Full Face helmet Pro's & Con's

squirrel · July 15th, 2002, 09:25 AM

I've recently started jumping with a full face helmet with the lens removed for BASE (recurring dreams of losing all my teeth on a jump). Anyway, I always take the lens off so it's not a distraction. I think I've heard Tom A. here post that he leaves his on for unintentional tree landings and such.

Other than fogging of the lens, are there any other factors that leaving the lens on could cause???

If you can't think of any, just go ahead and bash Tokeman or Robin, we wouldn't want to accidentaly convey some knowledge here......
--
Joe C.
BASE 729
www.erols.com/squirrel
BASE729@yahoo.com

guest · July 15th, 2002, 09:33 AM

Where has Tokemon been ? I sure hope that he is alright, the last I heard is that he Teamed up with Robin Hyde for this years Bridge Day IPBC Competion.

**base428** · July 15th, 2002, 11:20 AM

Knowledge on the baseboard? Where be it?

Joe, as you'll see later this week while we're both standing on top of the cliffs in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland :P, I have opted to leave my lens in on BASE jumps. Actually, I got a bit tired of removing it for BASE jumps and then putting it back in for skydives. With my Z1, the visibility is pretty good even with a clean lense. I haven't had any fogging yet on BASE jumps, then again I haven't been falling through a whole lot of clouds on BASE jumps anyway.
If your visibility isn't diminished, go with the lense. The extra protection may be worth it.

Jason Bell - BASE428
jbell@vertical-visions.com

**Mike** · July 15th, 2002, 02:01 PM

I am in no way an expert on helmet design, but I thought I would interject something. I heard that the full-face skydiving helmets were originally designed primarily for noise reduction, wind protection, warmth, and occasional LIGHT impact, i.e. all the things necessary for freefall relative work. I've competed in 4-way, and the only thing I think my factory diver is good for is avoiding a bloody nose if I get kicked in the face by a teammate.

I don't believe these helmets are designed for real protection. I can't say for sure about some of the new ones, but those old factory divers were pretty crappy. If you compare one of these helmets to a DOT approved motorcycle helmet for example, you'll see what I mean. A full-face motocross helmet might be better, but probably not very aerodynamic.

Hopefully there are some new better helmets out there that would perform well in a high-speed impact, but I haven't seen anything lately in the skydiving market. Buyer beware I guess...

guest · July 16th, 2002, 03:22 AM

Check out some off the full face helmets used by downhill mountain bikers. Good protection without the weight of a motorcycle lid.

**crwper** · July 16th, 2002, 09:05 AM

The weight of a full-face motorcycle helmet is a major problem. We've experienced this on impact from a very low static line jump, but I imagine the same would be true of opening shock on any freefall jump.

I haven't jumped with, but have had a pretty close look at, a few full-face mountain bike helmets. These, as another poster mentions, seem to offer a really good balance of weight and actual impact absorption.

Michael

guest · July 16th, 2002, 10:27 AM

There are also some good ski-racing / freeskiing helmets.

guest · August 4th, 2002, 06:46 AM

I ##### up and took a downwinder into a bolder field and my OXYGN A3 was the only thing between my eye socket and the sharp corner of a rock. I walked away with a stiff neck and a ##### helmet. I honestly think with out the full face I would have a seriously ##### head. Its only one incident but I jump my full face visor removed on every jump.

**Skinflicka** · August 4th, 2002, 12:03 PM

This week I 'ave been mostly jumping...a 10 gallon hat.

Hats are for soft (unts. How are you supposed to geek for the camera wearing a helmet?

Hats? You'll be wearing knee pads next.

Suits you!

:D

guest · August 4th, 2002, 01:03 PM

I jump with a bucket with holes cut for the eyes.

If it's a particularly dangerous jump, a knight's helmet works well.

Hey, did you ever see Randy Harrison jump with a Nixon mask? &-)

guest · August 5th, 2002, 10:14 AM

Full face helmets like the Z3 and Factory divers offer NO REAL PROTECTION from hard impacts. I have experience in this industry and know what I'm talking about. If it's full-face you want, Something DOT or Snell rated is what you want. Personally though, for BASE Pro-Tec is still the best balance--by far better protection than any skydive-specific helmet. Also, the tendency for these full face helmets is to have curved lenses. Looking through curved plastic distorts your vision. Distorted vision can ##### up your depth perception and make you hurt yourself. Take the lens off of your skydiving helmet which offers minimal protection to start with!