The 9822 Hard Shell Helmet with Face Guard (pictured below left in Pink) is ordered often, both for individuals who suffer from seizures and balance difficulties, as well as those with self-abusive behaviors. We want to keep our friends safe and this is a great helmet to do just that. We offer a range of modifications that allow you to customize the helmet for each individual’s needs. I thought I would go over some of these with you today.

The above picture (left) shows a stock (unmodified) 9822 Hard Shell Helmet with a Face Guard, which has a standard eye and mouth opening, and comes with a simple snap or Velcro chinstrap.

To the above right are 9 optional modifications that can be done to the face guard, depending upon the needs of the wearer. These modifications to the face guard make the helmet not returnable due to it’s customization.

Hard Shell Ear Covers (item# 3459 as pictured above left) are available to add to most styles of Hard Shell Helmets including the 9821 Hard Shell Helmet, the 9822 Hard Shell Helmet with Face Guard, 9824 Hard Shell Helmet with Face Bar and 9825 Deluxe Hard Shell Helmet. These help to protect the ears while still allowing the individual to hear (thanks to the ventilation holes).

A Rear Hard Shell Extension (item# 3465 as pictured above right) is available to add to most styles of Hard Shell Helmets including the 9821 Hard Shell helmet, the 9822 Hard Shell helmet with Face Guard, the 9824 Hard Shell Helmet with Face Bar, and the 9825 Deluxe Hard Shell Helmet. This protects the foam that extends down below the edge of the hard shell in the back of the helmet from wear and tear, and also adds another layer of protection in the back of the helmet.

Adding the Hard Shell Ear Covers and Rear Hard Shell Extension will make the helmet not returnable.

Soft foam ear covers (item# 3460, shown above left) can also be added to most of our helmets, versions 9817 Halo Helmet, 9820 Soft Shell, 9821 Hard Shell, 9822 Hard Shell with Face Guard, 9824 Hard Shell with Face Bar, 9825 Deluxe Hard Shell, and 9829 Full Coverage helmet, and serve to protect the ears while still allowing the end user to hear with the additions of the added ventilation holes.

The Custom Headgear Strapping System (item# 3472, shown above right) is made for the Houdini’s out there who want out of their helmet, but need to keep it on for their own safety and protection. It is the most difficult strapping system to remove that we offer. It consists of 2 straps that come down from either side of the helmet or face guard and crisscross underneath the chin and are held together with a clear rubber sleeve.

The straps then continue in the back of the helmet, and MUST be crisscrossed again in the back (see illustration above right) before fastening with 2 Quick-Release Buckles in the top rear of the helmet. If the straps are not crisscrossed again in the back of the helmet before being buckled, they will not work. Once buckled, the straps should be pulled so they are snug. For this to do it’s job, the helmet itself always must fit snugly without much movement.

Custom Strapping is available on most of our helmets – 9817 Halo, 9820 Soft Shell, 9821 Hard Shell, 9822 Hard Shell with Face Guard, 9824 Hard Shell with Face Bar, 9825 Deluxe and 9829 Full Coverage.

In the most severe cases, we can exchange out the plastic Quick-Release Buckles for metal clips. These are the most difficult to remove.

Adding the Soft Ear Covers and Custom Strapping will make the helmet not returnable.

The Quick-Release Buckle Chinstraps (item# 3469 shown above left and right) are not as difficult to remove as the 3472 Custom Strapping system, but are designed to be more difficult to remove than the standard snap or Velcro chinstraps. They feature a “pinch-release” style buckle, and are available with an Under the Chin closure option (pictured above left) and an On Top of the Helmet closure (pictured above right) option. These can be added to most of our helmets, 9817 Halo, 9820 Soft Shell, 9821 Hard Shell, 9822 Hard Shell with Face Guard, 9824 Hard Shell with Face Bar, Deluxe Hard Shell and 9829 Full Coverage.

Adding the Quick-Release Buckle Chinstrap Top of Helmet Option will make the helmet not returnable.

This option, the 3466 Foam Reinforcement adds a protective layer of vinyl that is bonded to the outside of the foam before the helmet is coated with our special vinyl coating. It comes in handy when the helmet is going to see a lot of hard use and needs to be as strong as possible. This modification can be added to most of our helmets- soft shells (9817 Halo Helmet, 9820 Soft Shell Helmet and 9829 Full Coverage) as well as to the inner foam liner of the hard shells (9821 Hard Shell Helmet, 9822 Hard Shell with Face Guard, 9824 Hard Shell with Face Bar, and 9825 Deluxe Hard Shell).

Adding the Foam Reinforcement will also make the helmet not returnable.

Another strong option that we offer are the 3463 Stabilizing Side Tabs – there is a Pivot Mount option (shown above left) and a Permanent Mount option (shown above right). These modifications are recommended when the Face Guard is going to see a lot of movement, and is only available on the 9822 Hard Shell Helmet with Face Guard.

The Pivot Mount features Quick-Release Buckles on either side of the face guard, that when buckled, help hold the face guard in place. The buckles can be undone, and the face guard pivoted up and out of the way so an individual can eat, for example, without having to remove the whole helmet.

The Permanent Mount is just that- 2 more white tabs like the one at the top of the face guard that connects it to the helmet itself are added, one of each side, and screwed to the actual hard shell itself. This means that the face guard can never be pivoted, or moved for that matter.

The Permanent Mount option requires a little finesse when putting on. The helmet needs to be tilted to go onto the head because of the lack of movement of the face guard. An individual who wants to take the helmet off, or engage in some self-abusive behavior will push or pull at the face guard so that they can get the helmet off. This option, usually combined with a strong strapping option, will help keep the helmet on and where it needs to be.

These options will also make the helmet not returnable.

The great thing about our products is that there are many different modifications that can be ordered separately, but can also be combined to really customize the helmet to the end user’s specific needs. And, we are always here to help you figure out the best options.

Until next time, stay safe 🙂