Where to buy helmets

[JTraction]

Track season is upon us and I'm looking for my first helmet. What retailers locally carry helmets? Anyone have any suggestions for a cheap helmet for HPDEs and lapping days? I'm currently looking at open vs closed face and the cheap option is Pyrotect open face SA2010 for ~$148 (lighter shell than SA2005).

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[jamesssf]

http://www.eagleleather.com/

Buy online or go to the store. When I bought my Snell approved helmet it was local on south tacoma way and it was on sale!

[12sechatch]

check out this thread (or any other of the current ones, type in "helmet" into the search, there are a bunch of good ones):

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1820389


As long as you don't have a roll cage in your car, you can get a cheaper one. I only autox, but I picked up a HJC CL-15 for under $100 that is great.

[pro934]

<< Coming from a guy that has been through many helmets, you get what you pay for. I have seen many injuries occur from sub-par helmets. DO NOT cheap out! If you are willing to pay less than 300 for a new helmet, all I can say is good luck to you. If you are involved in a crash where the helmet is called upon, you will wish you had bought the best. Believe me, I am still living today, simply because of a helmet choice.

OP: On a side note, what size do you need? I have a brand new Arai I have never used that I just want to get rid of.

[JTraction]

Originally Posted by pro934

<< Coming from a guy that has been through many helmets, you get what you pay for. I have seen many injuries occur from sub-par helmets. DO NOT cheap out! If you are willing to pay less than 300 for a new helmet, all I can say is good luck to you. If you are involved in a crash where the helmet is called upon, you will wish you had bought the best. Believe me, I am still living today, simply because of a helmet choice.

OP: On a side note, what size do you need? I have a brand new Arai I have never used that I just want to get rid of.

Well not all of us will be driving to the limit and if I do crash my car, I'm not sure I'll want to live to face my wife anyway. I'm not trying to downplay the importance of a helmet on the track, but I really really don't need anything fancy. Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I don't know how one Snell SA2010 helmet can be that much more safe than another in the event of impact.

I would love an Arai, but I'm guessing that's in the >$300 category and I'm more looking in the ~$200 category. I typically need size large.

[pro934]

Originally Posted by JTraction

Well not all of us will be driving to the limit and if I do crash my car, I'm not sure I'll want to live to face my wife anyway. I'm not trying to downplay the importance of a helmet on the track, but I really really don't need anything fancy. Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I don't know how one Snell SA2010 helmet can be that much more safe than another in the event of impact.

I would love an Arai, but I'm guessing that's in the >$300 category and I'm more looking in the ~$200 category. I typically need size large.

I can see how a lot of people including you look at it. It is not ignorance, just needing more education. There are base ratings needed to obtain the Snell and other ratings. The helmet just needs to meet those ratings to obtain the rating, it is how the helmet exceeds the rating is what make it a better helmet. A lot of factors go into the materials used to construct the helmet. One element as an example is the weave and/or type of carbon fiber construction. Also with a full face, how the face will break/crack rather than shatter or disintegrate like cheaper helmets. With most cheap helmets they are only good for a single head impact, if that. Most are garbage after a slight impact.

I would sell my Arai for 250 if it would fit you, it is a s-m though. Retail was over 600 new. You are welcome to try it one day if you would like.

[yeos]

Go to www.bellracing.com and check out their overstock section. I just picked up a Vortex.2 for $312 shipped. They are Snell 2005 so they are still good for another 5 yrs. Bell is very well known in the racing industry.

[Kami Speed]

If you're looking for Pyrotect. We just got some Airflow Full Face helmets in. All SA2010 certified:

http://www.kamispeed.com/Pyrotect-s/2222.htm

[SoobieDoobieDoooo]

I've seen them on GOODWILL!! Yea that's right goodwill...they usually go for under $40! In great condition too! Just spit & shine it & U got a new helmet

[generalee69]

Originally Posted by pro934

I can see how a lot of people including you look at it. It is not ignorance, just needing more education. There are base ratings needed to obtain the Snell and other ratings. The helmet just needs to meet those ratings to obtain the rating, it is how the helmet exceeds the rating is what make it a better helmet. A lot of factors go into the materials used to construct the helmet. One element as an example is the weave and/or type of carbon fiber construction. Also with a full face, how the face will break/crack rather than shatter or disintegrate like cheaper helmets. With most cheap helmets they are only good for a single head impact, if that. Most are garbage after a slight impact.

I would sell my Arai for 250 if it would fit you, it is a s-m though. Retail was over 600 new. You are welcome to try it one day if you would like.

I dunno what your racing background is. But I don't think you can honestly say you've ever seen an injury due to a lower budget Snell SA helmet.

Typically the difference between a $1000 SA helmet and a $200 SA helmet is more to do with comfort, weight, more resolution/sizes, etc.

From my experience, I've never seen or heard of anyone hurt from wearing a G-force or Pyrotect helmet... AND unless you have proof of an incident, I think it is inappropriate that you press your opinion as fact.

Originally Posted by yeos

Go to www.bellracing.com and check out their overstock section. I just picked up a Vortex.2 for $312 shipped. They are Snell 2005 so they are still good for another 5 yrs. Bell is very well known in the racing industry.

Expiration of a helmet is based on when a particular series decides to phase in/out the newest Snell rating. For example, ICSCC has not included SA2010 yet. So the SA2000's are still good for 1 year, the SA2005 will be good for at least 6 years if not 7.

I don't know if SCCA or NASA has phased the SA2000 out yet. And Rally America is way out of my realm.

[pro934]

Originally Posted by generalee69

I dunno what your racing background is. But I don't think you can honestly say you've ever seen an injury due to a lower budget Snell SA helmet.

Typically the difference between a $1000 SA helmet and a $200 SA helmet is more to do with comfort, weight, more resolution/sizes, etc.

From my experience, I've never seen or heard of anyone hurt from wearing a G-force or Pyrotect helmet... AND unless you have proof of an incident, I think it is inappropriate that you press your opinion as fact.

You may be correct, I may not have seen a particular Snell SA helmet cause an injury, but I have seen lower end market helmets fail. I have been involved in motorsports since the age of 12, racing competitively, and spent a few years racing professional. I worked and lived extensively within the motorcycle industry. Granted it was not racing in a car, the same is to be said with a helmet.

I am not trying to bash the cheaper helmets, just trying to put it out there so the OP knows what is at risk. I am living proof and lucky to be alive. I am grateful I spent the extra $ on a high end helmet and thrilled it did its job. If pics of the helmet are need as more proof, I can post them if needed.

I can honestly say, yes, I have seen people get hurt, and have witnessed first hand, people die, due to head and neck injuries subsained from impact on the head, the majority wearing "cheaper" helmets.

Yes, you are correct about the typical differences between high end and low end helmets. The major being the fit and weight, without the proper fit and with added weight of the lower end helmets you put yourself at risk as well. Even if you have proper fitment you still have to deal with the added weight and disadvatages with that.

All in all, I am not here to start a debate, just putting the info out there. It is up to the OP to figure out what is wanted.

[acracing21]

I personally have worn a few pyrotects... i didnt like them. this was back when i was 14 and wanted a new helmet, so i saved what little money i could to buy a new helmet. I immediately re sold it because i didnt want it. it was uncomfortable, itchy and jut didnt enjoy it. I had run 3 different Bell helmets before then and was always satisfied by their helmets. After trying on a friends GTX I promptly bought one. back then it was a $600 helmet... then i paid for a $400 air brush paint job.

This was when i was younger, still in school and very spoiled. lol My parents thought that racing go karts, and eventually midget sized sprint cars... you know, the dirt oval badasses that fly around the track and eventually flip over violently multiple times? i would swear by any Bell Helmet. Now and days they are even designed and pre drilled for hans posts. Why not pay a little bit extra safety? this is your head we're talking about. from there, spend another $80 and install HANS posts, that way when you have a really good buddy who isnt using his HANS device that is the same size as what you need, you can kindly ask to borrow it...

I'm not going to claim to be an experienced racer... but i have more experience behind the wheel of a motor vehicle than most people on this forum. I started driving go karts when i was 5, racing competitively at 7 and moved up in classes and vehicle size till i was 18. at 14 i was kicking the a$$es of guys that were 40 years old in a gokart.

Just my .02