Charles Owen
Hampton Show Helmet
English Chaps/Boots/Helmets
Manufacturer: Charles Owen
Model: Hampton Show Helmet
Category: English Chaps/Boots/Helmets
Purchase: I paid about $120 for this helmet at the Tack Trunk in St. Louis, Mo., during a sale (normally it goes for closer to $170).
Likes: I school, take lessons, and show in this helmet. The Hampton is beautifully shaped, with a low profile -- no "mushroom head" here! It's got the best fit of any helmet I've worn. (I thought my last helmet, a Troxel Grand Prix Gold, fit well, but the Hampton one blows the Troxel out of the water.) I wanted a GPA or an International ATH, but, as my trainer notes, some people just don't have a round "International head," and I'm one of them. Thanks to the Hampton, I don't care anymore!
Dislikes: The headliner is fixed, so it can't be removed and washed -- I use the Charles Owen hat cleaner and deodorizer sprays to keep the helmet fresh. I sweat quite a bit when I ride, so I have to leave the helmet out to dry overnight before riding in it again -- if I leave it in its case by mistake, the harness doesn't dry properly and is clammy when I go to put the hat on again.
Quality: The quality of the Hampton is top-notch -- the velvet covering and velour sweatband are plush, and the Pittards-leather harness stays soft no matter how much I sweat (an important consideration in Missouri, where the humidity hovers at 95% and the temperature is 90 degrees or higher all summer long).
Summary: This hat was well worth the money I spent on it, and I'd have gladly paid full price -- it's lovely to look at, beautifully constructed, and the best fit I've found. I highly recommend the Charles Owen Hampton.
Rating: 5
Author: Kerry Bailey
Date: 2004-11-04
Usefulness Rating: 3.26027 out of 5.
73 reader(s) voted.
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