XC skull cap...is fit/depth more important than BSEN v PAS standard?

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quizzie

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After posting on here re difficulties with my high crown/oval shaped head, & getting some great suggestions....I went hat shopping at Burghley.....

The only one that fitted well was the Champion jockey skull, as suggested by "star". It was really comfortable, & gave good depth coverage at the back of my skull.....all the others were way too shallow, leaving the back of my skull exposed to being kicked.....so far so good.....

BUT.....it is only kitemarked to the BSEN standard, which as I understand it is about 20% less protective than PAS, especially at the temples.Which in turn is lower than SNELL.

SO......is fit/coverage more important than certified level of protection, given that both are (currently) legal for BE.
 
I have an akward shaped head, but I value it's small amount of contents, so only buy kitemarked and PAL hats. It makes for quite a slog when hat shopping! I would say there was no point at all in getter a 'safer' hat if it doesn't fit well as the fit is an essential part of the safety protection.

My head is a similar shape to yours and aswell as finding hats press my forehead, I also have a problem with getting hats that are deep enough. I often find kids skull caps and ones targetted at jockeys fit (like the mcoy one) better. You can say goodbye to fancy slim profiles, but the do fit and are safe!

I would stay on the search and try more. What I have done in the past is pick out models and brands (I only have Charles Owen or Champion) to try online and then called up suppliers to check what they actually have in before making the journey.

Gook luck!
 
i went with it because it fitted so well. I know it only has BSEN rather than PAS but there's no point having PAS if it doesn't cover my head. In the end got fed up of trying hats that didn't fit so went with the jockey skull. Went shoppin at Burghley for a new everyday hat and got fitted by Champion and Charles Owen which confirmed CO just dont fit me as half my forehead was left exposed by what the fitter said was a good fit! Champion had to go a size above my usual in the Ventair riding hat to get good crown coverage but when done up correctly the hat didn't move so I went with it. I still feel most covered in my jockey skull though so will continue to wear that for XC/hunting.
 
Absolutely. There's no point in purchasing a hat if it doesn't fit you properly. These tests, however thorough they are, can only be applied if a hat is sitting where it is meant to sit. Otherwise, you are risking incorrect protection in important areas because of a statistic, like the back of your neck as you mentioned.

Far better to have the hat that fits, than the one that is better on paper but doesn't protect where it should!
 
This is interesting! I have terrible issues getting a hat to fit becuase i too have a high crown. I recently went to an adult camp where we had a hat and body protector check by a local saddlery. I was told that the champion euro hat i have fits perfectly ( glad as i had hunted this hat high and low and had real problems getting it in my size ) however.... i was told its not legal for BE?. Having a prissy drama queen wb for a horse that doesnt do ditchs and isnt keen on water im highly unlikey to event.

I am however taking her to her first small hunter trial on sunday ( only 2ft3 in and pairs class ) and this hat fits so well. I feel im safer going around it a hat that fits me compared to a hat that hurts slips and goes over my eyes like the last one did.

Can anyone reccomend a velvet het for high crowns?. Currently use a c&o showjumper xp but that too can go over my eyes and moves about if she jumps big. Would love to find a nice hat thats a similar shape to the euro as i have gone from my xp to using my euro skull now as its so so comfy!
 
i think mine is the euro delux skull from Champion which is the only one that fits me nicely - other hats that fit me are the Champion with the velvet harness and I just bought the Champion Ventair riding hat. My euro has been tagged for BE and BRC - no idea why it wouldn't be legal.
 
i found the C&O hats were perched on me and didnt come down enough at the back either. I used to have a C&O skullhat and after about 8 months the padding wore out and it no longer fitted, i think this was becasue it was never a great fit for me anyway.

I then got a champion ventair skull, infact im on my 2nd one. I did some research at the time and found it rated as one of the best, only surpassed by the HS1 but it hurt my head.
 
cappelli said:
This is interesting! I have terrible issues getting a hat to fit becuase i too have a high crown. I recently went to an adult camp where we had a hat and body protector check by a local saddlery. I was told that the champion euro hat i have fits perfectly ( glad as i had hunted this hat high and low and had real problems getting it in my size ) however.... i was told its not legal for BE?. Having a prissy drama queen wb for a horse that doesnt do ditchs and isnt keen on water im highly unlikey to event.

I am however taking her to her first small hunter trial on sunday ( only 2ft3 in and pairs class ) and this hat fits so well. I feel im safer going around it a hat that fits me compared to a hat that hurts slips and goes over my eyes like the last one did.

Can anyone reccomend a velvet het for high crowns?. Currently use a c&o showjumper xp but that too can go over my eyes and moves about if she jumps big. Would love to find a nice hat thats a similar shape to the euro as i have gone from my xp to using my euro skull now as its so so comfy!
Click to expand...

Your head sounds similar to mine! Like you I have the showjumper, fits the best of what I found.
I have just got a ay8 which fits so well! I intended it for lessons and hacks at home, but it is much smarter than I had thought so I would be happy competing in it - perhaps this would be worth a try? (took me a while to find someone with it in, and longer to find the right size!).
 
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