Last year sailing in 30+knts in cold conditions my left eye started to hurt whenever I was on port tack coming back into shore. This pain would then typically last a few days after a session (not to the same extreme). I don't get it in summer, we also don't get much wind here in summer.
I was thinking about getting a Gath Gedi with a half-face visor. I think it would keep the cold wind off the eye.
Firstly anyone using the Gedi with a half-face visor? How do you feel about it?
Have you used the tinded visor and is it good with the glare?
Do you ever feel a little bit claustrophobic as you get hammered by a wave, with the helmet on?

It is also a wee bit nippy here so I wanted to wear a 2mm hoodie under the helmet. I got a 59cm head which means I could get a XXL helmet. But if I got an XXXL maybe I could use a hoodie as well. (gathsports.com/size-guides/) Has anyone tried this and does it work? I would also want to use the helmet in summer for foiling.
What is the visor like with fogging? I've tried sunglasses and goggle-style sunglasses with JandJ baby shampoo but still they fog up.

With the hood, my measurement comes out at 61cm.

I had a medium size sfc model, chose the medium size according to their size chart but it was too tight and gave me headache after 15mins. Can't comment about gedi model, its size chart is different to sfc, but if you don't have opportunity to try, i would suggest getting at least one size bigger to their size chart, with 2mm hoodie xxxl seems right.

I have a normal Gath and bought a full visored one for rain.
The fit on the visored one was OK with the visor down but a bit tight with it pushed up into the helmet. If I had to buy another online I'd go one size up.
Probably best to try before you buy.
I just ordered one via the internet the same size as my existing.
I wear a neoprene hood under the open faced one without issues. I'm not sure how thick the hood is.

The visor on mine got "foggy" after a few sessions and could not be used instead of sunglasses, but is still useful when lowered half way to act as a brim for sun protection

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Obelix said..
The visor on mine got "foggy" after a few sessions and could not be used instead of sunglasses, but is still useful when lowered half way to act as a brim for sun protection

What type of helmet do you have? Was it a full-face visor? My head generates a lot of heat and I end up fogging stuff up. I thought that the visor might be far enough away from my head that it would not fog up. Hmmmmmm.

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sboardcrazy said..
I have a normal Gath and bought a full visored one for rain.
The fit on the visored one was OK with the visor down but a bit tight with it pushed up into the helmet. If I had to buy another online I'd go one size up.
Probably best to try before you buy.
I just ordered one via the internet the same size as my existing.
I wear a neoprene hood under the open faced one without issues. I'm not sure how thick the hood is.

Do you think you might give the new helmet a run in the next month? I presume that you ordered the gedi with the half visor.
If so, any chance you could update this thread or can I PM you in a month to ask you what you think about it?

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Sea Lotus said..
I had a medium size sfc model, chose the medium size according to their size chart but it was too tight and gave me headache after 15mins. Can't comment about gedi model, its size chart is different to sfc, but if you don't have opportunity to try, i would suggest getting at least one size bigger to their size chart, with 2mm hoodie xxxl seems right.

It seems like a lot of people say go a size up. Pity that you had to shell out for it only to get a headache.
I did look at the sfc model but the forehead part concerned me a little. Seen some horror pictures of people who hit a foil, usually without a helmet, but makes me think that I would prefer something a little bit harder if the foil makes impact with the helmet.

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Henners said..

Obelix said..
The visor on mine got "foggy" after a few sessions and could not be used instead of sunglasses, but is still useful when lowered half way to act as a brim for sun protection

What type of helmet do you have? Was it a full-face visor? My head generates a lot of heat and I end up fogging stuff up. I thought that the visor might be far enough away from my head that it would not fog up. Hmmmmmm.

Sorry, I meant the visor lost the clarity. The salt got into it, and could not see through it.
It's the one where you drop the visor down to your nose. Looks a bit like something a top gun pilot would wear.

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Obelix said..

Henners said..

Obelix said..
The visor on mine got "foggy" after a few sessions and could not be used instead of sunglasses, but is still useful when lowered half way to act as a brim for sun protection

What type of helmet do you have? Was it a full-face visor? My head generates a lot of heat and I end up fogging stuff up. I thought that the visor might be far enough away from my head that it would not fog up. Hmmmmmm.

Sorry, I meant the visor lost the clarity. The salt got into it, and could not see through it.
It's the one where you drop the visor down to your nose. Looks a bit like something a top gun pilot would wear.

Owww,
anything you could do to fix it?

I find wearing my Garth helmet is warm enough by itself. However being from Queensland, I really not qualified to comment on cold weather sailing.

I get the feeling there are only a few/couple of Gath shell sizes, the sizing is taken care of with the supplied adhesive strips. I went for one that was a little big, put the thicker strip in and it felt great.

I have an adjustable ION helmet which I make bigger when I'm wearing a hood.

www.briskites.au/products/ion-black-hardcap-3-1-helmet-adjustable

Interesting on the gaths, I also bought a new one, same medium size and style as my old one and it gave me a headache, tried it a second time but still no good, will try a larger size too, maybe they've changed the moulds

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Dezza said..
Interesting on the gaths, I also bought a new one, same medium size and style as my old one and it gave me a headache, tried it a second time but still no good, will try a larger size too, maybe they've changed the moulds

Using an older (+10y/o) Gath helmet that looks like the SFC, less ear muffs. Also, wondering if molds have changed.

Don't remember if any fitting strips with the helmet. Nice fit straight off the shelf. Lightweight is a plus. Disappears wearing. Use to just wear it when winds build to F6 or greater. Always on when foiling. Now wearing the helmet on light wind days. Head booker on a 6.5M couple days ago. Happy I had the helmet on. Poo just happens even under mellow conditions when one gets sloppy.

Use to think helmets were a bit nerdy. Sort of like my early road (bike) racing career. Then USCF required hardshell helmets. Turns out a good thing for my brain. Now everyone seems to be helmeted. I guess it's smart and cool. Maybe the same for windsurfing? Or is it because I'm old and my brain probably cannot handle another concussion?

Used Gath for many years. Solid designs but for my head shape always had some pressure points. Now using Sharkskin Water Sports helmet. Has a nice adjustment system so wearing a neo hoodie or one of their Chillproof Beanie's works well. I only mention this because the range of choices has increased over recent years. Depends on what you are looking for.

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Dezza said..
Interesting on the gaths, I also bought a new one, same medium size and style as my old one and it gave me a headache, tried it a second time but still no good, will try a larger size too, maybe they've changed the moulds

Sounds like they've made a change doesn't it?