HANS Type devices

The video link seemed pretty comprehensive. The only thing that I would add is that unless your car is within one pound of making minimum weight :eh: the difference in price between the Sport and the Pro seems alot. I don't think that it's a fatigue issue as the device is held tightly to your upper torso by the seat belts and unless you are driving in F1 I doubt that even the best engineers can see the difference in the data.
 
Assuming you go with HANS......save the $ and go with the Sport model. Also, make sure to get the sliding tether straps. If you do so, you will barely notice you are wearing the thing. I hated the HANS with fixed tethers but the sliding tethers are great.
 
What Jay said. I borrowed a friends $$$ HANS for a LeMons race before I bought my sport model. I couldn't tell a difference in comfort even after being in the car for a 2.5 hr driving stint. I bought the sport model with sliding tethers and have been more than happy with it. The only time I have issues seeing is if I'm trying to look in my 'blind spot' while pulling out onto track at MSRHouston. Once on the track and racing, I don't notice it's there at all.
I say that.. I actually ran a DE day a few weeks ago and didn't wear it. By the end of the day, my neck was more sore than it's been in quite a while. I guess I've gotten to where I rely on the tethers to hold my head up under braking. Gotta stop that.

I just hope I'm still happy with how it works in the event I ever need it for what it's meant for....
 
I visited the IMIS show specifically to buy a H&N gizmo for next season. The show was last week down in Indy. I took my current helmet with me (even though it has expired and I needed a new one) so I could have it on for 'real world' fit tests. I tried HANS and the Simpson model (Pro Rage) side by side. The Simpson was very comfy and had more range of motion. Even though it looks claustrophobic (since it ties around your body), I sat it a race seat with belts on and didn't even notice that I had it on. The model I got has tethers on it that clasp though my shoulder belts at the latch. The HANS has the vertical plate on it behind the helmet that was a minor mpediment to moving my head around. The bottom line was that the Simpson allowed a little more head head movement. As always...other users may have different experiences. My point is that an individual should try out the different options so they can get a better feel for how they'll interact with them in the cockpit.

Dayle
 
I got a hans sport 2 with the sliding tethers. I also got the quick release pins. If I were to do it again I wouldn't get the quick release tethers. they are bulky and the tethers seem to get in the way.

I bolted myself into the seat and found it to be "comfortable" and range of motion was far better than I had expected.

aaron
 
I have the non sliding non quick release teathers.

Short of the first 7 seconds I wore the HANS ever, I have never noticed it again. The fact of the matter is that you dont ever turn your head far enough to engage the standard teathers, even in driving around the paddock. I'm sure someone will say that they do, but I'd bet that they just never gave the standard teathers time enough to get used to it. Any time you're limited in your range of motion, human nature forces you to challenge it.

The sliding teathers thing is a marketing tool to remove an objection from people who have never worn one on track.

The quick release thing seems like a good idea, but as Bobby said the leashes (or whatever you want to call them) look like they would be constantly in the way.

IMHO: The base model is the best bet.

That said, I'm still thinking about switching to a Defnder or a Hybrid Rage for side impact protection.

-Kyle
 
Kyle,

I strongly disagree that the sliding tethers are simply a "marketing" tool. They truly allow your head to yaw sideways more. In a frontal impact there is no degradation in protection if your head is turned......think about it.........1 strap longer than normal, 1 strap shorter than normal.....average strap length which determines how far your head moves forward is unchanged compared to straight ahead orientation.

And I gave the fixed tethers a 1 year try......hated them more and more as time went on.

Thanks, Jay
 
Safe Racer just did an email blast offering a $100 gift certificate to Safe Racer if you buy a 38.1 SFI HNR. I just ordered the Safety Solutions device for my new teammate, with the SCCA discount and free shipping it was $535.50 out the door. 8) Awesome deal.
 
I just received my Simpson/Safety Solutions device along with the $100 gift certificate Simpson gives along with the 10% SCCA discount. Looks good, haven't tried it in the car yet; just trying it on (safety issues aside), it still seems like an extra layer of complexity and stress in getting to the grid. Guess I better get used to it!

I was surprised that it also says "Hutchens" on the label, which is another device that has been around for a while.

James Wiley
#72 HP Midget
 
To mimick Jay's experience, the borrowed HANS I used didn't have the sliding tethers. it was definitely annoying. The sliding tethers made life a lot better, but I would still prefer just a bit more range of motion if it wouldn't come at the expense of lengthening my neck in a wreck.
 
Cool good to see people post up

Here’s a question

Do you put the HANS type device on before you get in the car?

Sort of like this kid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnO7H2iEvHI

I usually wait and put on my helmet after I strap in

Also how is it getting in and out of a closed car with a device on?

Thanks in advance for any help

David
 
I put mine on while in the car. It's a lot easier to get in and out of the car and get belted in without my helmet on.
If you can get your helmet on inside the car, then the HANS is no problem.
In several cars I've seen, the roof is too low to put your helmet on inside the car, (Tall people in hardtop Miatas mostly), then you have to put everything together before you get in.
 
Jay Lutz":1nuoa4wg said:
Kyle,

I strongly disagree that the sliding tethers are simply a "marketing" tool. They truly allow your head to yaw sideways more ....
Click to expand...

Jay, You're right they do allow your head to turn more. However, unless you have adjusted the teathers to be too tight there is no way you are turning your head so far that you're engaging the standard teathers while on track (or even while driving around the paddock).

If you'd turned your head that far on track you'd lose so much time re-orienting yourself that you'd have hit whatever was in front of you .... twice.

I can see that the sliding teather would be a huge help when parallel parking. ;)

On the other topic here: I think that it's important to make a habit of exiting your car with your helmet and HANS still on. It helps you build the muscle memory required to not catch the HANS on the upper halo bar above the window opening. I've started to force myself to do this every time.

-Kyle
 
Nice marketing by HANS, too bad they don't tell you about their pit bull-like tactics in keeping as many competitors off the market as possible, and the fact that their device offers less protection in lateral impacts than other devices. I just bought the Simpson Pro Rage--it's tested as more protective and is less expensive than a HANS. I have no connection to Simpson
or any other company, I just really dislike the fact that HANS has been strangling the market for years.

Just something to consider when making your purchase...

James Wiley
#72 HP Midget
 
Looks like the information on the speedway video is not exactly right so a friend and I will head up to New Braunfels TX, to visit Simpson and we will try on these different Hans type devices

David
 
What about the quick release on the Hybrid? Also sliding teathers and seatbelt anchor system on that one.
 
Rob, call Weber Manning here in town. He tried both the HANS and the Hybrid and bought the Hybrid. I was at his shop last Saturday and tried it myself and liked it, of course I have never tried the HANS. He can tell you more accurately than I about the differences.

Phil
 
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