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[Ayrtek Cricket]

Having now spend a third of my life looking at the cricket helmet market id like to ask the cross section of members of the forum for some input.

The opportunity has arisen to look at the safety provided by the cricket helmets and moving it forward even further.

1. Are people are particularly bothered by just how safe the helmets they wear are?
2. When looking to purchase a helmet would you look for the helmet thats not only passes but excels under the BSI tests?
3. Or is the fact that the helmet has passed testing all that concerns you?

Id welcome your input so I can gain a further understanding of the cricket buyers insights.

Cheers

Tom

[Seniorplayer]

No
No
Yes

[WalkingWicket37]

1. Are people are particularly bothered by just how safe the helmets they wear are?
2. When looking to purchase a helmet would you look for the helmet thats not only passes but excels under the BSI tests?
3. Or is the fact that the helmet has passed testing all that concerns you?

1. Yes. I like to know my kit will save me if called into action! I got rid of my old Albion to replace it with a new style Masuri for this reason. I also bought a stem guard for additional safety/protection

2. I'd like to know it not only passed, but passed well! For example if a brand passed the regulations but had known quality control issues I'd avoid that brand! Equally if a brand volunteered their helmets for regular testing to ensure there quality control was up to scratch off be more engined to use their products.

3. No, it also needs to fit well, have good visibility and be comfortable on my head! There would be little point buying a compliant helmet if it wasn't very comfortable.

[GoodLeave]

1. Of course.
2. Yes, but only to a point. Don't make it 3 times as expensive to produce to gain that extra 10%.
3. Fit, feel, vision are all almost equally as important. Make it safe, then make it user friendly.

[Buzz]

1. yes and no, I want it to pass the tests but be suitable for the standard I play.
2. Not really I want value for my lid
3. Yes.

Weight and price are the major factor for me. And looks. Lets not pretend I am not vein about my kit...

[JB]

1) yes, that's why I changed to the new style last year
2) if I played a higher standard this would be a yes
3) yes, something that is comfortable is my priority though

[mdg20]

Yes - no point in it not being capable of doing its job properly.
50/50 - I dont want a helmet that scrapes through I want one that passes relatively easily and from a manufacturer who design their helmets to pass because they think its important, not just get it to a standard just enough to pass so they can flog them. However will i pay double the cost for one way above the standard? No probably not i don't play to a level that justifies it.
Yes - now its having passed the standard is the main criteria whereas before it probably wasnt. However looks, feel, comfort and price are still factors.

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Thanks for those that have answered so far,

A potential offset would be a slight weight increase by 30-40g to improve performance to a level where all impacts were below 50gn (for example) where to pass any helmet needs to be below 250gn.

Is weight a major factor now people consider when purchasing or have people come to accept that in order to provide safer helmets in line with the new safety standard they have increased in weight in some cases?

[Neon Cricket]

1) Yes, but only fussed enough to know it'll be sufficient in the majority of cases - so long as it'll take a blow at 75/80 then I'm not overly bothered past that
2) Can't say I'd be that bothered, just knowing it's passed the testing would probably be sufficient for me
3) I'd say yes, but then I wouldn't consider a helmet that hadn't. First decision would likely be the weight vs the price.

[Neon Cricket]

Is weight a major factor now people consider when purchasing or have people come to accept that in order to provide safer helmets in line with the new safety standard they have increased in weight in some cases?

Still weight for me mate, the likelihood of an impact of that nature happening to me is so low that I'd be more worried about the weight. Fastest I'd face on a regular basis is likely mid 70s so if it passes the testing thats enough for me really

[JB]

The weight isn't really an issue for me, I think it's something you get used to

[edge]

1. Broadly yes, but it's so rare that I get dinged in the head at any speed in matches that it's lower on the list of concerns than comfort/visibility.
2/3. All else being equal then yes of course the safer the better, but the testing standards exceed what I can reasonably expect to require of a lid personally, so in practice I'd prefer something that just passes with improved comfort/weight/visibility over a mega safe lid.

Not planning to replace my current Masuri until I have to, but price will be a big factor when I do - the way the prices are going now is a lot of money to be paying for something you have to replace after one big impact! A change in materials to something that will take multiple hits would be a big positive.

[Danny90]

1. Not really
2. Not a factor for me
3. Doesn't bother me either way.

For me, comfort is more important than anything else- even though I play ECB prem cricket against some quick bowlers I'm confident enough that most reasonable helmets will help me avoid disaster (as my old style Arytek did). In the past I have searched for old style Masuri's and old style Aryteks to find the lightest, most comfortable helmet possible. However, I'd never ware an old plastic Albion, thats where I draw the line, they are just too dangerous.

[Tailendfielder]

1. No - as long as it reduces the inpact on my skull, i'm not bothered. Dont really care about safety standards really.
2. No
3. No

Weight, comfort and visibility are all that bothers me. I dont worry about cost. I cba about what it looks like but people i get the impression the design of your helmets is like modern 'storm trooper' pads. Alot of people prefer the traditional look.

[edge]

@DorsetDan re. assumptions - definitely don't assume that helmets are required to prevent head injuries! I think the assumption that the test (on ball impact anyway) exceeds what most clubbies will face is reasonable though, can't remember the exact ball speed but (64/68?) but it's supposed to equate to 80 out of the hand, which is plenty above club bowlers! As for the drop test part, yes it's inadequate but I'm also pretty unbothered about that, in my personal assessment the helmet is there mainly to stop the ball hitting me in the face.