danbo56

For those using a Hans device... what do you think? I'm looking at buying a Sport II. Are they easy to wear and get used to? I'm sure it's easier to get used to than a cervical spine injury ..... I have 3 inch Sparco 6pt. Do I need to change to the Hans sized harness?

Kubs

I have the regular HANS (not the carbon fiber Professional) and when its on and I am strapped in I dont even know its there. It is very comfortable, even from the first time I used it. I also have the sliding tethers which help with head rotation. I also use 3" wide belts and have not had an issue.

fatbillybob

3" is what hans recs. 2" and the 4 shoulder strap belts have advantages . I use a pro model in carbon fiber. I was surprised at how heavy the sport was. If you never try the pro you will be fine. Don't even try on a pro if you buy the sport. Huge advantage with hans bec some sactioning bodies want to follow SFI 2 or 5 yr rule for recerts or whatever but FIA has no recert and hans carries FIA sticker so once you buy one you are good to go with no later hassles. So hans is the hot ticket for SCCA for example. Other sfi 38.1 devices might also be FIA certified you'll have to figure that out yourself.

Last C5

Get a Defender.

danbo56

Defender? What's that?

Painrace

Hans works great and is easy for me to use.

Jim

GettReal

I think HANS has always been the standard but thats because they didn't have any competition up until now. I tried both the HANS and the Defender on at a local performance show and I preferred the feel of the Defender so thats what I went with. East Coast Supercharging (Forum vendor) carries them.

Kubs

Did you try the HANS while strapped in or just resting on your shoulders? You can't tell it is there when you are strapped in, but it does move around when you are out of the car. Im not trying to argue, just curious.

Gman57

I went with the "Safety Solutions Hybrid Pro"
Specs on this device looked good. I would suggest you take a look before you buy...... Looks to me to be the next generation of neck restraints. And I thought the Defender was not SFI rated

Just my .02

JeremyGSU

I'm going with a Safety Solutions R3. The Hans is good and I've used it many times but what I like about the R3 is I can use it when I'm instructing in my students cars and they just have the regular seatbelts as well. Hans can only be used with Harnesses.

ZoomFreakinZoom

I use the carbon professional version and when you are strapped into the car you don't even notice you have anything on. I don't think the Defender is FIA or SFI rated but I could be wrong. The HANS device is the original and the industry standard, it isn't going to get any safer than a HANS device. That said if you plan on instructing a HANS won't work too well for that.

danbo56

Fellas... thanks for all the great info!

MJM

HANS is the best and used by professional race series.

With the sliding tethers you don't know it's there. Make sure your seat will still fit with on.

Matt

TRACKMAN2

You know those sfi stickers are 5 bucks a piece if you pump out2600 units a day wow!!!!!!!

Feffman

Ditto. We have Hans specific belts. I'd feel naked without the Hans now.

Feff

stevensa

You can no longer buy new Defender units, HANS finally sued them out of production.

Gman57

I thought that too

brkntrxn

I use a Safety Solutions (Simpson) R3. It is the best option for instructors and people that want protection when in a car without 5/6/7pt harnesses. If you go this route, spend the extra money on the sliding cable tether. You WILL retain full range of motion of your head from left to right.

http://simpsonraceproducts.com/head-neck/r3.html


-Kevin

rmackintosh

I can honestly say I would be dead right now without my HANS and Racetech Head Restraint seat.

That said, I had the carbon model for the past 9+ years. I put it on in the car on the first day in the garage and HATED IT WITH A PASSION. Bothered me that much. But, for my family, I do the best I can for safety and took it to the first race anyway. I put it on in the first practice session and NEVER EVEN NOTICED IT after hitting the track!

I will say I had the original tethers for years, with the quick release pull cords, and switched to the sliding tethers last year. That made a HUGE difference! With them, there was no issue at all.

....saved my life....wouldn't race without one!

Mine even cracked at the base of the neck and I need a new one....HANS said THAT crack is what happens when the device is "used" in an event that would have snapped my neck.

danbo56

That is the best reason to get one.... Hopefully I will never need it, just like the fire extinguishers...