Riding hats! HS1 or APM II ? (Thoughts/Opinions)

NU ABO

NU ABO

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It's that time to buy a new hat, mine is quite old now and wasn't a great one to begin with (I bought it for the air-vents and I wasn't competing too much)

So I figure with the new hat rules coming in I might as well buy one now rather than wait.

I have heard good things about the HS1, but I'm not sure how well-ventilated it is?
But I've also heard good things about the original APM, and now Charles Owen have brought out the APM II and it looks really nice so I'm sort of leaning towards it.

So really I'm just after opinions on either of the hats and which would you go for?
 
I don't know anything about the Charles Owen hat so can't comment on it.

Although the HSI is not well ventilated, I fell off and landed on my head on concrete but walked away unscathed. Says a lot for the hat imo.
 
Which one fits?

I am not sure if they have changed the shape of the APM hat since the last time but the original APM hat and the HS1 are very very different shapes so it's unlikely that both would fit unless they have drastically changed the shape of the APM II

The gatehouse RXC1 is their ventilated skull cap and fits differently to the HS1 so that might be worth a try
 
peanut said:
I don't know anything about the Charles Owen hat so can't comment on it.

Although the HSI is not well ventilated, I fell off and landed on my head on concrete but walked away unscathed. Says a lot for the hat imo.
Click to expand...

Wheels said:
Which one fits?

I am not sure if they have changed the shape of the APM hat since the last time but the original APM hat and the HS1 are very very different shapes so it's unlikely that both would fit unless they have drastically changed the shape of the APM II

The gatehouse RXC1 is their ventilated skull cap and fits differently to the HS1 so that might be worth a try
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies, some good points to consider :)

I'm going to a tack shop that stocks both hats for a fitting, so I guess I'll have a clearer picture then about which one to go for. I really should go for ventilated as when my head gets overly hot I suffer with terrible headaches :(
So perhaps I should try out the RXC1 as well and then make my choice :)
 
The Charles Owen didn't fit me, which surprised me as the hat I was replacing was one of theirs. I went for the HS1 as it was the only hat in the shop that did fit. I was worried it would be rather warm but although I've had a hot head on occasion it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. The HS1 feels like it would give good protection, I feel quite secure wearing it unlike a few other brands I tried on that felt flimsy. I have fallen off in mine, but not on my head so no comment on performance yet!
 
i'd always vote HS1, its a brilliant hat, has little/no ventilation but i really rate mine - i'm yet to fall off in it *touches wood frantically* but i can put up with having a hot head knowing its safe.

I've also never quite understood how a hat with endless vents can be as structurally sound than those without!
 
Chose by

1)Which ever fits best
2) best safety standard

In fairness I get a hot head. So much I literally look like I've been in the shower. I've tried all sorts of vented hats and not one has made any difference compared with my protector. But my protector is much better than my old velvet or skull caps
 
Myself and eldest daughter have HS1's but it did not fit youngest daughter.

If I could choose I would still have a HS1, but you should go with what fits your shape head the best.

They are not well ventilated however, so if this is a priority for you then look at other makes :)
 
I've just started a new job on a construction site as a site secretary. I was speaking to one of the reps the other day who supply our PPE (personal protective equipment) and we got on to the subject of hats (not called helmets anymore due to ambigious link to part of male body) I expect this got all the men on sites giggling! :D

He was describing the different tests they do on the hats and I was describing how riding hats are different with the official grading, ie. BN and PAS etc.

He said that safety hats for construction workers rely on the harness as it will absorb the impact. I suppose they are made in the way they are without the polystyrene padding we have in ours to make them cooler on site. He said the harness system is very good at absorbing impact (from say a spanner or a falling brick).

It got me thinking -I wonder why we don't use the same idea for riding hats but with the polystyrene as well. The only thing I am aware of that comes close to the harness type system is the draw string in the hats of old!

Here is a photo showing the harness in a safety hat for a builder:
Its not a very good example as the one I was looking at was much better.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...27D5C4B0F4CEA8244364C664D692&selectedIndex=29
 
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I would say the two are very different shapes so definitely try on and get it fitted. Just to throw another into the mix, it could be worth looking at the Charles Owen 4 star. My son had a APM and when he replaced it went for the 4 star and loves it saying it's really comfy and keeps his head cool due to the ventilation.
 
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