Kiteboard Helmet Search

I am looking for a helmet for kite boarding. I have a large head. With short hair, my head is 24-1/4". My local stores do not have helmets that fit. I am looking for a helmet that fits and has good safety features.

I read this from an excellent post:

"Liner: There are three main types of insulation. Expanded Poly-Propylene (EPP) is the most common. It’s very stiff, not affected by moisture, and will take multiple impacts, according to Halstead. Expanded Poly-Styrene is "the very best" energy attenuating substance. It’s what’s used in bike helmets, but generally is only expected to be hit once, and with one exception noted below isn’t used in whitewater helmets. Finally, there are closed-cell foams. The best of these are otherwise known as Vinyl Nitrile, which is a PVC synthetic rubber, heavier in a safe density than EPS/EPP, and will absorb water, but it is usually much softer. A closed-cell foam will also absorb sweat along with water, which can make for a ‘funky’ brain bucket. A fourth insulation, Ethyl Vinyl Acetate or EVA, "isn’t a functional energy attenuator because it’s so springy," says Halstead.

Halstead says stiffer is better. "When you look at the stuff that will actually protect your head, it ought to be so stiff that you think, ‘my God, this is going to hurt.’ But you need that much stiffness to spread the impact. If you pick up a helmet with soft foam inside, the chance of it protecting you is slim." Of course, not everyone agrees with Halstead. Jay Norfleet from Grateful Heads thinks EPP is not a multiple-impact foam because it compresses. And Doug Poe of Pro-Tec believes EVA gives the same protection as closed-cell foam."

It is impossible to find a water helmet that fits a large head. My head is 62.5 cm. That is the upper limit of some helmets and above the limit for most.

Liquid Force XL 24in

ShredReady makes some helmets that are one-size-fits-all. I bought the Standard cut helmet and removed all the padding. I also cut away some of the mesh liner. It fits, barely.