kurt M

agree. I think the weight plays a measurable part in impact safety with regards to helmets. That said I see a wide range of weights across the $ range. As said the FIA buckets are heaver than Snell. Are the $1000 FIA less safe than the $300 Snell? If weight is as much a key as I think it is then the FIA helmets might be less safe as a group.

There are few in the sport that have truly unlimited funds and the spare no cost concept has no end point. $1K helmet, hans, full cage with dual door systems and foot well protection, floor plate under driver, fire supression, race suit shoes gloves, halo full containment, right side netting, CF side impact systems, fuel cells, inside and outside cut off and impact switches and many many more things can be addressed in the name of safety.
There seems to be no information availble via testing or real world showing the high $ helmets to be any safer in than the less expensive Snell or FIA ones. Is it one of the "It just makes sense" things?

Edward

Now ya see, I wanted to say this, but refrained because I don't know any of the tech tidbits behind the testing of helmets. But as a long-time motorcycle rider, I have never seen any data, ever, supporting the assersion that spending more money beyond a sound, Snell-approved brainbucket offers better protection than a less-costly one of equal rating. Sorry, but the "your head is worth the $1000 helmet" point is what we say to emotionally justify an expense sans data.

So please, someone prove me wrong and offer real data, supported by professional consensus, that corrolates helmet cost with increased safety. At that point, I will then spend the extra dough when my Snell SA expires, but only if I see real proof. And FWIW, I am also saving up for HANS (or Issac, do folks still use/like that system?) as I do believe real safety expenditures are priceless.

Edward

Flying Finn

I think that within limits, more money you spend, lighter the helmet you'll get. Which of course is a good thing.

Unless you spend about 12,000 euros which will get you the Schuberth F1 hat (heated visor included), then you'll have a helmet that can withstand a tank being driven over it.

I'm 100% sure none of the $1000 helmets can survive that.

Circuit Motorsports

One of the lightest helmets is about 350 bucks by zero9. The most expensive Bell is over half a pound heavier. Weight vs Cost is all over teh place.

Cheapest FIA helmet is about 1700 last I checked. Same standard that the Schuberth is built to. However remember that some of those FIA standards apply more readily to open wheel situations of things like springs and such hitting you. While this can happen in a closed car it's much less likely.

After ensuring that helmets fit look at the entire picture and choose what helmet fits your needs the best.

Flying Finn

That's interesting, I have Bell (Auto, motorcycle and dirt bike) helmets and they certainly don't feel that light but I'd guessed weight goes hand in hand with price.

Schubert F1 is obviously designed for F1 and like you said, flying objects are a big concern. In fact Schubert revised their helmet after Massa got injured.

BTW, even though the cheapest FIA helmet is built to same standard as Schuberth, I have no doubt Schuberth exceeds that standard by a wider margin that that cheapest FIA hat.

Edward

Joe,

I want to thank your for your input (twice) on this thread. You've repeated the importance of fit, not to mention reiterated that cost/safety (and weight) bear no positive correlations given like safety ratings. You could, of course, opine that the more expensive unit is the better unit, but you consistently say otherwise. And weighing the big picture of one's needs: exactly my point. That you are a vendor, your stance speaks volumes of your integrity in my book. Rest assured I will be seeking you out when in need of further track-related goodies. Best to you!

Edware

fleadh

I know it's a different price range than the original poster was interested in, but for anyone else in the market-- I just picked up a Stilo ST4F 8860 and it's awesome. I kinda wish I had got the ST4W (wider eye port), but at the time they didn't have an 8860 rated version.

I ordered it with the factory installed ear muffs, radio/com system, hydration, eject system, and top mounted forced air. It's nice not having to hack on your own helmet, and I find the built in ear muffs/speakers 100x better than jamming ear buds into my ears. It also has different padding available for the inside so it can fit a wide variety of head/face shapes easily. :-)

I haven't weighed my old Bell GTX, but it feels lighter than that helmet and it has the higher safety rating (thicker shell).

-mike

fatbillybob

Isaac is now a little further out. Scca next year mandates head neck restraints to sfi like Hans and the safety solutions variants.

I'm starting a thread on helmet fit and hope some of you will comment there so I don't hijack this thread.

jurnes

If you get a new helmet that fits, and use it until it no longer meets the regulatory requirements, you will be getting a least 6-8 years use. A $300 helmet vs a $900 helmet is only a few extra bucks per track day.

For the few extra $$$ you get a lighter better fitting helmet (and possibly safer also)

This might be a "penny wise pound foolish" example!

333pg333

Looks very interesting. Could easily see this style of helmet becoming a standard in the near future.

kurt M

You are right it might be a penny wise pound foolish exercise except for the examples that seem to disprove this line of reason. As Joe points out the Zero9 is $350 and lighter than many others. Many feel strongly that the cost is fully related to the performance. Few seem to have any measurable data or are not willing to share.

I suspect that after a level of impact G force absorption and puncture protection it becomes a matter of the human body the protected head is running not being able to survive. Once the helmet is able to provide beyond this point improvements elsewhere might be the place to look. Helmet alone / helmet and hans / body retention system. I bet a basic entry level helmet /hans/seat/belt setup is far better in a tin top wreck than the worlds be$t helmet alone.

Buy / build a good system.

schell

My thoughts exactly, I had a 300-400 decent helmet I used for a few years, the quality difference of my new $900 helmet is huge, weight is much less, inside materials much better, since it comes in 1/2 sizes the fit is much better.