Gath - Visor/ like a jet pilot helmet

Anyone one use one of the Gath attachable visor/sunnies. Are they worth getting?
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any issues with them? i don't see anyone using them. I think they look amazing :) top gun styles.

riding strapless in the surf can lead to head injuries.

I got stitches in the head last summer, i don't want a repeat.

thought as much. Look cool though, but its hard enough seeing through my sunnies as it is.

To be honest, i was strapped at the time, now i ride strapless. Anyway, back on topic...

Unless they have changed their manufacturing process you are wasting your time using a gath helmet to protect you from an impact, they used to state this on their user manual - that the helmet was for protection against the elements and not to be used as a safety device.... I agree that they do offer you some slight degree of protection but put one on and tap your head against a wall ( apart from looking like a nuffy ) you will find there is not much impact absorbtion at all.

I have had one with visor for 19 years and still going strong. Visor is OK down but you do lose 30% vision. I sometimes use visor to preserve my eyes from wind and sun when tacking upwind. be careful when packing as they do break under weight. Now I'm a dad I won't go without it in double head waves. Best value item ever!!!

Here is one of our local wave riding legends, Dazza. I have never seen him in the water without his Gath, and although I have one too, I rarely use it. For me it cuts out too much of the ambient sound.

I have a Gath and use it with the visor up, mostly because it is fairly scratched. I find you can jam a pair of sunnies on your dial and the helmet secures them in place(any sunnies - no strap ). Have not lost a pair yet and thats with some pretty solid stacks. Have lost strapped sunnies easily b4 without the lid.

have surfed with gath 4 about 2o years. the old original bucket (solid ear ) was the best. at 330 grams . bought a new gath with visor. about 500 grams . the ears are separate and fall out when you get smashed leaving you with one ear exposed to the wind. which sucks( I stitched new ones in) The visor is a pain mostly comes down and gets in the way, I took it off if you want one. , although if your staring at a sunset it definitely helps.
Definitely keeps the sun off ( for us bald hunts )and helps to stop surfers ear. I have seen the old style gath with a 80mm cut from a centre thruster fin in line with the temple.
Definitely saved alife.

I've got a Protec Ace Wake (I think)

Find it very comfy, had no issues with it at all.

A couple of years ago on Kiteforum someone posted pics of a guy I think in Brazil who got lofted into a building, the pics showed him bleeding out from the head with a puddle about a 1m in diameter around his head. The pics were shortly pulled from the Topic for very good reasons - who wants to see someone die.

I was so affected by the pics that I ordered a helmet that night, the same Protec one.

If only the "Helmet Bashers" could see the pics they would change their tune very quickly, sometimes we need some shockers to realize that some safety is necessary especially if you have dependents. I am the last person to join the ever growing safety first brigade - to be honest I can't stick the mother @#$%ers but somethings make sense.

I ride surfboards 100% of the time and I found that with a kite you tend to be pulled in front of the wave compared to paddle surfing were you tend to go in the opposite direction of the board. A number of time I have been smacked hard in the helmet, and with kitesurf surfboards being substantially harder they would have hurt alot more if I had not worn a helmet.

Look like a Dork and wear a helmet, so I don't feel like one wearing mine.

Cheers
Rich

Hey sebol, using your philosophy it seems more likely you will suffer the affects of a head injury on seabreeze than on the water/road.

If it's not for you - fair nuff, but FFS don't bag anyone that doesn't fancy someone wiping away their dribble on a daily basis.



My helmet has saved me many bumps, bruises, and some claret.

Combined with my sunnies it also offers very good sunprotection on my forehead (not good for suncream running in your eyes), also from perforated eardrums, and even warmth in winter months.

That's a pretty kn sweet deal for $150 in my books.

Mate!!!!!
That left at 38s on the vid above is awesome!!!! Over 30 seconds of a nice ride.
One wave like this and I would be stoked for a couple of years.

I remember when I learnt to kite in 2000, and used a board leash. Getting dragged along on a two line fixed foil (remember those), the board submerged, then like a bullet sprang up and out of water squarley in the back of my head...stitches, slight concussion - of course don't use leashes now...

and also don't use a helmet or sunnies.

But in all honesty probably should and good on ya for those wearing them, especially if you have a children of your own, you could leave behind. Those that don't have kids wouldn't understand that...and I'm sure thier is some knob that says they do.... no you don't!

Good on ya fellas for setting the standard.

hey richswing, yes you are covered , i just renewed my sickness accident and th only exclusions were base jumping, parachuting, bungy jumping and snow skiing. dumb fufds havent excluded other much safer sports yet(and i hope they don,t)

I use an old Gath helmet I bought for surfing years ago. It has a visor but I never use it, I wear sunglasses with a strap. The helmet keeps them in place nicely, keeps my head warm in the winter.

I did burst an ear drum wearing it in a big stack though, but maybe the water would have gone in one ear and out the other one if I wasn't wearing it. The impact padding in the older models is not too flash, as others have noted.

I have looked at the Protec helmets - they look like they have better padding, and maybe a bit lighter too. I am thinking of upgrading to one.

You would most likely be better off wearing a helmet if you get any sort of impact on your head, and there is a lot of power in a kite.

I like to wear a helmet, but most others don't use them. Its a personal choice.

can you attatch a peak/visor to the pro-tec (ie cap style) that doesn't bucket?