Any sport requires a certain form of clothing and equipment. And in the case of extreme sports, safety equipment is also needed. So, equipment for karting, in addition to overalls, special shoes and accessories, includes a helmet. Regardless of whether the athlete is a professional or an amateur, this element is simply necessary. After all, we are talking about protection from serious injuries that are not excluded in karting. Let's try to figure out what details you need to pay attention to when choosing a helmet and which brands have earned the approval of athletes.
Where to start?
Before proceeding with the purchase of this safety item, you should clearly indicate the requirements. They must fully comply with a go-kart helmet. Such, of course, must include strength and reliability. This element of equipment will accompany the rider more than one race, and there must be confidence in its practicality.
An important factor for many kartists is the external attractiveness of the helmet. After all, both amateurs and professionals will surely find fans who will not only want to show off the dexterity of maneuvers and the skills of driving a racing car, but also be fully armed, collecting the laurels of the winner. In addition, the original form and a certain tuning add athletes confidence.
Popular brands
As for strength, then the riders are trying to give preference to trusted brands. Bell's karting helmet, as well as Sparco, Arai, and Stilo, gained particular popularity. These brands have long established themselves as reliable manufacturers. Of course, the sporting goods market does not stand still, and every year more and more companies appear responsibly and tastefully related to the production of sports equipment.
It should be noted that there are certain requirements for helmets in motorsport, called homologation. For their manufacture, as a rule, composite plastics (carbon) are used using various technologies (for example, complex). For the so-called luxury models, manufacturers use refractory nomex. Of course, their cost is much higher than usual.
No matter how branded and popular a kart helmet is, the main thing is that it sits well and stably. And the glass (or visor) was transparent (in the case of a closed model). It protects against intense airflow, gives the pilot a wide view for making dangerous turns and prevents collisions.
Children and adults: differences
It should be noted the difference between helmets for karting and according to the age of the rider. And it's not just about the size. The difference is primarily the thickness of this element of equipment. Children under 15 years old, as a rule, study at sports schools and do not yet take part in international championships. Therefore, a helmet for karting for children is designed only for adolescents, has relative strength and a closed shape. The visor is not tinted. Do not forget about the presence of a mandatory ventilation system.
Adult karting helmet has higher technical indicators. Lightweight, with the right shape, it must have high resistance to air flow and be as shockproof as possible. Of course, a considerable role is played here by value and compliance with a professional or amateur type.
Amateurs and professionals
For professional competitions, there are certain standards that goalkeeper equipment must comply with. It has a high level of protection and is much more expensive at the price of an amateur kit. People who are not keen on karting have more freedom in terms of choosing sports equipment. Lighter models are provided for them, but at the same time not as durable as professional ones. Among these security features can be found open models. Their selection, as a rule, correlates with the type of racetrack and speed limits.
Tuning
A go-kart helmet after purchase can be equipped with additional elements, that is, make tuning. For example, very often amateurs and professionals who are attentive to their health acquire special “collars”. They save the spine of the pilot from the load. Although the weight of the helmet is on average a little more than a kilogram, the load on the neck is still noticeable. Such a "collar" is attached to the rider's suit, thus taking part of the weight of the helmet on, thereby significantly increasing comfort and safety.
A professional go-kart helmet can be equipped with a so-called turbo-visor. This special visor protects the pilot's view from the weather. It is attached directly to the helmet and can be removed if necessary.
Experts also recommend purchasing a cap comforter as an additional element. It provides a tight fit of the helmet on the head, improves ride comfort and plays an important role in hygiene.
A go-kart helmet often has a solid color. Therefore, to create an original appearance, athletes sometimes decorate protection elements with airbrushing. The price of some of these additional elements in the aggregate amounts to a considerable sum of money, which can not be affordable for ordinary motorsport enthusiasts. But the security is worth it.