Best ventilated helmets?

myponyvic

myponyvic

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Now that it's warming up, I tend to sweat (heavily!) whilst riding. I have a Charles Owen Young Rider Jockey Skull and I hate it. It just absorbs my sweat and then it goes soggy and slips about or gives me a headache. It's a size 7 1/8 but anything smaller is too tight. I have to have my hair in a high ponytail just to stop it from falling over my eyes. I also have a Caldene Prestige but I use that just for competing.
In conclusion, I'm looking for a decent helmet that has good ventilation for a reasonable price that doesn't make me look like a mushroom. I've also tried a Harry Hall Legend Embossed but fell off in that - now totally caved in. It was huge on me.
I was looking at the Charles Owen AYR8 but £180 is WAAAY out of my budget. The maximum I'd spend is roughly £85.
 
Thanks :) Have had a look at both of them. The Casco would look silly on me, plus would have no idea where to find it. I do like the look of the Caldene - my coworker has one. Not sure how my employer would feel about me riding around in a hat that isn't all black though. I work at on a dressage yard, and we have recently got uniforms which are burgundy and silver.
 
Charles Owen 5 star is proper skull cap, and to the highest standard EN, PAS SNELL et al, and so well ventilated I have been known to slap my helmet as I thought I forgot to put it on!
 
Bought a gatehouse air rider the other day, love it, it's adjustable, dead light, loads of ventilation & it was reduced to £24.99 on equestrian clearance. Only in pink and grey though lol

And the liner comes out for washing!
 
I have a gatehouse Pegasus. I would not buy one of them. When I fell off recently and DID NOT hit my head, landing on my shoulder, the impact was enough to jolt the dial adjustable thing so it opened up and the hat became bigger. That's less than a year of light use. Not impressed at all.
 
I bought a KEP, I know they are expensive but I only have one head so I might as well look after it. Very light, so comfortable I forget I have it on and it's ventilated, you can even bling if you want it :)
 
I have a Champion Ventair which I love and find very comfortable and it conforms to PAS015 and BSEN1384 and fits within your budget. When buying any hat I would suggest considering the standards they conform to as not all hats on the market meet any or both of these standards.

The Champion Ventair is a peaked riding hat - http://www.championhats.co.uk/champion-riding-hats/champion-ventair-riding-hat/ - but there is also the Ventair Deluxe - http://www.championhats.co.uk/champion-helmets/champion-ventair-helmet/ - which is a skull cap.
 
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Gatehouse air rider is great, I have it in blue hut you can get it in black too. Lovely and cool, I wear it for everyday hacking and schooling and swap to a skull for high risk stuff. It is adjustable so good if you are between sizes.

I would say get fitted before you buy it sounds like your current hat doesn't fit. I can't get a Charles Owen hat to fit at all, but a gatehouse fits beautifully. My husband and I wear the same size hats but can't swap as we need to wear different brands due to head shape.
 
Uvex - they go up to silly money but think you can get some styles for under £100. They are very light and well ventilated.

Edited to add - second what Kat said: get it professionally fitted. Some styles may simply not fit your head shape.
 
myponyvic said:
Now that it's warming up, I tend to sweat (heavily!) whilst riding. I have a Charles Owen Young Rider Jockey Skull and I hate it. It just absorbs my sweat and then it goes soggy and slips about or gives me a headache. It's a size 7 1/8 but anything smaller is too tight. I have to have my hair in a high ponytail just to stop it from falling over my eyes. I also have a Caldene Prestige but I use that just for competing.
In conclusion, I'm looking for a decent helmet that has good ventilation for a reasonable price that doesn't make me look like a mushroom. I've also tried a Harry Hall Legend Embossed but fell off in that - now totally caved in. It was huge on me.
I was looking at the Charles Owen AYR8 but £180 is WAAAY out of my budget. The maximum I'd spend is roughly £85.
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I do endurance riding so on the horses a lot everyday on the roads as well as across country at events.
My everyday hat was a £20 vented with peak from Tesco, recently replaced with a Troxel. £50.
You get all the safety standards as per usual, but have extra comfort with adjustable dial system, and vents.

Could never wear my skull on these rides so use it just for jumping.
 
Maybe someone can put me right on this, is it the case that because the troxel hats are not kitemarked you can't wear them in riding schools in the UK (something to do with insurance I think) so if you were having lessons you would need another hat? Is this true? Just wanted to know as they look like they would be good for me as I have circulation disorders and can't regulate my body temperature--not good in summer.
 
LessThanPerfect said:
Maybe someone can put me right on this, is it the case that because the troxel hats are not kitemarked you can't wear them in riding schools in the UK (something to do with insurance I think) so if you were having lessons you would need another hat? Is this true? Just wanted to know as they look like they would be good for me as I have circulation disorders and can't regulate my body temperature--not good in summer.
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I use mine in all my flatwork lessons and clinics but never at RC or affiliated shows.
Never heard you cant?

Its to do with the BS kitemark being widely recognised in the Uk, not the USA equivalent.

The kitemark is the equivalent to the SEI mark in Troxel's hats and described the SEI mark as a quality assurance mark - this means that the hats are tested during manufacturing, like the kitemark.

I would be very surprised if your riding school is allowed to tell you what helmet you can or cannot wear, this is because insurance companies CANNOT specify specific standards or marks a helmet must have, because insurance companies are regulated by the FSA who can only stipluate helmets that are governed by UK law.

The British kitemark is a private organisation, therefore insurance companies cannot possibly favouritise one organisation over another! Helmets governed by UK law are those tested to EN1384 and include PAS, ASTM and Snell.

Usual terms are: 'accepted safety standards' unless specifically stated otherwise.

You wouldnt have them permitted in Endurance rides if they were not safe, but the same golden rule applies - one hit and they get binned. Never buy a second hand one.
Hope that helps :D
 
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Technology
Troxel is the world’s leading provider of ASTM / SEI certified equestrian helmets for competitive, schooling, and recreational riding. Established in 1898, Troxel is recognized for its innovative design and research leadership in headgear. Based in San Diego, California, Troxel now dedicates all its resources to equestrian helmets and related accessories, and has provided over three million helmets to the equestrian market.

Why Troxel?

Pioneers - Troxel was the first to develop a light-weight vented ASTM approved equestrian helmet.

Troxel’s history of innovation includes these firsts in the equestrian market:

First to introduce an ASTM approved equestrian helmets in 1992.
First to develop ventilated, light-weight, certified schooling and show helmets.
First to introduce "All Trails style" certified helmets for Trail and Western riders.
First to introduce a helmet fit system.
First to introduce the patented Flipfold™ headliner fit system
First to offer the patented Phantom Flow™ ventilation system in show helmets.
First to introduce helmet accident replacement program.
First to introduce leather covered Trail and Western helmets
First to offer removable washable headliners.
First to make All-Trials equestrian helmet (Dakota).
First to develop metal side-glide retention ring adjustments (patented Garcia™ ring)
First to introduce advanced materials including rubberized paint coverings (Duratec™), and carbon-fiber.
This remarkable record is supported by ongoing, active attention to advances in head protection technology. Learn more


http://www.troxelhelmets.com/technology
 
I use a troxel spirit for endurance rides, hacking, training and general schooling. On the rare occasions I jump, I wear my skull cap.

The troxel was only £30 yet I believe has one of the best safety records around. I've ridden up to 120km in the heat in it without suffering at all!
 
Kat said:
I would say get fitted before you buy it sounds like your current hat doesn't fit. I can't get a Charles Owen hat to fit at all, but a gatehouse fits beautifully. My husband and I wear the same size hats but can't swap as we need to wear different brands due to head shape.
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I second this. I found some brands really don't fit. I can't get Gatehouse to fit me. Champion Ventair peaked hat fitted me ok but the skull cap of the same brand didn't!

I have a Champion Ventair peaked hat which I wear for competing (dressage) and then a Charles Owen ventilated skull cap (can't remember the model but it was def under £100!) for everyday wear. Like them both!
 
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