Any advice or recomendations? My soon to be 13yr old wants to go from Rotax Jr. karts to playing in the dirt in a 750cc/140hp methanol injected minisprint car thay weighs 600lbs. Need to keep junior protected from those nasty walls at Volusia Speedway just in case anything went awry. Thanks.
No experience with the HANS. I do like my DefNder. It was definitely less expensive and a whole heck of a lot more adjustable. I also like the fact that it seems to provide better lateral protection for your neck.
Only downside is that all that adjustability also means added complexity. It takes a lot more time, and an assistant really helps, to get all the straps adjusted to their proper lengths.
I use a HANS, easy to use. My only complaint is it is a giant PITA with standard size shoulder belts. My next set will be narrower to accomodate the HANS.
Duct Tape!
I think the right answer is have him try them on while strapped down in a seat and see what fits best.
Also, factor in how many types of racing he's going to do, and how quickly he'll grow. If you're going between upright and reclining seating, you can't do that with a HANS, but can with the DefNder. If he'll outgrow the gear before changing cars, it won't be a big deal.
ddavidv wrote: I use a HANS, easy to use. My only complaint is it is a giant PITA with standard size shoulder belts. My next set will be narrower to accomodate the HANS.
On my DefNder, it's can be fidly for met to try to get the adjustment locks for my shoulder straps routed so that things lay flat. They tend to get hung up on the notches that are meant to keep the harness from sliding off. Takes a few seconds to sort them out. Not that big a deal, but it adds extra stress to what is, for me, already the most stressful process in racing.
Salanis wrote: I think the right answer is have him try them on while strapped down in a seat and see what fits best.
This. Everyone I've spoken with seems to be firmly in one camp or the other, and not because of fanboi preference, but because of very real issues they have wearing one or the other.
I'd do whatever you can to arrange a tryout. It's too important and expensive a piece of safety equipment to buy it blind.
jg
I bought the DefNder because the HANS pushed hard against my collar bones, while the DefnDer sits above them and is well padded. both are fine, I just found the DefNDer more comfortable. The DefNDer also claims to work better in an offset impact due to the position of the side straps.
If you are using the head and neck device for multiple drivers (as we do fro our Lemons car) , the initial purchase of the DefNDer is less, but the helmet posts cost more than the HANS helmet posts do.
I went HANS last winter and have found it's user-friendly and comfortable. I was buying harnesses at the same time so I got the Schroth Profi HANS-specific ones. They're 2" over the shoulders/HANS area then widen to 3". I've worn the device at numerous track days - but have yet to "try it out" and truly hope to keep it that way....
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