S1 vs Triple Eight vs Pro-Tec Helmets: What Skaters Wear
Seven skaters in our compilation wear or recommend S1, against a single voice each for Triple Eight (Bonnie Thunders) and Pro-Tec (Jackie Daniels), so this comparison is lopsided. None of the nine compares helmets, and two S1 voices are S1-sponsored riders featured on S1’s own blog. What they all share is a hard-shell helmet; the brand split mostly reflects where the gear lists came from.
Gear on this page: four helmets — S1 Lifer, S1 Mega Lifer, Triple Eight Certified Sweatsaver and Pro-Tec Classic. They are optional, the page works without them, and the links to them are Amazon affiliate links.
Amazon prices were read on the listing on 7 October 2026, for the size and colour Amazon shows by default; other sizes and colours can cost more or less. Price and availability are set by Amazon and can change.
The three brands side by side
| S1 | Triple Eight | Pro-Tec | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model named by skaters | Lifer (Snot Rocket Science, Caro Hernandez, Tia Pitman); brand only for the others | Brand only (Bonnie Thunders) | Ace (Jackie Daniels) |
| From the Amazon listings | Lifer: 7 sizes. Mega Lifer: extra-large fit, EPS Fusion foam, CPSC and ASTM certified, multi-impact and high-impact | Certified Sweatsaver: 4 sizes from XS/S (51-54 cm), triple-certified incl. CPSC bike | Classic (not the Ace): Medium 56-58 cm, injected PE shell, two-layer foam, 11 vents; no certification shown on the listing |
| Who wears it | Scald Eagle, Snot Rocket Science, Satan’s Little Helper, Nina Erwes, Caro Hernandez, Tia Pitman; recommended by Slam | Bonnie Thunders (2010) | Jackie Daniels (2010) |
| Use | Derby, park, bowl, street | Derby | Derby |
| Sponsor link | Caro and Tia ride for S1; two of the voices come from S1’s own blog | None stated | None stated |
| Number of voices | 7 | 1 | 1 |
What each skater wears
This comparison is lopsided and we say so: Triple Eight and Pro-Tec each have a single voice, both from WFTDA gear lists of 2010. S1 has seven, but part of that count comes from S1’s own blog. Nobody compares two helmets in our sources.
S1
- Scald Eagle (Rose City and Team USA jammer, WFTDA champion 2015 and 2016) wore an S1 helmet; Bont appears as her skate brand (WFTDA gear list, 1 Oct 2015).
- Snot Rocket Science (Team USA 2011 and 2014) wore the S1 Lifer; no sponsor stated (WFTDA gear list, 4 Oct 2016).
- Satan’s Little Helper (Raquel Davila, three straight titles with the Arizona Derby Dames, international coach) wore an S-One helmet (WFTDA gear list, 10 Jun 2016).
- Nina Erwes (Helsinki All-Stars captain, MVP Big O 2016) wore S1 (WFTDA gear list, 8 Sep 2016).
- Caro Hernandez (Colombian bowl skater; S1 among her sponsors) wears the S1 Lifer (S1 blog, 6 Dec 2021).
- Tia Pitman (“Steeez T”, winner of Concrete Waves 2023; Chuffed and S1 rider) wears the S1 Lifer (S1 blog, 3 Nov 2023).
- Slam (founder of Chuffed Skates; brand voice, no verified competition record) recommends S1 and asks for a certified hard-shell helmet with adjustable pads (Chuffed, 18 Aug 2022).
Triple Eight
- Bonnie Thunders (often called the greatest player of modern derby; 8 WFTDA titles, four World Cups) wore a Triple 8 helmet in 2010 (WFTDA gear list, Aug 2010). A WFTDA video of her on helmet fitting exists (WFTDA, 12 Jul 2020), but we could not read its transcript, so nothing from it is used here.
Pro-Tec
- Jackie Daniels (Windy City Rollers, skater in Whip It, coach) wore a Pro-Tec Ace with Triple Eight pads (WFTDA gear list, 1 Mar 2010).
Which one for a beginner
No skater in our sources tells a beginner which brand to buy. What they agree on is the type: a hard-shell helmet, worn from the first session. Slam asks for a certified one; Estro Jen ranks the helmet first in her list of park gear (Estro Jen, 9 Jan 2021). No skater mentions a safety standard or when to replace a helmet after a crash: check the certification printed on the listing and the box yourself, and fit by head circumference.
From the skater behind this site
- At the start every piece of protection matters, with no order of importance. The helmet is the one you wear a hundred times for nothing and once for everything.
The products we could check on Amazon
| Model | Price seen (date, where) | Who it is for | Linked skater | Weak point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 Lifer Helmet | Amazon.com $89.99 (B00A8QZU1A, Large 22", “only 1 left”), read 2026-10-07 | Any skater | Snot Rocket Science, Caro Hernandez, Tia Pitman | Stock low in Large; check the size chart |
| S1 Mega Lifer Helmet | Amazon.com $91.99 (B0814Z2N2Y, Large 24"), read 2026-10-07 | Bigger heads | Same family as the Lifer | No skater names this version |
| Triple Eight Certified Sweatsaver Helmet | Amazon.com $59.49 (B077VR8QGX, XS-S), read 2026-10-07 | Any skater, smaller budget | Brand worn by Bonnie Thunders (model not named) | One voice only |
| Pro-Tec Classic Skate Helmet | Amazon.com $63.00 (B01MYN9EM8, Medium, “only 5 left”), read 2026-10-07 | Classic skate shape | Brand worn by Jackie Daniels (she wore the Ace, not the Classic) | No certification shown on the listing; one voice only |
Beginner FAQ
Which helmet do top skaters wear most?
In our compilation, S1: seven skaters wear or recommend it (Scald Eagle, Snot Rocket Science, Satan's Little Helper, Nina Erwes, Caro Hernandez, Tia Pitman, Slam). Triple Eight and Pro-Tec have one voice each (Bonnie Thunders and Jackie Daniels, both in 2010).
Is S1 better than Triple Eight or Pro-Tec?
Our sources do not say. No skater compares helmets, two S1 voices are S1 riders featured on S1's blog, and the Triple Eight and Pro-Tec voices are single 2010 gear lists.
What helmet should a beginner buy?
A certified hard-shell helmet that fits your head circumference, worn from the first session. Slam asks for a certified one; Estro Jen puts the helmet first in her park gear list.
Is the Pro-Tec Classic the same as the Pro-Tec Ace?
No. Jackie Daniels wore the Ace; the Classic is the Pro-Tec model we could check on Amazon, and its listing showed no certification.
When should I replace my helmet?
No skater in our compilation says. Follow the maker's instructions printed with the helmet.
How this page was compiled: 9 skaters and coaches named and sourced (7 on S1, 1 on Triple Eight, 1 on Pro-Tec), plus Estro Jen on beginners, from our skater compilation of 7 October 2026. Each claim links to its dated source. Full compilation and method: the skater gear compilation.
Read next: skate helmets: what top skaters wear · protective gear that actually fits · 187 vs S1 knee pads · protective gear checklist · how to fall safely
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