7 picks · Updated 19 October 2026 · Based on 17 owner posts and reviews
A head and neck restraint, also called a frontal head restraint or a HANS device, links your helmet to a collar or harness so the helmet cannot travel as far forward in a frontal crash. Most HPDE organisers do not ask for one with factory belts. Many do once you fit a racing harness, and NASA's racing rules and SCCA road racing require one.
We cannot test gear, so each pick here is marked owner-reported or spec-checked. Every price, model and certification was checked on a maker or retailer page on 19 October 2026. Certification claims were checked against the SFI Foundation's 38.1 list and the FIA's Technical List 29. Two picks have owner evidence from Rennlist threads in 2017 and 2021, so the dates are shown. The rest are spec-checked.
A label is a statement about what the device was tested to, not a promise about any crash. Check your organiser's current rulebook, because requirements differ between organisers and even between regions of the same club.
We can’t test everything, so each pick is labelled with where the evidence comes from. How we research and test. Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure).
The HANS IV is the current entry model from the company that sells the original yoke-style restraint. Pegasus describes it as lighter than the HANS III, with revised padding that nests into the device to reduce slippage and a higher cutaway at the rear so it avoids contact with the driver's neck.
Certification
SFI 38.1 on all versions. FIA 8858-2010 on post-anchor versions per the NASA store listing. FIA Technical List 29 (11 Aug 2026) lists HANS IV Small 20 and Medium 20, with no Large entry
Angle
20 degrees (the only angle listed at the retailers we checked)
Sizes
Small, Medium, Large. Pegasus neck chart: S 12.5 to 16 in, M 14 to 17 in, L 16 to 20 in
Tethers and anchors
Sliding tethers. Post anchors, or Quick Click anchors (SFI 38.1 only per the NASA store)
In the box
Contour pads, tethers, and anchor posts for one helmet (Pegasus)
Weight
About 10% lighter than the HANS III (retailer copy)
Needs
A 5-point or 6-point harness and a helmet with M6 inserts
Best for
Drivers in a sedan or sports car with a harness, a roll bar or cage, and a fairly upright seat.
Worth knowing
Retailers list only the 20 degree angle, so a reclined seat may need a HANS III Model 30 ($569.95 at Pegasus), and the Quick Click version is SFI only.
Among the devices checked, this is the lowest-priced one that carries both FIA 8858-2010 and SFI 38.1 labels. Stand 21 builds it in France and sells it under its own name and under OMP. The FIA entry matters if you also enter events under Motorsport UK, Motorsport Australia or FIA rules.
Certification
FIA 8858-2010 and SFI 38.1 (retailer listing). FIA Technical List 29 lists Stand 21 20M-CS3 and 20L-CS3
Angle
20 degrees
Sizes
Medium for a 15 to 18 in collar, Large over 18 in
Weight
640 g for the device, 748 g with pads and tethers
Tether
Sliding tether
Material
Injection-moulded resin reinforced with carbon fibre, made in France by Stand 21
Needs
A harness and a helmet with M6 inserts
Best for
Drivers who want one device that is valid under both US and FIA-style rules and sit fairly upright.
Worth knowing
Only a 20 degree angle, and the listings do not say helmet anchors are in the box. Fast Racer sells a Stand 21 post anchor set separately for $90 (out of stock when checked).
The Hybrid S straps to your torso like a backpack, so it does not depend on a harness holding it down. Pegasus says it has been tested with factory 3-point belts as well as harnesses, a claim we could not check on Simpson's own page. Owners on Rennlist who instruct or run cars with stock belts report that it is comfortable once it is on. The cheaper Hybrid Sport ($589.95 at Pegasus) carries a January 2026 FIA listing.
What owners report · from 11 owner posts and reviews we read
Works with a factory 3-point belt as well as a 5 or 6-point harness, which is why instructors choose it (several owners)
Comfortable once on, and not noticed on track (several owners)
No high collar at the back, so it did not rub on one owner's sport seats (one owner)
Awkward to put on with the helmet already attached, especially in a tight cockpit (several owners)
Exposed screw heads and sharp edges on the back can mark seats (two owners)
With a 3-point belt the shoulder belt may not sit securely in the device cradles in some cars (one owner), and one owner reported arm numbness when wedged in very tight
One owner asked where the data is that it adds protection over a 3-point belt alone. Another pointed to a sled test chart on the Competition Motorsport page
Its surprisingly secure while still very comfortable.
For instructing the hybrid S is really the only game in town.
FIA 8858-2010 (Technical List 29 entry FHR.065.16-B) and SFI 38.1. Competition Motorsport states it is FIA and SFI approved when used with a 5, 6 or 7-point harness
3-point belts
Pegasus states it has been tested with an OEM 3-point belt. Its FIA and SFI approvals apply when used with a 5-, 6- or 7-point harness (Competition Motorsport). We could not read Simpson's own page to check
Sizing
By chest circumference measured just below the pectoral muscles. XS 32 to 36 in, S 36 to 40, M 40 to 44, L 44 to 48, XL 48 to 52
Fit
Strapped to the torso with a front buckle. No yoke over the chest
Tethers
Sliding tethers with metal tabs that fit HANS post anchors
Anchors
Helmet anchor posts are not included (Pegasus)
Best for
Instructors, and drivers whose car has factory 3-point belts or a mix of belt types.
Worth knowing
It costs more than twice as much as a HANS IV, and FIA Technical List 29 shows the Hybrid S manufacturing window ending on 31 October 2026, so confirm the model on the label.
The REV2 Lite has no front yoke and no high back, so the shoulder belts lie across more of your chest. NecksGen says it is its best seller and adds an adjustable tether, rubber friction pads and higher belt guides to the earlier REV. RaceDay Safety's editorial, written about the earlier REV, says the hardware seems the easiest to attach to and remove from the helmet.
Certification
SFI 38.1 (NecksGen FAQ, and NecksGen is on the SFI 38.1 participating manufacturers list updated 1 April 2026). No FIA 8858 listing found
Weight
1.2 lb (550 g), NecksGen
Sizes
Small 2 in, Medium 3 in, Large 3 in (belt width). NecksGen says Small is generally for youth racers
Tether
Single self-aligning tether, adjustable on the REV2
Hardware
Quick release helmet hardware included
Belt setup
NecksGen asks for a 4+ point harness, shoulder belts 4 to 8 in apart at the seat, and 0 to 10 degrees below horizontal. No padded belts
Best for
Drivers who dislike a yoke on the collarbones and have a harness and seat that match NecksGen's belt angle guidance.
Worth knowing
SFI 38.1 only, so it will not satisfy rules that require an FIA 8858 label, and RaceDay's editorial (about the REV) says the NecksGen is wider than other devices, so check clearance in a containment seat.
The Flex has an articulating collar and legs with built-in padding, so it follows the shape of your upper body. Schroth says it works at any seat angle. Rennlist owners are split. Some found it comfortable and easy to release by feel. Others had collarbone pain.
What owners report · from 6 owner posts and reviews we read
Easy to attach and release by feel, and some drivers leave it clipped to the helmet and put both on together (two owners)
Comfortable for some body shapes, including one owner with prominent collarbones (two owners)
Collarbone pressure or soreness after a weekend (three owners)
Felt heavy to one owner who came from a carbon HANS (one owner)
Slid down the shoulders over a session for one owner (one owner)
I tried the Flex and it was very uncomfortable for me. Right at the mid-clavicular level - pressed on the bone.
It's very easy to undo by feel. You just push in laterally and rotate up and it springs out.
The Z-Tech range holds the cheapest SFI 38.1 devices we saw. The 8A has a high back for a more natural tether pull angle and shorter arms than the 2A. RaceDay Safety says the 8A can use the same post anchors as a HANS.
Certification
SFI 38.1 (Zamp page). Zamp is on the SFI 38.1 participating manufacturers list. No FIA 8858 listing for the device
Sizes
Small, Medium, Large
Tether
Kevlar webbing tether, with 8A helmet clips and hardware included
Weight
RaceDay Safety editorial puts the Z-Tech family at about 2.3 lb
Adjustment
The front yoke and rear section adjust, so fit is set before use (RaceDay)
Cheaper models
Z-Tech 2A $235.55 and 6A $284.95 at RaceDay Safety
Best for
Budget builds and organisers that accept SFI 38.1 only.
Worth knowing
Heavier than the others here (RaceDay puts the Z-Tech family at about 2.3 lb, against 1.2 lb for the REV2 Lite), SFI only, and the fasteners need checking from time to time.
This is a carbon HANS developed with the Italian helmet maker Stilo. The retailer calls it the lightest HANS available. It carries both FIA and SFI labels. Most track-day drivers will not need it.
Certification
FIA 8858 and SFI 38.1 per Competition Motorsport. FIA Technical List 29 lists STILO 30M Zero (FHR.072.19-A)
Size and angle
Medium only, 30 degree, for collars 15 to 17 in
Material
Aerospace grade carbon fibre, made in America (retailer copy)
Weight claim
15% lighter than the HANS Ultra Lite (retailer copy)
In the box
Post anchors and tether
Best for
Drivers who put weight first and fit the one Medium 30 degree size.
Worth knowing
It costs more than three times a HANS IV and comes in one size and one angle only.
Price seen at competitionmotorsport.com, 19 Oct 2026 (in stock).
How to choose
Do you need one? What organisers actually require
It depends on the organiser and on your car. A stock car with factory 3-point belts does not normally need one. The moment you add a racing harness, many organisers require a head and neck restraint. Rules change and regions differ, so read your organiser's current rulebook.
NASA's 2026.3 Club Codes and Regulations (28 April 2026) say in section 15.17.8 that a restraint carrying an SFI 38.1, FIA 8858-2002 or FIA 8858-2010 (or higher) label is mandatory for all drivers under its racing rules. The HPDE and Time Trial equipment list in section 11.3 does not name a restraint, but section 11.4 says the section 15 standards apply to safety equipment you add, so ask your NASA region how it treats a harness. Porsche Club of America's Driver Education minimum standards have required a head and neck restraint with any multi-point harness since 1 January 2019, for driver and passenger (as published by the NCR PCA region). A Hooked on Driving HPDE listing at Pineview Run in August 2026 requires a certified restraint (SFI 38.1, FIA 8858 or newer) for all occupants of any car with an aftermarket harness and roll bar or cage.
SCCA Time Trials treats a head and neck system as 'highly recommended' at Safety Level 2 where belts and seats suit one. SCCA's Race Experience rules require a head and neck restraint certified to SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858-2002 or 8858-2010, with the label affixed to the device. In the UK, Motorsport UK's guidance says an FIA-homologated restraint has been mandatory in national circuit race, sprint, hill climb and stage rally events since 1 January 2016, with exceptions for older cars, and a Motorsport UK FHR approval sticker is needed from 1 January 2018. That guidance is from 2018, so check the current Yearbook. Motorsport Australia says FIA-approved restraints (Technical List 29) must be worn in competitions on the FIA calendar, and national events follow its Schedule D.
Frontal, hybrid or no-yoke: what the designs do
A HANS-style frontal restraint (HANS, Stand 21, Zamp, Stilo) is a rigid collar that rests on your shoulders under the harness shoulder belts. Tethers link it to the helmet. In a frontal crash the tethers limit how far the helmet moves forward relative to the collar. Motorsport UK describes a frontal head restraint as a system designed to reduce injury by limiting forward head movement.
A hybrid (Simpson Hybrid) straps to the torso with a front buckle and does not rely on the harness to hold it. The FIA guide says the seating position angle does not affect which Hybrid you pick, and that Hybrids are sized by chest circumference. A no-yoke design (NecksGen, Schroth Flex) sits on the shoulders with a lower collar and smaller front section.
All the frontal designs here are specified for a harness. The FIA guide says the belts must be at least five-point harnesses, and NecksGen states a 4+ point harness is required. Do not wear a HANS-style device with factory 3-point belts. Only designs that their maker tests and markets for 3-point belts, such as the Hybrid S and NecksGen's REVX Carbon (per NecksGen's blog), address that case, and you should read the maker's installation guide first.
Rennlist owners of the earlier NecksGen REV (a 2017 thread, so not the REV2 Lite) described it as comfortable and easy to release. They also noted limited head rotation when strapped tight, and one said it rolled forward a little when the belts sat near horizontal.
Sizing, angle and belt setup
HANS-style devices are sized by neck and by collar angle. Pegasus lists HANS IV neck sizes as Small 12.5 to 16 in, Medium 14 to 17 in and Large 16 to 20 in, and says a driver with large neck muscles may need one size up. For angle, Pegasus suggests measuring your chest angle from vertical in the car. Under 25 degrees points to a Model 20 and 25 degrees or more to a Model 30. Comfort decides the final call.
The FIA guide gives a check you can do in the car. With the harness tight and in the racing position, the collar should sit between 60 and 90 degrees from horizontal. If the device pushes your head forward and the collar leans past 90 degrees, you need a more upright model. If the collar leans back below 60 degrees, you need a wider angle. The FIA says the second case is common in reclined seats and may be dangerous in a rearward crash.
Belt setup matters as much as the device. The FIA guide says the shoulder belts should be roughly 20 to 25 degrees apart when viewed from above, and never outside 10 to 25 degrees. For side angle it prefers belts about 20 degrees below horizontal with a HANS in a saloon car. NecksGen's guidance is 0 to 10 degrees below horizontal for its devices. Follow the guide for your device.
Tether length should leave a little slack. NecksGen asks for 1 to 2 in of slack when seated, belted and looking straight ahead, and the FIA says tethers should not be fitted very short and tight. Pegasus notes that foam collars are for comfort only and add weight to the helmet.
Certification, tethers and expiry
SFI 38.1 is a US standard. Manufacturers certify their own products to it under licence, and SFI does not approve or endorse them. The standard uses a Hybrid III dummy and a sled pulse with a nominal 68 G peak and a 63 km/h (39.1 mph) velocity change. Initial validation needs two frontal tests and one 30 degree right-frontal test. Limits are 2,500 N of upper neck tension or compression in the first 80 ms and 3,200 N from 80 to 120 ms, with Nij no higher than 1.0. The label is punched with the month and year of manufacture.
Under SFI 38.1, devices are inspected for recertification every five years after original certification, and only the original manufacturer can do it, not dealers. NecksGen's recertification page says it replaces the tether and applies a new SFI sticker. NASA's CCR says SFI-certified devices more than five years old should go back to the maker, and that an FIA-certified device does not need recertification, even if it also has an SFI tag.
FIA 8858-2010 devices are listed in FIA Technical List 29. The end date in that list is the last date a model may be manufactured, not an expiry. The FIA's guide states the validity of a device has no end if it is in good condition and has not suffered a severe impact. Tethers are separate. The FIA says to replace tethers after a frontal or angled frontal impact, or sooner if worn, and an 8858-2010 device can only use 8858-2010 tethers.
Tether life from the makers is shorter. Pegasus, a HANS dealer, says to replace HANS tethers after a crash, when torn or frayed, and at least every two years. NecksGen says every two years and at every recertification. After a severe accident the FIA recommends replacing the helmet and the device. Pegasus does not resell used devices and does not recommend buying one.
Helmet compatibility and anchors
Every device here connects to M6 threaded inserts in the helmet shell. NASA's magazine says the Snell 2015 standard built them into SA2015, so all SA2015 helmets have them, and Pegasus says SA2025 testing checks that the inserts can take head restraint loads. No Snell or helmet maker source we read approves anchor posts on M-rated motorcycle helmets, so treat a motorcycle helmet as unsuitable for a restraint unless its maker says otherwise. See our racing helmet guide.
Anchors are not always in the box. The HANS IV kit includes posts for one helmet, the Hybrid S does not, and the Stand 21 listings do not say anchors are included. Each helmet you plan to wear needs its own anchors, and one device can serve several helmets. For FIA events the FIA requires that the device, tether, helmet and anchor are all FIA approved and compatible, and helmets approved to 8858-2002 or 8858-2010 have not been valid since 31 December 2023. Motorsport UK's standards sheet (v9.0, January 2024) accepts Snell SA2015 and SA2020 helmets with FIA 8858-2010 tether anchors at national events, and marks SA2015 as not valid after 31 December 2026.
If you share a device with another driver or a passenger, both helmets need anchors and your sizes need to be close. Pegasus says similar-sized drivers can usually share one device. The rule of equal restraint at PCA events means a passenger in a harnessed car also needs a restraint.
Questions buyers ask
Do I need a HANS for a track day?+
Not always. With factory 3-point belts most HPDE organisers do not require one. NASA's HPDE equipment list in the 2026.3 CCR does not name a restraint. Once you fit a racing harness, PCA Driver Education and Hooked on Driving require one. Check your organiser's current rules.
Can I use a HANS with stock seat belts?+
No. HANS-style devices are specified for 5-point or 6-point harnesses, and the FIA guide says the belts must be at least five-point. If your car has 3-point belts, only a device its maker markets for them, such as the Simpson Hybrid S, applies, and you should follow Simpson's instructions.
SFI 38.1 or FIA 8858: which label do I need?+
US organisers such as NASA accept either. FIA and Motorsport UK events need an FIA 8858 device listed in FIA Technical List 29. Of the devices here, Stand 21, Simpson Hybrid, the Stilo HANS Zero and some HANS versions carry FIA labels, so check the exact version. NecksGen, Schroth Flex and Zamp are SFI 38.1 only.
How long does a head and neck restraint last?+
SFI 38.1 requires recertification by the original manufacturer every five years. FIA 8858 devices have no set end date if undamaged, and NASA does not require recertifying an FIA device. Pegasus (a HANS dealer) and NecksGen both say to replace tethers at least every two years and after any crash.
HANS, Hybrid or NecksGen: which is the most comfortable?+
It varies by body and seat. Rennlist owners report a Schroth Flex pressing on the collarbone for some drivers and fitting well for others, and a Hybrid being fiddly to put on but comfortable once strapped in. Try the device in your harness before you buy.
Do I need a special helmet?+
You need a helmet with M6 threaded inserts and the right label for your organiser. Snell SA2015 and newer helmets have the inserts built in. Motorcycle helmets do not come with them. For FIA events the helmet and anchors must be FIA approved.
Can I buy a used restraint?+
Pegasus does not resell used devices and does not recommend buying one. A used SFI 38.1 device may be near its five-year recertification, and you cannot see damage from past crashes. If you do, check the SFI label date and ask the maker about inspection.
What does the HANS IV change from the HANS III?+
Retailers describe the HANS IV as about 10% lighter, in three sizes, with pads that nest into the device and improved harness retention. Pegasus still lists a HANS III Model 20 at $449.95 and a Model 30 at $569.95, and the Model 30 suits reclined seats.
