• From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Topic: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

OK, I finally got my wife to agree to drive a crap can on a bet (one track day in a F2000 and she turns her nose up at Lemons!)  .....but she won't go unless both of us use a restraint.....anybody use a HANS? Is any brand better than the other? They all look pretty spendy.....I've never worn one, but it looks like driving in a noose....can you move you head enough? Can you get out of the car easily? I know the big guys wear them, but I'm not quite as agile as Carl Edwards.... I'm not sure this is necessary at our speeds, but I'm not gonna win this argument...

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Angier
  • Registered: 2009-09-19
  • Posts: 705

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

http://www.isaacdirect.com/SFI.html

while i don't use one of these, guys that need to jump in and out of cars seem to like them.  plus it works with different size belts.

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Lee Ho Fook's Racing E36
  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

I used a HANS for the first time at the Lamest Day.  When I first put it on, it felt like it would restrict movement and be uncomfortable on the shoulders, but once the track was hot, I never thought about it again.  It never hindered my view of traffic or mirrors and it didn't dig into my shoulders.  Getting in and out of the car was a breeze.  It took a few tries to get the clips on and off at first, but after several driver swaps, it wasn't bad at all.  Our whole team was able to wear the medium sized HANS.

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Jeff G 78's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

thx for the info..Jeff and 'stang...Issac looks interesting but I'm concerned about it being non-SFI.....Jeff, about what size range of your drivers could use your medium?  do you use special belts?  I'd like to share one with my wife, but she's shaped a lot differently than me....

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: The other side of the fence
  • Registered: 2009-06-17
  • Posts: 388

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Hans is a great product but you have to order it with a specific built id degree angle 0/10/20 deg and it makes it hard to use in different cars. The Defender is a bit more easy on the shoulders and is adjustable to multiple angles so it can be used in your S2000 and in your crap can or your off road truck. I think they list price in the 550 range now..

Pen

  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Our drivers ranged from 5'-9" to 6'-3".  Weights ranged from around 170 to 210 and the medium fit all of us just fine.  I don't recall which model we used, but it is for a sedan, so it's a low angle version.  From what I'm told, they are sized based on neck size.

BRE Datsun (Broke Racing Effluence) formerly Dawn of the Zed Racing
'74 260Z
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Jeff G 78's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

OK, so HANS fits a wide range of drivers, and Defender a wide range of seat types....The issue is that I'm 5'9, 180#, thickish neck, wide shoulders, and she's 6'0, 135# thin neck and small shoulders...sure would like to avoid buying two of the damn things...

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: The other side of the fence
  • Registered: 2009-06-17
  • Posts: 388

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

That will be a tough fit between the both of you. They have restraints that are just harnesses around your body that would fit both of you but i have not seen them in a while.

  • From: Marysville, CA
  • Registered: 2009-12-15
  • Posts: 127

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Its called a Hutchens device.

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  • From: Golden, CO
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 968

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Not to be confused with a Hutchence  device...

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  • Registered: 2009-05-27
  • Posts: 322

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Go to a good motorsport shop and have a HANS fit for both of you. I wouldn't be surprised if one model fit both of you. The angles are really for very different seat geometries (like formula cars where you're almost lying down).

Or call HMS (if you don't have a local option) and talk to them about it. They are very knowledgeable. With the sliding tethers that come with them, you'll hardly know you're wearing it. Just make sure the seat grommets are high enough for your wife.

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  • From: The other side of the fence
  • Registered: 2009-06-17
  • Posts: 388

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

EvergreenDan wrote:

Go to a good motorsport shop and have a HANS fit for both of you. I wouldn't be surprised if one model fit both of you. The angles are really for very different seat geometries (like formula cars where you're almost lying down).

Or call HMS (if you don't have a local option) and talk to them about it. They are very knowledgeable. With the sliding tethers that come with them, you'll hardly know you're wearing it. Just make sure the seat grommets are high enough for your wife.

Dan has a point but the rule of thumb is when you are in the seat there should be one inch of space between the hans and the back of the seat. This is where the fun begins because every seat is not created equal. I know this because i have spent days at times fitting drivers in there cars and building mounts because there seat of choice will not work perfectly with the Hans because of ether the seat back angle or the angle they prefer there seat to be in. HMS is very knowledgeable with this but will also tell you that for the Hans to be comfortable you need the Schroth belts that are designed to go over and under the Hans along with HMS's special brackets to mount these belts. We know this because we use them in a few cars. What ever you do get because you don't want to buy two must have adjustability or you will end up buying two. Hans are great and were the first into the busines but more are coming onto the market and work just as well and even better as the Defender has shown.

Pendejo

  • From: Pleasanton, CA
  • Registered: 2009-09-02
  • Posts: 352

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Our team purchased one large 20 degree HANS for the race at Thunderhill.  We have a team range of 5'8" - 6'3" in heights, and a weight range of 170-265lbs.  Everyone was comfortable with the device, we always had someone assisting with the transfer of the device at driver changes (quick and easy with the disconnects), and no one complained of restricted movement.  It was the best investment the team made.  We spent $880 on the device with 3 mounts and California tax.

Expensive, but comfortable, quick to switch, and really unobtrusive.

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  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Thanks all for this great info....sales guys just don't tell you this stuff. I wore the early BDSM Hutchins setup at Petty's Daytona "experience" and it felt like a Syrian torture device....glad to hear that the newer stuff is truly wearable...and that I should finalize the seat before shopping for the restraint. Ideally, I'd like to use the wide, non-HANS belts as I have a good set and not all my team is HANS ready/capable/interested...

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Reno
  • Registered: 2009-09-02
  • Posts: 145

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

I raced with one during the 2009 season (non-LeMons) for the first time.  +1 on the comments about it being unobtrusive.  The only time I notice it is when backing out of the parking spot because you can't turn your head far enough.  After that, it is a non-issue and I never even notice it.

I use mine with standard 3" shoulder belts and have never had a problem with the belts.

Paul, aka BuFord Hogswaller:  Team Captain, Team Bavarian Ranchero and Team Pink Lloyd
  • From: Bloomington, IN
  • Registered: 2009-08-14
  • Posts: 1,525

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

I use an Isaac, and really like it.  Almost no reduction in movement, and easy to get in and out of the car.

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  • From: Emeryville CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 572

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

You'll have a couple of tether options on the HANS device--the sliding tethers offer the most side-to-side movement. There was so little restriction on mine that I had to look online to see if I had it hooked up right. I did--the thing is just really user-friendly.

Nick_LemonsHQ's Website

  • From: Toronto, Ontario
  • Registered: 2009-05-03
  • Posts: 1,114

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Thx Nick....I'm relieved that it's user friendly. My experience with the previously mentioned Hutchens made me feel like Frankenstein, and move like him too.

Jim "Endo" Anderton
30 years of racing and still not Brambilla.....
  • From: Corona, CA.
  • Registered: 2009-08-03
  • Posts: 359

Re: NANS vs. Defender vs.....

Rockford Brodie wrote:

Not to be confused with a Hutchence  device...

That's just a single, neck-sized loop.  Right?

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