I need a helmet for rallycross, and I would like to try autocross in the next few years. So it's not hardcore wheel to wheel stuff where I need the best helmet I can get, nor do I need to wear it for long periods of time. So I want something cheap that's not garbage, closed face, and Snell rated. What does the collective dorkdom recommend, and who should I buy from?
HJC makes some nice light affordable lids with an SA rating.
Auto/rallycross let you use a Snell "M" rated helmet- this is a good thing, because the SA ones are much harder to find a place to try on. Go to your local Cycle Gear or large motorcycle dealer and try on everything in your price range. Buy what fits there, or order it online if their prices suck, but I wouldn't recommend buying something you haven't tried on first- they don't all fit the same, and your head might be shaped well for one model and not another, even though the size on the chart says they're identical.
First, I'd recommend going to a local race shop and trying helmets on. As I found out very recently when buying my new helmet, manufacturers shape their helmets differently. Not only your head size, but your head shape will make a big difference in what fits and what doesn't. Apparently, my head is shaped like a basketball...very round. I tried to just buy online by using sizing charts. I bought a Zamp from SafeRacer.com (which I recommend the company by the way). Turns out Zamp helmets don't fit round heads very well...I felt like I needed a head shaped like Bert from Sesame Street. It was squeezing the crap out of me. Went to a local race shop and found I fit best in RaceQuip brand helmets. Picked up mine for around $225, with SA2015 rating.
The value priced helmets I looked at were Zamp, RaceQuip and HJC
I like my G-Force and it was inexpensive.
Personally, if you are buying it for auto racing, buy an SA rated helmet. If you decide to move beyond rally-X and autocross then an M rated helmet is a paperweight.
Klayfish wrote: First, I'd recommend going to a local race shop and trying helmets on. As I found out very recently when buying my new helmet, manufacturers shape their helmets differently. Not only your head size, but your head shape will make a big difference in what fits and what doesn't.
This is important, try it on before buying it. A helmet that's shaped wrong will ruin your day.
I'll agree with the try it on aspect if you can - but for auto-x you are only going to wear it for 5 min at a time and it's mostly for decoration to make insurance companies feel good. In this particular case (and only this application) I'd get the cheapest open face lid that meets the loosest definition of the rules I could just so you can breathe and see well. If it gives you a headache after that short a time - spend another $50 and get the next size up ;)
In HPDE or racing where you might actually need it's protection and are going to wear it for 25 min at a time or more ... and especially for endurance racing it is critical to get a good fit and not be concerned about cost to a certain degree. Full face only, SA rated. That last bit about the rating isn't because of fire during an HPDE - it's because a number of orgs I instruct for have new rules or plan to soon and so it's going to be mandatory somewhere you want to run so you might as well get it now.
Most mid-tier mfgs use one basic shell shape for a product style so if a Shoei Qwest fits well so will an RF-1200 and a GT-Air. You only need to know your size to buy. You are then choosing model based on features for visor, eye port, venting, radio etc. and the internet is your oyster.
Arai is the big exception here - they cater to different head shapes so you really cannot trust that rule of thumb without trying on everything they make. A Signet is not a Corsair, etc.
I;m still waiting for it to come in, but I just recently ordered my first helmet. Racequip SA 2015 open face for autocross. $6 shipping from soloperformance.com had it around 175. The general size consensus, for me, was Xl after trying the loaners at autocross and the few I could find locally in shops. after I ordered it, saw i on amazon for the same price but free shipping. So don't forget to check their after you find a size and style.
Ok, so after reading this I did a little quick research on the ratings. I think I'm on board with buying an SA helmet instead of M rated, but here is the next question; how far into the foreseeable future will a SA2010 helmet be legal? There seems to be substantial savings by stepping down to a 2010.
2021, by which time the liner will be a stinky, ratty disaster.
gearheadmb wrote: Ok, so after reading this I did a little quick research on the ratings. I think I'm on board with buying an SA helmet instead of M rated, but here is the next question; how far into the foreseeable future will a SA2010 helmet be legal? There seems to be substantial savings by stepping down to a 2010.
Generally speaking, most track day organizations will recognize the most recent helmet and the immediately previous one. Right now is kind of an exception, the lifetime of SA2005s have been extended because it's been taking a very long time for the SA2015s to be widely available.
For autox, SCCA recognizes the most recent spec and two previous ones, in either SM or SA.
Helmet stinkiness can be greatly alleviated by wearing a balaclava underneath.
When I needed a helmet, I went to a local moto gear dealer and tried multiple helmets on and bought the cheapest open face helmet they had and had no issues.
Im a big fan of my Zamp helmet. SA rated and wasnt too hard on the old wallet.
I have an HJC. I bought it because it fits well, and within the SA range it was not an expensive model.
One complaint: Within a couple years, the Nomex wore through on both cheek pads and now I just have exposed foam down there. Still works fine but it looks ratty. Replacements are available but they're something like $60.
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