Should I replace my hat after fall?

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Frank & Co.

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Had a fall x-country and landed on the back of my head. Big headache and stiff neck, but should I replace my hat? It seems to be OK, can't see any damage or cracks, but never actually happened to me before and not sure if I am being too cautious? Horse OK, he actually jumped me clean off!! :)
 
I think technology in hats these days means you have to replace your hat after a fall. Especially if you landed on your head!
Even though you can't see any damage to the outside, the foam (or whatever is inside) will most likely be damaged at the point of impact.
 
Absolutely 100% replace it!
They are made with special bubbles in the shell that collapse on impact, you can not see or feel if this has happened (sounds like it almost certainly the case by your description) but it will make your hat worthless if you fell again.
I am sure somebody can explain the whole air bubbles thing better but please do replace it.
 
If you know that you landed on your head and you got a headache then yes you need to replace your hat. I wouldn't replace it if I landed on my bum but any knock and I'd buy a new one.
 
from your description of how you landed and the mention of a big headache and stiff neck i hope you went to A+E for some scans. if not then perhaps you should especially if you start getting pins and needles in your fingers.
hat - bin it and buy a new one.
 
YES! I was reading a poster in my local tack shop the other day about Oliver Townends terrible fall at Kentucky last year, and it said his hat looked completely unscathed and undamaged on the outside, but on the inside, it was cracked and broken. The thing is, the next time you come off, the hat might not offer you proper protection, or worse, even split! I would definately say, get a new one!!
 
Definately replace your hat after a head impact. The shell rarely looks damaged - it helps prevent sharp objects impaling your head, but the polystyrene on the inside absorbs the impact be compressing, once compressed it doesn't expand again.

Once asked a manufacturer about helmet testing and he said they pull them to bits so you'll still need to replace the helmet.
 
Piaffe63 said:
YES! I was reading a poster in my local tack shop the other day about Oliver Townends terrible fall at Kentucky last year, and it said his hat looked completely unscathed and undamaged on the outside, but on the inside, it was cracked and broken. The thing is, the next time you come off, the hat might not offer you proper protection, or worse, even split! I would definately say, get a new one!!
Click to expand...

Have seen the actual hat that Oliver was wearing, definitely agree the outside looked fine, inside was a different story.

I had a fall earlier this year which I can't remember (or the rest of the day for that matter), sent my hat back to manufacturer to see if I was right in thinking that I had had a hard bash in the sand, turned out that I had probably gone head first into a fence post. Gatehouse were amazed that I was ok and say without the hat I wouldn't have been here, but the outside of the hat looked perfect.

Just because a hat doesn't look damaged, dent mean it isn't, definitely replace it as you know it took an impact.
 
Definitely replace your hat, the inside will be damaged. I've only managed to damage the outside of a hat once (you could flex the hat significantly afterwards), but replaced several more due to inside compression. I would also suggest you see a mctimmoney chiropractor / other chiropractor / physio/ deep massage therapist as I would expect that you have squashed your neck muscles and that will help get rid of your headaches. Hope you feel better soon.
 
Yes definitely replace the hat after a fall. I read recently that a life span of a riding hat is about 2/3 years even if it has no impact at all....my hat is 4 years old now with definitely no impact to it - does that need replacing too?
 
OP i am surprised you have actually had to ask this question, I hope it is down to you being concussed. Every rider especially someone who is doing xc should be aware that a knock to your hat damages it. Even dropping it in the boot of your car can damage it. So yes if you value your life and dont want to be a vegetable if horsey overjumps again i suggest you go and buy one.

Dougalj I heard 5 years was the life of most hats but maybe worth gettnig it checked out depending on price?? Or better to be safe and ask for one for xmas!!
 
I don't understand why people are saying things like "op do you really need to ask?" at least the OP is asking and now knows people say to replace rather than just carrying on regardless with her old hat.

Sorry to hear about your fall OP :(
 
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