Hey Kahuna,

I've had a Gath helmet for quite a few years now, and yeah if you make sure you get the right size they are pretty comfortable.

As for them being necessary, thought the same thing when I was learning and had a board leash on - wiped out, got the head out of the water and thought, where's my board.... -THWACK- Ah there it is, nailing me in the back of the head... so, I would say, if I didn't have the Gath, the it'd be a Gash in stead... however, I don't wear a board leash anymore, and when kiting in locations where there are no rocks or anything of the sort I'll go without... however, I have just ordered a 'Bern' helmet, the 'Baker' model, so will be wearing that when it comes to me trying out some more tricks!

Later.

Yup that's the link, a mate has had one, and uses it for everyhting, Mountain biking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and tried it out, nice fit, good light feel, one helmet more than one use, STOKED!

Matt black, on it's way over... some time this week I think.

Cool, will do.

Try the Protec Ace Water. Cheap and much more comfortable and designed for water use.

the gaths helmets are relli kite, if u use a board leash i suggest you get one

I have been wearing a Gath since they first hit the market. I used to wear them surfing, after one day at Parsons I got a smack in the ear from my surfboard which hurt, a freeking lot, and busted my ear drum, this was on a no wind day, the wind that made my board take off and smack me in the ear was a gust over the wave lip, otherwise it was tear drop oil slick glass.

Anyway you probably think live with it pal, but the ear drum busting (i didnt know this at the time) lead to dizziness, and I thought I was going to pass out, as it was a fair smack in the head, and I talkied myself to shore, then realised there was blood coming out of my ear.

next purchase, Gath hat.

Windsurfing (when there were no kites boys yes remember that) slammed head first into the mast at real speed, no worries, thanks Gath.
another day, got caught in heavy hail, could not even hold my hand above water from the pelting, Gath hat, no problem, thanks again.

Then many years later surfing the wewt coast of SA at Greenly Reef, I got washed over a wave, no biggy, and turned upside down and then felt a crack on the head, almost brushed it off as a no issue, but when I came up realised that I had hit the side of my head on the rocks of the reef. Don't think I would have done too well without the Gath.

Mate of mine, no helemt, big jump, big gust, hit the water, very shallow, banged his head on a rock, rock made hole, blood, passed out, Ambulance, all in friendly SA. (he still doesnt wear a helment??)

Personally if you think that standing on the beach with a kite in any conditions does not warrant a helmet, think again, one rock, no more kitesurfing for you.

Also I wear a visor, and I think of all the years of UV exposure I have reduced by wearing this.
Winter - lots of heat lost through your head, keep the melon warm

Gath is excellent.

Get one

those berns look like german army helmets.....awesome :D

Gaths r fine
I like mine
thats the end
of this rhyme

Another plus from helmets that is often overlooked is eliminating sun damage to your scalp - even if you have heaps of hair and stay out for a few hours you will get burned!

Predator make a nice helmet in the Ducati. It comes with removeable ear pieces and a whole bunch of custom fit pads which make it possible to fit the helmet to your sized scone.
www.predatorhelmets.com

Hey I've got Gath surf hat, wear it surfing in winter and kiting all the time.. even if I look like a bit of a knob. Several times when I was learning, with a retractable leash the helmet saved me from nasty whacks in the head from the board.. as for anything harder than that I doubt it would offer that much protection. But with a good fit it keeps my head warm. Haven't had any issues with it filling with water? does the job, haven't tried anything else so I guess I don't know what i'm missing out on. and my mates call it a brain bucket - which infers i have a brain, so i take that as a compliment!
ear vents act as good wind speed meters - when they start whistling the helmet wants me to go kiting.

hhmmm bad stack today, 20kts+ 14mtr stuffed up landing, kitelooped to hell head first smack 1ft deep water from about 5mtrs up, concussed, hmm maybe helmet is a good option after all...

Sweet,

Just got my squid lid. Looks sweet. and fit's a treat, had pull-out sections in side, one for winter, covers your ears and back of yer head where the lid don't reach with a knit type material, then replace that with some standard padding that's happy to get wet!
STOKED!

Ordered from http://www.REI.com - Including postage - $79.14

Now, where the hell is that wind?