Hi, I was wondering what type of helmets are best suited for landsailing? At the moment I am considering everything from ski/snowboard lids to cycle helmets and skateboarding jobbies. On balance I am tending towards a snowboard helmet / goggle combo but would welcome any insight.
Thanks, and happy new year!
Chris
Realistically- the better the helmet- the better for you!
Goggles are a good idea- but depending on the surface you are sailing on glasses might be ok.
As snow tends to be a bit patchy around here, I cant really comment on the pro's and con's of skiing and snowboarding helmets 
I am using a skateboarding helmet and safety sunglasses on grass ovals and dry lake bed, on salt lakes I recommend using goggles- salt in the eyes slows you down.
Sometimes on the lakebed, during dry and dustier conditions goggles are best and something to filter out the dust when breathing helps (simple cowboy style neckerchief/ cotton dish cloth works well for us) again- on salt lakes, the neckerchief will stop the salt and sun burning your lips and face.
personally- I dont think regular bicycle helmets are quite up to the job- but then- I have used them myself
I would regard skateboard "hard shell" helmets as a minimum.
Skateboard helmets have a tougher shell than a flimsy bicycle helmet and cope with boom hits much better.(bike helmets have a thin skin and fall apart)
Motorcycle helmets are better again- but (in my experience) are not very comfortable for the type of lying prone position that we usually have in landyachts.
I have been meaning to fit a better angled sunvisor on my skateboard helmet, as the angle from lying on my back in the landyacht leaves no shade for the eyes.
Easy fix with some plastic probably from an icecream container, and some velcro.
Best bet- borrow a couple of different types of helmets and try them when you go sailing.
All the best- and happy new year
Stephen
A friend of mine (a motor cycle rider) had a saying "How much is your head worth"
Another thing to keep in mind is don't cover the ears, over the years I have sailed water yachts and in winter wore a woolen cap that covered up the ears it was amazing how much wind / sail sensory information is lost when your ears are covered.
I had at one stage a motor cycle helmet with about 50-60mm dia holes to hear through (BUT this made them NON road compliant) but OK for land sailing.
Loss of sound information also occurs by wearing MP3 earphones or CB radio headsets while sailing.
Not unusually for me I will add my 10c worth..
Full Face Helmets are great though because we are inclined to be almost supine they are inclined to have a lot of sun shining in ones face, Motocross type helmets should be good as they guard your lower jaw and allow a good sized a set of goggles. Basically any Helmet id better than no Helmet as Gizmo's Friend Said; What is your head worth in the scheme of things?? The body doesn't function too well with out one, nor with a damaged one. My suggestion is to think of your method of use and Probable future use and purchase accordingly, Best affordable quality first. Motor Bike approved will be satisfactory as opposed to Rock Climbers or sporting types.
Ron
PS; I use a Full Faced Motorcycle Helmet with most of the Clear screen Gaffer Taped (Sun Shade) leaving a suitable vision slot.
i use a chinese fight pilot helmet i pick up on ebay for under $100.00 aus it has two visors a dark one and a clear one which can be used in conjuntion with each other by that i mean the clear one protects the dark one from getting dirty and they kinda look cool too
Chris. Obviously the "How much is your head worth" mantra has traveled the world as it's a common one amongst bikers in the UK. I've used my AGV motorbike helmet and found it too restrictive. The cycle helmet is a no no as it leaves the nape of your neck exposed and will fall apart with a couple of good boom clatterings! Most people in the UK I've come across are using Snowboard helmets with goggles and removeable ear covers (though I'm using a skateboard helmet currently but the goggles are always falling off and it hasn't got ear covers). Ear covers are necessary in the UK as my last time out the temp was a healthy 2 centigrade with a 15mph wind giving a wind chill of -4. My ears hurt like crazy 
But above all else the most important things with helmets are don't buy 2nd hand as you don't know what they've been subjected to - the structure changes to absorb the impact so once crashed in they are scrap. Buy ones with the correct standard markings (CE, ACU, BS AU as examples) appropriate to your country (US used to be Snell for motorbike lids). And the biggest rule of the lot - make sure it fits. If you can lift it off from the back by pulling it forward its worth nothing.
Cheers Col
I use a full face motorcycle helmet I got from Cash Converters for ~$50.00. Comfi to wear and keeps any debris out of your eyes, the only down side is, as Gizmo said, that you loose hearing and wind reading info. I find wearing mine I have to constantly look up at tell tales and/or trees to guage the breeze (or flip the visor up). The holes cut through the sides sounds like an good idea I may try (I don't need it for road use).
I wouldn't bother with a bicycle or cheap skate helmet, I couldn't see them protecting you from much at all (say if the rope/line fixing the Clew(???) failed and the boom tried to redecorate your skull).
Again; stopping stuff getting to your eyes is a BIG plus, and in my experience glasses don't help much.
2c. I've only had a few sails and i'm hating my open face scooter/motorcycle lid. I will probably ditch it in favour of a skate helmet(not much snow in W.A), simply for the holes in the ears.
I use a full-face BMX helmet .... It's sturdier than a normal road bike bicycle helmet, and a lot lighter than a motorcycle helmet. I have no idea how much protection it really provides, but it's comfortable, and might be worth a look...
Many thanks for all the advice - I think I will look a snowboard lids, preferably with removable ear pads. I will be sailing in the UK when I get back there in February so Colk's advice about frozen ears sounds very convincing, even though I don't like having them covered while sailing.
This just leaves the decision of what yacht to get - I am still wavering between a Potty and a seagull (either Ludic or Silence). My heart wants to splurge on the Silence but my head is telling me to get a Potty at half the price, learn more about what I really want and then either build my own or get something with more performance second-hand.
Chris. Most Snowboard helmets seem to have the removeable ear bits - so you're not spending extra cash for them, and they come off in seconds. BMX helmets aren't any cheaper than Snowboard ones in the UK and seem to be easier to get hold of
Depending where you are based when you get back Yorks first day is Feb and there's a couple of different yachts to look at, and a day with a club yacht and tuition isn't that expensive if you want to do more.
Cheers Col
I bought mine off EBay , it is Aus approved , light enough and fully surounds my head in Styro and Foam Plastic as well as padding. I must say it looks funny on Travis when he manages to JAM it down over his Mellon.
Below is a picture of his next helmet.
Ron
Colk, you were spot on, I went shopping today and picked up a decent snowboard helmet which has, like all of them, removable ear pads. I got some tasty goggles as well that fit very nicely with the helmet on.
I will get back from the US mid Feb and would love to pop up to York. I am based in west London but one of the great things about taking up landyachting is that it provides an excuse to travel all over the UK - my wife is Italian and has yet to experience much of the country. Of course it is also a perfect reason to nip cross to France and Belgium too.
That's two things ticked off your list then. Decent gloves next! Luckily they're not that bad to buy either. I'm using yachting gloves, but x-sail and blowkart do gloves at a decent price as well. Main thing is they need hard wearing material on the palms.
If your West of London I'd have a look here http://www.bfslyc.org.uk/pages/fed_club_contacts.aspx and mostly here breanlandyachtclub.weebly.com/trial-sessions.html to get going then pop up to see us later in the year when we've got our dates finalised. Book yourself a week for France in July for the Worlds.
Cheers Col
try the discount automotive places for gloves , they are often better gloves at better prices, cos they arnt being sold in a yachting shop
I hope my $15.00 motoX gloves wont bring me shame when Im out sailing, definately not bought at a yacht shop
Mine were a lucky find at a chandler that was closing down - £10. Before that I was using Mountain Biking gloves - strangely the same construction, neoprene and suede palms. First time out I used a pair of £1 'rigger' gloves from the local car boot sail They still sit in my bag of land yacht stuff as an emergency back up.
Cheers Col
No worries on the gloves, I have a couple of pairs in the sailing kit bag. They are one bit of gear I really don't mind spending a fair bit on - they can be the difference between a pleasant trip or days of misery on a yacht (of the wet variety).
Ronstan's seem to be a satisfactory Brand of sailing Glove. Cut away Fingers a tough Palm, elasticized backs etc. I find them great but then I sail in conditions that don't get below 0'c. They aren't to bad with the Pricing either.
Ron
