Kanoa Flyaway redux
October 25th, 2007 by Kilwag
I’ve mentioned the old Flyaway helmets once or twice before, mostly in the context of the re-issues, but without a lot of actual information. Concrete Disciples has a nice piece on the new Kanoa Flyaway helmets that is no so much product review as an endorsement. It does go in to some detail about the history of Flyaway which is interesting, including some good sized scans of original advertisements. They are the best looking helmet out there, but the new ones have no safety rating so I’m hesitant to shell out the extra cash (and it’s a lot) just to look marginally cooler if I am wearing a helmet, regardless of the amount of work that goes into making one. I know there is a lot of work required to make these. Grover made several prototypes a few years back, and it was quite involved. You can see the results of his efforts after the jump, or go onto the Concrete Disciples piece, which is where the photos above came from. Thanks to Rich for the tip.
Steve Grover’s top secret Flyaway Helmet black skunk works project
I think this was the third attempt, around 2003 maybe? This was as far as anyone got to actually riding with one.
October 25th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
cool looking helmets? whats next? compassionate conservatives?
October 25th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
I wore one of those…..fortunatly I never fell on it. I’ve heard stories of them exploding into shards of fiberglass on impact. That seems like a bad thing.
October 26th, 2007 at 4:53 am
tailtap.com has ‘em. Cheaper than they were too.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Flyaways were cool, and I remember them from “back then”, (yes i’m that old) it was a bit of a poser’s lid to be honest, and all those guys like Jay Adams got ‘em for free anyway so of course they wore them… it always looked like would crack or split to me…even if u dropped it. The full ear sweaty lightbulb Protec was a better choice.
October 26th, 2007 at 7:54 am
I still have my flyaway helmet, but it doesn’t quite fit anymore (purchased around 1979 when I was in 7th grade). I can’t even get the chin strap to fit, but it still looks great and in perfect condition except for the padding inside that could be replaced.
October 27th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Hi Guys
The benefits of this helmet go way beyond looking cooler
If you come into Rip City and try one on you’ll see,
Way better fit and comfort than anything on the market.
This helmet has way better ventilation than any skateboard helmet you can buy.
The D ring closure strap works great and allows adjustment at all times while wearing the helmet, zero breakage, and no chance of losing your buckle. (only skate helmet with D rings)
The only fiberglass skateboard helmet you can buy today.
Also the rating you are refering to, I believe, is a bicycle helmet certification. (single impact) Availabe on bike/skate helmets
I you think your good money should be spent on a single slam / throw it away helmet. Go ahead.
Flyaway®s are multiple impact helmets and no one certifies multi impact helmets but the snell foundation (let me know if can find a snell rated skateboard helmet)
None of Pro-tecs, S -1 or Roces multi impact helmets , real skate helmets (the helmets that the Flyaway® should be compared to) are certified (”rated”), so why the big deal about ratings. (unless you are riding your bicycle)
Simply put, the Kanoa® Flyaway® is the best helmet for skateboarding that you can buy, but you’ll never believe me until you try one out yourself!
Ask John Lucero, Pat Ngoho, Bennet Harada, Wenzyl Ruml IV, Tuma, Lonnie Hiramoto and anyone who else who is using my handmade in th USA, fiberglass, custom made skate board helmets, (including myself) NOTHING ELSE COMPARES
If you are looking for a better helmet than the one you are using now, this is it.
This helmet was so good I had to figure out how to make it myself!
You happy helmet maker Von Wolf
PS
those exploding stories are probably just that, stories.
In my tests, Flyaway® shells don’t break into shards on impact, (just don’t drive over one with your car)
And no one has yet to report a broken helmet to me (they are not unbreakable though)
The true story is folks used to take the safety edge off their helmets and then got cut, which looked pretty bloody I imagine (so keep your edge trim on)
By the way, no one else puts trim on the edge of their helmet (skateboard) like I do (almost all moto helmets, DOT or not have it though,)
What kind of helmet are you wearing? if the inside looks like a styrafoam cooler and you have hit your head in it once, throw it away!
October 27th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
new info
I am looking into getting the Flyaway® tested to meet the ASTM F1492 standard.
October 27th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
this is what the ASTM says about their standard:
“this standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.”
What good is this?
I’ll continue to investigate furthur