full face helmets

Yeah, well I've been considering getting a full face for skiing this year. I've never been much of a helmet guy but I've had a few concussions from rugby in the past and found myself wondering at the top of hucks/tight rocky chutes, if I shouldn't be wearing some noggin protection, not to mention I've already busted my 2 front teeth and a repeat would suck... So I got a RED Hifi and didn't really like it so barely wore it, mainly for park I guess. In my searches, I haven't really found much variety in terms of full faces for skiing, mainly the Mad Max S. I figure I want something along those lines, mainly for big, charging days and hopefully I'll get so used to it I end up always wearing it. Any suggestions from Mags in the know? Oh yeah, places to try em out in Van/Whis would be helpful

thanks

A few things,

1. If you're used to wearing a hat, then a full face might be a bit more than you'd like to deal with. I have a non full face solly helmet that i wear probably %90 of the time. Some bc days I wear a hat, and my fullface only comes out on those special days when I know I will be sending it. Most full faces are pretty hot (not vented) and can get annoying and uncomfortable (but they look core right?) If you only ever wear a hat, myabe just get a normal helmet first.

2. The mad max is burly as fuck, and just feels reasuring, but it has a very strange (blockheaded, square) shape, and if it doesn't fit you, it will come off if you go cartwheeling. The helmet I am currently looking into is the Pro Tec Ace Spade. Far lighter and lower profile than the mad max, fits me much better (narrower) is better vented, and has some kind of special lining thats good for multiple impacts. Check out thier website for details.

I'm actually using a $45 Bell full face helmet from walmart
it seems almost the same as the $100 bell MTB fullface (walmart one had ratigns for biking and skateboarding heh) without the fancy paitn job (bu I like the flat grey).

It didn't fog and it fit gogles fairly well! I had to cut out some cloth on the jaw piece breathability.

You'll have to remove a lot of X Games stickers...

It gets worn on ski days where I am doing big things and on DH MTB days.

I tried on a pro-tec ace-spade full face.

Pros:
- fit me rather well (a tiny bit snug). I have an oval-head, front to back, and round on top. The ear pads were a little tight, kinda squished my ears.
- felt pretty solid. Imagine their current offering, with a snugger fit that extended down and offered more coverage
- not too heavy. I was kind of worried it would be annoyingly heavy, but it's not
- great for cold days...probably the ideal thing, actually.
- available cheap ($50) online right now

Cons:
- horrible on warm days. I know I get rid of a lot of heat through my ears, and I would be miserable.

AFAIK, the mtb ace spade is the same as the ski version, and i know it seems to pop up in more searches right now.

I'm gonna look into the Protec Ace of Spades... Leroy, as I was saying, this would mainly be for days when big stuff was in the offing. I figure I need to get out though and try some on. Not so worried about looking core, moer about protecting my face from my kness and other obstacles that seem to get in the way... heh heh

thanks for the suggestions

Knees can still sneak up under most Full Faces{ still better than no full face}. However a mouth gaurd is probably the best protection from incoming knees. best $8.99 I have spent on protective gear.

Depending on your budget,or if you ride MTB too, checking out the TroyLeeDesign D2 carbon might be worth it.
Simply the best ff around there,imho.
Light,snug,lowprofile and burly.

The difference between abs/composite and carbon helmets are huge.My old 661 bravo that i wrecked weighted almost 800grms more than the TLD.Wich is quite a lot of extra weight for your neck to bear..


But,it all depends.

I use this specialized deviant if i think its going to be getting a bit sketchy. Nice and venitilated, light due to carbon and with a proper motorbike helmet style chinstrap lock so it doesn't fly off when you cartwheel.
http://www.mbaction.com/archive/3%20%20DEVIANT.jpg


For everyday skiing, i use the Leedom Limit Cut as it was the only one i found that could fit round my huge melon of a head.

http://www.evogear.com/imgp/500/5412...lack_Image.jpg

Second the Troy Lee D2 recommendation. I've owned many full face helmets (ex DH mtbr) including the TLD SE moto helmet and the D2 is the best compromise between light weight and durability. Moto helmets offer the best protection but are very bulky. Most mtb helmets are toys compared to the D2. Only drawback is that you could buy 2-4 other helmets for the price of one D2.

Giro flint SC (bolt on chin guard) and Burton MT2? have on off vents
Also the salomon X??? helm has the on/off vents too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jer

Second the Troy Lee D2 recommendation. I've owned many full face helmets (ex DH mtbr) including the TLD SE moto helmet and the D2 is the best compromise between light weight and durability. Moto helmets offer the best protection but are very bulky. Most mtb helmets are toys compared to the D2. Only drawback is that you could buy 2-4 other helmets for the price of one D2.

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Do you people actually ski in mtb or even motoX helmets? Great way to protect your head while inviting a neck injury.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

Do you people actually ski in mtb or even motoX helmets? Great way to protect your head while inviting a neck injury.

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D2 is a mtb helmet and is VERY light. my normal ski helmet is about the same weight. i dont own one, due to the price, but i have a friend who is tied in with tld. its the lightest full face ive ever seen. but i havent seen many. the se helmet for motox isnt near as light, but offers much more protection. i dont see any need, nor would i recommend one, for skiing unless you did snowmobile access and used it for that too.

im currently another user of the 40 dollar wal-mart one. its works fine. i put a tld sticker kit on it and it looks sick. nothing special.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

Do you people actually ski in mtb or even motoX helmets? Great way to protect your head while inviting a neck injury.

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Actaully, lots of people do. Personally, I think the chin bar makes them kinda unnecessarily bulky for skinning/hiking with it on your back, plus the chin bar gets in the way of an Avalung mouthpiece and I'd think it would make clearing a breathing space next to impossible in the event you go for a ride. That and they look a little too "Darth Vader", but then again people used to say the same thing about regular ski helmets eight years ago.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jer

...I'd think it would make clearing a breathing space next to impossible in the event you go for a ride.

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Personally, I would not be comfortable hucking into a potential slide zone. I could see using one in tight chutes/coolies, etc. but generally if I'm going to be "sending it" I want to be damn sure of the snowpack.

I was checking out some TLD D2s and they seem to run from $200 to just shy of $400... Is the differemce between them just that the more spendy ones have more carbon in em and hence, are lighter? Would one of the lighter ones compare in weight to say a Mad Max? I'm not gonna lie, they are fuckin bad-ass lookin'...

Now I just need to find somewhere local to try em on

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rugbydave

I was checking out some TLD D2s and they seem to run from $200 to just shy of $400... Is the differemce between them just that the more spendy ones have more carbon in em and hence, are lighter?

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There are the "carbon" ones that are something like 60% carbonfibre, 30% aramide fibre and 10% glass.Or something.

Then there is the "compostite" that has some carbon matting in it,but is heavier and flimsier.


And most (havent found any,actually) of the other brands "carbon" fibre helmets have only 10-20% of carbon fibre in them,at best.
Or only have the outer layer coating of carbon fibre to make them look posh.



And leroy, the TLD D2 carbons are very light,compared to other mtb helmets,or even skiing helmets.
So if you get a huckneck from it,you are going to get a huckneck even if you would wear hair and fleas...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Squatch

I tried on a pro-tec ace-spade full face.

Pros:
- fit me rather well (a tiny bit snug). I have an oval-head, front to back, and round on top. The ear pads were a little tight, kinda squished my ears.
- felt pretty solid. Imagine their current offering, with a snugger fit that extended down and offered more coverage
- not too heavy. I was kind of worried it would be annoyingly heavy, but it's not
- great for cold days...probably the ideal thing, actually.
- available cheap ($50) online right now

Cons:
- horrible on warm days. I know I get rid of a lot of heat through my ears, and I would be miserable.

AFAIK, the mtb ace spade is the same as the ski version, and i know it seems to pop up in more searches right now.

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I have the MTB version im assuming you have the skiing one? Only difference is mine has more vents than the ski one....i could see it being hot...I have a shaved head and sweat in it on pow days.....still, rather be a little hot than have a broken face!:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leroy jenkins

Do you people actually ski in mtb or even motoX helmets? Great way to protect your head while inviting a neck injury.

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That claim requires backup. What's your source?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spats

That claim requires backup. What's your source?

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I guess what leroy is refering too is that wearing a heavier helmet puts more strain on your neck when hucking/crashing around.
Wich makes sense.

I know one DH rider that changed from motox helmet to lighter helmet because of her neck problems.

mine is a six six one and i love it....light and breathable....only downside is the color of mine........this is the newer version of the same thing.... http://sixsixone.com/catalog.aspx?id...dbcfc0&pl=BIKE

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MOHSHSIHd

I have the MTB version im assuming you have the skiing one? Only difference is mine has more vents than the ski one....i could see it being hot...I have a shaved head and sweat in it on pow days.....still, rather be a little hot than have a broken face!:eek:

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I actually think that they are the exact same design, just some are marketed as "ski" and some as "bike"

edit: does your version have mesh coverings on the top vents, or is it open? that's the only possible difference i could see from their website. and i don't actually have it, so take what i say with a grain of salt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spats

That claim requires backup. What's your source?

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Growing up in the motorcycle racing circle I can remember several instances where people received neck injuries in otherwise benign crashes due to helmet weight. That is why you see people wearing something like this a lot these days:

http://www.sixsixone.com/images/stor...ct/6481-00.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FREESKIER_FIVE-0

D2 is a mtb helmet and is VERY light. my normal ski helmet is about the same weight. i dont own one, due to the price, but i have a friend who is tied in with tld. its the lightest full face ive ever seen. but i havent seen many. the se helmet for motox isnt near as light, but offers much more protection. i dont see any need, nor would i recommend one, for skiing unless you did snowmobile access and used it for that too.

im currently another user of the 40 dollar wal-mart one. its works fine. i put a tld sticker kit on it and it looks sick. nothing special.

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Walmart $40 Bell special is 2lbs rated for bike and skateboard. That is hardly a neck buster... only a few ounces heavier than non fullface low end and older ski helmets... less than a pound heavier than the top of the line light normal ski helmets...

http://www.soulskier.com/summit/060324ev/summit.jpg
Self Portrait


Now when Telekoptero was skiingaround in his fugly MOTORCYCLE helmet with the chingaurd hacksawed off... that was a neck bust waiting to happen!

Now that is a deal, given the price, weight, and applicability.

Why wouldn't this work?

http://www.footballamerica.com/produ...s/P0015253.jpg