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10-24-2012, 12:13 PM | #1 |
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Open Vs. Closed face helmet???
Hey guys,
Other than saftey/comfort reasons, is there any reason to get a full face helmet? i.e. some tracks wont let you on with open face? Drag racing requires closed face? Anything like that I should be looking at before deciding? Thanks, D |
10-24-2012, 12:38 PM | #2 |
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None that I know of.
A closed face is good in case you do a face plant into the steering wheel.
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10-24-2012, 01:03 PM | #3 |
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If you're a television automobile journalist an open face is applicable. If you want a cheap and easy autox helmet go open face.
I can't see another reason to go open faced ONLY. I'd have it as a second helmet maybe...but never as a primary. ...but you have an airbag car...great but maybe you want to ride with your instructor with a full caged track car with harnesses. ...what also I don't get is why people have their shield up with no glasses. Crap flies in the car all the time...something small in your eyes can cause a lot of problems at speed/in traffic.
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10-24-2012, 02:21 PM | #4 |
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I feel like certain organizations don't allow open face helmets on track. I like the added protection of full face - ive had things fly into the cabin before while on track (rubber, rocks, etc) and prefer the extra safety I have.
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10-24-2012, 02:29 PM | #5 |
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Closed, because it looks cooler, get a mirrored visor and keep it down, looks even better. Also, as others have said, closed will protect you better from all the shit that flies around.
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10-24-2012, 04:16 PM | #7 |
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I had a piece of rubber hit me in the eye with my face shield up. Luckily I was riding shotgun because it hurt and screwed up my vision for a few minutes.
Now I always keep the shield down or at most slightly cracked for ventialtion. I've heard that leaving your face shield up is dangerous because the airbag can grab it and whip your head back. Not sure how true it is but just another consideration. I'd prefer the full face just for debris on track days. An open face helmet is probably fine for just autox though. |
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10-24-2012, 04:46 PM | #8 |
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Yeah, you get more stuff flung at you as you run with more cars with slicks and r-comps. My visor always fogs so I wear army issued ballistic oakley's underneath.
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10-24-2012, 05:35 PM | #9 |
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In an Instructor seminar last Spring - I saw a brief presentation about running helmets with visors in cars with airbags. The concern was in an impact - the airbag catching the edge of an open visor and violently rotating the helmet backward (rotating bottom-to-top) as the airbag inflates. This was apparently driven by real-world incidents.
The guidance/recommendation was to have the visor open no more than two fingers (index and middle) wide. Just thought I mention it because it had never occurred to me. |
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10-24-2012, 07:03 PM | #10 |
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Here in NJ, the law will soon mandate closed face helmets. It actually already does but there is a temporary exemption in one case I know of. I've heard about the face shield issue with airbag deployment and this is a concern. Some of us wonder whether closed face with visor removed might be the best answer for HPDE.
In the end, there's always going to be some risk. I use a closed face myself, but I do leave the visor open. Maybe not ideal.
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10-24-2012, 07:07 PM | #11 |
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If you have to run with windows open, closed face is the only choice IMO. I run an open cockpit car now and have had stuff work its way to my eyeballs even with the visor closed.
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10-24-2012, 09:19 PM | #12 |
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Great thread and never heard about the airbag and face shield.
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10-26-2012, 03:26 PM | #13 |
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As others have said, closed face mostly for debris and also to add lower face protection in the event of a crash / airbag deployment. I have both and tried the open face during the last track day but had a couple scares with rocks coming in and will stick with the full face from now on.
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10-26-2012, 10:07 PM | #16 |
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Wow, he had the presence of mind to put his hand up to cover his eyes...
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10-26-2012, 10:14 PM | #17 |
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I would have screamed like a little girl! That's f'ing crazy!
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10-26-2012, 10:57 PM | #19 |
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Thanks for all the great advise and experience guys. Closed it is.
And wow, good thing there are no deer out at Willow Springs. Heh. D |
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10-27-2012, 12:54 AM | #20 |
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10-27-2012, 06:32 AM | #21 | |
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Quote:
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10-27-2012, 09:24 AM | #22 |
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Solid choice! I love the soft padding in the AR10
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