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fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18540

Recently, while I was kayaking, I flipped and banged up my head on a rock. I had to get 7 stitches. I've had several people recommend a helmet with a facemask. Is a facemask really necessary? If so, Chinbar or cage?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18543

Personaly I don't think its necessary before you're just running class V+ and VI.

But if you decide for a fullface, Sweet helmets has a nice one

www.sweet.no/helmets_rocker_ff.htm

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18552

I dont like Full Face helmets because I think they would cut down on Visiblitly. And when I played American Football the Face mask would always be annoying.

Also I would also be weary of it getting it snagged on a tree branch.

Then again I only paddle Class 3 and a little Class 4.

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18557

I don't like the face mask. Instead of a rock in your fave, it gives you broken and twisted metal bars in your face, disabling you to remove your helmet. It could also be caught by branches (under water). So I wouldn't use them myself. Then again, I never had a rock in my face...

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18564

It really depends on what you are running. There is no \"Have to's,\" but I know people who have been in situations where they probably would have died, but came out fine thanks to that extra bar. That being said, they're really not necessary unless you're running a lot of steep creeks with big slides and stuff.

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18569

weirdoinventor wrote:

Instead of a rock in your fave, it gives you broken and twisted metal bars in your face, disabling you to remove your helmet. It could also be caught by branches (under water)


For sure :yes:

After some time on the water you will instinctively tuck foward when going over and hopefully avoid an impact to your face in the future. But not always. It's just part of the game. ;)

When rolling you should still be tucked forward when coming up.

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18580

Dude, I think it would depend on what you're planning to do. If you're hitting high grade rapids with nasty rocks it is probably advisable, however if you sustain a large impact you'll end up looking like a Cenobite from Hellraiser. :skull:

Taking a full face blow will probably screw you up anyway, a frame or full face helmet will offer protection from a paddle in polo, but not from a BIG rock.

It's probably best to avoid impact altogether lol.

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18584

I just got the sweet full face. Great visibility and I can still hear and yell. It's your call but, $315 seems way worth it to me. There are quite a few drops with rocks part way down at face level where i live.

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18730

Shred Ready has some affordable fullface helmets coming out. :2cents:

Full Face

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18741

They aren't only good for fully gnarly stuff. Here in Australia, I'm more worried about my face in the easier rivers, because pretty much all of the rivers here are quite shallow. If you flip you are bouncing around along the rocks :(

The higher graded rivers often have more water and so it's less likely you're going to hit your face. I think a full-face helmet would be good to have in your arsenal, but not necessary for every river. I guess if you had a helmet with a detachable cage it would be good. If you're running a river with a lot of sticks/tree's you may want to take it off so that you don't get snagged. Or put it on if you are doing some crazy creeking or some low volume stuff.

p.s. Playak: give me free Pyranha stuff :)

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Re:fullface helmet? 17 years 6 months ago #18835

company that make fullface helmet for kayak

wrsi new model 2008
shred ready new model 2008
and NFA

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