W AT E R H E L M E T S S S 22
retail buyer’s guide
RETAIL BUYER’S GUIDE
Water sports popularity keeps growing steadily and water helmets are riding this popularity wave. Newcomers or pros, it’s rare to see a bare head in the water. By Rocio Enriquez. New cable parks open every day, enlarging the wakeboarding market. The surge in interest for surf, kiteboarding and wing foiling keeps schools busy with newcomers. Foil set-ups have drawn larger numbers of fans to the sea. In this environment, one product category is reaping the benefits: The Water Helmet. Cable parks make it compulsory, so wakeboarders are completely accustomed to it. Surf and kite schools make sure their pupils wear one when they go out. Foilers of all disciplines are aware of the possible head injuries, so are happy to use it too. Pros in every sport are seen advocating for its use on their social channels. The added protection allows for higher speed and wilder tricks with confidence. Onlookers are persuaded to get a helmet to give these tricks a go themselves. “Just because you’re in the water, it does not mean that sweat is not an issue” Noah Todaro, Triple Eight
Some popular skate helmet brands have had them EN1385 certified for use in the water. “Our best-selling style worn by our pros for years is now certified for water use”, says R.P. Bess, Global Brand Director of Pro-Tec. Wakeboarding helmet brands like Jobe Sports and Follow offer an entry level design and a pro one. Jobe also offers two styles dedicated to rentals, a softshell and a hard-shell version. Simba originally designed its helmet to meet surfers needs, but found that the lightweight, low-profile design performed equally well for all water sports.
The key for water helmets is to offer reliable impact protection with the lightest and most comfortable fit. For impact protection, most brands rely on ABS shells. There’s more technical diversity to be found in linings and padding systems. Follow’s helmets feature their own new TrueFit liner. It eliminates movement of internal fabric, ensuring that neither fit nor safety are compromised. The soft EVA padding absorbs any impact pressure and spreads it over a larger area, softening the shock. Pro-Tec offers dual density EVA foam in its Ace and Full Cut water models. Triple Eight has revamped the liner to include their Sweatsaver wicking material. “Just because you’re in the water, it does not mean that sweat is not an issue”, says Marketing Coordinator Noah Todaro. Simba has updated their Sentinel 1 helmet with a HaloFit pad system. The stronger 3M adhesive backing makes the pads more durable. Bern’s Macon H2O features a soft EPP foam fused to closed cell EVA, faced with neoprene fabric. Ion’s Hardcap model is made with non-water absorbing EVA cushioning. It adds two sets of comfort PE lining to assure the perfect fit. EVA is also the liner of choice for Sandbox. Jobe Sports combines memory foam with a softer outer shell to deliver optimal fit and weight. Water helmets sport a predominantly skate design, with a rising trend of fullcut styles hitting beaches and lakes. The timeless skate shape remains a favourite. Sandbox and Triple Eight add a brimmed 109
