Gath helmet review

After much procrastination and a variety of other excuses I purchased one of these beasts. I first used one in 1995 on my first trip to Indo - it had a sun visor and it used to fall down and annoy the hell out of me. I can confirm after using one of their latest models this last month that there are none of those issues. A while back Chrispy smashed his leg open on a fin cut, a friend of a friend then had 15 stitches in his head from a fin cut and shortly after that I head banged my board and left a big dent in both the board and my head - thank goodness for the soft foam and light glass job of the CI Pod I was riding at the time Rose was at me to get myself one as I had been surfing a lot by by myself and in remote areas. Finally after helping a fella into shore after he had a fit in the surf it dawned on me that I should get one. Just not worth the risk.

My first thoughts after using it was that it felt terrible. I lost all sense of balance and surfed like a kook. I got water in the ears and it felt like my head was 10 foot wide. I blew loads of waves. It was embarrassing. After about 6 or 7 surfs though it all started to come together and pretty soon I hardly noticed it at all. Yes I still blow a wave here and there (helmets fault surely) but on the whole after a solid month of using it I do not even notice I wear one. I know TB wears one as well and never hits the surf without it.

One of the main reasons I started to wear one was my concern just not of myself but of others in the water. Fibreglass is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands and also when people just get caught in those unlucky situations. I have recently moved to a location where I am surfing loads of spots over shallow reefs. Although I have suffered loads of smashing and been bounced over the reef far too many times - with the helmet on I feel completely relaxed when its all turning to crap. Its a really nice feeling - I mentioned today to Chrispy (who encouraged me to write this review) that its not like it makes you feel invincible but close! Its nice feeling as you are getting smashed to not to have to worry too much about what might happen if your head hits the bottom. Its also nice when you are paddling out and caught in terrible situation to know that the head at least has some sort of protection from flying fibreglass n fins.

Downsides include not being able to hear as effectively - less chat time in the surf - or you need to speak louder ! Means you get more waves as you are not absorbed in endless chat You definitely lose some peripheral vision and it takes a while to adjust - especially when you are in the good bit of the wave. Sometimes you end up with a touch of water trapped between your ear and the helmet - easily fixed by just pulling the helmet out a bit to empty the water. Duck diving takes a little bit to get used to - but after a few sessions it does not bother you. Also it looks terrible and people think you must be a charger when you wear one. But in reality heaps of people ask you why you wear it and how it is. They seem generally interested. I think I may have even convinced a few people to give one a go.

For me I feel a lot safer and more relaxed in the water and am glad I brought it. This is the one I got - make sure you try them on and get a nice tight fit - not too tight but like a bike helmet - they are no good when they do not fit properly. Below is a couple of photos to show that they do not hold you back that much.

I've worn one a few times. Like you I found duck diving a bit of a strange feeling . I got an old green one in my garage that I might use when it gets cold to keep the wind off my melon. That one in the pic looks like they have come a long way in design from the old ones.

My first one got chewed up by my mates dog down at Prevelly Margaret River, still got my second one. I've always worn them to keep cold Southerlies out of my ears. But have been wearing a hat the last few years for that...Would be good on shallow barrelly reefs though yep...barstartd!!!

I'll probably use mine again if I pick up a dcently priced gopro & stick it to the helmet. Probably never happen though since they're the worlds most overpriced cameras.

Thanks Ted.

I have been wearing my Gath for a number of years now.

A few reasons why;

Surfers Ear - Whilst it doesn't prevent the cold water entering the ear canal, it does block the wind from then causing the chill within the inner ear which lessons the reaction and bone growth.

Temperature - Keeps my bald head from burning in summer and keeps body warmth partially within during the winter months as we loose 60% of our body heat through our head.

Safety - Crowds. Boards. Fins. Paddles. Rocks. It lessons the risk of injury.

I leant my Gath to a mate surfing heaving 10 foot Cronulla Point a few years back. Was late afternoon and nearing dark and he got pummelled and carried from the Point to Kurnell in the 'Voodoo Express' rip that osolates in Cronulla. He was spotted by the Westpac chopper some 3 hours later and by the crew's own admission, he was only found as the spotlight bounced off the helmet (light reflected off the helmet shell) by chance.

I was riding a 14' SUP off Cronulla about 18 months ago and got caught up in a situation where my legrope came adrift and a strong offshore buffeted my board further to sea and left me floating. I used my Gath between my legs for bouyancy until picked up by some passers by.

I still get weird looks and feel a bit kooky but the pro's far outweigh image in my opinion.

^^That's the go, custom el'merts