Introduced in 2015, the original Simpson Devil Ray helmet employed a design based on development learnings and racer feedback gained from its predecessor, the Stingray โ a carbon-fiber shelled, closed-face helmet that offered a purposeful look as well as a broad range of features.
โThe main idea with the original Devil Ray was to basically create the โSwiss Army knifeโ of helmets,โ says Simpson product engineer Luis Ortiz. โSomething that could work well in a lot of different racing disciplines. In order to accomplish that, it needed to have good ventilation, an eye port design with excellent visibility, and the ability to properly integrate a wide variety of features and accessories. A true all-purpose helmet.โ
The latest iteration, the Devil Ray 3.0, takes that concept several steps further.
โA lot of people really love the original Devil Ray helmet,โ Ortiz says. โSo rather than reinventing it, we wanted to retain the elements that have made the Devil Ray so popular with racers, while also introducing some new features into the design. Some elements of the helmet arenโt changing all that much. The shield, for example, is interchangeable with shields from the previous version of the Devil Ray.โ
That said, the Devil Ray 3.0 is the result of a comprehensive revamp that combines a stylish, contemporary shell design with improved aerodynamics and better accessory integration. The interior, meanwhile, benefits from an updated design that makes the helmet safer, more comfortable, and more modular.
โThe designers took input from a lot of different sources, and we went through a number of different concepts along the way,โ says Ortiz. โIt was definitely a group effort from the Simpson team. I think that approach helps ensure that all aspects of the design are considered, which is particularly important when youโre developing a helmet thatโs going to be used in a lot of different types of racing environments.โ
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Ortiz says that the Devil Ray 3.0โs updated look was partially driven by an effort to bring its appearance in line with Simpsonโs contemporary design language.
โThe previous Devil Ray helmet stood out in the lineup โ it almost didnโt look like a Simpson helmet. This new one brings us back to our roots with an appearance that a lot of people have come to associate with our helmets. The look is cleaner and simpler, but also a bit more aggressive. The channels along the sides of the helmet make it seem like itโs going fast even when itโs stationary.โ
But updating the aesthetic was only one piece of the puzzle.
โImproving ventilation was one of the main priorities for this new design,โ he explains. โAnd the addition of the top vents was a big part of that. With the previous Devil Ray design, we actually had to cut a hole in the shell to route in a top air accessory. But this new version has holes integrated into the shell and EPS liner, and the EPS foam is channeled to route air to the visor and throughout the helmet. The vents are ready to use, right out of the box, and we have an optional top air cap that mounts on top of those vents, which makes things easier for us as well as our racers.โ
Enhancing comfort and safety were also high on the list.
โThe cheek pads and chin pad of the new helmet are made from EPS foam, and theyโre removable,โ Ortiz says. โYou can take the cheek pads and chin pad out and put them in as needed โ itโs a hook-and-loop design that makes it really easy to do and creates a tight fit.โ
This new pad design offers several important benefits. Since the pads are removable, it means that owners can swap out โ or even mix and match โ pads of different sizes to get a more tailored fit, which can improve comfort as well as safety. โBeing able to go to a bigger or smaller sized pad is hugely important when youโre getting a new helmet,โ he points out. โSometimes youโll put on a new helmet and it fits perfectly. But since everyoneโs head is a little bit different, thatโs not always the case. Depending on the shape of your face, you may need a bigger or smaller cheek pad to get the helmet to fit snugly while remaining comfortable.โ
This adjustability also extends to the top pad, which can help fine-tune how the helmet sits on the crown of your head.
โPeople have a tendency to buy helmets that are too big for their heads,โ Ortiz says. โIt should fit tight around the crown, and there shouldnโt be any separation between the helmet and your head when you move your head around. Thatโs really critical from a safety standpoint. Your eyes should also be centered in the eye port. If theyโre not, you can actually swap out the top pad for a thinner or thicker one to make some adjustments here as well. That can also help with comfort: Going with a thicker top pad, for example, will lift the helmet up slightly higher on your head, which can relieve some pressure if the crown liner feels a little too tight.โ The removability of the pads also provides owners with the ability to hand-wash and air dry them whenever they get a bit funky.
The Devil Ray 3.0โs new pad design improves the helmetโs functionality in other ways as well. โThe EPS foam also provides an impact benefit; if you take a hit to the chin bar, the EPS is going to absorb a lot more of that energy than a softer foam would,โ says Ortiz. โWe also have channels molded into the back of the cheek pad, which provide routing for communications, hydration systems, and things like that.โ
The new helmet also boasts a redesigned eye port gasket designed to create a better seal around the visor, in turn preventing dirt and other debris from entering the helmet through that area. โThe Devil Ray has been used by a lot of racers in off-road and dirt-track racing environments, so this was an important improvement for us,โ he says. And it also helps keep positive pressure in the helmet if youโre running an air system.โ
The Devil Rayโs popularity in dirt and off-road racing disciplines inspired Simpson to create the Desert Devil Ray variant of the Devil Ray 3.0, too.
โThis is a package designed specifically for the needs of off-road racers,โ Ortiz tells us. โThe helmet itself is the same as the standard Devil Ray 3.0, but it comes bundled with a microphone and speaker kit that will plug directly into any kind of intercom that utilizes a four-conductor off-road connector. The bundle also includes a top offset forced air intake โ if you order from us, we install it so itโs ready to go right out of the box.โ The Desert Devil Ray bundle additionally includes a removable, SFI-5 rated skirt to prevent stuff from getting into the helmet from below.
โThis was a popular option with our last desert configuration, and that makes a lot of sense โ when youโre bombing around in the dirt, you want to do whatever you can to keep dust and debris out of the helmet. The skirt also helps keep the helmet sealed off, so air from the top intake doesnโt just flow right out the bottom. That creates some positive pressure in the helmet, which helps prevent visor fogging.โ
Available in six sizes ranging from XS to XXL, the SA2020 rated Devil Ray 3.0 is available with either a carbon fiber or composite shell. The latter is offered in white, gloss black, or matte black finishes.
As previously mentioned, the shields offered for the original Devil Ray are compatible with the Devil Ray 3.0, so you can swap out the standard clear shield for a dark smoke, iridium, amber, or chrome shield to suit lighting conditions and tailor the look of the helmet for your own particular style. As with all helmets Snell certified to SA2015 or above, the Devil Ray 3.0 comes pre-drilled with threaded M6 terminals for head and neck restraints. Post, D-ring, M6, and Quick Click-style anchors are all supported.
Along with the integrated communication and hydration provisions that run along both sides of the helmet, the Devil Ray 3.0 also features an ear pillow that can be removed to install an ear cup speaker. โYou can just pull that piece out โ the hook-and-loop fasteners inside the helmet make it easy to attach whatever type of speaker you want to use in its place,โ Ortiz says.
Ortiz recommends checking out the Simpson YouTube channel for instructional clips on helmet fitment and other related topics, but he notes that there are also other resources available for questions that go beyond the scope of those videos. โDonโt hesitate to contact our customer service representatives. We have a very knowledgeable team, and theyโll make sure you get the answers you need.โ
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