Morning all
Been Sup surfing for 10 years now, never had any major issue, except a broken rib and some more or less broken fingers due to catching the board or the leash in some wipe outs, but overall i believed it was well paid , could have been worst ( still do my beer sacrifice to the god of the sea now and then), and last week on a small day , one of the local kid with his short board landed on my head while exiting an aerial while i was lying flat on the board resting. The result was 3 Stiches on the back of the head .Again could have been worst. But been asking since the question of wearing a helmet while suping for many reasons ( reef, board in the head during wipe out, other people boards in the head..).
Just wanted to know if anyone wear a helmet out there? and why did you start wearing one ? i know if you are not charging on 10 feet tropical reef spot most of us don't need one really, but one bad chance is all you need .
Cheers
Ive been thinking of getting one myself i think the paranoia s getting worse as i age and one of my locals can get super crowded ! Been looking at one that tom carrol wears its a bit like a rugby one or afl its sort of soft and plyable the drawback is they sell online only would really like to hear if any on here where one
Have worn them for sailboarding and SUP surfing. Keeps my head warm in winter and saves my bald head from sunburn in summer. It is a hard shell one and don't even notice it on my head.
If your looking for protection from head cuts its a great way to go. I don't think they will do much for concussion and could be worse for neck, won't protect your face either. I don't wear one personally because I'm always wearing a hood and out of laziness.
I've taken to wearing surf hats off and on over recent years and thought why don't I just upgrade to a helmet? I'll often sup surf on my own away from crew so even more reason to
I'd wear one to reduce chances of getting knocked out by my own board. Googled helmet loss of consciousness and found a review paper that only had two studies on knock-outs from snow sports and results were mixed, in my skim I couldn't see how big the effect was for the one where helmets helped.
I wear one in the bigger waves and when there is a strong off-shore wind - on numerous occasions I have had the board get caught in the wind, go straight up, and come straight back at me. I was once surfing and it happened to another guy. He cut his head and hurt his neck.
One problem, I tend to be a little braver with a helmet on...
Select to expand quoteanchorpoint said..
Morning all
Just wanted to know if anyone wear a helmet out there? and why did you start wearing one ? i know if you are not charging on 10 feet tropical reef spot most of us don't need one really, but one bad chance is all you need .
Cheers
I've just pulled my 30 year old Gath helmet out of storage and considering using again post 2 nd exostosis removal. I wear a peak hat that I've thought of making the material thicker over the ears (plus ear plugs). I can't tolerate neoprene hoods. The problem with my Gath is there is no peak to stop the sun on my face. It has a pull down tinted screen which was good for sessions when sun is low to horizon. I copped a board to my face when prone surfing 20 years ago which made me start using it again for prone surfing. Would be interesting to see how they have evolved.
When the wind is up and the waves are high I will wear one just because having a board launch and come down on your head a recipe for disaster.
Sometimes I just use a baseball insert on my soft bucket hat
I have loudly and proudly worn a bright red Gath since day dot. A no-brainer!
* Adjustable peak cuts the glare of early morning sun
* Sun protection for head as age thins out my hair
* Ear pieces block wind and prevent surfer's ear, esp. in winter
* Warmth for head in winter
* Impact protection; whether board, paddle, sandbank, or other boards
* Added confidence to commit to the rogue waves
* Prone surfers think I'm a kook so less likely to monster me
* Ear pieces prevent me hearing prone board abuse when they do monster me
* Bright red means wife can pick me out in the line up on the few occasions she deigns to watch a sesh!
As with others, i wear a Gath in strong offshore and large waves. Have put a bit of insulation tape over the ear slots to stop water & wind jetting in.
You can get soft EVA peaked surf hats from outlets like decathlon, but the ear protection isn't good.
I think there's a gap in the market for a helmet with a decent peak and ear protection?
Hi, I have a well worn helmet that I've had for years.
I swear by mine, firstly in solo surf sessions- no one to come to your aid if your board whacks you so great precaution. Secondly it's great to have in winter to stay warmer and again protection if it's blowing. We've probably all had the wind pick up a board and fire it at us.
ironically of course, in my last minor injury the nose of my board hit me in the chin. It was a very minor injury luckily. On super sunny small days I wear an O&E surf hat to cut down the skin cancer risk .
Diceman
The only problem I have with helmets is its hard to dive under big waves ,it kinda floats ya head .
so I don't wear them much when its big and have to dive .
Select to expand quoteDaveb27 said..
You can get soft EVA peaked surf hats from outlets like decathlon, but the ear protection isn't good.
I think there's a gap in the market for a helmet with a decent peak and ear protection?
I foil using a rugby style helmet, just a hat on the SUP.gilbertrugby.com.au/collections/body-armour
Not full ear protection but enough when a wave hits you on the side of the head.A peak would be nice
I've just got one of these. Yet to use it though. The fit is very good, it's light and the protective pads are hard, not soft.
One of the reasons I haven't SUP surfed yet in 2023
Beaches are out of control in Sydney . Might wait till summer ends . I realise this happened in Byron but there is absolutely no etiquette at my local break here in Sydney. People are either stupid , oblivious or totally selfish
www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-10/byron-bay-surfer-injury-legropes-mandatory/101956690?fbclid=IwAR05PNdJ540GVNwBH6wwApKVsmGq7uGduH8hzlhNVuQ1Dormyk4t6YcfLJU
I like the classic Gath surf hat (helmet). That is my go to. If the surf is small and the sun is bright and sunny I will wear the Gath Gedi with retractable visor. Murphy's law but whenever I don't wear a helmet I get whacked in the head with my board. Usually that is when it is windy and my board is ultra light. Last month I took a nice whack from my paddle to the face in long period swell. Blade whacked across my eye socket, helmet absorbed some of the impact. Had a nice bruise above my eye. I have been wanting to try the Rugby style soft helmet, Tom Carroll likes that style.
I tried the Protec Ace Wake helmet but didn't like the bucket effect.
I have gotten lucky too many times with the board on windy days just missing my head. Really too many.
Probably gonna Gath up too.
I wear a Gath all the time in the surf. I am out perhaps 75-90 days a year. Every year I get clunked on the head fairly hard and glad that I have it on. I believe the "helmet effect" is real and we charge harder with a helmet on. So perhaps the risk reduction is a bit muted. Our SUP boards have a lot of mass and concussion risk is higher than with a regular surf board. One of the last pipeline comps I watched about one in five were wearing a helmet.
Cheers
Bob
Here's a few pics from the last few years. That's the back of my buddy's head after the rail clipped him. It wasn't much fun stopping that bleed while over a km off shore. He wears a helmet now. The black Gath got split when I got smashed on the reef. Possibly a life-ender that resulted in a mild headache. My leg after a fin got me while getting wadded up in the barrel last September. I was lucky that it was the front of the fin, and it punched the fin into the board. It was a really rough paddle back in, but I was so happy it didn't get me in the head. Since then, I've worn a helmet any time it's head high, or I'm out by myself.
Yep, I had a fin go through my wettie last summer. Luckily my rash shorts underneath, meant it was only a bad bruise, very similar to yours.
Select to expand quoteNapnap said..
I've just got one of these. Yet to use it though. The fit is very good, it's light and the protective pads are hard, not soft.
This doesn't look too bad, not that unlike a neoprene hood I wear in winter
All this talk of helmets made me go and buy one for an up coming Indo trip. Surfed with it today for the first time.
I hated it.
It kept pushing down on my eye brows making me squint when prone padding. Kept dripping water in my eyes for much longer than I liked causing issue after I had come off. copied a heap of **** from all my mates and had blow ins drop in on my because I thought I was a kook and did deserve the wave. Not happy.
I think it's going to take a while to get use to.
on positive note it felt better and cooler than a surf hat.
Select to expand quote02Nudger said..
All this talk of helmets made me go and buy one for an up coming Indo trip. Surfed with it today for the first time.
I hated it.
It kept pushing down on my eye brows making me squint when prone padding. Kept dripping water in my eyes for much longer than I liked causing issue after I had come off. copied a heap of **** from all my mates and had blow ins drop in on my because I thought I was a kook and did deserve the wave. Not happy.
I think it's going to take a while to get use to.
on positive note it felt better and cooler than a surf hat.
What type did you buy?
Have you got a pic so we can also have a good laugh.. 
.. Kidding (not really) 
Select to expand quote02Nudger said..
It kept pushing down on my eye brows
It is a size too big.
It should fit snugly.
Some helmets come with spare pads that you can add to adjust it.
I had no such issue with my Gath. Even with the weight of the gopro on it.
This said, the Mystic helmet of NapNap seems very nice. I seldom use my Gath as I avoid crowds and rocks. And at 62yo I avoid dangerous situations: tubes, floaters, shorebreaks, ultra late takeoffs...
Funny I have just had the opposite experience. I recently purchased the Simba surf helmet. I wish I had purchased it long ago. I do not notice I have it on while surfing it fits me better than any helmet I have owned and does not move. No water dripping in my eyes and my my sunglasses no longer get pulled off duck diving. I have already had the wind flip the board onto my head. No pain although it was not a hard hit. I will say it is not the best looking helmet I have owned. The padding inside is minimal but it is not for land based sports. It stops the wind from blowing in my ears. Duck diving I do not notice it and falling I am not getting any bucket effect. The real test for that will be falling off my hydrofoil. Have not used it for that yet. I do think with this helmet the proper fit is very important. I was able to use it without adding the foam pieces.
