Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras - View Single Post

sperry · 2012-01-25, 10:38 AM

The hutchins is a great setup if you need to get in/out of the car frequently. But it's a lot bulkier and more complicated than the HANS, IMO.

The HANS is better if you're just running sessions at the track and have plenty of time to get in and belted up, since it's not something you wear so much as just part of the helmet/belts you put on once you're in the car. Wearing the HANS w/o the belts is a PITA.

Personally, I feel like the HANS probably has more data to prove it's safe, if only because it's been around longer and is by far the most popular. That's why I went with HANS. Plus, I don't wear my helmet/HANS outside of the car... I climb in, put on the HANS & helmet together, then belt in over them. So, the disadvantages of the HANS never bothers me. If I were like Alex, and needing to get in/out of the car w/ my gear on in the middle of a rally, there's no way I'd wear a HANS. Without the belts on, it just flops around on the back of your next and pulls at the helmet, but inside the car it's smaller, and I would imagine, a little bit more comfortable while driving... though I've never worn the hutchins so I'm really just guessing.

But if the hutchins is now FIA approved... I would expect to see its popularity rise.

2012-01-25, 10:38 AM	#8
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	The hutchins is a great setup if you need to get in/out of the car frequently. But it's a lot bulkier and more complicated than the HANS, IMO. The HANS is better if you're just running sessions at the track and have plenty of time to get in and belted up, since it's not something you wear so much as just part of the helmet/belts you put on once you're in the car. Wearing the HANS w/o the belts is a PITA. Personally, I feel like the HANS probably has more data to prove it's safe, if only because it's been around longer and is by far the most popular. That's why I went with HANS. Plus, I don't wear my helmet/HANS outside of the car... I climb in, put on the HANS & helmet together, then belt in over them. So, the disadvantages of the HANS never bothers me. If I were like Alex, and needing to get in/out of the car w/ my gear on in the middle of a rally, there's no way I'd wear a HANS. Without the belts on, it just flops around on the back of your next and pulls at the helmet, but inside the car it's smaller, and I would imagine, a little bit more comfortable while driving... though I've never worn the hutchins so I'm really just guessing. But if the hutchins is now FIA approved... I would expect to see its popularity rise. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?