Pro-Tec Ace Water Helmet

 (5 customer reviews)

PROS: Good materials and finishing, light, strap nicely adjustable

CONS: Helmet sizing charts (see Protech web site) are a little off. Using their charts, i determined my son, my wife and I could all wear larges. After receiving the helmets, I ended up having to get a medium for my son and an XL for myself. Part of the reason is simply that the helmet shells are misformed for the average head. It is too short from front to back, so it creates pressure on your forhead and back of head. Uncomfortable to say the least. I have helmets from Giro, Trek and Specialized and they all fit great, so its not our heads!

I'm going to try and heat one up to see if I can reshape it a bit, otherwise I need to sell these on Ebay and get something that isn't deformed.

I just purchased this helmet, and right off noticed the sizing is off significantly. According to Pro-Tec's sizing chart, I required (and ordered) an XLG. Upon acquisition of this helmet, it was immediately apparent that it was at least one full size too large. The helmet cannot be adjusted, and slid all over my head in an uncomfortable (and unsafe) manner. I'm currently attempting to exchange it with the vendor. I will update this review once I know more.

I'm new to whitewater rafting and only do this about three times a season. I've now used the helmet twice and I think that I have at least adequate protection and a modicum of comfort with NO discomfort or inconvenience. The product is, perhaps, slightly better than it's advertised to be. I intend to soon buy another like this. If ever I move up the scale to rivers rated more than about 3 or so, I'll upgrade to a better helmet but I think that spending more money now wouldn't be buying more protection.