Helmets

[Biggles]

I have searched the Forums and seen lots of information on Helmets. However they all appear to be Gecko Helmets.

Now I saw the Gecko stand at the Boat Show and got to try a couple on. They do seem like a good product. They are light, seem to be well made and the extra options are good. Although the Full face version looks a bit Star War like.

The trouble is they appear to be very expensive. £98 for the cheapest one and probably more like £130 once you've got some extras added on to it.

Does anyone know of any other manufacturer of Marine Helmets anywhere in the world or do Gecko have the market cornered ?

[Keith Hart]

Yes

For my circumnavigation and Pentland Firth trip I brought a 'Yak' canoe helmet. I also had some UVEX goggles.

Reasons:

1. £24.00 (as opposed to £130)
2. I wanted a very light helmet
3. I like to feel the wind in my face
4. Canoe helmets are designed to protect your bonce from rocks

Results:

1. A comfortable helmet
2. No bumps from the a frame etc
3. It dried out quickly
4. A satisfied customer

You can get them from any canoe shop.

Check them out here:
http://www.getoutcanoeing.co.uk/

Highly recommended, and believe me it had a VERY stringent test. I think I'll do a write up for RI.

Keith (chief head banger) Hart

[Brian]

Can anybody explain why Keith is driving his boat across the Pentland Firth with his eyes shut?
Is it more dificult like that?
What next?

[Keith Hart]

I was frightened Brian, I was being chased by Cyanide and Magellan Alpha!

Keith (Brian was there) Hart

[Brian]

Blast!!
And we nearly caught you up as well.

[MarkWildey]

I reckon Keith was trying to remember where he put his goggles

Mark

[Mike C]

Are you sure that's Keith, it looks more like Sadam Hussein to me!



On a more serious note, I'm sure canoe helmets are fine but you can't beat a good cover for your ears and a visor.... It shuts the weather right out!

I agree the Gecko are very expensive but don't be tempted with a motorcycle helmet as the extra weight will do your neck in!

Summer cruising is so much more uncluttered!

Mike C

[Keith Hart]

but you can't beat a good cover for your ears and a visor.... It shuts the weather right out

Mike C, yes that was the point, I didn't want to shut out the wind, I wanted to feel and hear rather than be shut inside a helmet.

I absulutley agree - NO motorcycle helmets. In any case they are usualy much more expensive than £130.00!

Saddam (keith hart lookalike) Hussein

PS don't tell he US Army, they'll nuke my house......

[Biggles]

I probably will end up getting a Gecko Helmet I just wanted to see if there were any different options available.

Some of those Canoeing helmets Keith sent a link to don't look too bad but none of them have a visor.

Anybody in America have an input on this subject as the USA always seem to be cheaper and have some products that never seem to hit the streets in the UK.

[Biggles]

Click here: Gath Helmets

Found another manufacturer of Helmets.

In the USA this time.

Don't know if the inserted link will work but its nice to be able to compare products.

Still looking.

[John Gore]

I've used a Gecko helmet for the last three years, with a full face visor, and can thoroughly recommend them. They certainly are comfortable and helps you feel that bit braver when the sea is rougher than normal.

As for Keith worrying about the Yanks nuking his house, he shouldn't worry because knowing their record of "own goals" they'll most likely hit Ireland instead!

[Brian]

If I may just put in a teansey word about Gekko helmets, should you decide to go for one?
I found that the full face visor got steamed up too easily. I had it changed for a half-visor and am much happier with that.
Also I had the ear positions drilled through and sponge bungs fitted. Now I can hear better!.......... but still keep me lugs warm.
Great helmets. And a super company to deal with.

[DGR]

Biggles,

Firstly, I don't know much about Gecko helmets - but I've got a Gath helmet. I use it for surfing rather than anything else. I don't know whether their newer ones are better/offer more protection - but they are very lightweight - I wouldn't want to bang my head on anything too solid in a boat with it.

They also have a disclaimer in the paperwork that comes with it - not to do anything else with the helmet but surf!!

I see that they have a 'snow' helmet - so maybe they have branched out a bit beyond surfing. It's a great surf-lid though...

Regards,

Dylan...

[The Jackeens]

very happy with my (popular brand name mentioned in previous posts) new helmet bought at Southampton. (no free publicity from me). Don't mind my ears covered as I can ignore Jackeen as we go along.
Also doubly happy being Irish in case of mishits mentioned above...

By the way ...sighting of rubber ducky (yellow plastic / orange beak) out in the Solent yesterday bobbing around between Wootton and Osborne. Hubby wouldn't stop so could someone let the appropriate authorities know?(RSPPB?)... Probably household pet & has escaped from someone's bathroom. Looked like a baby...perhaps offspring of that big orange thing looking for a name on forum recently...

We'll try & look it up on our next voyage. I wanted to go back there and then but Jackeen says we can't afford to look after any more air-filled plastic things...

Please let me know if you see it (attention Mrs. Jackeen as Jackeen himself doesn't care at all ...at all...)

Missus

[Richard B]

Originally posted by jackeen
...sighting of rubber ducky (yellow plastic / orange beak) out in the Solent yesterday ... Probably household pet & has escaped from someone's bathroom.

I've checked our bathroom - not ours!

[jwalker]

Originally posted by Keith Hart


Mike C, yes that was the point, I didn't want to shut out the wind, I wanted to feel and hear rather than be shut inside a helmet.

I absulutley agree - NO motorcycle helmets. In any case they are usualy much more expensive than £130.00!
:

I absolutley disagree. I like mine a lot and I've never found it a bit heavy. Some of you seem to like noise and cold lugs, but not me. I like quiet, dry and cosy.
As a white water canoeist who has tested his helmet while upside down, there is limited protection. Rock bumps helmet - helmet bumps head. On the plus side, they drain quickly after rolling up but that doesn't strike me as a useful feature for a Rib/Sib.
Oh, canoe helmets let the rain in too.

I know, with a motorcycle helmet, there is considered to be an issue with neck if one falls overboard at speed, but I've never done this and I don't intend to. There are other ways of having fun.

[The Jackeens]

I've checked our bathroom - not ours!

Thanks Richard ...I'm so frightened it will end up as a fender for a jackeen-sized rib

K

[washer]

Gecko ............. Full face never mind the price

when the weather get bad you'll wish you had one on (full face every time) love them......... best helmets out, thats if you like going out in the winter or bad weather.

Well done GECKO ................ Keep up the good work.

[Keith Hart]

when the weather get bad you'll wish you had one on (full face every time) love them.....

That is a personal opinion of course. The point I was making is that there are ALTERNATIVES. I do not like feeling enclosed when out on the boat, even in rough weather (and believe me I've been out for some very long days in some very rough weather). Others may prefer to be enclosed. Choice is all about knowing what the alternatives are.

Keith (I choose to use brackets) Hart

[Jelly]

The point about Motorcycle helmets and the older Gecko models was the fact that when the wearer fell in the helmet 'bucketed' and created a much greater whiplash effect.
The gecko also had a problem that the visor didn't break off, the brass studs have an issue of corroding together.

We covered this to a great extent in previous threads, lets just say I won't wear a Gecko again having seen the Navy test reports and I'm very glad so few of us have fallen in wearing helmets.
I don't know about the new model so they may well have addressed this issue.
Rgds
Jelly