Helmet Buyers Guide

[coolhandluke]

My helmet is aged out, so I am on the hunt for a replacement. Here are a list of options.

Requirements:
-Light weight:
Materials: Composite or Carbon Fiber
Cons: Carbon Fiber $$ with minimal weight loss over Composite
-H&N attachment

Optional / Accessories:
-Glasses compliant (I wear contacts)
-Chatterbox microphone/speaker

Entry-level Helmets:
1.) Bell M8
Vented: Yes
Pros:
H&N:
Price: $499

2.) Pyrotect UltraSport
Vented: Yes
Pros: Interchangeable six-pad interior liner system
H&N: M6 for head and neck restraint systems
Price: $269

3.) Roux R-1 Fiberglass
Vented: TBD
Pros: Cheaper price point with full features, including joise canceling mic and speaker pods, drink tube, and HANs anchors, etc.
H&N:
Price: $549

4.) Sparco WTX-5T
Vented: Yes
Weight: 4.0Lbs
Pros:
H&N:
Price: $395


Intermediate+
(Lighter, more accessory options, but higher price)

Brands:
1.) Arai
-Arai GP-5W
Vented: Yes, two intake and two exhaust
Accessories: HANs clips, Radio, Water
Weight: 3.55lbs
Pros: Larger eye ports, pre-installed M6 anchors
Cons: XL no longer manufactured.
Price: $809 (C)

-Arai GP-6S
Benefits over GP-5W:
-Same shell as GP-6RC (advertised as their Formula One helmet)
Certification: FIA 8858-2010
Price: $859


2.) Bell
-Bell M8 Carbon
Vented: Yes (small)
Accessories: HANs (+$55), Radio/Water support
Weight:
Pros:
Cons:
Price: $879

3.) Pyrotect
-Pyrotect Pro-Ultra Carbon
Vented: Yes (Small)
Accessories: HANs / Leatt / NecksGen (+$65)
Weight:
Pros:
Cons:
Price: $879

-Pyrotect
Pro-Ultra Carbon Duckbill TriFlow
Vented: Yes
Accessories: HANs / Leatt / NecksGen (+$65)
Weight:
Pros:
Cons:
Price: $1099

4.) Roux
-R-1C/CF
Vented: TBD
Accessories: HANs clips, Radio, Water
Weight:
Pros:
-Certification: FIA: 8859
Cons:
Price: $899 (C) & $1399 (CF)

5.) Simpson
-Carbon Devil Ray
Vented: No, optional (+$150)
Accessories: H&N ready, Radio (Optional)
Weight: 2.9lbs (med)
Pros:
Cons:
Price: $879 (CF)

6.) Sparco
-Sparco Sky RF-7W
Vented: Yes
Accessories: HANs clips.
Weight:
Pros:
Cons: High price. Clear fades in sun.
Price: $950

7.) Stilo ST5 (Kevlar/Fiberglass Composite)
-Stilo ST5 Series
Vented: Optional (+$120)
Accessories: Optional radio configurations (+$130-$250), HANs clips (+$55), Integrated Eject ($60), Helmet bag
Weight: 3.6lbs (L)
Pros: Accessory options galore, inclue "earmuffs" to provide a more quiet driving experience.
More Pros: Additional safety feature, called Integrated Eject, to allow first responders to safely remove the helmet without disturbing the neck.
Cons: Nickel and dime for accessories.
Price: $912 (base)

[voiddweller]

Thanks for pulling all this together. I'm probably going with the Roux R-1 Fiberglass for my next helmet, but all of these are good pics.

[coolhandluke]

I need to finalize my decision. It's disappointing that helmet vendors make weights difficult to find. Weight is a primary factor.

[EssesAutoworks]

Ryan,

I'll get some prices together for the Pyrotect Carbon models. I actually sold the Duckbill one to Ian at expo.

[coolhandluke]

Solid, thank you sir. I need to make a decision.

[coolhandluke]

Article: The Snell Game

[Gotin]

Article: The Snell Game

Cool history lesson. In keeping up with the title of the post and the article, what about the opposite spectrum of helmets from the ones listed above. Where should a first time helmet buyer look? Open or closed face? Does brand matter as long as there is an SA rating? Is there a difference for auto-x and something for an hpde event? Personally, these are all questions I have been reading about for a hopeful first step into taking the R to the track in 2018.

[aw614]

I'm starting to lean towards using the visor on my full face helmet even for autox after a friend had a small piece of metal fly into his eye.

I was using an open face with my prescription sunglasses for a long time, but I've had sand get into my eye before and don't want to go through what he did.

I ended up with a 150ish dollar zamp sa2015 helmet, but should have spent more for a lighter helmet. It is kind of heavy honestly...

[coolhandluke]

....what about the opposite spectrum of helmets from the ones listed above. Where should a first time helmet buyer look? Open or closed face? Does brand matter as long as there is an SA rating? Is there a difference for auto-x and something for an hpde event? Personally, these are all questions I have been reading about for a hopeful first step into taking the R to the track in 2018.

I already added an entry-level section at the top:

Entry-level Helmets:
1.) Bell M8
Vented: Yes
Pros:
H&N:
Price: $499

2.) Pyrotect UltraSport
Vented: Yes
Pros: Interchangeable six-pad interior liner system
H&N: M6 for head and neck restraint systems
Price: $269

3.) Roux R-1 Fiberglass
Vented: TBD
Pros: Cheaper price point with full features, including joise canceling mic and speaker pods, drink tube, and HANs anchors, etc.
H&N:
Price: $549

4.) Sparco WTX-5T
Vented: Yes
Weight: 4.0Lbs
Pros:
H&N:
Price: $395

Generally, if the brand has a Snell rating, it is a reputable brand that has undergone appropriate testing for the Snell certification. I don't consider a difference between Auto-X and HPDE, in both cases, I want to make sure my face and head are protected. I'm against open-face, but I also want to protect my face from the steering wheel or from fire.

[Gotin]

Thanks for the information. I completely overlooked the addition of the helmets .

My mind was leaning towards an open face for the weight factor and field of vision. When asking about hpde vs. autox, I read that some tracks may not allow open face where some autox events don't care if you use a motorcycle helmet. Great info all around and current looking at the ultrasport. Price seems same across the board with different online sites. Maybe an addition of a list of ITR forum friendly places to buy.