My local race shops owner spent quite a bit of time pontificating on the advantages of the Safety Solutions Hybrid/Rage h&n's vs the Hans. Supposedly the only thing Hans does better is marketing. Most of his arguments seemed valid. Especially on the lateral loading. The Hybrid/Rage has side straps, that seems to be an advantage to those that don't have halo seats.


Hybrid/Rage
Hans
Defender

Discuss...

 

Hate Hans for their shady marketing/market control
Defender fixes flaws in Hans design.... almost sued out of existence by Hans.
Hybrid R3/Rage is what I'll be going with next. No dependence on seat/belts etc...

 

I was hoping to get a bit more discussion on this. Anyone who has used any of these chime in with what you like/dislike about your setups.

 

What are his arguments? I use a HANS with sliding tethers and I have no gripes about it - zero limitation in visibility, and when I use it with my Schroth II-6H belts I don't even notice I'm wearing it.

 

If you want better test/sled results and protection in side/angular impacts. Check out Issacs H&N.

If I had to choose... I'd still go with the Hybrid. Not being dependent on belts is important to me. Hans is the factory standard because they WROTE those standards... which allows them to keep others out of their cookie jar. They'll never get money from me as I feel there are better options on the market.

In order of my preference:
Hybrid/Rage etc... (pick the non-belt dependent one, then you are secure in non-harnessed cars)
Issacs (hydraulic format, provides excellent protection ... see sled test #s on their site)
Defender (fixes less than great belt issues with the Hans (which yes... require a perfectly setup harness setup per their instructions).
Hans.... nope... not unless I was required to wear it by someone paying me to wear it.

 

I've also got the Hans with sliding tethers... no complaints here. Beside, how comfortable is the hybrid with that 'spine guard' running down your back? I'd assume it's not very comfortable, but I'd have to try one. But, I don't have a halo either, so I'm SOL in a side impact I guess.

 

Frankly, and intelligent or not, I don't feel like putting a half-corset on when a HANS is 10x easier to deal with. The Defender looks good too but they're all so expensive that I have not purchased one yet.

I know it's totally gay, but if Ultra-Sheild made a screw-on halo, I'd buy it. I can't drive my car to and from the track with a halo seat.

 

The literature he showed me showed the Hybrid/Rage's sled #'s are much higher in frontal impact, and side protection was non-existent on the hans. I'll be in the market for one someday and was hoping to get some first hand reviews.

I'll check out the Issacs.

Like Hustler, I wish Ultra-Shields had the bolt on halos. I was going to buy some Kirkey bolt on halos, and modify them to fit my Ultra-Shields. But decided to try to fit some of those side/cage nets. I as soon as I get my car back, I'll start working on this.

 

I I'm looking into getting either the defender or Hybrid/Rage. I had ruled out the hans because of the side impact issue. Ive seen the defender available for just over $400, the Rage ones seem to be at least twice that. How much do the Issacs run? Ive not heard of them until this thread.

 

btw- the seat wings and a center net are nice supplements. Cheap too.

 

For people that don't value their head/neck like they should these 6-4 restraints from Security Race Products are an inexpensive, light alternative. They are commonly used in circle track, dirt and boat racing. At only $75 they are better than wearing nothing by a long way. Similar to a Hutchens device.

 

Not a big fan of HANS for the same reason. They don't release test results but every other HNRS manufacturer does. Their marketing practices and behind the scenes politics rub me the wrong too.

I use a Defendr largely because of the improvements in side impact over the HANS design. That they're a California company and a bunch of gearheads is also a plus.

 

Another tidbit, for anyone who considers instructing... I really suggest trying a Hybrid setup. I used a friend and you don't really notice the back piece. It also doesn't require ANY specific harness/seatbelt setup. It links your head to the device... not head/device/belts.

So if you get in and out of cars... variances of setup don't make any difference.

 

I have the Issac system. Since I haven't had an accident with it on, I can't comment personally on its effectiveness, but the data on the site convinced me. The only drawback is that it isn't SFI 38.1 cert. Since I don't run in a race group that requires this, I use Issac.

 

Safe racer is running a giveaway promotion right now for a rage pro hybrid. Just log on and you're entered into the drawing.



I'm not affiliated, just a happy customer.

 

lol I was just about to post this.

 

Logged in this morning

I will to be sure to send pictures of how it works in the car after I win the drawing.

 

Fawk you... its mine.

 

Seriously though I am glad to see this thread. I am considering purchasing a head/neck restraint system of some sort this year. Keep it coming.

 

I just got my DefNder and it feels pretty damn good. I got it beacuse, for the options, it was cheaper and seemed to be better in all areas I could find. $549 shipped isn't a bad price and I knew I should have been running one all along. Plus as soon as I mentioned what it was my wife wouldn't stop bugging me to get it.