This may have been discussed before, but what is the preferred style?

Half-round, sticky backed:


or

Standard round, offset hole:

 

You really wan to use the first product (1/2 round). It comes in 3 thicknesses. Be sure to use the 1" wherever your head may make contact. I used 3/4" on the door bars and other bars that my arms might contact. The SFI tag is on the version sold by Summit and it is supplied in 3' lengths ($15/piece). Installation is very straightforward. You may need a few tie-wraps and a very sharp knife.
The offset round style padding does not have the same characteristics as the high density version. Thus, it is very inexpensive.

 

from what i've read in previous forums

the "half round sticky backed" actually slows down impact better than the other stuff, because it's more dense. But it's also more expensive..

IIRC most racers use the first stuff in the critical areas, ie: around the head, while they use the other stuff as regular padding in other areas.

 

IOPort sells the high density foam in two versions. THey have SFI padding and another type that is basically built the same way but doesn't have the SFI rating. It is also a bit cheaper as well. I used the non-SFI high density foam for my 240sx.

-Charlie

 

As someone who has bought both SFI padding and non-SFI high density padding (not the cheap soft stuff) I'd like to add that they are NOT the same. I often hear it said that high-density is high-density and one version just has the SFI tag on it.

If you've held both, and cut into both, you would realize that they're not even remotely the same.

I bought some half-round high density padding (non-SFI) from OG Racing via mailorder recently - BTW, the salesman at OG also made the comment that it was the "same stuff", and I'm still pissed about it. I was disappointed when it arrived but used it anyway in some spots. For the areas that I'm most likely to come in contact with I ordered true SFI padding. At some point I will probably replace all of the cheaper stuff.

My recommendation is that you only buy SFI rated padding. Everything else isn't worth the few dollars you might save.

 

This doesn't help most of you, but if anyone's interested, I have some scraps of both the SFI and the non-SFI high-density that I can bring to VIR next week.

If the SFI is called high-density, the non should probably be referred to as medium density.

 

Some good info here: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=474812

 

Well I will have to agree with the others in that you should have 1" SFI 45.1 on your roll cage any place that your head might hit, even areas that your belts would need to stretch in order for you to hit. all other places that are just for comfort i would use the lower cost stuff.

There is one more place that I would recomend you use SFI 45.1 HD padding, thats on the drivers side of your dash beam. If you have a beam that runs through the dash that your legs can hit, you may want to use the good stuff. Just emagine that you hit more or less head on and your legs flex at the knee slaming your shins into that bar. Your shins don't have much padding themselfs, I have found that shins hitting that bar with out HD padding normaly brakes them.

Just my advice.
You can get some at this page for about $14.99/3' stick
http://www.spectorracing.com/c...t=108

I hope this helps

Ralph Howe

 

also, this may turn out to be just stupidity screaming out here:

i know that the SFI approved padding is probly taking into account the fact that a helmet is in use. my question is would not wearing a helmet and driving on the street, would the denser material still be more beneficial for injury protection?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sobe_Death &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">also, this may turn out to be just stupidity screaming out here:

i know that the SFI approved padding is probly taking into account the fact that a helmet is in use. my question is would not wearing a helmet and driving on the street, would the denser material still be more beneficial for injury protection?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well that depends on alot of factors.

The SFI 45.1 padding WOULD STILL BE BEST, becouse it aborbs more of the impact rather than reflecting the impact back to the faster/ lower mass moving object . As far as how thick would you need it. Well I can't say for sure... I do know that I have seen the SFI padding protect people that have hit the padding with unpadded boddy parts like shins, forarms, kuckles... and the SFI/HD padding seamed to do the trick. Shins, forarms, and other body parts that dont have mussle or fat to protect the bone, I would think would be the same way.
On my S2k ware the dash beam is in close prox. with my bony shins... I use the SFI padding with the larger thickness.
Also other factors would be how hard are you hitting?What is the closure rate? What angle are you hitting at in each of the 3 impacts? How much does your head way in grams? How much engergy was expended, redirected, or absorbed int the first impact?( your car + "Object") how much engergy can the SFI 45.1 padding displace, expend, redirect, or absorb in the second impact (you head + the bar)
And last but not least... HOW MUCH ENERGY DO YOU THINK YOUR BRAIN CAN TAKE FROM THE 3RD IMPACT? (brain & organs hit the outside of you)

This is just my 2 cents, I am not an SFI researcher. I can not tell you what the answer is but you REALY wanted to know. You would need a physics book, a crash test physics& engergies report for your car, and the SFI SPEC data on 45.1.
The specs I can supply, the other 2 you are on your own!

Hope this helps.
Ralph
By the way... I have great deals on sparco FIA seat packages! starting at $889.99
http://www.spectorracing.com
I also have a deal due to this post on the SFI 45.1 roll padding in 3' sticks
only $14.99 each

 

Is this the same stuff? http://www.rebcoperformance.co...id=15

 

NOPE, thats a padding that is not High density you can tell by the pic that it has more of the bubbled look to it. It is not SFI 45.1 rated they would have advertised that if it was.

The title is "hi impact ... " that does not mean that it is SFI Aproved or High density foam its basicly the same foam as is in the lower cost brands.
Its basicly the same as "Standard round, offset hole:" pic but trimed to be 1/2 round.

Hope this helps I think it would work well on non body impact areas. (the areas of lesser importance.)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SPECTORracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Its basicly the same as "Standard round, offset hole:" pic but trimed to be 1/2 round.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm going to disagree... it looks like the "high density" non-SFI padding OG Racing sold me recently. It's a true half-round, unlike SFI padding. Not as dense as SFI padding, but much denser than the traditional cheap padding. My advice is still to buy something SFI rated - not for the rating, but so you'll know exactly what you're buying.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I'm going to disagree... it looks like the "high density" non-SFI padding OG Racing sold me recently. It's a true half-round, unlike SFI padding. Not as dense as SFI padding, but much denser than the traditional cheap padding. My advice is still to buy something SFI rated - not for the rating, but so you'll know exactly what you're buying.</TD></TR></TABLE>

SFI rated padding can come in 1/2 round or full round.. I dont think the rebco is HD...

I do have to agree with you on the rest. Even if you dont buy it from me BUY SFI 45.1 padding so that you know you are well protected.

Ralph

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SPECTORracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">SFI rated padding can come in 1/2 round or full round.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Full round? Where? I've never seen it, but as thick as that stuff is, i'm not sure how the hell you'd get it around a rollbar.

 

I have seen some on an ALMS car, I wish I could get it...
Well Im having the SFI reg books sent to me. I dont think the SFI reg says anything about shape, or even the TYPE of padding just what it has to be able to do...

I have seen it and will keep looking for it.. I have had many people asking me about that foam. If i can get it in sheets, If I can get it in rolls (like tape kinda) and if I can get it in full round padding sticks. I have seen the stuff in full round sticks.. If you have any lines on it PLEASE let me know. Or if you know what major company is making this type of foam..I know kirkey is having it made but they will not tell me by WHO! damn it...