Whitewater Helmet Review

Pro-Tec Ace Water and Wake Helmets –
The Sleepers of the Bunch
Contact NRS (800) 635-5202, www.nrsweb.com

Back in the good old days when everyone was paddling four-meter-long whitewater boats, the Pro-Tec helmet was as ubiquitous as skanky polypro underwear. The Pro-Tec never really fit anyone quite right, and most helmets were accessorized with duct tape that held extra foam in place. That’s all changed. Both the Ace Water and the Wake start out with similar shells made of molded plastic. Both have extremely comfortable dual-density foam liners—stiff foam next to the shell to absorb impacts and softer foam that rests against your noggin. The difference between the two is in the outfitting. The Ace Water has a four-point strap system, while the Wake does it one better by adding a retention system that securely wraps around the base of your skull and a chin strap that sports a nice layer of padding. The Wake also features easily removable ear flaps, which make perfect sense if you are being towed behind a boat at 30 miles per hour—and where you may subsequently crash and burn at 30 miles per hour—but their application for paddling is limited. Even with all of these fly features, the Pro-Tec helmets are made of plastic and plastic simply does not provide the stiffest shell. NRS—the source for Pro-Tec paddling helmets—advises that these helmets are intended for lower-gradient rivers where coming into contact with a rock at high speeds is unlikely.