Getting ready to buy one that meets the sfi 38.1 standard. Hans, hybrid, nexgen and others. What do you like about them? What do you hate about them. Primary use will be hill climbing, with a smattering of rally co-driving.
Getting ready to buy one that meets the sfi 38.1 standard. Hans, hybrid, nexgen and others. What do you like about them? What do you hate about them. Primary use will be hill climbing, with a smattering of rally co-driving.
Only one I've used is my Hans, which I've had for 4 years. Best thing is the ability to nap in pregrid- it holds my helmet very nicely.
I really can't tell you a downside once I'm racing. I notice it when I'm sitting, bored. Make sure, if you have a large neck, to buy one large enough. Mine should be a touch bigger.
I like my Simpson R3 (Formerly Safety Solutions R3) since I can use it in my normal car without a 5 point harness for HPDEs and such.
I run a Hans with the newest tether and hook design. No real complaints honestly. It's easy to hook/unhook and comfortable. You can't turn your head much, but that's not an issue on track.
I have the Simpson Rage Pro. I like it. Simple to set up, barely know it is there. Not sure what else to say, really. Fortunately I have not had to test it.
robert
I chose my necksgen over a Hans for the easier egress in and out of the car with a cage. It is very comfortable to my surprise.
I have a Rage R3.
Likes:
- Does not require belts to be effective so you can use it in student cars
- Tethers do not expire
Dislikes:
- Needing one in the first place
- Wearing it ( I only ever bother in racing events where it is mandated ). They protect you only for one type of incident at the expense of making it harder to get in and out of a sedan quickly. I see dying in a fire while hanging upside-down with my neck restraint caught on something as more likely than head on impact at significant G forces to rip my neck off in the first place given that I race an E30.
- $600 for a hunk of plastic and some nylon straps is rediculous. IDGAF how much certification testing cost.
The R3 the only one you can use in a non harness equipped car?
Jaynen wrote: The R3 the only one you can use in a non harness equipped car?
That's the one. 
http://simpsonraceproducts.com/head-neck/r3.html
I love my HANS.
Huh... Maybe I'm missing something, but a few select bullet points on the R3's page seem... Contradictory?
So... Goes with driver, but must be fitted to car? Requires/suggests seat pad to accommodate?
Necksgen here - serves the purpose but no experience with others for comparison. Selected because I don't have a halo seat, 3" belt retention looks better, and the tether design looks better for side impacts.
Keith wrote: I run a Hans with the newest tether and hook design. No real complaints honestly. It's easy to hook/unhook and comfortable. You can't turn your head much, but that's not an issue on track.
Same here. I haven't tried anything but the HANS but have no real complaints with mine. Getting in and out is easy enough with it on. There is some restriction of my ability to turn my head while strapped in but it's not an issue once I'm driving.
ransom wrote: Huh... Maybe I'm missing something, but a few select bullet points on the R3's page seem... Contradictory? * The R3 is designed to travel with the driver and does not rely on seatbelts to be effective * EZ Slides cannot be ordered at time of head & neck restraint purchase. Purchase after your device has been fitted and adjusted to your car. * Ships with molded seat pad So... Goes with driver, but must be fitted to car? Requires/suggests seat pad to accommodate?
It does not rely on the seat or the belts - but comes with a molded pad with a cutout for the R3 so if you have a solid seat you can sit more comfortably. I have a foam cover on a Momo race seat and never use the pad. If I had an all aluminum seat, I might.
They also sell a kit that allows you to mount it in the car semi-permanently for apps where it is too difficult to get in/out wearing it all the time - so if you choose to go that route you have to measure and order the EZ Slides in a different length (I'm guessing).
I didn't bother with the EZ Slide at all. I put washers under the screws on the regular slide so it could move more freely. All the EZ Slide is is a little piece of stretch nylon then aircraft cable covered in shrink tube rather than all nylon.
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
Thanks!
Once again my confusion is down to my ignorance...
FYI, I have done a couple of adrenaline-assisted rapid exits with my Hans on. Never had a problem with it hanging up, and that's getting out of a caged Miata with door bars.
I've been wondering about the R3. Not that the HANS is a bad piece, it just concerns me that it relies on the shoulder harness to hold it. Yeah, yeah, I know, something something never seen one fail something something gotta be smart enough to put it on right something something on the market the longest something something.
I just like the idea of the thing going with me all the time. Not to mention its design would help protect my back in the event of a seat failure if hit from behind.
Keith wrote: FYI, I have done a couple of adrenaline-assisted rapid exits with my Hans on. Never had a problem with it hanging up, and that's getting out of a caged Miata with door bars.
You have to try it upside-down. They all work when doing the 8 second drill for tech stewards :)
I went with the DefNder. Don't have anything else to compare it to. Does make ingress/egress slightly more difficult. Also, routing shoulder straps can be a bit difficult at times since it has to slide between a bit of a hook and sort-of tube. Having someone to assist really helps sometimes.
I find it quite comfortable in the car. Was less expensive than some alternatives. Is supposed to do a better job at absorbing lateral forces on the neck, not just linear ones, so I won't snap my neck off sideways if I hit a tire wall broadsides and go pinwheeling down.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:Keith wrote: FYI, I have done a couple of adrenaline-assisted rapid exits with my Hans on. Never had a problem with it hanging up, and that's getting out of a caged Miata with door bars.You have to try it upside-down. They all work when doing the 8 second drill for tech stewards :)
I wasn't referring to a drill for tech stewards, but an actual "I've gotta get out of this car now before the one behind me gets here" adrenaline-assisted rapid exit without mental preparation beforehand. I admit I do tend to keep the car the right way up.
You'll need to log in to post.
