Not sure if your referring to my comments WeirdEd but if thats the case you've taken it out of context.

you are joking right? oh, sorry you need a helmet and a sense of humor, at first it was a joke but now

if i choose to go out and have fun knowing the chances i am taking, STFU about it, it is none of your business
if i get messed up it is my fault and my choice,
if because of this you do not want to help me when i get in trouble that's cool, do what you need to to make the world safe for idiots and beginners.

if they think what i am doing looks like fun and do not understand the consequences of their actions when trying it,

that is really not my issue, grow up and make you own choices and live or die with the consequences but do not tell me i can not do what i want because somebody else might see it and try it
i am not a role model and nothing about my life should be copied by others who might expect the same results

this is not a dress rehearsal, use it wisely and try not to waste it being afraid
but if you are going to be stupid you better be tough

lots of times i am

knotwindy said..
you are joking right? oh, sorry you need a helmet and a sense of humor, at first it was a joke but now

if i choose to go out and have fun knowing the chances i am taking, STFU about it, it is none of your business

if i get messed up it is my fault and my choice,

if because of this you do not want to help me when i get in trouble that's cool, do what you need to to make the world safe for idiots and beginners.

if they think what i am doing looks like fun and do not understand the consequences of their actions when trying it,

that is really not my issue, grow up and make you own choices and live or die with the consequences but do not tell me i can not do what i want because somebody else might see it and try it

i am not a role model and nothing about my life should be copied by others who might expect the same results

this is not a dress rehearsal, use it wisely and try not to waste it being afraid

but if you are going to be stupid you better be tough

Whoa, brother, you better stock up on some beta blockers or go for a relaxing kite sesh. If you were doing your thing and not boasting how tough and badass you are because you do not use safety gear I would STFU right away. I have helped and will continue to help people in trouble no matter if their situation was caused by stupidity or force majeure.
If you take a minute to think about it you will find that "making the world safe for idiots and beginners" keeps your kitespot open.

ApatheticEnd said..

I wear this at the cable and will wear it hitting sliders with kite or winch.
http://bernunlimited.com/shop/h20/watts-skate.html

....

I like the look of that helmet but:
- the sizing is a bit strange (by their sizing chart I should wear an XL. I could not buy one off the internet without trying it on)
- they say that "...Hard Hats with Brock soft foam do not meet the standards for action sport head protection...." (what does that mean?)
- 17.7 oz is 500 grams which is super heavy.
- the brim needs to be soft neoprene so it doesn't add to bucketing when you do a powered head plant.

I tried the Gedi and I did not like it at all. It is very heavy and did not fit my head very well. The EN 1385 certification is for canoeing and they don't have to deal with the crash speeds that we do in kiting so weight is less of a consideration from them.

The Gath Surf convertible is quite appealing. On paper it looks ideal with light weight and removable ear pad and brim. Unfortunately they're expensive, and hard to find in local shops. I'm not so interested that I want to go searching.

The form factor and weight looks good and it would help with gear impacts. The lack of certification means it is not tested for any sort of impacts and I imagine it would be not much use in a head to ground or rock impact. There are climbing helmets down below 300 grams that carry the full range of certifications so it doesn't need to be heavy to add impact protection. www.petzl.com/B2C_Web_Login?startURL=%2Fen%2FSport%2FHelmets%2FMETEOR

I guess the question every kiter needs to answer for themselves is "how much is my head worth?". A helmet costs $100.

I remember a quote from my motorcycling days

"there are two types of bike riders - those that have come off and those that will come off. Those that have come off wear leather".

Most of my buddies choose not to wear a helmet. I don't call them idiots and they don't call me a kook.

It is a personal choice.