Skull Cap Recommendation for eventing

[Super_starz]

I am thinking I might have a crack at eventing this year, but will need to purchase a skull cap.

I have been looking at the Champion Ventair Deluxe, Charles Owen Pro II & Gatehouse HS1, and I am just wondering what others would recommend?

 

[kassieg]

Hs1 everytime feels so much more secure

 

[EventingMum]

The one that fits your shape of head! If Charles Owen fit I would recomend the 4 star, it's the highest rated in terms of safety and protection and has superb vents. My son has one and wore it on a very hot day for all three phases and his head was completely dry afterwards!

 

[Darremi]

It all depends on head shape.

Personally I found the Gatehouse extremely uncomfortable and completely wrong for my head shape.

I got a Charles Owen AP McCoy. Very comfortable and has extra padding to protect your cheekbones.

 

[Wheels]

Gatehouse now do a new jockey skull - rxc1 which is a different shape to the HS1, top notch safety standards, ventilated and a removeable washable liner. I've always had a Charles Owen previously, last one was a McCoy but now I have the RXC1 which fits perefectly

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Gatehouse now do a new jockey skull - rxc1 which is a different shape to the HS1, top notch safety standards, ventilated and a removeable washable liner. I've always had a Charles Owen previously, last one was a McCoy but now I have the RXC1 which fits perefectly

Ditto - got mine 7 weeks ago, its honestly THE most comfy hat, I could never wear the HS1 as totally wrong shape for me, but the RXC1 does, bonus is the removable lining so it can get rinsed off too

 

[anna22]

I have the Charles Owen J3 I think, fits my long, narrow head very well and is super secure. Best fit for your head, and you do normally get what you pay for!

 

[PorkChop]

Hs1 for me too, I have a small head. Agree that you need to try several different makes to get the best fit.

 

[peanut]

HS1 for absolutely everything!

 

[Bazzel]

definitely try and try some on, but the HS1 is brilliant in my opinion

 

[CrazyMare]

I have a Charles Owen J3 - Infact, I've had three!!

Definitely go somewhere that stocks as many brands as possible, and try them

 

[Keenjean]

The RXC1 is basically an updated HS1 that passed the snell & new pas standard. It's really comfy, light and ventilated & the washable liner is great, I've washed mine twice now. When the PAS standard was updated & increased by 30% last year the HS1 didn't meet the new standard! If you buy an HS1 now you will notice it is not certified as PAS015. Doesn't matter for competing but I know if I was looking for a hat I'd want to buy the safest one possible for eventing.

 

[LittleGreyMare]

I purchased a HS1 a year ago and am very unhappy with it. Two people fitted it and promised me I needed a 1.5, I was convinced I needed a 2. Needless to say started riding in it and it did it mould to my head as expected and to this day gives me a red line on my forehead. Rang up head office and the could not have been less then helpful... Was not very impressed with attitude.

Next time I will try on even more hats and if buying a new brand will go away and think about it.

 

[becca1305]

I've got to admit I didn't realise the HS1 had no longer passed the PAS standard. That said the best hat is one that fits and I really struggled to find one, so am still happy with mine as it fits and is secure. I wanted an RXC but that didn't fit my head shape. Even more interestingly the black HS1 fit, but I decided I might like it in silver and luckily the fitter was very good & tried the same size different colour on as it turns out the silver one didn't fit!

 

[EventingMum]

I've got to admit I didn't realise the HS1 had no longer passed the PAS standard. That said the best hat is one that fits and I really struggled to find one, so am still happy with mine as it fits and is secure. I wanted an RXC but that didn't fit my head shape. Even more interestingly the black HS1 fit, but I decided I might like it in silver and luckily the fitter was very good & tried the same size different colour on as it turns out the silver one didn't fit!

Interestingly my son was looking at the HS1 a few years ago at the Royal Highland Show. He tried a silver one on which fitted but wanted a black which that particular shop didn't have in his size. We tried about half a dozen other shops for a black one and found them really inconsistent size wise with no two alike.

 

[Skib]

I bought my twelve year old grand daughter an HS1 a couple of weeks ago, as recommended by someone on a previous thread. There was no indication that it didnt meet PAS015. The Gatehouse web site says it does and that was why I bought it.

 

[chestnut cob]

Following on from the OP... where do I actually find somewhere with properly trained helmet fitters and plenty of styles to try on? The only place around me that I know of (am in Shropshire), which sells a fair range of hats is Countrywide and their fitters are rubbish. Local tack shops don't have trained staff, and always have a very limited range. Robinsons is about a 40 min drive away but none of their staff seem to actually be horsey or have a clue about basic things, so not sure I would trust them with fitting a helmet.

It's about time I replaced my hat, so have found this thread interesting. I just don't know anywhere which has a decent selection to try!

 

[Sags_Deer]

I've sent you a pm

 

[Skib]

I took grand daughter to Robinsons - they fitted OH too years ago. It took us 90 mins to drive there - It is always an expedition.
I rang first to make sure they had the brands we wanted to try in stock, in her head measurement plus bigger and smaller, so they could fit her. And that there would be a trained fitter there.
We went the next day and she was fitted - the girls fitting her pointed out that there was now a further brand meeting the top standards. They decided the Gatehouse HS1 fitted her best and went to fetch a supervisor to check the size they had chosen. She then wore the hat with its labels intact for an hour or so in the shop - to make sure it was comfortable.
One really has to choose between a one brand retailer where the fitter will be trained by that company and have a very specialised knowledge of their products and a big store selling a choice of brands. Even the width of choice doesnt mean you will necessarilly decide to buy one. I came away without a new body protector - but at least you can get some idea of which brand suits your head shape.

 

[FireFly29]

Following on from the OP... where do I actually find somewhere with properly trained helmet fitters and plenty of styles to try on? The only place around me that I know of (am in Shropshire), which sells a fair range of hats is Countrywide and their fitters are rubbish. Local tack shops don't have trained staff, and always have a very limited range. Robinsons is about a 40 min drive away but none of their staff seem to actually be horsey or have a clue about basic things, so not sure I would trust them with fitting a helmet.

It's about time I replaced my hat, so have found this thread interesting. I just don't know anywhere which has a decent selection to try!

If you can get to somewhere like Badminton then there will be lots of stands to try different hats on, that's what I'm planning on doing as I quite fancy a new RXC 1 helmet!

 

[britisheventingpony]

I have a Gatehouse Hs1 as I love it! Really comfy and I don't get too hot in it either. Also been told about the KEP Jockey hat which seems quite nice with removable lining x