I saw in THE TRAIL RIDER magazine, brims for helmets. I thought it was a great idea!
(PLEASE, if you don’t wear a helmet, consider wearing a helmet. I know that my helmet saved my life. You can read my story here.)
And then I saw this post about a Western rider who had a bad accident (fractured skull) so her husband manufactured a brim to go on a helmet for her to wear from then on!
Well, the idea has caught on! They call their invention the HELLHAT and you can make your own!
This is the woman who started it all… well, her husband started it after her injury… This is Karen!
Fancy!
Make it any way you wish!
You can match the band to your outfit!
HELL-HAT POSSE – HER HUBBY’S INSTRUCTIONS
A reader sent in this link to the woman and her husband who came up with this idea. The page is called, “HELL HAT POSSE“. Since it is a FB page, I will put the instructions here, for those of you who don’t use Fb.
Link to the FB page with directions
Step 1 Cut off the Brim
Step 2, Place your helmet on the brim and draw a line around your helmet
Step 3 you now have a brim with a line on it
Step 4 Define your line so it’s kind of even
Step 5, cut pies to your line about every inch or so
Step 6, spray the brim with water to soften up the pies, then press it down evenly over the crown of the helmet. Position so it sits the way you want it when the helmet is on your head
Step 7, Secure it with a base layer of duct tape. I always leave the base layer on, then I add different colors depending on what I’m wearing. But I never remove the base layer
TIPS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THEM…
I was going to whip one up today… but I didn’t have time to go out and get cool Duct tape so I didn’t. However, I did read through here and found some tips. Also, when I dropped off my excess tack to a saddle consignment shop in town, I saw some fabulous 2nd hand hats… could be a great idea to find wonderful hatbands and brims!
One tip I learned was to keep the original hat head piece and use it as a hat stand!
You can use the original hat head piece to act as a hat stand for your new helmet hat!
And, one reader took the time to write out her tips:
“My first helmet I used a Stetson straw hat, used clear Gorilla tape. worked fine but had to cut some of it, to be not so wide. Used rubber cement to fasten on the leather, feathers, stones and concho. So far it’s holding up well.
Second hat I used Duct Tape that I got a Walmart, has a rope design on it. I also tore off some of it to be not so wide. This works well too. I haven’t made a hat band for it as of yet. I want to make some that can be taken off easily and changed out. You can never have too many hat bands! I bought a new straw hat, $33 I think from Texas Trading Post, it has a 7 inch brim, I wanted more sun shade for me. Used this hat band that came on it. I didn’t want to paint my helmet, I love my Tipperary Sportage, good fit and very comfortable. It says on the inside of the helmet not to paint it, some have painted theirs. Size of hat for brim doesn’t matter.”
Here are her photos:
From this…
To this!
MORE PICS OF HOMEMADE HELLHATS!
Fancy!
Brimless
DECORATIVE DUCT TAPE, WHO KNEW?!
OH, I think this could be great fun! For me, I’m going to start with my least favorite hat to make mistakes and learn. Then I’ll go for it with a nicer hat. I might even add some bling or danglies!!
You can get decorative tape at Michael’s Craft Stores or Walmart.
I like this one. A reader found it at Walmart.
A GREAT IDEA, EVERYONE! PLEASE WEAR A HELMET.
APRIL BUCKET FUND BABIES UPDATE!
You can read their story here! OK, so Thumbelina crashed but she is better after a hospital stay and plasma. The rest are soaking up the Foal Lac and stabilizing. They need lots of FOOD and medical attention because they were ripped from their moms after only a few hours on the planet. If you’d like to donate, please click here! STARBUCKS? SEAT CHANGE? Thank you!
Thumbelina at the hospital.
Thumbelina this morning! A new girl!
A pile of SAFE babies! There are 8 all-together.
Thank you for this awesome explanation and pics!
Great initiativ! Thanks for sharing….
Greetings from Europe
Linn: You contacted the blogger and not the hat maker. Please click this link from the blog to find them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1281325371884015/
Where can I purchase a pre-made hat ? I’d love one but I’m not very creative. Help !!
Bandbox Helmets has great looking cowboy hats that completely cover the ASTM approved helmet. See http://bandboxllc.com/catalog/c27_p1.html
Keep at it! I’m sure you’ll get it right the next time!!
Gee….my first attempt and it’s a bust. Seems I cut it too large and it slips right through the helmet….ummmm? will have to try again. So many pretty ones and I thought this would be easy. I think I’ve lost my creative touch. So many pretty ones and congrats to the girls who did such a great job creating theirs.
Sarah: You wrote to the blogger instead of the people who make the Hellhats. Please go back to the linked post
and click on their FB page and ask them – I have never made one so I have no answers for you!
My helmet has a short, stiff plastic brim. Should I remove it? Or can I just tape the new straw brim over the top of it?
love this. Great design and creative too
Great ideas to make these clever HellHats!
YeeHaw! The best of both worlds, and done in creative ways.
Great idea on the HellHats! I’ve been wondering how to add a brim to my helmet for those day-long trail rides. Since I’m inclined to get skin cancer, it’s been a toss up to whether to go with conventional cowboy hat or helmet. And I love the creativity element. Saddle up, let’s ride!
Wow, and my brim just broke off my riding helmet!! And to think I have several hats that I use to wear riding, prior to helmet wake up call concussion, that are collecting dust in my closet. Thanks for the brilliant idea.
It is about time someone made a good looking western wear helmet!
All I can say is ….. APPLAUSE!
I looked at one of those Hat Helmets made by a manufacturer a while back, It was a nice try but it was HUGE and looked like something you’d wear in a Circus ring. Using a hat to make a brim for your helmet is a great idea and showing the steps to do it is appreciated.
Now I don’t have an excuse to wear a helmet. I’m a guy and when I wore my skateboard helmet I got lots of strange looks. (But I liked the look of it better than the helmets of the time and couldn’t find one of my size.)
Now I just have to make one of these. I’d never ride a motorcycle without a helmet yet I ride my horse without one.
Thank you,
Bart D. Hull
Phoenix, AZ
Please how much would it cost to make either the first or third straw hats pictured exactly as shown, thanks
Love this!!!!!!!
Decades ago my trainer for my jumpers was Alan Brand, who was in this country for a few years before returning to Canada. As I recall he was from Australia originally. Anyway. He had one of these amazing helmet/hat combinations only he said they were actually manufactured in Australia. They looked like the usual Aussie akubra hat but had a low-profile helmet built in, his was beautifully made right down to the intricately braided ‘roo hat strings. I always thought it was a great idea for western riders who don’t want to “look like hunt seat riders.”
Thank you forever and God Bless!
fromKarenPlumlee: Hey – Thanks for blogging about our group! What started out as a labor of Love from my husband Mark to keep me safe, has caught on across the country. We are happy to share our idea with your readers and hope it helps take some of the stigma out of wearing a helmet! It sure gave me the confidence to get back in the saddle to compete in Cowboy Mounted Shooting!
Thanks, Dawn! Great article! Hope everyone who didn’t think helmets were cool will wear one now, I sure do love mine. Post pix of yours when you make one.