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| Safety Equipment (1172 Posts)
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Equipment Design
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On 7/5/2001
MarkR
wrote in from
(63.165.nnn.nnn)
Hi Folks,
I am an equipment product designer with over ten years professional experience in protective equipment such as football, ice & street hockey, baseball, skateboard, martial arts, polo, alpine downhill, lacrosse, footwear shock absorption, medical, and military. Most of this has been applied in impact related sports and injury.
I am glad to happen across the forum. It is a great place to acquire first hand information for defining perimeters for design.
Most of what I have found is that ultimately the users are willing to subject themselves to greater chance of injury, wearing less protective equipment, to get away with wearing less bulky or less restrictive protective equipment.
This is across all sports. This is usually in highly aerobic sports as mentioned above. While I'm sure you could work up a good sweat in most of the extreme sports, the duration of the sport in competition might eliminate the resistance to the minimal amount of additional protection inleu of saving skin and bone.
The other issue has always been Market Share (number of buyers)-Vs- Manufacturing Cost Acceptability (cost/profit to get to market).
It is always been possible to improve on existing product technology, but when the user sees what the technology costs they usually choke. The user seldom considers what it takes and costs to design, prototype, test, manufacture, and distribute an item. It's the nature of business. "One-Off's" or custom pieces will always be very expensive since it is for a single buyer.
There are incredible material resources available today for fit, form, breathe ability, hydrophobic characteristics (moisture resistance/dispersion), abrasion resistance, slide, etc., etc. but at a cost that the general public has not been willing to spend. Part of it is also education.
When designing protective equipment for pro football and hockey players early on, they would choke at the cost of the new technology compared to buying something off the shelf based on twenty year old accepted products. You have to askk yourelf... why is it the norm...why is it accepted?
Ususally pricepoint and market share. It has nothing to do with the needs of the protection or the individual.
When we asked, "What does it cost for a visit to the hospital? What does it cost to miss a season? What does your doctor charge for visits? What is your pain and recovery worth? ...... the answers are different.
Aslo, ask yourself this .... can you participate in your sport while recovering from an injury with your existing equipment? See what I mean. Check your answers.
love to hear from you or read your feedback.
MarkR
Minimum quantities of the raw materials for prototyping or custom manufacturing are usually quite high also.
Size of the market, or willingness for individuals to spend the money for custom equipment usually dictates the outcome.
Can someone tell me what the size of this limited extreme performance market is for things like street luge or downhill skateboard, or others? Who are the organizations.
Where are the meets?
By the way, a "good" well fitted neck roll (longhorn) for things like street luge or competition downhill skateboard is a lot better than a wheel chair. When they say, "These daredevil skateboarders race downhill at breakneck speed in an effort to break the tape," they mean it. Get one.
I would appreciate your information.
MarkR
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StreetMachine sliding gloves
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On 7/4/2001 PCB
wrote in from
(207.172.nnn.nnn)
I doubt they would, as they only have slow street stuff listed on their website (unless I'm missing something).
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downhill gloves
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On 7/2/2001
david
wrote in from
(209.179.nnn.nnn)
is streetmachine going to put some pics of these gloves on their site. i professionaly made sliding glove would be really nice
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sliding gloves
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On 7/1/2001 R.
wrote in from
(192.26.nnn.nnn)
For all those living in the San Diego area, you can check out the Supaflex or whatever-- their downhill sliding glove at street machine. The dude still has to price them. looked cool and functional enough -- a camel-toe design and multiple plastic sliding plates-- flexible, light, and seemed strong. apparently they are made by a well-known (European?) ski glove manufacturer.
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Arm pads
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On 6/26/2001 Andy
wrote in from
(206.210.nnn.nnn)
That's another good idea. The store in town sells mostly hockey/lacrosse/baseball. I've been walking past it on my way home from the train for two years now. Maybe I'll go in!
Thanks.
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snell ratings
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On 6/26/2001 kanufi
wrote in from
(144.138.nnn.nnn)
just an answer to Mikez ? down the page .The snell ratings on a helmet mean you have a helmet with one of the highest saftey ratings in the world.Its a european rating which dominates world saftey standards.I have been into motor cycle racing (road bike)and i was informed that if your helmet didnt have a snell rating it was,nt worth buying.Price is no option when you put it on your head.You have to ask this ? how much is your head worth?
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Arm Pads
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On 6/25/2001
Theboz65
wrote in from
(216.116.nnn.nnn)
Andy:
Check out lacrosse arm guards. DeBeer makes a hard plastic shell arm guard that will cover your forearm, elbow, and upper arm.
In lax we trust.
Skate hard.
Tom Bosworth
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Pro Designed Pads
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On 6/22/2001 Patio Mendino
wrote in from
(63.65.nnn.nnn)
If you are wanting protection, spend the extre' $$$ on some custom sized(at no extra charge) Pro Designed pads. I have only gotten the elbows so far(due to $$$) but they have saved me a lot of pain and injury, after tearing my shoulder up.
Thesed pads are what you need, not off the shelf store bought deallies....
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flyaway
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On 6/17/2001
hugh r
wrote in from
(64.8.nnn.nnn)
Looks like these guys carry some... no pics though... HR
http://www.sportsalternative.com/skate/shop/skate_no_pic.asp?Class=Helmets&Manu=FLYAWAY
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Flyaway
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On 6/12/2001
eric
wrote in from
(134.10.nnn.nnn)
I'm in a similar boat. I've never owned one, but would like to, so if anyone has either a contact for the company, or contact for dealers that have em, I would be very appreciative.
Thanks,
Eric
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Flyaway helmets
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On 6/4/2001 Glen
wrote in from
(216.102.nnn.nnn)
does anyone know how to contact the people at Flyaway. I need new foam for one.
thanks
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tsg
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On 6/1/2001 R.
wrote in from
(192.26.nnn.nnn)
depends on what you want to do.
my two cents (already posted in the archives--do a search) is that the tsg are safer than pro-tecs for general skating. They are up to cpsc bike helmet specs, and have a stiff- styrofoam like inner shell along with foam pads, unlike pro-tecs, which only have the soft, spongy foam pads.
Of course, if you are doing downhill, or anything over, say 30 mph, as per previous posts (do a search), you really need full face protection.
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tsg helmets
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On 5/31/2001
joseph eagle
wrote in from
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are these helmets good
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speed helmets
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On 5/30/2001 Patio Mendino
wrote in from
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those big helmets that are wide at the base are aero, but probably would cause worse neck damage than a standard helmet, due to the excessive angle the helmet base would cause your neck to bend.
the aero bike helmets with teardrop shape, pointed towards the back(for time trialists, triathletes, etc) have been proven to cause worse injuries if a hit is taken from the rear, as it twists and snaps your neck.
a neck roll like football players use, or auto racing types as you suggest would be a smart idea if you're going 30+mph.
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idee
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On 5/24/2001 R.
wrote in from
(192.26.nnn.nnn)
hey all you speedboarders and lugers out there...
how about wearing a racing collar (big foam thing that NASCAR racers wear) to keep your head from lolling about with the extra weight of the helmet when you crash and compressing your neck vertebrae? Read the horrific story in the crash section about the dirt pile. I don't think a helmet could have helped there, except for preventing skull damage.
I don't know... maybe that's excessive, but hey, I'd think it would be more aerodynamic. Is the neck brace the idea behind those weird-ass Dr. GoFast helmets? (the ones Mr. Chaput hypes)
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vigor vamoose
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On 5/22/2001
mikez
wrote in from
(196.2.nnn.nnn)
Ok,
for now this seems the helmet for me,
All I need to know is where can I get one either in South AFrica or online?
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shoei helmet
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On 5/21/2001 DRAKKARS
wrote in from
(192.6.nnn.nnn)
YOU BETTER BUY A NEW ONE !!!!!!
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shoei helmet
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On 5/15/2001
david
wrote in from
(209.179.nnn.nnn)
low and behold, while dumpser diving in this recyling center near my school, i found a motorcycle helmet. the helmet is a shoei helmet which is DOT and SNELL certifed. The helmt has no scraches or brakes i don't think somebody crashed in it. the only problem is that the helmet is from 1971 or before and needs to be repadded. the inside padding has desintiragted. can i repadd the helmet so i can use it, or should i acually buy a helmet?
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Vigor
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On 5/13/2001
eric
wrote in from
(134.10.nnn.nnn)
Try some BMX and bike stores. Vigor makes a BMX/skate helmet that alo of stores carry around here. With some asking, someone might be able to order the Vamoose from their distributor.
Sorry I can't be more specific, but i'm not from the area.
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vigor vamoose
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On 5/11/2001
david
wrote in from
(209.179.nnn.nnn)
after doing much research into helmets, i found the best helmet for not alot of money is the vigor vamoose. the only problem has been how to acually get one. i have called many sporting sports and a few motorcycle stores were i live(sam francisco) and i can't find any stores that carry this brand, let alone that model. does anybody know where i can purchase this helmet at any store in the SF/Bay area?
peace
david
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Fox Racing Gloves
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On 5/6/2001
Jake
wrote in from
(209.77.nnn.nnn)
Has anyone ever tried to use those biking gloves made by fox racing. They look hella padded and the outside is cover in leather. Well just wondering.
Jake :)
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snell ratings
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On 5/6/2001
mikez
wrote in from
(196.2.nnn.nnn)
IS the rating snell B90 sufficient for speed boarding?
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butt pads
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On 5/3/2001 rasputin
wrote in from
(64.172.nnn.nnn)
hey,
Wondering if anyone has suggestions on butt/lower back pads? I took a hard spill at Temecula last week and now I'm of the opinion that they are a necessity. Standard butt shorts appear to be too low ridin but I've never worn em.
thanx
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Alcohol free beer
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On 4/30/2001 Herbn
wrote in from
(216.107.nnn.nnn)
If someone gets hurt or dies while skating drunk,why does the helmet issue take president,it usually does,until pressed(like this post) then,yeah,then beer is bad too,when consumed in excess and combined with a hazardous activity.Initially it seems more correct or maybe an easier cause to fly the prohelmet flag,than to try and get people to stop drinking,smoking,injecting,incinerating,popping,e yedropping or whatever other means of using controlled or illegal substances people have come up with.Just an observation,helmets are good when needed in moderation.
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Leather vs kevlar
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On 4/30/2001
Neil G
wrote in from
(198.169.nnn.nnn)
IIRC Chaput said that kevlar was better but that leather was accepted in all comps vs some restriction on the kevlar suits.
Neil
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