Getting your Guy a Beer Helmet
Buying a beer helmet for the man in your life is one of the most sure ways there is to tell him that you really do understand him. The beer helmet is a symbol of mans desire for more while doing less. It is a symbol of preparedness. It is also a symbol of status. Not many women truly realize that in some circles a man is judged by the foam dome that adorns his head like a royal cown just as they are judged by the car they drive in other circles. Choosing the correct beer helmet for the man in your life is the key to making this a truly great gift.
The beer helmet has evolved over the years. In it's earliest days it was a cheap hard helmet replica that just had a couple cup holders attached to the side and came with a bit of plastic tubing to serve as a beer delivery system. Thankfully for wearers of the beer helmet times changed as some of the brightest minds in the novelty industry spent sleepless nights working on every detail of the beer helmet in the constant quest for foam dome perfection. As a result numerous models began hitting the market, so you have to not only weed them out for quality, but to be sure that he has the perfect helmet for him. It is important to avoid insultin your man by giving him too little helmet or putting him in the equally challenging position of endowing him with too much helmet.
Some of the key elements you need to look for in a good beer helmet are comfort, durability, maximum holding potential, and a good delivery system. Comfort is fairly easy to identify, make sure there is a little padding inside, this is particularly important near the brow. The padding should also be very absorbant so that it keeps any sweat under control. Durability is a second obvious must. Don't go with the cheap thin plastic helmets that will crack easilty, pay extra for a real hard hat so that this is a gift that lasts well into the future. Just like a favorite old ratty ball cap, a good beer helmet will be a mainstay of your mans weekend warrior regalia.
When it comes to maximum holding potential more isn't always better. If you are getting this for someone that falls into the lightweight category stick to the original two can helmet. Likewise if you are getting this for someone with a weak neck it is imperative you stay away from the monster 6-pack helmet. If you think someone is going to have trouble holding a helmet with of 72 ounces as a launch weight, be safe and go for less. There are four can helmets available if you shop around which are for most the perfect happy medium.
Check the delivery system to make sure the tubing that serves as a straw is up to snuff. It should pull equally from each can, not just one or two. This is essential to maintaing proper foam dome balance as the cans empty. Likewise the system should come attached by clips to insure there is no fidgeting or loss of a steady constant flow. Likewise the tubing should be long enough to expand to be used with a 16 ounce can should the man in your life be they type that likes to go for broke.
A couple options that may or may not be suitable depending on your man are the umbrella attachment and the battery operated fan cooling system. The umbrella is nice because it keeps the sun off your mans face and it more importantly shades the beer so it doesn't warm up quite as fast. Likewise the small optional battery operated personal sized fans which can be attached keep the air around the cans circulating and cool to again regulate the beer temperature as much as possible. There is even a helmet with an internal lining which is designed to hold cool water to keep both your mans head and his beer just a little cooler.
Whatever direction you decide to go whether it be high tech or low tech your man will love the sentiment. It shows him you understand his wants and needs, and that you support him in his quest to take effortless beer drinking to the next level and possibly beyond. A low end beer helmet can be found for under $10 on sale usually while a high end model can range to over $50.
