Safety Folk - Jockey Skull Safety Ratings (i.e. HS1, ventiar...)

vallin

vallin

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Having had a SJing lesson yesterday and spending half the time with my hat over my eyes, I have decided that I really am well overdue a new hat. Currently I have the Champion Ventair and have been pretty happy with it, but I was just wondering how it compared safety wise to the HS1 and other similar-styled/priced hats (I really don't understand the PAS/B.S.E.N ratings!)

Thoughts on a postcard!

Thanks, V
 
In order to be able to compete you really need PAS015 and EN1384 and the kitemark. The greatest aid to hat safety is to find the one that fits you the best, have it correctly fastened and adjusted and replace it whenever it has had an impact.

"Fits you the best" implies when fitted by a professionally trained fitter, not one that feels right:D
 
The Champion Ventair and the HS1 are both PAS015 and B.S.E.N, but the HS1 (and the PROtector hats I believe) are also SNELL rated I think, which involves slightly different tests.
I guess the HS1 and the PROtectors pass more safety tests, but it depends what fits you and you feel comfortable in.
I have a Champion Ventair and I find it really comfy but I'm looking to maybe get an HS1 or PROtector to replace it if they fit and I like them.
 
Just as a little side line I'm pretty sure the HS1 and Champion hats are quite different shapes... Well, that's what I found when I was hat searching. The HS1 has passed more safety tests but as people have said above go for the hat that fits you the best!
 
Cheers folks. As long as the champion and HS1 are equal in terms of safety standard I'll probably stick with the champion, though am planning on trying a load on and getting one fitted at Olympia. Are there any similar styles that are worth looking at or are those the main contenders?
 
I have the Charles Owen 4 star which is also SNELL tested so if you have a CO shaped head that might be worth a look see too :)

Obviously it meets all the other requirements too, it just has SNELL as extra like the HS1
 
Gatehouse have also brought out the Gatehouse RXC1 helmet which is ventilated but meets all the same standards as the HS1.
Not seen one in person, only whilst internet shopping!
May be worth a look?
 
Has anyone tried the rxc1 on yet? I would like one of these but the HS1 does not fit my shape of head even though the other peaked gatehouse hats do.
 
Depends on your head shape. Don't think I've EVER had a hat fit me as well as the Champion Ventairs do, I now have a peaked hat and a skull of theirs. However even those get a bit loose after a year or so of daily riding... I need a magic fit-adjusting hat I think...
 
The reason it's loose is because the padding strip round the inside of the helmet has compressed, it's really easy to replace.

The SNELL tested hats are without doubt the safest on the market as are the only helmets that have passed a hoof strike test but as said above do need to fit properly!

khalswitz said:
Depends on your head shape. Don't think I've EVER had a hat fit me as well as the Champion Ventairs do, I now have a peaked hat and a skull of theirs. However even those get a bit loose after a year or so of daily riding... I need a magic fit-adjusting hat I think...
Click to expand...
 
MegaBeast said:
The reason it's loose is because the padding strip round the inside of the helmet has compressed, it's really easy to replace.

The SNELL tested hats are without doubt the safest on the market as are the only helmets that have passed a hoof strike test but as said above do need to fit properly!
Click to expand...

Can you replace that? I always thought it was a clever way for them to try and get more money off me by requiring a replacement hat... I spent three years being a bit blind whenever my horse jumped big as was determined to get my money's worth out of it!
 
Just to add op, I've always worn champion hats, never got on with Charles Owen etc. my mum decided to buy me a hat for Xmas this year, so we went shopping yesterday, the Gatehouse HS1 was what we bought, was incredibly comfortable, fitted just as well as the champions! However the hat is £30 more expensive if you buy the silver one... I chose the black to save the money!
 
I got my hsi at Burghley, and it was fitted. The woman used some stuff called fitting tape (or something) which is a roll of foam like tape which you have in hats anyway, and she added more to make the hat fit my head shape, little extra on one side and whatever else needed. I love my HSI (mostly because I feel like I look a bit pro ;D )
 
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