Well, I stopped by there today. Lots of racewear goodies. Helmets look great, tried one on and it fit very well. Only problem is now they only make full carbon fiber helmets which START at $2000

 

Stand 21 is not a lowend market from what ive been researching. They taylor fit and produce product to be perfect for each user. Many pro racers and teams use their gear. I have a set of Stand21 gloves and all I can say is they are top quality pieces. Nothing entry level at all.

With Stand21 you get what you pay for. Most carbon fibre helmets are high end use only and they do the samething as any other helmet but when what ive been reading after several hours at the track your neck just gets warn out and fatigued. Carbon fibre helmets are lighter and they generally lessen the wear on your neck allowing you to keep your focus on driving at full tilt as appose to be tired and sore and only having half your mind in the drive.
For those who are just getting started its my understanding that you will sweat out your gear once or twice and need to replace so save the money for track lessons or hanz device becuase a person generally needs a new helmet 1-2 years down the road anyways. buying highend is for the pros or people who have it to toss around. To each his own but for my own personal opinion you can get by on a lowerend helmet. Mind you the carbon fibre ones sure look great. If I had money to burn I would most likly buy one.

Stand 21 is highend. Buying a helmet can be daunting as there are so many different models and brands that it makes it hard to choose, at the end of the day is just what you like and what suits/fits you best.

 

Investing in a good helmet is essential, but $2000 for your first helmet is a bit spendy. Of course, if you have the money, great, but a $500-700 can get you a very good helmet with a nice balance of cost/weight. I've noticed that helmets under $400 tend to be a bit heavier, but it's still acceptable for $30 min sessions. If you're going to be doing enduro racing, neck fatigue may be of concern, but for regular track days, even the lower end helmet weight shouldn't be that big of a concern.

I'd much rather apply the savings towards a roll hoop, harnesses, seats and HANS.

 

Agreed. But this wouldn't be my first helmet. Just my first 'nice' one $2000 for any helmet, unless you're just rolling in it or actually have a career in racing is absurd.

 

indeed, Well worded I like how you go about it. Smart man.

I guess what i was getting at is if you can get away with a helmet that the insides can be changed out when they are ruined from sweat your looking good.
It would seem that 2k for a carbon helmet is the norm from my own personal experience. I had been looking for the last month or more and Just got my new helmet, I checked into everyone recomendations and I just bought around the middle market as I felt that 800-$900 was about right for me. I sweat lots and many recomended that if you sweat lots look for removable padding or be prepaired to spend (depending on how many track days ofcourse) again the following year. $900 for me was about right because after sweating in the thing all summer long and having to leave it sit there thru the winter could get kinda gross come time to reuse it again. I used to play hockey and after the gear sat for a while the sweat ruined the lining. Just something to consider.

Everyones post in here is spot on. Great bunch of peoples who make researching porsche and anything cars a great time. i agree 2k for a new lid every summer, or every other summer could get to be pricy. Some people spend that in airbrushing alone so i suppse its all what you can afford really. If I had the money I would be all over the carbon helmet but is it needed most likly not for a DE guy

 

HJC ,however i want to get a Simpson Bandit...

 

Arai GP5W + HANS + Schroth GT3 Cup harness = Win

 

If you sweat a lot (I do), I noticed that wearing a double-layer balaclava will help absorb some of the sweat. It's also much easier to wash the balaclava than the pads. That, and wiping down the inside with a towel after events and letting it properly air out for a few days before putting it away seem to help the padding last a lot longer.

 

great idea, Not sure if anyone recomended the balaclava untill now. that is very important in presurving the helmet and making it last. I did buy one and Im not sure if I could even get my head into my helmet if I doubled up (she is quite tight) maybe when I break her in abit.

great suggestion spf4000 - very important

 

Balaclava and a nice Shock Doctor helmet bag with ozone dryer/ heater helps keep em fresh as well!

 

What's the deal with Simpson helmets? $800 for a carbon one seems like a bargain compared with the 2k and 4k ones that you'd use in Formula 1. Is the difference in pricing just that FIA certification is very expensive? I don't need the same helmet Alonso wears.

Carbon Devil Ray
Carbon Bandit

 

If your only doing a couple events a year that's a lot of $. I rationalize the lighter weight helmet casues less fatigue and my brain tells me it deserves the best.

 

HJC Carbon Fiber

 

Simpson Bandit in matt black.