NecksGen Rev vs Impact Accel Head and neck restraint.

I have come to the conclusion that I would be smart to invest in a Hans type device, even for HPDE in a slow moving Miata.

I have been doing a lot of research and I have narrowed it down to the NecksGen Rev http://www.necksgen.com/ or the new Impact Accel http://www.impactraceproducts.com/category_s/95.htm

I like the idea of the NecksGen and the smaller profile, which seems like it would better in a small car. I like the fact that Impact Accel is adjustable to fine tune the fit in mine or other cars. Last weekend was talking to people with the Hans 2 having issues with it pushing theirs head forward in certain cars. I also like that these two have some side impact protection.

Has anyone on had any experience with either of these devices? Any thoughts on either one good or bad?

I have a Necksgen. Its comfortable i really cant tell its on. The only real knock I have against it is that there are not adjustments for tether length. Im not sure if other brands have them or not. Since I bought a large to fit me, I had to buy a shorter tether to swap on for my wife when she uses it.

I have the original NecksGen … like it fine … and it's NOT a Hans

We use NecksGen as well for chumpcar. I have no complaints other than the latches on the helmet mounts can be a bit finicky if not perfectly aligned. IDK if the new ones have a better attachment mechanism.

Thanks for the input! Are you guys using the new style of NecksGen that only sits on your shoulders or the older one that comes down the chest?

as I said, in my case it's an original (comes down the chest)

logdog wrote: The only real knock I have against it is that there are not adjustments for tether length. Im not sure if other brands have them or not.

Interesting, I wonder if that was part of the lawsuit. My original Necksgen has adjustable tethers.

I have the new style.

Looking at the old NecksGen and the new Impact Accel they look identical. Talking to the guys at Impact who now own NecksGen there is no more issues with lawsuits. I just wonder why they chose to go back to the older style that comes down the chest?

I did a lot of research on this at one point when I was trying to decide between the Necksgen and the HANS. I understand the chest extensions were eliminated because of the lawsuits. That was a major element that HANS said copied their design. I think the Necksgen is less effective without them. Just look at the test videos on Youtube. The tests on the Necksgen allow a lot more forward and down movement than the HANS. That's actually pretty intuitive if you look at the designs of the two.

Any and all reviews I could find from Necksgen owners had to do with how comfortable they were to wear, not how effective they were in a crash. On the other hand, the HANS has been well tested and proven in many professional and amateur racing series and crashes.

I have no idea how the Impact folks are getting around the HANS lawsuits with their new design-- maybe it is different enough or maybe they are paying license fees. But you ask a good question. If the Necksgen didn't need them, why are they being put back on in the latest design?

In any case, I went with the HANS when I bought mine. But it's your neck.

when I went with the NecksGen it was partially BECAUSE of the lawsuit … yes I understood the "you're stealing our income and livelihood" … but all I really saw was a similar produce that cost the same, so no undercutting and stealing of customers … just that there was a choice of basically the same thing …

so I went with the "little" guy instead of the giant that seemed to like to throw it's weight around … so my h&nr is one with the extensions down the front of the chest … it was an improvement on the HANS of that time period, in that it had, what I'll call a channel, designed to keep the belts ON the device during a crash … i.e. the secondary impacts, after the belts had stretched … with the earlier HANS designs the belts would usually slide off the device when the second/third/however many impacts happened

I guess that channel wasn't enough to keep NecksGen making their original device

In reply to wbjones:

I understand your point of view and I certainly share your frustration with dealing with a monopoly. I think the HANS are way more expensive than they need to be because of their control of the market, though they would argue it represents a return on a significant investment. I came very close to buying the Necksgen for that reason and because LeMons had a $100 rebate on them for awhile.

However, I came to the conclusion that I should be making my decision based on what worked best to keep me from being injured, rather than what made me feel good about the purchase.

The good news is that there are now used HANS that are pretty well available on the market as HANS revises designs. I ended up buying one in like-new condition for much less than new.

I ended up ordering both the NecksGen and the Impact Accel to try them. The Accel just did not fit right, it was hard to get arouund my neck and put pressure on only one point on my chest. Also the parts that stick up on the sides kept bumping my helmet, I think this would really bother me on the track. So that one is going back.

The Necksgen fit OK, it didnt seem to sit all the way down on my shoulders and I could feel where it would start to hurt after awhile. Also it was pretty hard to move my head from side to side. I don't know if this would get better as the tethers worn in a little or not.

Next step is to order a Hans and try that out. I just have to decide if I should order the Hans 2 sport or the new Hans 3 for $60 more. I my find that these feel the same as the other and it is just the nature of the beast.

Basil Exposition wrote: In reply to wbjones: I understand your point of view and I certainly share your frustration with dealing with a monopoly. I think the HANS are way more expensive than they need to be because of their control of the market, though they would argue it represents a return on a significant investment. I came very close to buying the Necksgen for that reason and because LeMons had a $100 rebate on them for awhile. However, I came to the conclusion that I should be making my decision based on what worked best to keep me from being injured, rather than what made me feel good about the purchase. The good news is that there are now used HANS that are pretty well available on the market as HANS revises designs. I ended up buying one in like-new condition for much less than new.

gotcha .. keep in mind that I got the first upgrade to the original NecksGen … pretty much the same as the HANS … the only difference (and I think an improvement) is the channel that keeps the shoulder straps where they belong for the secondary impacts

Are you trying them on while strapped in? I find they fit different and more comfortable when the harness is positioning them rather than just sitting on the shoulders.

I tried them strapped in the car with my helmet on. The Accel fit really poorly on me.

Do Hans have padding that will mold to your shoulders a little? Or maybe I just am pulling my shoulder harness too tight.

I found the HANS actually prevented my belts from digging into my shoulders.

Another phenomenon to keep in mind is that these things are uncomfortable and restrictive on the grid but tend to disappear on the racetrack. You'll find a lot of folks say they forget they are wearing one after a lap it two.

the only time I've had any vision problems was after a spin ( T5 at Road Atlanta) and was backed off track at 90° to the track … looking dead at the corner worker … couldn't turn my head enough to see any oncoming traffic … said corner worker just sat there, and never did anything … I finally had to back up (farther off track) and then run parallel to the track to work my own way back on …

Another option too is the Leatt MRX, I've used one for the last two years now and it's been really comfortable. The part behind your head is very low profile (the HANS is huge behind your head) and it has good side impact protection with the way the straps are designed (the HANS is pretty deficient in this area). It also has the channels to keep the seat belts from slipping off, which the HANS does not have.

http://www.racedaysafety.com/leatt-mrx-head-and-neck-restraint.html

In reply to 4shadesofblue:

Necksgen is not owned by Impact.The Accell appears to be a "knock off" of the discontinued Necksgen "Original" model that was replaced with the lighter smaller an more comfortable REV.