After reading about a number of accidents lately - guys loosing eyes, getting knock out,etc. I have been considering about getting a helmet, not to protects me but to protect my families livelihood.

I know that style wise its a no-no but I am getting older now and there are more important things to worry about than looking cool but my main issue is comfort and freedom and obviously safety(collision and drags through the water).

The options are:
1. Helmet and sunnies.
2. Helmet with tinted visor so I can look like Daft Vader.
3. Any other option not stated here.

Any ideas or references, the Gath helmets look OK for the job but my concern is it's thickness and how much protection they offer against sharp objects. I quite like the military style but the peak and lack of drainage could rip your head off when getting dragged through the water.

This question may have been answered a long time ago, sorry but maybe more people have more answers and there could be a better range available.

Cheers
Rich

Agree on the Ace Wake. I've tried a few and most are ok as long as they don't have a peak in the front.

Hey Rich,

I need glasses for short-sightedness (and to cope with the tropical glare), and have used a Gath helmet with Oakley water jackets since I started kiting in early 2005. They have been great and survived all manner of hard crashes.

Last year I had issues with solar keratoses on my lower lip, so have now added a lycra hood under the helmet to keep the lip 100% covered.

Couldn't give a toss about the style thing - there's usually no one watching you kite on the reef anyway! Much rather stay healthy, keep kiting and keep the kids fed, as you said.

Here is the complete setup:


Andy

Hey Andy - I went through similar and have the same setup - well pretty damn close to it - the hood you have - what sort of hood is it?

I was looking at the mystic neo virus - I have one at the moment that the girls as S2 made for me - but when you go under water - it traps water and its not that comfortable...

How does the water leave your hood - I am a mouth breather rather than a nose breather which adds to the issue...

Lance,

it is just a standard diving/snorkelling Lycra hood, made by Mirage and a few other companies who do lycra suits.

Water flow is not a problem - it just drains through. When riding hard you can breath OK through the mouth and nose, although when body dragging etc. I usually just rip it down so my mouth is clear.

Select to expand quote

Saffer said...

Protec (Ace Water and Ace Wake) make really decent wakeboarding ones. No peak so no concerns about them getting ripped off.

yep, protec is dope ! light, doesn't move, good protection ( I'v been using it for 2 years, and construction is ok )

++

I use the Gath helmet, it goes ok and you can use any style of sunnies with them, if you take a small cut out of the foam on the inside of the helmet it allows the arm of the sunnies to stay firmly inplace the helmet you wont regret the helmet strategy

Have a look at www.vozsports.com
I have one of the evolution model and they are quite comfy,as the boys say ,who cares what it looks like if it protects you from a bump on the head and keeps the sun off!

Hi Richswing,

We have the Protec Ace Wakes in stock in a range of colours and sizes. They are a proper impact helmet specifically designed for water use. The Gath are not for impact, says it on a small label inside the helmet .

Gath are basically to keep the sun off and to prevent fin cuts etc. They don't have the foam padding required for impact.


The Protec Ace Wake is stylish, comfortable and drains well, and include removeable ear cups to prevent burst air drums when slapping the water hard.

If you want to have a look and try one on, give me a call or visit my website.

Good winds,

Yer I have one of the pro tecs and its awesome would recommend anyone considering buying one to try it on though so u get a perfect fit

i got one of the dath vader gath and regret it. I now wear sunnies with it as looking thru anything as curved as these visors annoys me. it seemed ok in the shop but once you add some speed and reflections and chop and waves, i just think it distorted things a bit.

Also the visor is a bit of a hassle as you are meant to only move it when it is clean ie sand free, as sand scratches it.

also it makes me look a lot like a power ranger. so its not all bad..

Hey Rich,

I'll give you a call and we can hook up if you want to demo the new Eclipse kites and you can have a look at the Protec helmets then if you like. I noticed you snooping around on the Eclipse forum

I'll have demo's and stock in about 2 weeks

Good winds,

u need 1 of these bad boys!!

Yep - I'm with most here.

I had an original Gath with a visor (which was just about useless) for my 1st couple of years (until it got ripped off after a nasty unintentional kiteloop!!) and now have a Protec Wake Ace.

The Wake ace is 300% (adjusted witha 10% chance of embelishment) better than the Gath. Much better prtection, comfort and even a bit more stylee. They also have more room to squeeze a pair of sunnies in. Wayy better price for the Protec too. Gaths are a straight out overpriced/overrated gumby lid I reckon.

Get a Protec. If your like me and value your ears get the wake ace with ear pads. Even in that respect they leave the Gath for dead. Don't know how it works but there is nowhere near as much 'windwhistle' as the Gath with the Protec, so you can still hear beach punters asking you stoopid Qs like "Is that fun".. etc etc.

oh yeah. wind whistle. its the worst. sounds like 50 knots constantly. can't hear a think. turning the things on the sides does nothing.. just sounds the same.. want to buy one from me??