Rock Hedz Helmets
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:31 pm
Rock Hedz Helmets
by Dave Dave
I am considering a Rock Hedz Roaster helmet. Are they any good? Comments good or bad appreciated. Thanks.
Posted on Sep 28, 2002, 9:44 AM
Water Weapon looks like it might be functional ... (long)
by C1Deli
I recently became obsessed with helmet design, having taken a good hard look at my old protec and deciding that it was pretty useless.
This article is a decent introduction:
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2 ... _123.shtml
But having done a lot more reading, and looking at standards and design of motorbike, bicycle and military helmets (including bomb disposal!) I concluded that any helmet worth wearing on whitewater -- especially if you are a C1er who capsizes a lot (hey, don't we all! ) - should have these characteristics:
My standard:
Kevlar/vinylester or carbon/kevlar composite shell, at least 3mm preferably 5-9 mm thick
15 mm stiff foam liner -- this is what absorbs the impact so must not be too soft -- it you can push your finger through to the shell then it is way too soft. Should be very firm, and EPP (expanded polyprop) or minicel.
Ear coverage -- don't want'em ripped off, after all. I like my ears the way they are.
3 or four way straps
Straps joined to helmet are widely spaced and prevent slipping helmet -- vital to keep your hat on, and not slipped so exposing eg. forehead to rocks.
Bright colour -- natural carbon or black or white-helmeted swimmers are nigh on invisible ...
Faceguard -- paddlers actually incur more face injuries than they do head injuries ...
No drain holes -- not ideal as they can weaken the shell a little and are not needed in a properly-fitting helmet.
Liner foam comes right down to edge of helmet as that's where many of the hits are taken.
A 'double d' ring (like on motorcycle helmets) for strap joining is the most reliable fastener -- but nobody makes whitewater helmets with these, so would need to be a user mod.
... that's about it!
So as you can see, most helmets on the market do not meet my standard!
Ones that come the closest:
Prijon: Protector (if user paints it a bright colour)
Lidds: Nato
Rock Hedz: Water Weapon
Shred Ready: Full Mental Jacket
When you finally have it padded out, it should not be possible to wiggle it around on your head at all.
/hope that helps
/edwin
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 11:12 AM
edwin -> great post, tons of info (nt)
by Brian
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 1:21 PM
Possible addition to your list
by Sir Adam
Greetings...
Ever check out the old "Resin Heads" helmets? Used to be made by two fellows working in a trailer on the New Wave "factory" grounds. PS Composites has the molds now, and makes helmets...I bought mine for a lot of the features you mention (though I've never measured the thicknesses):
Full coverage Kevlar
4-way strap
Minicell lined
Protects temple and ears well
Cool custom graphics:)
If you check out CBoats.net you'll see me wearing the helmet..if memory serves me correctly the best views are on the Oxygen, Groove, and Cascade pages.
C-ya!
Sir Adam
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 5:25 PM
Yup, I heard about PS Composites helmets ...
by C1Deli
but never tracked them down ... they have pics at:
http://www.customkayak.com/html/accessories.html
Thanks for the tip! I will add them to the list ...
/edwin
Posted on Oct 1, 2002, 1:07 AM
Seda?
by Scott B.
I have a Seda composite helmet, I'm not sure if the "polyethylene foam" liner is up to snuff, but I had replaced it with a minicell liner after a while anyway. It's hard to know what would have happened, but it has absorbed a few blows that I think my old Protec would not have handled so wel...
http://www.sedakayak.com/access.htm
My primary helmet now is a Lidds Nato - I'm very happy with it.
Scott
Posted on Oct 1, 2002, 3:59 AM
so, uh, i guess my Ace isn't any good?
by jimg
Oops, no wonder I am like I am, too many hits on an Ace helmet!
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 7:12 PM
by Dave Dave
I am considering a Rock Hedz Roaster helmet. Are they any good? Comments good or bad appreciated. Thanks.
Posted on Sep 28, 2002, 9:44 AM
Water Weapon looks like it might be functional ... (long)
by C1Deli
I recently became obsessed with helmet design, having taken a good hard look at my old protec and deciding that it was pretty useless.
This article is a decent introduction:
http://www.paddlermagazine.com/issues/2 ... _123.shtml
But having done a lot more reading, and looking at standards and design of motorbike, bicycle and military helmets (including bomb disposal!) I concluded that any helmet worth wearing on whitewater -- especially if you are a C1er who capsizes a lot (hey, don't we all! ) - should have these characteristics:
My standard:
Kevlar/vinylester or carbon/kevlar composite shell, at least 3mm preferably 5-9 mm thick
15 mm stiff foam liner -- this is what absorbs the impact so must not be too soft -- it you can push your finger through to the shell then it is way too soft. Should be very firm, and EPP (expanded polyprop) or minicel.
Ear coverage -- don't want'em ripped off, after all. I like my ears the way they are.
3 or four way straps
Straps joined to helmet are widely spaced and prevent slipping helmet -- vital to keep your hat on, and not slipped so exposing eg. forehead to rocks.
Bright colour -- natural carbon or black or white-helmeted swimmers are nigh on invisible ...
Faceguard -- paddlers actually incur more face injuries than they do head injuries ...
No drain holes -- not ideal as they can weaken the shell a little and are not needed in a properly-fitting helmet.
Liner foam comes right down to edge of helmet as that's where many of the hits are taken.
A 'double d' ring (like on motorcycle helmets) for strap joining is the most reliable fastener -- but nobody makes whitewater helmets with these, so would need to be a user mod.
... that's about it!
So as you can see, most helmets on the market do not meet my standard!
Ones that come the closest:
Prijon: Protector (if user paints it a bright colour)
Lidds: Nato
Rock Hedz: Water Weapon
Shred Ready: Full Mental Jacket
When you finally have it padded out, it should not be possible to wiggle it around on your head at all.
/hope that helps
/edwin
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 11:12 AM
edwin -> great post, tons of info (nt)
by Brian
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 1:21 PM
Possible addition to your list
by Sir Adam
Greetings...
Ever check out the old "Resin Heads" helmets? Used to be made by two fellows working in a trailer on the New Wave "factory" grounds. PS Composites has the molds now, and makes helmets...I bought mine for a lot of the features you mention (though I've never measured the thicknesses):
Full coverage Kevlar
4-way strap
Minicell lined
Protects temple and ears well
Cool custom graphics:)
If you check out CBoats.net you'll see me wearing the helmet..if memory serves me correctly the best views are on the Oxygen, Groove, and Cascade pages.
C-ya!
Sir Adam
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 5:25 PM
Yup, I heard about PS Composites helmets ...
by C1Deli
but never tracked them down ... they have pics at:
http://www.customkayak.com/html/accessories.html
Thanks for the tip! I will add them to the list ...
/edwin
Posted on Oct 1, 2002, 1:07 AM
Seda?
by Scott B.
I have a Seda composite helmet, I'm not sure if the "polyethylene foam" liner is up to snuff, but I had replaced it with a minicell liner after a while anyway. It's hard to know what would have happened, but it has absorbed a few blows that I think my old Protec would not have handled so wel...
http://www.sedakayak.com/access.htm
My primary helmet now is a Lidds Nato - I'm very happy with it.
Scott
Posted on Oct 1, 2002, 3:59 AM
so, uh, i guess my Ace isn't any good?
by jimg
Oops, no wonder I am like I am, too many hits on an Ace helmet!
Posted on Sep 30, 2002, 7:12 PM