Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

Winging/Foil Head Protection

Forum for wing surfers
JMS86
Rare Poster
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 5:27 am
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby JMS86 » Fri Feb 03, 2023 11:14 pm

I am sure theres a whole thread on this with recommendations, I am just not finding it in the search bar.
Im getting older and looking for a light weight alternative to a helmet while winging/foil.

Has anyone used this one or similar style? https://www.decathlon.com/products/deca ... et-327505
Image

User avatar
JakeFarley
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 919
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2016 11:54 pm
Kiting since: 2001
Weight: 92kg
Local Beach: Florida Left Coast, USA
Favorite Beaches: Any that are not crowded.
Style: Dinosaur style (Velociraptor)
Gear: Kites: Flysurfer Speed5 21m, Soul 12m, Cabrinha 16m Xbow, 11m Xbow, Best 14m HP Nemesis, 9m Yarga C Hybrid
Boards: Crazyfly 135 x 46 Pro, Cabrinha Spoiler 140, 6' custom surfboard, 122 x 46 custom twintip
Wing foil: Naish Hover 110l, Slingwing 6.4m, F-One CWC Strike 8m, Slingshot Hover Glide Fwing (Infinity 99), Slingshot Phantasm 926 and E 990
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Pearl City
Has thanked: 187 times
Been thanked: 144 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby JakeFarley » Sat Feb 04, 2023 12:42 am

I have not used one but you might perhaps consider a light weight hard helmet (covering the ears). I am a bit skeptical of a soft helmet bearing the impact on a foil but I guess it's better than nothing. I wear an old Pro-tec helmet from my windsurfing days when I am kiting in extreme conditions and while winging (all the time). While I have not hit my head while winging, I have hit my head on the foil while assembling/attaching it to the board (guess I'm not that careful). Had the helmet on and it saved me a few bumps/cuts. I also wear a life vest for impact protection. Safety first!

I once saw a video of a winger without a helmet falling off the board hitting the back of his head on the foil. The video did not show the aftermath but I don't think it was good.

OzBungy
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 2756
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:35 am
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 219 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby OzBungy » Sat Feb 04, 2023 2:20 am

Lots of those people use those hats in my area. They seem pretty happy with them. They're very cheap.

Head protection is pretty much essential for wing foiling. All the gear is attached to you and random bumps are common. I've never had a hard whack from a board or a foil, but I've been happy to be wearing a helmet when the board is bouncing off the back of my head.

Note that the bumps are very random. It's not like every crash the board or foil is trying to kill you, and it's not like being more skilful stops it happening. I can go for days without falling in a session, and weeks without getting bumped. But if you're bobbing around in the water and a wave or bit of chop pushes the board the wrong way then there is a chance it will bump you on the head.

Similarly, not every session or every fall will result in the foil cutting your wing. But a random fall with a random wave and the odd bit of chop and shit happens.

grigorib
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 4147
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:12 pm
Kiting since: 2009
Local Beach: OBX; Clinton Lake, IL; Lake Michigan; Hood River; La Ventana; Ocean Park, PR; SPI; Tawas, MI
Gear: Kites: Slingshot Rally 5/7/9/11m, Turbine 9/13m, SST 4/5m, UFO 3/5/7/9m, Flysurfer Speed4 10m standard, Flysurfer 2cool 6m, Peter Lynn Venom II ARC 16m

Boards: Spleene RIP 37, Flysurfer Radical6 138, Flysurfer Flydoor5 XL, Slingshot/Moses/RDB 70/90/101cm masts with 1200/860/800/730/600 kitefoil or 2200/1700/1400 wingfoil wings and 310/230/425 stabilizers, Naish MicroChip 80cm, 36" Woody, Slingshot Dwarfcraft Micro 100, MBS Comp 95x

For sale: Slingshot Turbine 9/13m, 20” Guardian bar, 1700 sq.cm wing/fuselage/stabilizer fitting Moses mast
.
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 461 times
Been thanked: 691 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby grigorib » Sat Feb 04, 2023 4:10 am

I have this one and like it quite a lot
https://rideengine.com/products/barrier-soft-helmet

BenS
Rare Poster
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2020 4:15 pm
Kiting since: 2010
Weight: 64
Local Beach: Hayling Island, UK.
Style: Freeride
Gear: Eleveight RS V4 (8/10/12)
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby BenS » Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:25 pm

JMS86 wrote:
Fri Feb 03, 2023 11:14 pm
Has anyone used this one or similar style? https://www.decathlon.com/products/deca ... met-327505
Yes, I ordered one of those soft helmets from Decathlon to try on at home. Did not like how it felt (too tight/restrictive) and it looked quite weird too.

I've also tried the Mystic MK8X and Mystic Predator (£55) helmets. The Predator was the most comfortable fit and looks OK when wearing so that's the one I kept and have been using. It's protected me from a few dings to the head from my board, luckily no foil impact yet (phew)! The Mystic helmets are supplied with a few sets of padding of different thicknesses that can be used to get a comfortable fit.
Last edited by BenS on Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

BenS
Rare Poster
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2020 4:15 pm
Kiting since: 2010
Weight: 64
Local Beach: Hayling Island, UK.
Style: Freeride
Gear: Eleveight RS V4 (8/10/12)
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby BenS » Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:31 pm

I'm pretty sure the AK Durable Riot helmet is identical to the Mystic Predator and also comes in some different colours.

1234567Simon
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 532
Joined: Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:42 pm
Kiting since: 2019
Local Beach: Netherland‘s beaches,
Favorite Beaches: Ijmuiden on NW
Gear: Wave Board, Wave Kites, foiling. But Plan to get Back to Twin Tip boosting
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 460 times
Been thanked: 135 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby 1234567Simon » Tue Feb 07, 2023 5:32 pm

Gath SFC
Or
Simba Helmet

Both aprox 400g.

I think the Simba ist even less catching water.
But did Not try IT.

Simba was coppied from Magneto😜😜

dazarter
Medium Poster
Posts: 171
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 9:44 am
Local Beach: kiel
Favorite Beaches: Somewhere in France
Style: freeride
Gear: Gaastra pure 2016 13, 10, 8m
crazy fly raptor pro 142x42 seaflight wave
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby dazarter » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:39 am

I tried the soft helmet, looked great and liked the protection but the fit was just not for me, it just slipped up and down, ill be sticking to my concept helmet for now, looking for something a bit lighter for wing foiling but want protection just in case i hit foil... :o

dazarter
Medium Poster
Posts: 171
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 9:44 am
Local Beach: kiel
Favorite Beaches: Somewhere in France
Style: freeride
Gear: Gaastra pure 2016 13, 10, 8m
crazy fly raptor pro 142x42 seaflight wave
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby dazarter » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:41 am

oh yea, forgot to say i dont want a 150 euro helmet, the industry has to gone to stupid prices of late, for what is a very basic item that everyone should be wearing..

User avatar
JakeFarley
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 919
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2016 11:54 pm
Kiting since: 2001
Weight: 92kg
Local Beach: Florida Left Coast, USA
Favorite Beaches: Any that are not crowded.
Style: Dinosaur style (Velociraptor)
Gear: Kites: Flysurfer Speed5 21m, Soul 12m, Cabrinha 16m Xbow, 11m Xbow, Best 14m HP Nemesis, 9m Yarga C Hybrid
Boards: Crazyfly 135 x 46 Pro, Cabrinha Spoiler 140, 6' custom surfboard, 122 x 46 custom twintip
Wing foil: Naish Hover 110l, Slingwing 6.4m, F-One CWC Strike 8m, Slingshot Hover Glide Fwing (Infinity 99), Slingshot Phantasm 926 and E 990
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Pearl City
Has thanked: 187 times
Been thanked: 144 times

Re: Winging/Foil Head Protection

Postby JakeFarley » Wed Feb 08, 2023 8:18 pm

Some good advice. Note the opening segment where the rider hits his head on the foil.

These users thanked the author JakeFarley for the post:
SENDIT! (Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:29 pm)
Rating: 3.03%


Return to “Wingsurfing”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Adventure Logs and 38 guests