To fit a sailing helmet over a lifejacket hood, choose a helmet one step roomier than your usual size or one with an adjustable fit system, and test the two together so the helmet sits level without the hood pushing it forward over your eyes. The hood’s bulk under the helmet changes the fit, so a helmet that feels perfect on a bare head can feel tight and tilted once the hood is up. Testing the pair together on land is the only way to know it works.
Offshore and rough-weather sailing often means wearing a lifejacket with an attached hood, pulled up against spray and rain. At the same time, many sailors wear a helmet for protection from the boom, winches and rigging. The two pieces of kit must work together, and when they do not, the helmet slips, the hood bunches, and the sailor ends up fighting their own gear. This guide explains how to make them fit as a pair.
Why Does a Lifejacket Hood Change Helmet Fit?
A lifejacket hood adds a layer of fabric and, when it is up, a fold of material around the back and sides of the head. That extra bulk lifts the helmet slightly and pushes it forward, so the rim can sit lower over the forehead and the back of the helmet can ride up. The result is a helmet that feels tight at the front and loose at the back, and that can slip forward when the boat rolls.
The hood also changes the shape the helmet has to sit on. A bare head is smooth and even, but a hooded head has folds and seams that create pressure points.
There is also the question of the lifejacket collar. Many offshore lifejackets have a high collar that supports the head in the water, and that collar can push the back of the helmet forward when the wearer looks up. A helmet with a low back profile works better with a high collar than one with a long tail at the back.
How Do You Size a Helmet to Wear Over a Hood?
Start by measuring your head with the hood up, not with it down. Put the lifejacket on, pull the hood up as you would wear it at sea, and measure around the head at the level the helmet will sit. Use that measurement against the maker’s size chart, and expect to need a size larger than your bare-head size, or at least the larger end of your usual size.
Try the helmet on with the hood up, and check the fit in the usual way: it should sit level, cover the forehead to just above the eyebrows, and feel snug all round without pressing hard on one spot. Shake your head gently — the helmet should move with your head rather than sliding on its own. If it wobbles, it is too loose, and if it leaves a sore mark after a few minutes, it is too tight.
If the helmet has an adjustable fit system, such as a dial or pads of different thickness, use it to fine-tune the fit with the hood up. Some sailors keep two sets of pads: thinner ones for bare-head sailing and thicker ones for hooded sailing. If you are learning how helmets handle different kinds of impact, reading about what MIPS is for helmets can help you understand one of the technologies used in modern helmet design.
What Helmet Features Help with a Hood?
A helmet with a simple, smooth shell and a low back profile is the best starting point, because it leaves room for the hood and the lifejacket collar without bunching. A helmet with a long tail or a high back will fight the collar and push the helmet forward, so look for a compact shape that sits neatly on the head.
Soft, flexible padding helps too, because it can mould around the folds of the hood rather than pressing on them. Removable pads are useful, because you can swap them for thinner ones when the hood is up. A fit dial at the back is also handy, as long as it can be reached and adjusted with the hood in place.
Ear coverage is worth thinking about. The hood already covers the ears, so a helmet with heavy ear pads may be unnecessary and can make the combination feel bulky. A helmet with lighter ear coverage, or with ear holes that let sound through, often works better with a hood, because the sailor still needs to hear calls and the sound of the rig.
How Do You Test the Combination Before Sailing?
Test the pair on land, in the clothes you will wear at sea. Put the lifejacket on, pull the hood up, put the helmet on, and fasten the chin strap. Then move as you would on deck: look up at the rig, look down at the winches, turn your head to check the sails, and bend forward as if handling a line. The helmet should stay level and the hood should stay in place.
Check your hearing and vision. Can you hear a normal voice clearly? Can you see the masthead and the horizon without the helmet rim blocking your view? If the helmet slips forward when you look up, or the hood pulls it sideways when you turn, the fit is not right, and you should try a different size or a different helmet.
Also check the chin strap with the hood up. The strap should fasten securely under the chin and hold the helmet in place without choking, and the hood should not bunch under the strap and loosen it. If the strap feels wrong, adjust it with the hood in place, not with it down.
What If You Cannot Get a Good Fit?
If no helmet fits well over your lifejacket hood, there are a few options. The first is to try a different lifejacket: some offshore lifejackets have a slimmer hood that packs flat, and that can make a real difference to the fit. The second is to try a helmet with a different shape — a rounder shell may suit a hooded head better than a long, oval one.
A third option is to wear the hood down and use a separate waterproof hat or a spray top with a hood that fits under the helmet. This is not ideal in heavy weather, but it can work in moderate conditions where the hood is only needed for spray. Talk to your skipper or a chandler about what suits your sailing and your kit.
A helmet that does not fit is a distraction at best and a hazard at worst, because it can block your vision at the moment you need it most. It is better to sort the fit on land than to discover the problem in a squall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a bigger helmet to wear over a lifejacket hood?
A: In general terms, yes. The hood adds bulk, so most sailors need a size larger than their bare-head size, or the larger end of their usual size.
Q: Can I wear my normal sailing helmet over a hood?
A: Sometimes, yes, if the fit is roomy and the hood is slim. Try the pair together on land before you rely on them at sea.
Q: Does a hood under a helmet block hearing?
A: It can muffle sound, so choose a helmet with ear holes or lighter ear coverage, and test your hearing with the hood up before you sail.
Olivia
Writer at Helmet Today, covering helmet reviews, fit and riding safety.
