EastMT
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- Jul 21, 2022
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Is there any noticable difference between the side inlet and top inlet helmets in keeping the sand out?
Fresh air helmets
- Thread starter EastMT
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megadesertdiesel
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- Nov 8, 2021
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keeping sand out, NO
either one if used with a neck skirt you will not have sand in your teef.
Now if you talk air flow that's a different result.
either one if used with a neck skirt you will not have sand in your teef.
Now if you talk air flow that's a different result.
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EastMT
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- Jul 21, 2022
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Thanks! Will try not to mouth breathe.
duneroller
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- Sep 1, 2025
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I assume airflow is better with the side inlet?
megadesertdiesel
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more air yes.
top pushes air over your scalp, and i really never felt the air with the Bell top inlet i had.
My side inlet HJC and Pyrotect i liked more. My current HJC from PCI Radios is modified internally for more air to my face and i like it alot.
Your pumper has alot to do with it too. I have tried most of them. the S&B moves the most air but takes alot of power and noise to do it. The old school Parker Pumper is the quietist and does an ok job. The Rugged Radio Mac is a good middle of the road but is still a little noisy. The generic ebay and circle track ones dont push much air at all. I have not tried the PCI new one yet or the Steele Racing Products high dollar one either.
duneroller
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Great info. Thanks!!
Dockmaster
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- May 5, 2021
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I have side inlet helmets. I went this route so as not to increase height of the helmet with a top inlet. I have no comparison other than what I have but I do like them. Air flow is good and they keep sand out well. My only issue is I need to work in my hose routing. The driver’s hose sometimes ends up outside the B pillar and bugs me when that happens.
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EastMT
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Thats good info, thanks!
HozayKwarvo
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- May 1, 2021
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Positive pressure keeps the dust and sand from coming into the helmet, regardless of hose mounting location. It's about cfm and keeping the other vents closed on the helmet.
I'm running the Rugged MacAir and it's a bit noisy but moves air. Currently using the top/center on a Bell Qualifier. I didn't buy the helmet from Rugged, I bought the qualifier that I wanted with the photochromic and the $30 snorkel adapter directly from Bell and did it myself. On any of the helmets there's some internal cleanup you can do to improve airflow.
I did install the skirt and it did a great job of keeping additional particles out but made putting the helmet on a lot more of a pain in the ass... so now it is off but I still have the velcro on the helmet base which catches on the helmet bag or anything it comes in contact with which is super annoying. Hindsight, I'd have skipped the skirt for Glamis. I lead a lot and don't use the pumper when leading unless it's hot af and I want the extra airflow across my dome.
Look at the type of helmet you want and what their replacement lenses look like - availability and price.
*Not first-hand knowledge but the word is that for people who tend to get car sick the side inlet is preferred as the airflow is more across the mouth/face vs the top of head.
I'm running the Rugged MacAir and it's a bit noisy but moves air. Currently using the top/center on a Bell Qualifier. I didn't buy the helmet from Rugged, I bought the qualifier that I wanted with the photochromic and the $30 snorkel adapter directly from Bell and did it myself. On any of the helmets there's some internal cleanup you can do to improve airflow.
I did install the skirt and it did a great job of keeping additional particles out but made putting the helmet on a lot more of a pain in the ass... so now it is off but I still have the velcro on the helmet base which catches on the helmet bag or anything it comes in contact with which is super annoying. Hindsight, I'd have skipped the skirt for Glamis. I lead a lot and don't use the pumper when leading unless it's hot af and I want the extra airflow across my dome.
Look at the type of helmet you want and what their replacement lenses look like - availability and price.
*Not first-hand knowledge but the word is that for people who tend to get car sick the side inlet is preferred as the airflow is more across the mouth/face vs the top of head.
acefuture
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- Jun 8, 2021
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I've been running Pyrotect Sportmax (like Kazuaki posted) for the past season but with side air. I overall really like the helmet, but with the side air, when I look left, my hose hits my seat and makes turning my head more difficult. So I will be switching to the "mid air" which is the offset top mount for my next helmet this month so the hose goes over the top of my seat. It isn't enough for me to ditch it and buy a whole new helmet, but that helmet is only DOT rated and not Snell rated, and we have an upcoming race so I will be getting an Impact helmet instead. I tried both of them on at kartek last week. The Pyrotect was more comfortable, but the impact had much better visability.
