Alptitude!

Helmet Sizing

Talking Heads

Helmets and FAI Categorization

I remember when  on my motor biking training course, another women on the course was going on about how much she’d paid for her helmet… saying she’d got if for 25 quid! My biking instructor simply turned around and asked her how much her head was worth?! Needless to say, she never used the helmet and borrowed one of the schools on that training day.

When it comes to helmets a good fitting helmet is vital protection, and should be chosen with the greatest of care and respect in order for it to do the job it was made to do. Skimping on any aspect of a good helmet be that financially or putting up with one that ‘nearly’ fits, or one that has already taken a bashing, and you’re doing yourself no favours.

There are a vast array of helmets on the market today, so it may be a good idea to take a step back and have a closer look at what we’re investing in. Is it for protection? is it to look good? is it a good colour that matches our glider? Or is it to comply with FAI regulations?

Certification is a strange bedfellow… it is supposed to be there for our protection, is it not?! And yet within this certification a section of pilots may find themselves at greater risk.

The FAI decided to sanction a helmet restriction to that of EN966 certified helmets being acceptable for Category 1 competitions only, thus eliminating other helmets carrying a different certification. Although this, level of competition does not affect me personally it may well be that the ruling may filter down into other levels of competition where it may become an obligatory requirement for entry.

This in itself is ok for people with a head circumference of more than 56cms or thereabouts, as the majority of EN966 helmets manufactured tend to be towards the medium to large size, if however you are of a smaller stature finding a well fitting helmet that is certified EN966 is much more difficult.

There are many helmets that have passed the EN966 certification, although have not lived up to that protection level given a live situation.

I would like to introduce the first helmet of EN966 certification which is described by Dennis as a Dinghy Bailer… how this helmet ever got certified just mystifies me!

I admit this helmet really does look sleek and aerodynamic but where is the side protection? flaw number one. Most paraglider pilots, in fact every paraglider pilot at one time or another has been dragged, be that during learning or getting caught unawares, getting dragged can be on the side of the face and head as well as on the front or back, the second flaw in this helmet is the aerodynamic shape although ok when flying (where you don’t need it as such) this design serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever if you come in heavy. Unfortunately we have witnessed how useless this helmet is in its security or lack of, as it does not in any way retain its position on the head should it receive the slightest of jolts.

This design may suggest that the aerodynamic cut or dare I say the fashion aspect is the main criteria, as it easily slips, slides and tilts almost off the head if it is knocked from any angle, exposing the parts of the head it is supposed to protect at the time of need. A questionable helmet for any size head.

EN966 Certified.

 

This second helmet is again another great looking helmet; at least this one has the side protection, but be warned if you don’t have a large head prepare for some padding.

I decided I’d like to try this helmet as it apparently comes in an XS and S size. This is not a helmet that is made to ‘fit’ it comes in a ‘one size fits all’ configuration based on an XL shell. I can cope with a ‘one size fits all’ T-shirt or something, but certainly not in an item of vital importance such as a life-saving helmet!

Well this helmet arrived with so much padding it was laughable! An XL shell with medium, small and extra small padding all to be stuck inside! I even tried to put the XS band around my head before putting this helmet on, totally unsatisfactory. Again with all this soft padding on the inside the helmet did not have any security in holding its position as it was easy to hold my head still, and turn the helmet. It was basically a massive helmet on a small head!

EN966 certified.

Note* if this helmet fits you, then all well and good, but for pilots with smaller heads, watch the padding, it is extremely important that the helmet is made for your size of head.

We get nearer to an FAI approved helmet that fits the smaller head as we try out this helmet.

This is quite a nice helmet although it would be nice to have a wider choice. The padding is substantial enough although I found it sits quite high on the head when new, so feels like it could spring off easily, when it’s worn in a bit it then settles around the head and fits much better. Personally, I prefer a hard shell to cover the ears and not the material ear coverings; firstly for the sturdier protection and insulation and secondly they make radio attachments much easier. However, this was the closest I’d got to an accepted helmet I could cope with. I hasten to add, that this helmet was firstly categorised with  an *EN1077 certification and later received the added EN966 certification. Given the award of both certifications it appears that the differences between the two categories cannot be that great!

EN1077 and  EN966 Certified.

The only other EN966 certified helmets tend to be far too heavy duty and are designed mainly for motorised aircraft and the public sector.

 

*Finally enter the EN1077 category helmet…

Built for snow sports and built well. With snowboard and ski helmets the market is so much larger that manufacturers construct helmets to cover the vast majority of head sizes from children to adults centimetre by centimetre all with excellent protection and made with the finest carbon fibre, and Kevlar. The internal padding is also constructed using the finest materials for comfort as well as protection. I am not suggesting that the EN966 helmets are constructed any less when it comes down to the materials used but some designs and the sizes available offer a very limited choice in comparison, and a make do extra padding philosophy is just not good enough. Helmets should not be adjustable items; they should be made to fit the individual. I wouldn’t buy a pair of adjustable shoes so why would I buy an adjustable helmet?! The damage that can be done by wearing a pair of ill fitting shoes is nothing compared to the damage that can be sustained from an ill fitting helmet?! The only adjustable allowance given to a helmet should be the chin strap and nothing more.

 

From this standpoint I tried this ski/snowboard helmet….

From the moment I put it on it felt like it was tailor made, It fitted like a glove, with perfect protection, excellent secure and well insulated padding, it sat securely on the head, without any discrepancies in size or protection. This helmet remained in place when holding it straight and trying to turn my head, it didn’t shift up, down or side to side, the ear coverings were semi-solid so it was easy to attach radio speakers within, in three words … this helmet fitted!!!

The number one priority is does it fit?!! Yes, does it protect all around the head including the sides? Yes, does it turn when I keep my head still? No. Does it slip up and down or side to side? No. Does it feel loose in any areas, or are there areas where I can feel excess pressure? No. Is the clasp secure? Yes,

Is it comfortable, yes….

is it EN966 certified NO….

What’s the solution…

Well, I decided to contact the EN certification standards agency and ask them the procedure for obtaining a Categorisation EN966 on an EN1077 helmet. After some deliberation, making suggestions and requests to manufacturers, I was eventually lead back to the British Standards Institute where it was explained that I’d need at least 10 helmets to complete all the tests. When I enquired as to how they perform the tests I was informed that it’s all based on the pressure at the top of the helmet, at what point the helmet gives or breaks given the speed/pressure at the point of impact. So there is no test on the sides or fitting. There is no stipulation that states the classification becomes invalid should the helmet not fit. As it happens I couldn’t afford to buy ten more helmets to obtain a certification so left it at that.

I don’t know of many pilots who have sustained injuries from hitting the deck like an earth dart head first, but I do know that given the nature of our sport that pilots can come in from all angles from the front, side and the back so if there’s even a small chance of a high impact, or for that matter a low impact collision with a solid object we need to minimise the risk with a well fitted helmet, made for the size of our heads, and one that provides all  round complete protection.

Helmets, do come down to personal choice, some prefer full face, whilst others prefer open face, both these styles of helmets have their advantages, but making sure whatever helmet you choose fits, should be of paramount importance and the overall dominating factor. Head injuries can be devastating, and it is certainly worth making the investment in a correctly fitted helmet.

When it comes down to FAI competitions… may I make a suggestion, that a disclaimer be  made available for those pilots who cannot find a correctly fitted suitable EN966 certified helmet and that they take full responsibility for the helmet they personally choose to wear. Or at least accept EN1077 certified helmets also.

Maybe in a few years time helmet manufacturers will recognise the Paragliding market as a worthy investment and choose to test more for an EN966 certification but until that time it’s more important to keep our heads talking with helmets that fit, than silenced with helmets that don’t.

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These videos are very good for showing you how to check you’re wearing the right size helmet, although the first video is demonstrating a Motorcycle helmet there are some good pointers on how to check it’s right for you, the principle is generally the same for helmet sizing so it should give you a good idea.  There are aspects that are not really relevant to paragliding eg. the effects excessive wind speeds have on the helmet but for the most part you should find it helpful. If you wear a full face helmet you may find the information on the motorcycle video more relevant. The second video is much shorter and is demonstrated on a ski/snowboard helmet which relates a little closer to an  open face paragliding helmet.

However, nothing is mentioned about the chin strap or clasp, on either of these videos but so long as you’re not garrotting yourself and it feels and fits snugly that should be fine. It’s worth checking the clasp can’t slip or undo itself easily.

If you have the time you may find watching them both worthwhile and helpful.