Penks
Well-Known Member
Having coming back into riding regularly after several years away I thought it best to get a new hat. My 10 year old skull cap to my surprise actually still complies to current safety standards, however when reading up on hats/skull caps the advice seems to be that you should replace them every 4- 5 years even if no damage has occured so my search has begun.
So far things I have found out whilst looking into buying a new riding hat/skull cap are....
1) Legally in the uk you do not have to wear a riding hat/skull cap unless you are an under 14 year old riding out on the road.
2) However in order to fulfil insurance regulations you will have to wear one at riding centres/competitions. Also personal riding insurance will not cover you for injuries sustained if not wearing a hat/skull cap up to correct standards.
3) There are 2 standards that hats/skull caps in the UK should comply to:
a)- EN1384/BSEN138 = The basic minimum safety standard for riding hats/skull caps. The standard is reviewed every five years or following a complaint.
b) PAS 015: A safety standard for riding hats managed by the British Standards Institute (BSI).This standard is reviewed every two years and this is the highest safety standard for riding hats in terms of shock absorbency, penetration and retention.
4) In addition to the standards above, riding hats may also have a quality mark such as the BSI's Kitemark. Quality marks show that, as well as conforming with the requirements and testing of the relevant standard(s) above, the riding hats have also been subjected to on-going quality control usually by regular testing of randomly chosen batches of hats.
5) Interestingly some competitions/pony club events will not let you complete if you hat/skull cap does not comply to the standards AND display a Kitemark and not all hats display the Kitemark.
6) Riding hats with a fixed peak are not safe/recommended for cross country/hacking out??? On reading up on the differences between skull caps and riding hats it seems that a fixed peak on a hat apparently research shows that in a high impact fall then having a fixed peak although protecting the nose/face it can actually cause you serious neck damage as it pushes your head back on impact. So presumably better to have a broken nose than a broken neck. Silks are for covering skull caps to improve appearence and the peak can keep rain off your face, however the peak on a silk is collapsable so not dangerous.
7) Ideally Your riding hat/skull cap should be fitted by a registered fitter who should have a training certificate.
8) Different brands of hats/skull caps fit you different better or worse depending on the shape of your head, so even if you measure your head, the brand you buy may be in that size but not sit properly on your head so thats why you need to be fitted and try them on.
9) Your riding hat/skull cap should be replaced if you hit your head in a fall or if you just drop it, even if there is no visible external damage - there could be vast internal damage . Even rolling around in the car can damage it.
10) Even if you have never damaged your hat/skull cap it should be replaced every 4-5 years (internet searches vary on this) Sunlight can weaken the components. In addition the protection offered by any riding hat diminishes over time as the padding inside becomes compressed.
11) Buying a second hat hat/skull cap is not recommended due the fact there could be internal damage that you cannot see and could leave you unprotected.
12) Some suppliers have a no returns policy for riding hats/skull caps, another reason to get it fitted properly.
13) Some disciplines will only allow you to compete in a skull cap
Im sure Ive probably missed out something important so please feel free to amend or add to the list, inc any other tips for buying a new hat/skull cap.
Although riding for years in a skull cap and I wasnt intending on buying a fixed peak riding hat, I didnt realise when reading into it that fixed peak riding hats are considered dangerous for your neck if you fall and not recommended for cross country, surely that means they are not safe full stop???
Also something I have not found out yet is the difference between an adult and junior hat in the same size???
So far things I have found out whilst looking into buying a new riding hat/skull cap are....
1) Legally in the uk you do not have to wear a riding hat/skull cap unless you are an under 14 year old riding out on the road.
2) However in order to fulfil insurance regulations you will have to wear one at riding centres/competitions. Also personal riding insurance will not cover you for injuries sustained if not wearing a hat/skull cap up to correct standards.
3) There are 2 standards that hats/skull caps in the UK should comply to:
a)- EN1384/BSEN138 = The basic minimum safety standard for riding hats/skull caps. The standard is reviewed every five years or following a complaint.
b) PAS 015: A safety standard for riding hats managed by the British Standards Institute (BSI).This standard is reviewed every two years and this is the highest safety standard for riding hats in terms of shock absorbency, penetration and retention.
4) In addition to the standards above, riding hats may also have a quality mark such as the BSI's Kitemark. Quality marks show that, as well as conforming with the requirements and testing of the relevant standard(s) above, the riding hats have also been subjected to on-going quality control usually by regular testing of randomly chosen batches of hats.
5) Interestingly some competitions/pony club events will not let you complete if you hat/skull cap does not comply to the standards AND display a Kitemark and not all hats display the Kitemark.
6) Riding hats with a fixed peak are not safe/recommended for cross country/hacking out??? On reading up on the differences between skull caps and riding hats it seems that a fixed peak on a hat apparently research shows that in a high impact fall then having a fixed peak although protecting the nose/face it can actually cause you serious neck damage as it pushes your head back on impact. So presumably better to have a broken nose than a broken neck. Silks are for covering skull caps to improve appearence and the peak can keep rain off your face, however the peak on a silk is collapsable so not dangerous.
7) Ideally Your riding hat/skull cap should be fitted by a registered fitter who should have a training certificate.
8) Different brands of hats/skull caps fit you different better or worse depending on the shape of your head, so even if you measure your head, the brand you buy may be in that size but not sit properly on your head so thats why you need to be fitted and try them on.
9) Your riding hat/skull cap should be replaced if you hit your head in a fall or if you just drop it, even if there is no visible external damage - there could be vast internal damage . Even rolling around in the car can damage it.
10) Even if you have never damaged your hat/skull cap it should be replaced every 4-5 years (internet searches vary on this) Sunlight can weaken the components. In addition the protection offered by any riding hat diminishes over time as the padding inside becomes compressed.
11) Buying a second hat hat/skull cap is not recommended due the fact there could be internal damage that you cannot see and could leave you unprotected.
12) Some suppliers have a no returns policy for riding hats/skull caps, another reason to get it fitted properly.
13) Some disciplines will only allow you to compete in a skull cap
Im sure Ive probably missed out something important so please feel free to amend or add to the list, inc any other tips for buying a new hat/skull cap.
Although riding for years in a skull cap and I wasnt intending on buying a fixed peak riding hat, I didnt realise when reading into it that fixed peak riding hats are considered dangerous for your neck if you fall and not recommended for cross country, surely that means they are not safe full stop???
Also something I have not found out yet is the difference between an adult and junior hat in the same size???
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