best manufacturers for HANS devices

[Soda Popinski]

I've seen a few places offer these for between 600-900 bucks, but I'm not sure what the best brand is. Is there a clear winner or are they all pretty much the same minus the brand logo?

[Spoonwacker]

Sorry? There are several head and neck restraint manufacturers, but there is only one called the HANS Device. Bottom line, it depends on your intended use. If you're racing in a series that requires certified (SFI or FIA) head and neck restraints, you need something that fits under the rules. I know SCCA is mandating head and neck restraints starting next year, and devices used must have SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858 certification.

 

The HANS Device (http://hansdevice.com/site/index.html), the most widely-used head and neck restraint, definitely meets these requirements. There are then several types of HANS device. You have to chose an angle (more upright for sedans, more reclined for single-seat racers), and a weight - more expensive models use more carbon fiber to shave several pounds off the weight of the device.

 

The DefNder (http://www.defnderneckbrace.com/) is another popular head and neck restraint, and it has the advantage of having a degree of side-impact protection. Some say it works better with 3" wide belts. I have heard that they may be going out of production due to a lawsuit from the makers of the HANS Device, and that recently-made units may not have the necessary SFI/FIA certification sticker.

 

If you don't need a SFI/FIA certified device but you want head and neck protection for your own safety, lots of racers swear by Isaac (http://www.isaacdirect.com/). It's both cheaper and easier to use with multiple drivers, and their in-house testing shows it to be very effective. It does not, however, meet some of the requirements set forth by the SFI/FIA tests. Isaac aficionados claim that the HANS Device manufacturers set those tests to unfairly favor their product. In the end, though, it's your head, so you need to check out all that info before making a decision.

[Track Mart]

The DefNder (http://www.defnderneckbrace.com/) ...... recently-made units may not have the necessary SFI/FIA certification sticker.

 

Taken from the SFI website title page:

 

http://www.sfifoundation.com/

SFI would like to add that there are also products from other manufacturers such as DefNder and Leatt Brace that were previously certified and labeled as meeting SFI 38.1. They are not currently listed on the SFI website because they are no longer in new production. However, any devices still in the field or at retail outlets that have SFI 38.1 stickers on them were properly tested and certified at the time. The certifications for those devices remain valid.

 

Yes there are devices still available.