05-06-2018, 10:34 AM | #1 |
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Question about helmet color
I've gotten the HPDE bug and am about to spring for a helmet. I'm going w/ a closed face, leaning towards a Bell EV but not certain, so any suggestions appreciated (def wanting to keep it under $500).
My main Q is about the black vs white color choice, and especially regarding actual functional issues (more than style/aesthetics). Especially if anybody has any regrets about their choice, or discovered things they hadn't expected. Are the black ones baking hot in the summer? Are the white ones prone to glare? Any other factors that I might be overlooking? is it a big thing to have removable liners? Issues with the visors? etc. Any help much appreciated. |
05-06-2018, 10:39 AM | #2 | |
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05-06-2018, 11:00 AM | #3 | |
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I went with black just because, not really sure, no real preference. I have a HJC Motorsport helmet and I love it. $350 or so and very comfortable. Make sure to actually try on helmets because the sizes are very weird and aren't true across all brands.
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05-06-2018, 12:39 PM | #4 |
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Even inside a car I think a white helmet keeps temperatures in your skull down in the summer.
You can google info on helmet fitting, not only size but helmets are shaped for elongated heads, pumpkin heads - so you need to try on. If your going to wear glasses / sunglasses then you need liners that allow the eyewear temples to not get squeezed. There are a few different certifying associations and date of manufacture on your helmet so think about if you ever expect your helmet to be checked for quality at an event. Also different visor attachment styles. Really think about the helmet style for a road car and whether u really want closed face - now days almost all closed cockpit race cars have auxiliary cooling ventilation and communication. And of course formula style helmets rely on air rushing through vents to cool your brain. Plenty of people even use motorcycle helmets inside their cars, but open face have a lot of benefits. |
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05-07-2018, 09:09 AM | #5 |
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I agree that for comfort the open face ones are best, that was what I used as a loaner my first day. For me, the extra protection is why I'm going w/ a full face - potential airbag if I really screw up, or for crap thrown up from passing cars.
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05-07-2018, 10:31 PM | #8 |
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I just bought my first helmet. A Bell Sport EV as it happens. I ended up with a black one because that's all they had in stock, and I needed it quick. I was thinking white for the heat reason, but I found that an advantage of the black is that it doesn't show scuff marks.
I would really stress that if at all possible, you try on several different helmets. I tried on 7 different helmets (from Bell, Simpson, HJC, and Roux), in multiple sizes each, and only two fit well. A couple didn't fit at all, some just pinched me in odd places. It turns out I have a 'Bell shaped' head. But even in the Bell line, there was a noticeable difference between the Sport, the Sport EV, and the M8. I went with the EV because I liked the wider viewport, and it was $100 less than the M8, but it was a tough choice. The shop guy was very patient with trying on different helmets, because as he kept insisting, "The best helmet is the one that fits." |
05-08-2018, 11:37 AM | #9 |
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05-08-2018, 04:44 PM | #12 |
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Yeah, definitely try on helmets if you can; some bike shops and race shops will have them available for you to try.
For racing purposes, make sure you get Snell SA rated helmets. Snell M and DOT ratings aren't good enough (not fireproof) for track usage. It's definitely a plus if you can take out the padding inside as it'll make cleaning that much easier. I like closed face for extra protection and aesthetics, but open is much easier to throw on and for comfort. That said, if you're going to get closed face, make sure there's enough breathing room by your mouth/nose and cooling ducts/channels for the rest of your head. Other stuff like holes/attachments for Hans, mics, etc are just icing on the cake but not necessary for simple track days. |
05-08-2018, 06:37 PM | #13 |
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RACEQUIP is cheap and trusted by many club racers and instructors. It was one of the cheaper options that has a HANS setup.
Its not that hot, but it is a helmet and your basically working out your arms driving 135mph around a track so your going to sweat. It has a large opening and has room for glasses, shades, coms, etc... They run a little big, just because it lacks padding some of the others have. So if your trying on Mediums that are too tight, and Large is too big, order a racequip medium and it will fit just right. Gets the job done, and hopefully i never need to see its safety rating results.
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