Anyone using helmets with visors for eye/fuller face protection? If so which brands, pros, cons?

Just saw Olivia Piana's post and made me thinking.. damn that looks scary! The more advanced the foils become the sharper too.

There's a guy at my local spot wears an ice hockey helmet with full face bars, I always thought it was a bit OTT but I guess safety first

I feel like glasses and a face gator will go a long way to provide an extra layer to take most of a foils slice away. Also a very good idea for UV protection anyway. For me the bulk of goggles and a hard helmet adds to bucket effect on crashes which give me headaches.. prefer soft helmet and accessories.

I had the same concern since i was hit by the board close to my nose and almost broke it even always using an helmet so i opted for a Gath helmet with visor (the jedi model). I always put the visor on when i go out in the shore break since i guess is the most dangerous and unoredictable part. But when riding i can't stand the drops so i wear it up. i had both the clear visor and the fume but i find the fume too dark for my personal taste hope that helps

Select to expand quote

wingedsurfer said..
I had the same concern since i was hit by the board close to my nose and almost broke it even always using an helmet so i opted for a Gath helmet with visor (the jedi model). I always put the visor on when i go out in the shore break since i guess is the most dangerous and unoredictable part. But when riding i can't stand the drops so i wear it up. i had both the clear visor and the fume but i find the fume too dark for my personal taste hope that helps

Thanks for sharing! Do you use the full or half face visor?

These have been gaining a lot of favor locally... just add some Specks goggles.

simbasurf.com/shop/

Gath all the way, due to being able to adjust the visor to any position ..... just a bit down can be great to stop the rain in the corner of your eye in solid storms or when there is low sun..... more adjustable is always more betterer IMHO

I have the model Jedi with half visor and the Rv with full. I find the half visor enough, it protects forehead and nose

I have the Gath RV. I like to use the adjustable visor as a sun shade but honestly can't see using as a full visor as visibility just goes way down from water droplets, condensation, etc.

I've heard arguments against the more "BMX style" helmets saying the protection effectively acts as a funnel that will make the foil hit the worst possible spot if it lands in the general head area. I'm interested in views, but preferably data on that

River kayak helmet with grid some doesnt have top visor. Look like american football helmet.

Select to expand quote

youdigsurf said..
River kayak helmet with grid some doesnt have top visor. Look like american football helmet.

...search "whitewater helmet"...lots of options with substantial visors...Shred Ready, Sweet, and WRSI all have nice stuff

Would not touch them with a barge pole. Had a gath visor helmet 20 odd years ago. Wiped out at speed and the visor dug into the water and literally nearly ripped my head off. My neck is still fecked.

Select to expand quote

hilly said..
Would not touch them with a barge pole. Had a gath visor helmet 20 odd years ago. Wiped out at speed and the visor dug into the water and literally nearly ripped my head off. My neck is still fecked.

No such problem with my improvised visor on an old Gath which didn't support visor use. I first added an EVA peak, but wanted more sun protection so searched E-bay for visors. result is "mega sun glasses" (minus the legs and nose piece) attached by velcro under the visor. It did get ripped off once in a wipe-out, so now includes a little tether to avoid losing it. Another advantage over off-the-shelf visors: gaps at both sides to allow good ventilation and avoid fogging.

Select to expand quote

Sandee said..

hilly said..
Would not touch them with a barge pole. Had a gath visor helmet 20 odd years ago. Wiped out at speed and the visor dug into the water and literally nearly ripped my head off. My neck is still fecked.

No such problem with my improvised visor on an old Gath which didn't support visor use. I first added an EVA peak, but wanted more sun protection so searched E-bay for visors. result is "mega sun glasses" (minus the legs and nose piece) attached by velcro under the visor. It did get ripped off once in a wipe-out, so now includes a little tether to avoid losing it. Another advantage over off-the-shelf visors: gaps at both sides to allow good ventilation and avoid fogging.

Hey Sandee can you please take a photo of you Helmet/Viror/Glasses set up please:-)

I use the ensis balz pro helmet together with oakley sunglasses, that works well for me.

Select to expand quote

Johndesu said..

Sandee said..

hilly said..
Would not touch them with a barge pole. Had a gath visor helmet 20 odd years ago. Wiped out at speed and the visor dug into the water and literally nearly ripped my head off. My neck is still fecked.

No such problem with my improvised visor on an old Gath which didn't support visor use. I first added an EVA peak, but wanted more sun protection so searched E-bay for visors. result is "mega sun glasses" (minus the legs and nose piece) attached by velcro under the visor. It did get ripped off once in a wipe-out, so now includes a little tether to avoid losing it. Another advantage over off-the-shelf visors: gaps at both sides to allow good ventilation and avoid fogging.

Hey Sandee can you please take a photo of you Helmet/Viror/Glasses set up please:-)

I wouldn't want to use these glasses as they come, but attached to the helmet this way works out fine. (Velcro stuck on with All Clear sealant; sticky-back velcro worked for awhile until the adhesive turned to slime!)