Cool riding hats you can wear for hours?

kerilli

kerilli

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 April 2002
Messages
27,417
Location
Lovely Northamptonshire again!
Visit site
Suggestions please, I need a new hat, lightweight, maybe vented, for hacking out in. It must be super-comfy, because I'd discovered that my HS1s, which seem to fit perfectly, are great for up to an hour, but after that give me an increasingly killer headache, all the way round my head, like a vice... enough that I nearly take the hat off and chuck it in the ditch. I have an HS1 in a 1.5 and a 2, both feel great for up to an hour (both feel the same, can't work that out?! maybe padding has squished in on the bigger one), they're perfect for competing, but not for long fittening hacks... :( :( :(
I tried a Kep the other day and am nearly sold on that, need to try a PROtector, any others I should look at please?
Gatehouse Conquest is no good, it perches on my head, just the wrong shape.
Thanks.
 
ive got a champion ventair skull cap ,its very comfortable
i wore it for 8 hours out on a POR of 32k last saturday and didnt overheat or have to sweaty hair or a headache and it was a very hot day :)
 
Son just got one of the new Charles Owen 4 star skull caps which has front vents and an air channel across the forehead area. He is very impressed with it, having had various other vented hats and skulls over the years including GPAs etc and says none have compared to this. He wore it in all 3 phases at an event last weekend and despite it being a very hot, sunny day his head was cool and dry afterwards. Plus it has the advantage of being tested to BSEN1384, ASTM F1163, SNELL E2001, and PAS015:2011 so safe too.
 
I have a one of these as well as a PROtector
http://www.equiport.co.uk/products/detail/casco_riding_helmet__champ_grey_riding_hat/250/
I have to say it is fab at keeping my head cool, think feel the wind when cantering but im not sure if its got a high safety rating.
The PROtector i have is also fab but not as good at keeping my head cool, i tend to wear it jumping or in lessons so it might be my sweaty head is more to do with my fittness! :o :D
 
Ditto the Charles Owen 4 star. I needed a new skull hat and went for this after seeing it in the flesh. There is a section of the padding missing at the front (hard to describe) and the airflow you get is amazing. I barely notice I have mine on. The one thing is I wouldn't describe it as lightweight but again, I barely notice it and I have worn it on long hacks. The other ones I'd think of are Troxel. I seem to recall they did really well in the tests in that article the MDIRF did and are popular with endurance riders.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I've got a "Tipperary" endurance style hat from Performance Equestrian. Its gorgeous and cool! Just luvvit.
Click to expand...

I've been looking at these and I'm tempted as I have a very hot head!

I've got a Ventair but don't find it any cooler than any other hat. I also have a Charles Owen Ayr8 which is super comfy and a teeny bit cooler than the Ventair.

I did have a Troxel but it was so uncomfortable that I gave it away to a friend.
 
dominobrown said:
Kerrelli- How comfy was a KEP? My local tackshop has one on sale in my size for like £120. Had to physically restrain myself from buying it!
Click to expand...

The Kep was really nice, felt great. Plenty of coverage (I hate hats that perch on top of my head) and super-lightweight. Crikey, if you don't buy it, please tell me which tackshop and I'll see if it's my size, that's less than 1/2 price...!
Thanks all. Will have a look around.
 
Another vote for the Casco helmets! I got one from the calevo website and it comes with a set of detachable ear warmers for winter riding- I'm so excited about it!
Have a samshield which is a lovely hat but was so expensive and am not sure it was worth the price at over 400 pounds.
Strangely the hat I'm wearing the most at the moment is from decathlon- it was about 60 pounds, is really well ventilated and is so comfy- bought it one day going to a lesson and realised I'd forgotten my hat and I was so surprised how comfy it is! Top of the list of my best bargain buys!
ETA has anyone heard of the CJ Proline helmets? Saw them in a magazine and they look so very stylish but there is very little about them online.
 
Last edited:
Notice a lot of folk are suggesting Champion Ventair- just to give the flip side, I have happily and comfortably worn Ventairs for years, but the last three I've bought (all fitted in different tack shops, all different sizes interestingly!) have all given me a horrendous headache after having them on for an hour or more- they're fine up to an hour, but I get to the same point as the OP- wanting to chuck it in a ditch at about an hour and ten!

Have always been told I have a 'champion' shaped head, not a 'charles owen' shaped head.. now I'm not sure!

Will be watching this thread for suggestions!!
 
Ive never had a hot head in my GPA Xtreme - its the one with the rubberised finish so is pretty hardy as well. Otherwise, I sometimes ride in my mums one at home which is like one of those bicycle helmets with loads of vents in, pretty sure its a Troxel. Its the type that a lot of endurance riders wear so must be pretty cool and comfy.
 
Just Togs Sprint Ultra - good at keeping your head cool and very comfy. I also think it looks quite stylish and is good value for money. I also have a Protector and whilst the Protector is good, it is no where near as good as the Just Togs at keeping head cool. I've also found over time that it has become too loose and i have to keep putting in foam inserts!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top