I want a hat cam......but are they dangerous?

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I would love a hat cam, but I've been told they are dangerous as they can affect the integrity of any safety hat or helmet worn for sports, and this is why Michael Schumacher was so badly injured. He was wearing a hat cam, fell on it, it caused his ski helmet to split which then caused his serious head injuries.

Is there any truth in this do you think? Either way, what happens if I fall head first onto my hat cam? Does it fall off or does it get rammed straight through my hat into my skull and brain? Do any of the hat cams have safety features that cover this worry, does anyone know please?

What are your thoughts please?
 
I use a GoPro that's held on by an elastic strap for helmets. It just pings off if it hits something (including, but not limited to, the ground, my hand, and branches).

I think MS's helmet split because the sticky mount had been screwed onto the helmet, weakening the integrity of the shell. And the newspaper/journo that originally published that article have since withdrawn the allegations as they've been proven to be untrue.
 
Lots and lots of cyclists wear helmet cams and bear in mind the outer shell of a cycle helmet is nothing like as robust as a riding hat.

None of the cycle helmet manufacturers have a problem with riders mounting cameras on them, as the sticky mounts will detach / unstick if the camera hits anything hard.

Lets face it, if you are sensible enough to wear a cycle helmet in the first place, you are not going to increase the risk of injury by adding something to the helmet that may damage it, or you.
 
Mine is on elastic so just pings off. If I was unfortunate enough to be flung off exactly on to the camera I think it would move very easily, it would definately smash before my hat.
 
NOTHING will 'just ping off ' if it gets a direct hit between your head and an object.

Would you strap a pebble the size of a camera to your hat?
 
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I think the benefit outweighs the risk. We have found that if you have a camera and a vest with "cctv" or "camera" on it, more motorists give the correct passing - limiting the danger of an accident.
 
Personally.. MS's accident wouldn't stop me wearing one, I know the risks if I do decide to wear one and as far as I know there have been no other injuries that come back to a helmet cam, I think they are just picking at anything to try and find an answer for the extensive injuries - Nowhere is it stated that the helmet of MS's was new, it could have easily have had previous unknown internal damage which weakened it. *shrug* Just my thoughts so don't go after me like savage dogs.
 
My uncle went skiing with the instructor that was with MS the day of his accident. It was such a freak accident from his account, but was it not for the camera he wouldn't have sustained that head injury. As someone who used to dislike riding in glasses in case they shattered if I fell, as much as I'd love to record our rides, I'm afraid I won't take the risk - no matter how uncommon it might be. Riding comes with enough risks as it is!
 
MyDogIsAnIdiot said:
I use a GoPro that's held on by an elastic strap for helmets. It just pings off if it hits something (including, but not limited to, the ground, my hand, and branches).

I think MS's helmet split because the sticky mount had been screwed onto the helmet, weakening the integrity of the shell. And the newspaper/journo that originally published that article have since withdrawn the allegations as they've been proven to be untrue.
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It was very true but the hat cam manufacturer theatened to sue as the official report was not out!"
Hat cam have been the cause of many head injuries in the Ski resorts hence the reason BE have banned them at the moment! that wasnt a decision taken lightly .
For those that say wear them on your chest get real have you really thought out the damage they could cause even with a BP due to point impact.
 
I think the size and shape of the camera will affect whether / how much damage is caused. I have a cheapo micro camera the size and shape of a small usb stick which I think is unlikely to cause injury especially if attached to a BP
 
Eek.... I got one for Christmas. Good points made here..... I'm worried now, I must admit that I hadn't thought about the safety aspect. :eek:

The trouble is that faffing around with a mobile to take pictures is probably just as risky with only one hand on the reins.

I guess you have to weigh up the risk based on what you do and knowing your horse.
 
I asked Charles Owen to comment as I sent them an email months ago but no reply. You see some massive ones on the top of cycle helmets. I have looked for safety rests on the Internet for these cameras but can't find any.
 
I was knocked off my bike in August by a car and sustained head and spinal injuries. My headcam pinged off and had no additional effect on my injuries. My only regret was that the 5 minute file covering the incident was corrupted. The camera worked before and after. I will certainly continue to use it when I return to cycling.
 
As someone who occasionally rides stunt horses for a living I have to say there is NO WAY I would strap a hard object anywhere on my body if there was any likelihood of a fall. All the weapons, etc. that you see being worn by a rider in a movie are made of rubber for precisely the reasons given above.
 
I think if you're going to have an accident where you have hit your helmet on something, its going to have to be replaced regardless of whether it had a camera on or not anyway so I don't think having a camera on would make it more dangerous.
 
I don't like the look of the cigar shaped hat cams that attach to the side of the hat. They must make the likelihood of snapping your neck if you land onto your side and then smash the side of your head onto the ground much greater (and is how I tend to fall).
 
No way would I wear one until the manufactures prove they are safe .
The fact that BE have banned them show they think it's a risk too .
The risk far outweighs any benefit .
 
Wiz201 said:
I think if you're going to have an accident where you have hit your helmet on something, its going to have to be replaced regardless of whether it had a camera on or not anyway so I don't think having a camera on would make it more dangerous.
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You can replace your hat but you can't replace your head .
 
I think there are a lot of overreactions based on accidents that if they did happen would end up with the rider injured whether they had a cam on or not.

I have taken a fair number of falls, and on only one occasion has my hat made contact with anything, and in that case it was a jump wing. Had I been wearing a cam, it wouldn't have had the slightest effect.

As with anything, you weigh up the risks; if you are hacking out on a rock steady Eddy, then a hat cam is very low risk. If you are out hunting on a real hot head, then a cam may not be such a good idea.

As an aside; when I got home after bashing my hat, I cut the straps off the hat and binned it, it had done it's job.
 
NeilM said:
I have taken a fair number of falls, and on only one occasion has my hat made contact with anything, and in that case it was a jump wing. Had I been wearing a cam, it wouldn't have had the slightest effect.
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Good for you.

However, I am minded of a fall I had onto the road, resulting in concussion, hospitalisation, several hours memory loss, and whip lash. Had I fallen onto anything fixed to my hat, I would not be here now, I was lucky enough not to break my neck at the time.

I was only out for a hack.
 
I still think its a fairly low risk, especially if you're on a steady horse that you know is unflappable unless it was going to be hit by a car or something major happened, and skiing is different to horse riding anyway.
A camera can help report dangerous driving that without proof you may not be able to follow up on it. I use a dash camera in my car after near misses at traffic lights and I wouldn't be without it.
 
I don't wear one simply because I don't feel the need at the moment, I would have liked to have done for XC but BE have put a silly stop to that... I do not believe they are dangerous IF put in the right place. I do think having them mounted high up above your hat is a bad idea and also right on the very front. But a small bullet shaped camera velcroed onto an elasticated band on the side of your hat I see absolutely no issue with personally. For riding, I see no difference between having the option of a fixed peak or not - surely a fixed peak *could* in theory be more dangerous as it could catch on something in a fall and yank your head back etc. BE banning camera's is very laughable considering they're still happy to allow people to do dressage in those silly Patey hats and top hats! Sadly unfortunately a lot of the horsey world still seem to run a mile at anything new!
 
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