Crasche Middie Head Protection for Figure Skating

[slcbelle]

Hiya!  I just saw the ad in Skating magazine for the Crasche Middie for figure skating. Hmmm....very interesting!  I wear a Jackson Ribcap for head protection but the Crasche Middle is intriguing.  What does everyone think about about the shape of the band and do you think it would provide the right amount of protection in the correct places for a skating fall?  Does anyone own and wear one of these?

http://crasche.com/product/crasche-middie-figure-skating

[twinskaters]

I'm pretty sure I just saw someone wearing this at the rink today! She didn't fall though, so I can't speak to efficacy.


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[slcbelle]

I caved and ordered one.  I'll report back with a review.

[FigureSpins]

They look cute, which is always a good thing.  Wonder what it looks like without the pretty (and very-high) ponytail hanging down?  The price point is a little high, imo, but in line with the mythical "$30 for anything skating-related" price point that so many retailers use these days.   

I like one of the slogans on the website: "For people who should wear a helmet, but don't."  Very true sentiment.  I've found that the pre-teen beginners who dismiss helmets vehemently often find themselves holding their aching head a few minutes after their protest.  They're overly confident.  (Usually caused by putting both hands on the wall behind them and attempting to look cool while leaning backwards.  That's why I have a "one hand only" rule or I draw the "Line of Safety" about three feet from the wall.)

Keep us posted.

[skategeek]

I got their not-a-helmet a while ago (before I got my RibCap), and it didn't seem like it would be very effective at preventing concussions- not a lot of cushioning on the inside.  It seems to really be made for other functions- the site mentions law enforcement using them, and I could see it being useful against thrown rocks or other objects, but not major impacts.  This new thing looks totally different, though, and I'm curious to see what you think!

[skategeek]

So any feedback on this yet?  Inquiring minds want to know!    (I like my Ribcap, but it's a little toasty...)

[slcbelle]

So any feedback on this yet?  Inquiring minds want to know!    (I like my Ribcap, but it's a little toasty...)

Ooops!  Sorry!  I think it's great!  It odd to feel a breeze on the top of my head but I'm so much more comfortable now that it's warmer in my rink.  It's very comfortable and I believe it protects in all the right places.  No pressure points and it doesn't feel like it will slide down easily.  I can wear my hair in a pony tail or bun and am very, very pleased.  The Ribcap rocks but I'll probably only use it when it's freezing now that I have the Crasche. 

Several other adults at my rink have said that they are going to order one now that they've seen and tried on mine.  Love that!  Concussions are not cool.

FIVE STARS!

[twinskaters]

I just looked at their site and realized this company is headquartered about 5 miles from where I live. I also think their baseball cap inserts look interesting. I'm glad to hear the positive review, slcbelle!

[skategeek]

Ooops!  Sorry!  I think it's great!  It odd to feel a breeze on the top of my head but I'm so much more comfortable now that it's warmer in my rink.  It's very comfortable and I believe it protects in all the right places.  No pressure points and it doesn't feel like it will slide down easily.  I can wear my hair in a pony tail or bun and am very, very pleased.  The Ribcap rocks but I'll probably only use it when it's freezing now that I have the Crasche. 

Several other adults at my rink have said that they are going to order one now that they've seen and tried on mine.  Love that!  Concussions are not cool.

FIVE STARS!

Thanks!  I may just have to give it a try...

[dlbritton]

Ooops!  Sorry!  I think it's great!  It odd to feel a breeze on the top of my head but I'm so much more comfortable now that it's warmer in my rink.  It's very comfortable and I believe it protects in all the right places.  No pressure points and it doesn't feel like it will slide down easily. 

Concussions are not cool.

FIVE STARS!

Do you think the hat with inserts would give good protection skiing/snowboarding? I may order both a hat for snow sports and the middie for skating. I currently wear a helmet on the snow but would like something a little lighter and cooler.

[slcbelle]

Do you think the hat with inserts would give good protection skiing/snowboarding? I may order both a hat for snow sports and the middie for skating. I currently wear a helmet on the snow but would like something a little lighter and cooler.

No way.  I'm a ski instructor, too, and I definitely wouldn't recommend anything but a ski helmet for skiing.  You could buy a different ski helmet with more adjustable ventilation if you feel yours is too hot.  My Smith helmets have awesome venting.  When a skier really takes a tumble, or G-d forbid hits a tree, anything but a true ski helmet secured with a chin strip is very likely to fly off or do little to no good.  For those that absolutely refuse to wear a helmet, the Crasche snow hat would be better than nothing but...yeah...I couldn't endorse anything but a ski helmet for skiing.

[EricaDer]

My daughter's friend wears one and likes it.  The only thing is that the pads are removable from the outer sleeve thing, and the openings are on the bottom edge, so they are constantly slipping out and dangling onto her forehead.  Her mom needs to just sew the openings a little shorter so that the pads don't fall out.  And the girl's head is in between the two sizes so when she does certain spins (pancakes, laybacks, etc.) , the thing usually goes flying off, which annoys the other skaters who have to dodge her flying polka-dotted crash pad, lol.

[EricaDer]

(though now that I'm looking at the picture, I think maybe mom is putting the thing on upside down!)

[littlerain]

I kinda want one! Lol @slcbelle I feel like I'm just gonna end up buying all the gear you get!

[slcbelle]

I kinda want one! Lol @slcbelle I feel like I'm just gonna end up buying all the gear you get!

Then don't ask me about ski gear!   

[Query]

I'm pretty sure I just saw someone wearing this at the rink today! She didn't fall though, so I can't speak to efficacy.

So wearing this band prevented falls. I'd say it was very effective indeed. 

[skategeek]

So wearing this band prevented falls. I'd say it was very effective indeed. 

  Must be working perfectly on me, then!  Decked out in gear from head to toe (Crasche middie, wrist guards, knee pads) and I've never fallen once!  Seriously.  (And no, that's not a brag... it explains (partly) why I'm making such slow progress...)

[dlbritton]

Just ordered a Black Crasche middie. I've avoided any bad falls so far skating but after my ski and snowboard head/helmet incidents last weekend I decided it was time to protect my head on the ice. I wear knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards so it won't be too extreme to add one more piece of protection.

I also ordered a set of Katz Straps (and a new pair of skis + bindings). Got in the new gear mood. Decided to hold off on snowboard boots for now.

[ChristyRN]

(though now that I'm looking at the picture, I think maybe mom is putting the thing on upside down!)

I wear mine opposite from the picture. The way they show it covers the ears and I don't think I would tolerate that. Since nobody would currently let me on the ice without it, I will continue to wear it that way. The back of my head is covered just as much either way I wear it.

I do sweat some under it, but not nearly as much as a full helmet or protective hat.

[dlbritton]

Just ordered a Black Crasche middie.

I also ordered a set of Katz Straps (and a new pair of skis + bindings). Got in the new gear mood. Decided to hold off on snowboard boots for now.

Had an email that my Katz Straps would ship today so I should have them by Thursday. Also my skis should be in by Friday so I may get to use them this weekend then put them away until next year.

Gonna feel like Christmas in March.

[dlbritton]

Had an email that my Katz Straps would ship today so I should have them by Thursday. Also my skis should be in by Friday so I may get to use them this weekend then put them away until next year.

Gonna feel like Christmas in March.

My Katz Straps were delivered today and the tracking number on my Crasche shows it is at the local post office and will be delivered tomorrow.

[lutefisk]

My Katz Straps were delivered today and the tracking number on my Crasche shows it is at the local post office and will be delivered tomorrow.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of the Crasche hat once you get it.  I'm all for protection, but I wonder if any type of hat is up to the task of dissipating the acceleration (32 feet/second squared) as the head contacts the ice during a fall.  A padded hat or ice halo is arguably better than nothing at all but do they really provide the expected protection or just the illusion of protection?  This is the same wonderment that I have with my plastic and foam cycling helmet when I think about the outcome of my head connecting with a concrete curb if I fall with my bike while clipped into the pedals.  Dampening out that amount of force is a big ask for a little bit of plastic and foam. 

[dlbritton]

  Dampening out that amount of force is a big ask for a little bit of plastic and foam.

This appears to be topic of great discussion here. The hard foam in a typical bicycle or skiing probably doesn't provide much concussion protection but probably will prevent skull fractures.

I still figure some protection is better than none. The Crasche does have plastic inserts that are supposed to absorb some of the force from a fall. I'm not very concerned about blows to the top of the head while skating although sliding into the wall head first would not be good. On skis and snowboards you could hit something pretty fast head first.

[figureskatehockeylove]

Are these better than the ice halos?? Do they have the same protection or less??

[JSHalo]

This appears to be topic of great discussion here. The hard foam in a typical bicycle or skiing probably doesn't provide much concussion protection but probably will prevent skull fractures.

I still figure some protection is better than none. The Crasche does have plastic inserts that are supposed to absorb some of the force from a fall. I'm not very concerned about blows to the top of the head while skating although sliding into the wall head first would not be good. On skis and snowboards you could hit something pretty fast head first.

The above bolded is exactly right. Skull fractures, abrasions, bad cuts... all can be prevented by a good helmet, but concussions are tricky, since you cannot hold the brain in place.

I happen to have my Crasche with me, so I took some pictures of the inserts... this is one from the side, so not the larger inserts that cover the back of the skull. But you can see that they are not very thick at all, and certainly not as thick as the Ice Halo. These go all the way around the Crasche.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204981450309022&l=4a38059665
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204981450269021&l=b491d96bbb
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204981450229020&l=54dd577972

Everyone should be able to see those, since it's a public link, but let me know if there are any issues. I can move them to photobucket.