Met Parachute Helmet - what do you think?

diddyfunk

Hi

I had my first fall at the weekend (blackeye, grazes across my face and 12 stitches in my chin).
I split my Giro helmet which cost me about £60 and obviously need to get a new one.

I have seen a met Parachute: -

[/img] http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/bik ... 399-75.jpg

GHill

Giro have a crash replacement policy if you'd go for something else from them.

ExeterSimon

I'm a big fan of the Fox Flux...but I know others aren't.

Never fancied a Parachute as I'm not convinced of the jaw guard's stability in a huge stack.

Plus I think they look dumb.

*Awaits 'feedback' from owners.*

Mr Wu

Funny that, ive had the same problem, i ride in a full face helmet, stupid looking or not, ive fallen off alot anf hurt my face alot. if its good for Dh'lling then its safe for my riding!

ExeterSimon

Full faces look good as long as you're not on a cheapo bike from JJB/Halfords etc.

I occasionally wear a FF if shooting down Haldon but its a little OTT for a jaunt across Dartmoor or The 'Tocks.

But each to their own...if you feel comfortable and that extra protection gives you that extra confidence then get what's good for your noggin and fizzog.

_Ferret_

Depends on what you are riding.

I looked at the parachute too - tried it on at the weekend. I'm not convinced that the jaw protection would stand up to anything (I could have snapped it off with a little force if I wanted to).
The new Fox helmets look good because of the added protection at the rear of the head.
If you want to start DH then a proper full face is a must - but not a Specialised helmet, apparently they are for poofs (or so my hardcore DH mate told me).

Mr Wu

yeah totally agree with that Exetersimon. I think its the same thing if your wearing a cheapo FF too, as they tend to be forking huuuge! You end up looking like something out of super mario Kart.

For me, i like the safety of having something round my mush, even if its of no real structural safety, its going to take alot of impact rather than say...your skin. Thats a winner for me all the time. Obviously if your off somewhere and you know its fairly easy going then you stick a half head on.

Wear what makes you feel the safest as your riding will show it. If you feel safe your riding will get better cause youll probably end up like i do taking more risks.

The main thing is dont worry about what you look like, I get some really weird looks from experienced riders, general public etc, but id rahter be able to take it off and have my skin intact and my teeth than lose the bottom half of my face.

if ever in doubt check the bike comics one of them does a accidents photo page....

Ive yet to see one that was wearinf a FF helemt.

pirwin1

I think the jaw guard on the parachute would snap on a large impact BUT it will take the initial impact rather than your face, and the initial impact is normally what does the most damage.

I wouldn't even consider a full face for trails/forest riding that you say you're doing, it would just be far too hot in my opinion.

Mr Wu

It does get hot, so hot infact that my head has shrunk with the sweat and heat it is the size of a umpa lumpa's whilst my body is still all big..

realnumber 1

I love mine, it's a great helmet. Comfy and well vented for what it is.

As I have said a few times on this forum it is NOT to be compared with a DH helmet as it isn't one and it isn't trying to be one. What it is, is a good trail helmet with extra protection that will absorb most or all of your average trail incident.

It's helped my face once or twice anyway so when its time to change I will probably get another unless something better comes along.

xtreem

[b]pirwin1[/b] wrote:

I think the jaw guard on the parachute would snap on a large impact

I agree, so, diddyfunk, if you think that from you riding you can hit your head hard
then it's time for fullface, if not smaller impacts will save your face from scratches,
broken nose, teeth, chin. For bigger impacts the parachute will only reduce the injuries.
That's my opinion.

M6TTF

it doesn't really matter if the guard does break on impact, by then it's done it's job - if you hit your noggin hard enough the lid will split on impact at that point. I've gone through a few helmets in this way. It's what they're designed to do!

Northwind

Yup... The internet is full of posts "I saw a guy break a parachute and he scratched his chin, so it was no protection at all", as if the helmet somehow broke by itself and soaked up no impact.

I wouldn't wear one myself, largely because they look so bad but also because I'm not really convinced the face protection is worth having on most rides- think of the number of times you've crashed that it would have made much difference, I can only think of one time in about 24 years of riding bikes (OTOH perhaps I should wear one when I'm drunk) So I'm not convinced. But if you think you're going to land on your face, you could do worse. I did see the slightly odd sight of a guy wearing one with no other pads or armour, which made no sense at all to me.

realnumber 1

Northwind wrote:

I did see the slightly odd sight of a guy wearing one with no other pads or armour, which made no sense at all to me.

Just like me :oops: . Keep meaning to get some though....

pirwin1

M6TTF wrote:

it doesn't really matter if the guard does break on impact, by then it's done it's job!

Exactly what I was trying to get at.

diddyfunk

Hi All

Thanks for the replies - keep them coming.

The thing is, i guess whether or not the chin guard does as good a job as the rest of the helmet, its better to have it there than not at all - would i be correct?

Has anyone had a crash in this helmet - what was it like?

As far as I know, there are not any other alternatives?

Thanks

Steve_F

Northwind wrote:

I did see the slightly odd sight of a guy wearing one with no other pads or armour, which made no sense at all to me.

Where did you see this guy Northwind? If it was at Glentress it could easily have been me. It lives in the car so often as not I'll wear one with no other pads.

I do feel it gives more confidence and had presumed it would only take the initial impact out of a big crash, until the other weekend....

Doing an uplift day my mate had just bought a full face. I was still wearing my parachute and said the stupid words "I never land on my face anyway". On the last run of the day I hit something that was bigger than I ever remembered and got flipped off the bike.

I landed on the side of my face and slid along the ground before flipping over and bruising everywhere. First thought was get the helmet off and ask my mate how bad it was. Not a scratch on my face and the helmet in one piece. I'd slid along with the chin guard pushing against my face. Very lucky to walk out of that one I think.

I now rate these helmets more highly than before. Not sure it would've stood up to the front on impact but it certainly did it's job.

That said a full facer is getting bought for future uplift days and the Alps!

nferrar

The concept of the Met Parachute is good (and a couple of other manufacturers have done or do a similar design) but I would want to see some more evidence on how they hold up in a crash. it is NOT the same as a helmet splitting if 6 inches of hard plastic shatters and embeds itself in your face. The usual Internet searching shows up stories anywhere from my mate was seriously disfigured by a parachute helmet after a minor crash to a parachute helmet saved massive facial injury and didn't break.
I wouldn't mind looking a bit of a tit to have a lot more protection for my teeth/jaw (proper FF are just too hot/heavy for XC riding) but I'm not convinced the parachute does offer the protection I'm looking for. the Casco Viper looked a bit beefier (and less dangerous if the jaw guard did break apart) but not tried looking for one yet. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=10718

Northwind

I suppose the specialized deviant would be another contender? It's more a vented full-facer than a full-faced XC lid, but people do say it's not too toasty on most rides.

Steve_F wrote:

Where did you see this guy Northwind? If it was at Glentress it could easily have been me. It lives in the car so often as not I'll wear one with no other pads.

Aye, think it was. Actually that makes total sense, I hadn't thought of it like that.