Hans device differences?

#1

Does anyone know the difference between the HANS professional device and the HANS sport device other than the price tag? What are you guys using?

#2

It’s the material used… carbon vs. composite? Main diff is weight!

#3

I don’t use a HANS, but I think that with the harness pressing down, a couple ounces of HANS weight will have you laughing all the way to the bank.

#4

weight is the difference but as ranger says, when it’s cinched down, it doesn’t make a big difference. what h&nr do you use ranger? i used a defnder myself.

#5

kishg wrote:

Scott rocks a R3

#6

kishg wrote:

R3. I don’t know that any one hnr is any better then any other. I think everyone likes what they are used to. If the cheaper HANS had been available earlier, I’d a probably bought it instead.

I’ve not tried the defnder.

#7

As others have said, the difference is weight/materials.

For what it’s worth… If I were in the market for a H&N device, I would not go with a HANS. At the time that I got mine, the HANS was pretty much the only choice in town. If you don’t have much meat on your collarbones the HANS can get very uncomfortable. And by uncomfortable, I mean painful. My collarbones are usually pretty sore the week following a race weekend. With all that said, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone else with this complaint… but then again, they may have been smarter than me and got a different H&N devise :blush:

#8

I used to have the same problem with mine but I thought it was more a result of my harness bar being too low in relation to my shoulder height. It would create downward pressure right on the collarbone instead of pulling me back into and down into the seat.

JP

#9

scottmc wrote:

[quote]As others have said, the difference is weight/materials.

For what it’s worth… If I were in the market for a H&N device, I would not go with a HANS. At the time that I got mine, the HANS was pretty much the only choice in town. If you don’t have much meat on your collarbones the HANS can get very uncomfortable. And by uncomfortable, I mean painful. My collarbones are usually pretty sore the week following a race weekend. With all that said, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone else with this complaint… but then again, they may have been smarter than me and got a different H&N devise :blush:[/quote]
I had that problem until I swapped out the foam pads for the gel filled variety. Since then I’ve had no complaints

#10

jlevie wrote:

[quote]scottmc wrote:

[quote]As others have said, the difference is weight/materials.

For what it’s worth… If I were in the market for a H&N device, I would not go with a HANS. At the time that I got mine, the HANS was pretty much the only choice in town. If you don’t have much meat on your collarbones the HANS can get very uncomfortable. And by uncomfortable, I mean painful. My collarbones are usually pretty sore the week following a race weekend. With all that said, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone else with this complaint… but then again, they may have been smarter than me and got a different H&N devise :blush:[/quote]
I had that problem until I swapped out the foam pads for the gel filled variety. Since then I’ve had no complaints[/quote]

I have the gel pads and mine is very comfortable. Actually more comfortable then before I used the HANS.

#11

My collar bones are bruised after the weekend with my sport model HANS. I will look into the Gel pads. The defender seems to me that it would be more comfortable based on trying it on, but I have not raced with it. The heavier weight of my Sport model does not seem to be an issue to me. Maybe in a long endurance race it would. I can see how a lighter helmet helps over a longer stint because your neck muscles are responsible for holding the weight. I was also wondering if I may need to go wider on the HANS I have, I think I have a medium and maybe need a large.

#12

scottmc wrote:

If I was you, I would try the Gel pads or I would sell the Hans and get one of the other options currently available. :wink:

#13

try the defnder. very comfortable. been using it for 2 yrs now and very happy.

#14

kishg wrote:

Same here. Can’t compare to the HANS, but I have no reason to switch.

#15

There’s also a difference between the Schroth (German) and Hubbard Downing (USA) Professional HANS Devices.

The Hubbard Downing (traditional HANS) has upturned lips on the outer edge, making it better suited to 2" upper harnesses. The 3" belts tend to sit on top the lip and not spread out as nicely. It’s also fitted with a non-slip coating on the yokes.

The Schroth HANS has no upturned outer lip, and works well with both 2" and 3" harnesses. The Schroth also has their ‘Slip-Stop’ rubber coating on it, which will work well with all harnesses, but even better with the Schroth harnesses with the matching Slip-Stop pads under the harness adjusters.

I bought a Professional Schroth device 2 years ago, when it was on special. The Professional is a hand-laid carbon fibre composite, whereas the Sport devices (and HD makes the Sport device for Schroth AFAIK) are injection moulded polymer.

I’d highly recommend the sliding tether system as an upgrade if you don’t get one to start with. Makes a bit of difference to the vision situation.

The HANS also comes in a variety of angles and widths. For most touring/saloon/sports car racers, a 20 degree medium is the go. If you have wider shoulders, a wide version is available. It you’re petite, there is a narrow version available. If you run an open-wheel car or a more reclined driving position, a 30 degree would be better. If you sit more upright (like a sprint-car) you might look at the 10 degree.

With regards to the comments on comfort, it all comes down to fitment. HANS works extremely when used within the guidelines issued by the manufacturer. Belt angle (horizontally and vertically), length and seat position/construction all play a part. I run the Recaro Pro Racer HANS SPG seat, and before that I had the Cobra Sebring Pro. Both of these seats are HANS specific, meaning they have a scalloped area behind the driver’s head for the back of the device. A lot of people are using a seat that is too small for their torso, and their shoulders cover up the harness holes. You should be able to get the belts through the holes and over the device without any obstruction. If you do have an obstruction, you need a taller/different seat.

You can also help by making the back part of the shoulder harnesses as close to horizontal as possible, with a little bit of sideways angle onto the device. If you don’t have a harness bar behind your seat, but mount them to a rear bar, make sure you cross the belts over so they are correctly positioned on the device. You should make sure the adjusters for the shoulder straps sit down on the bottom 1-2" of the yokes. This is where they should be on your body anyway, as any higher up and the can dig into your shoulders.

The padding is interchangeable, so find something that works for you (gel padding, thicker/thinner pads).

And no, I don’t sell or work for any of the above companies, or their agents. I just get asked a lot of questions about the HANS device by all the people who see me wearing one at race meetings.

#16

That’s a lot of good info.

You go to meetings wearing a HANS? Your meetings must be rougher then ours.

#17

For anyone who are having comfort problem with HANS, try the R3. I have been using my R3 for about 3 years and to me, it’s more comfortable than either HANS or DefNder.

Information on R3 can be found here.

#18

I know of 2 major diffrences between the HANS and the Hans Sport that I have not seen mentioned. One is the size. The sport model is almost twice as thick thus making the fit and comfort are compromised for the lesser price. The other diffrence is the weight. Most of us could care less about the weight but the resoning is the same as a lighter weight helmet. In a crash less weight is less force/energy. I personally have tried both Hans devices and I don’t care for the sport model at all. I have not tried any of the alternatives because I am happy with my Hans. At the end of a weekend of racing of DE I have no sorness or brusing. Just my 2 cents. ALLEN

#19

I get into and out of my car wearing everything most of the time - good practice for when you want to get out in a hurry! And people often wander up in pre-grid and ask you questions about it.

And by race meeting I mean race weekend, except ours can be 1, 2 3 or even 4 days long.

#20

scottmc wrote:

When I was in the market for a H&N a few years back, I went to CMP via Lexington, NC. There is a race radio dealer there that inventoried quite a selection of H&N devices at the time.

Put on my fire suit and got in the race car with them on. Hans definitely made the collar bone hurt. The SS Hybrid didn’t agree with me either - there was some shoulder/collar bone discomfort present there also.

Tried on the R3 and the clouds parted, the sun shone its benevolent light upon my countenance and a choir of angels sang an extended “Aaahhh!”. I was sold on the R3.

What ever solution you go with, be sure to spring for the sliding tether upgrade. It’s an absolute neccessity.