wings".
Helmets vary massively in weight depending on brand, shell size, construction material etc, both for open face and full face. A full carbon X-Lite for instance will be far lighter than a big old fibreglass Arai.
I prefer an open face in a car, and I have the very helmet you've posted, albeit in white. It works fine, I even wear it on my bike for nipping to town. Not bad for the £50 or so I paid.
Neck strain can be amplified if you're not using bucket seats/harness, although in my experience the stress is focused more in the arms, legs and back in that case.
Unfortunately the helmet makes you look like the great Gazoo, but I'll suffer that for the cooler more open feel. Observe:
I prefer an open face in a car, and I have the very helmet you've posted, albeit in white. It works fine, I even wear it on my bike for nipping to town. Not bad for the £50 or so I paid.
Neck strain can be amplified if you're not using bucket seats/harness, although in my experience the stress is focused more in the arms, legs and back in that case.
Unfortunately the helmet makes you look like the great Gazoo, but I'll suffer that for the cooler more open feel. Observe:
Edited by Pebbles167 on Saturday 24th December 09:16
Just note, that technically, not all tracks/organisers accept motorcycle helmets, despite some suppliers stating this type is 'suitable for trackdays'.
When I was looking into this, circuits/venues gave a vague 'it must be suitable for the event' type comment, & put it back to the Trackday Organisers. The Trackday organisers had differing requirements. Most wanted a helmet that was a different classification (higher?) than a motorcycle helmet (i.e suitable for Motorsport, but these are a lot more expensive).
In practice, my Trackday Organiser didn't enforce their own rules (there was a quick visual check to see if it looked new/good condition), & motorcycle helmet used, but then if they/others did enforce rules, you'd be banned from the day (unless one available for hire).
Also, you need a full face helmet if your car doesn't have a windscreen.
When I was looking into this, circuits/venues gave a vague 'it must be suitable for the event' type comment, & put it back to the Trackday Organisers. The Trackday organisers had differing requirements. Most wanted a helmet that was a different classification (higher?) than a motorcycle helmet (i.e suitable for Motorsport, but these are a lot more expensive).
In practice, my Trackday Organiser didn't enforce their own rules (there was a quick visual check to see if it looked new/good condition), & motorcycle helmet used, but then if they/others did enforce rules, you'd be banned from the day (unless one available for hire).
Also, you need a full face helmet if your car doesn't have a windscreen.
Krikkit said:
Never had an issue with bike helmets and UK providers, but there's a possibility they could want FIA 2015 standard lids.
I'd imagine that'll only be on the rich person days that sometimes run, where supercars are the norm. 90% of people on your standard track day are using a bike helmet, or a cheap car helmet. They're fit for purpose and the entry price is low. I doubt that'll change unless HANS becomes mandatory.
Pebbles167 said:
Krikkit said:
Never had an issue with bike helmets and UK providers, but there's a possibility they could want FIA 2015 standard lids.
I'd imagine that'll only be on the rich person days that sometimes run, where supercars are the norm. 90% of people on your standard track day are using a bike helmet, or a cheap car helmet. They're fit for purpose and the entry price is low. I doubt that'll change unless HANS becomes mandatory.
I'd agree that a lot of motorcycle helmets are used, & you'd think they would be ok.
Elderly said:
They are designed for different kinds of impact.
I have seen a well explained article on the ‘net somewhere ……….
It's true for sure, at least for motorsport. But when you have a crash in a car without a cage, using a standard seatbelt, the difference between a car helmet and a bike one probably won't make many odds. I have seen a well explained article on the ‘net somewhere ……….
Pebbles167 said:
Elderly said:
They are designed for different kinds of impact.
I have seen a well explained article on the ‘net somewhere ……….
It's true for sure, at least for motorsport. But when you have a crash in a car without a cage, using a standard seatbelt, the difference between a car helmet and a bike one probably won't make many odds. I have seen a well explained article on the ‘net somewhere ……….
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
Also, you need a full face helmet if your car doesn't have a windscreen.
Isn't it "if your car doesn't have a roof up" ? I do trackdays in an MX5, and would prefer to use an open face helmet if I was allowed to. But I prefer full face and roof down to open face and roof up
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
No, the requirement for a Motorsport Helmet from my Organiser wasn't for a rich person day. Me & my shared cheapo car couldn't get on those! Perhaps an insurance thing for the organiser, or parties not being bothered getting regulatory changes/red tape, but I couldn't find an Organiser (at least on sites I looked at) that said 'motorcycle helmets are ok'.
I'd agree that a lot of motorcycle helmets are used, & you'd think they would be ok.
Who’s the TDO?I'd agree that a lot of motorcycle helmets are used, & you'd think they would be ok.
cedrichn said:
TrotCanterGallopCharge said:
Also, you need a full face helmet if your car doesn't have a windscreen.
Isn't it "if your car doesn't have a roof up" ? I do trackdays in an MX5, and would prefer to use an open face helmet if I was allowed to. But I prefer full face and roof down to open face and roof up
You may have been with an Organiser who requested what you state, they all have their differences, same as with roll over protection.
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