So.... I seem to have forgotten to clip my helmet and lost it last weekend.
What is the best helmet for foiling?

Problem I had with the old trusty was that it was a bit wobbly, and I got sunburnt ears. Oh and the chin strap wasn't the most comfortable. For a bonus complaint, at some angles the wind noise got amplified in my ears.

What I liked was the GoPro mount I stuck on the side and overall the old helmet was reasonably comfortable on my head.

Thanks for your advice!

I use baseball cap since I do not like too heavy helmets. This cap comes with a shell construction and foam padding. It also protects from sun light with excellent shade. You could order from Amazon. Strap is adjustable.

Gath?

Gath?

Forward wip
Lightweight and comfortable, only downside is they are expensive

Fit is everything. I bought a large and couldn't get my 1mm neoprene cap underneath it. Then I bought an extra large and can get my neoprene cap under it, but its not to loose without the neoprene cap. Again Fit is everything!

I use a Bern Baker. It has a small bill to keep the sun off my sunglasses. Lightweight. Kayakers like them.

Besides protecting the noggin from hard stuff, it does a great job of keeping my crokied sunglasses on when I crash.

I agree that fit is everything. I have been advised to avoid ones with a peak/bill as they make whiplash injuries worse as the head goes in the water (and thats the main downside of helmets - and why the classic Gath has its neoprene front where your skull is super strong). I actually use the same helmet you currently have and it fits well so I like it. iqfoil racers all seem to love the Forward WIP one.

Yes, fit is everything. Has anyone got a tip for a helmet that fits people with long, narrow heads? All helmets seem to wobble on me.

I am using the Gath Gedi w/ Full Visor. It has been great, esp when launching and I have the foil upside down and the wing tips are banging me on the head and potentially in my eye, the full visor saves me on a regular basis. It comes stock with a shorter visor and the full can be added as an option.

WRT fit, yes, you need to get it to fit snug, but not too tight, so I used some extra helmet padding I had w/ some contact cement to customize my fit.

The visor does blur your view a bit, but I really like getting the sun exposure off my already sun damaged face.

Anyone sailing with bike helmets? I have a NP helmet, which was the most comfortable in the shop, but compared to my bike lid it is terrible. Heavy and rocks around on my obviously odd shaped head being generally annoying. Consequently I only wear it when conditions are sketchy and I can happily foil out and crash in any conditions.

Bike helmets are a bad idea. They are designed to take one massive impact and in absorbing that, crack (sometimes invisibly), making them unsafe to use again. Watersports helmets are designed to take loads of less big impacts and not fall apart - whilst also coping with getting wet all the time.

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Nelle said..
Anyone sailing with bike helmets? I have a NP helmet, which was the most comfortable in the shop, but compared to my bike lid it is terrible. Heavy and rocks around on my obviously odd shaped head being generally annoying. Consequently I only wear it when conditions are sketchy and I can happily foil out and crash in any conditions.

Yes. Problem is that they aren't designed to take repeated knocks but for that one good wipeout that throws your head onto the mast, it works well. Plus, they are dirt cheap compared to water sports helmets. I thought that getting the pads wet would be an issue but it's not. Also the visors are helpful while at the same time - someone had expressed concern that visors could torque your head in a hard plunge - aren't fixed so firmly that they will cause a problem.

In a racing scenario where you are trying to protect impact from a fin,wing, etc. I'd be more wary because of the much thinner plastic skin.

I've been using an Enduro mtb helmet (Urge All mountain). It can take multiple hits, and I've had at least 2 good mast strikes. If you get the right kind of bike helmet, they can be used a lot. Plus I like the shade on the face.

I ended up with a Mystic MK8X
it has a rotating adjustment for the helmet size and optional ear covers.
I'd just recommend light colour for 40? days!

I would get this Gath Gedi if I already did not have two other helmets.

Gather is WA designed (& made I think) in Margies

I cracked my niel pryde the other day (always thrown in the car, caravan somewhere, falling off the shelf, so I think it eventually just snapped a piece. Been a good helmet. I could not get the Gath (yes Margaret River crew) to fit well on my big head.

A huge decision for my next helmet will be to minimise the surface area it adds to my head.... adding 2cm all around your head can really increase the surface area by up to 40%... and this is important because when you wipe out at high speed on a smooth surface (like supping a big Gnaraloo Toombies wave), your neck is taking on a lot more force. On balance the helmet protection is worth the risk, but I am now looking at a few crew that do custom moulds of your head and minimal spacing / padding between your head and the outside proteciton. a once size fits all helmet has a lot of air gap that is not useful protection - it is useful to keept he cost / margins effective.

/end rant.

Anyone know the crew? I heard there is a guy in Margaret river doing kevlar infused custom helmets from head moulds in Margs?

I use my old skateboarding helmet. Works great. I use it in the winter for windskiing as well. It's very light and strong!

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GranG said..
I cracked my niel pryde the other day (always thrown in the car, caravan somewhere, falling off the shelf, so I think it eventually just snapped a piece. Been a good helmet. I could not get the Gath (yes Margaret River crew) to fit well on my big head.

A huge decision for my next helmet will be to minimise the surface area it adds to my head.... adding 2cm all around your head can really increase the surface area by up to 40%... and this is important because when you wipe out at high speed on a smooth surface (like supping a big Gnaraloo Toombies wave), your neck is taking on a lot more force. On balance the helmet protection is worth the risk, but I am now looking at a few crew that do custom moulds of your head and minimal spacing / padding between your head and the outside proteciton. a once size fits all helmet has a lot of air gap that is not useful protection - it is useful to keept he cost / margins effective.

/end rant.

Anyone know the crew? I heard there is a guy in Margaret river doing kevlar infused custom helmets from head moulds in Margs?

Andy caps. On facebook i think. Plenty of crew down there use them

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timm said..

GranG said..
I cracked my niel pryde the other day (always thrown in the car, caravan somewhere, falling off the shelf, so I think it eventually just snapped a piece. Been a good helmet. I could not get the Gath (yes Margaret River crew) to fit well on my big head.

A huge decision for my next helmet will be to minimise the surface area it adds to my head.... adding 2cm all around your head can really increase the surface area by up to 40%... and this is important because when you wipe out at high speed on a smooth surface (like supping a big Gnaraloo Toombies wave), your neck is taking on a lot more force. On balance the helmet protection is worth the risk, but I am now looking at a few crew that do custom moulds of your head and minimal spacing / padding between your head and the outside proteciton. a once size fits all helmet has a lot of air gap that is not useful protection - it is useful to keept he cost / margins effective.

/end rant.

Anyone know the crew? I heard there is a guy in Margaret river doing kevlar infused custom helmets from head moulds in Margs?

Andy caps. On facebook i think. Plenty of crew down there use them

excellent - found him thank you Timmmmmmmm


www.facebook.com/pg/Andy-Caps-Custom-Moulded-Surfing-Helmets-277954162661512/posts/?ref=page_internal

This is my helmet. I used it today windskiing.