Why The Entry Level Ranges Outsell Everything Else
OMP First range | Sparco X-Pro | Club racing sales data
We pulled the year-to-date sales data this week. Once you remove the free gift box, the colouring book and the RC drift car, four of the top twelve real products are from the entry-level end of the range: the OMP First balaclava (25 units sold), the Sparco X-Pro kart helmet (26 units), the OMP First race boots (20 units), and the OMP First S race suit (19 units). The numbers come from our live WooCommerce data, pulled today.
None of these are the cheapest products in their categories. The cheapest FIA race boots are the OMP Sport at £116.40. The cheapest FIA suit is the OMP Sport at £333.60. The First range costs more in both cases. It also sells more. Both ranges hold the same FIA 8856-2018 approval, so the approval is not the reason. The data points to a clearer explanation.
- Four of the top twelve best-selling real products year to date are from entry-level ranges.
- The OMP First range is not the cheapest. The OMP Sport costs less. First outsells it on boots and suits.
- The OMP First FIA balaclava at £37.20 is the cheapest FIA 8856-2018 certified item in the store.
- Sparco X-Pro at £90.87 is zero-rated for VAT. It holds CIK/FIA 8859-2015 approval.
- OMP First Race Gloves do not appear in the top 50 sellers: the gloves price bracket has more competition.
What the data shows
| Product | Units sold YTD | Price inc VAT | Overall rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparco X-Pro Kart Helmet | 26 | £90.87 (zero-rate) | 2nd |
| OMP First FIA 8856-2018 Balaclava | 25 | £37.20 | 4th |
| OMP First Race Boots | 20 | £141.60 | 7th |
| OMP First S Race Suit | 19 | £384.00 | 8th |
Year-to-date figures from WooCommerce reports, pulled 17 October 2026. Overall rank excludes the free gift box, colouring book, RC drift car and drawstring bag (giveaway items, 680 units combined). Prices inc VAT, verified on the live site.
The Sparco MS-4 Mechanics Overalls sit at number one with 54 units, but that is a different buyer. Mechanics overalls are workwear, not race kit, and the pool of people who need them is much larger than those buying FIA-approved racing gear. After the overalls, the next six places in the real product list are karting helmets, balaclavas and OMP First race gear.
The OMP First Race Gloves (1036433) are the gap in the data. At £88.80, they do not appear in the top 50 sellers. The gloves section has more products at similar prices, the OMP Sport at £78, the Sparco Land range at £78 to £82.80, so the sales spread across options where the boots and suit market do not. We will come back to that.
First, not Sport: why the step up outsells the entry
OMP’s Sport range costs less across the board. Sport race boots at £116.40 against First at £141.60 is a £25.20 gap. Sport suit at £333.60 against First S at £384 is a £50.40 gap. Sport gloves at £78 against First at £88.80 is a £10.80 gap. All of them carry the same FIA 8856-2018 approval. The First still outsells Sport on boots and suits.
Cameron’s view from handling the kit is that the First feels more substantial in use. The difference shows up in the lining weight on the boots and the layering on the suit. When a customer has both products available to compare, the step from Sport to First is noticeable. At £25.20 on a £141.60 pair of boots, the decision usually goes one way.
Garreth’s assessment is straightforward: the Sport is the absolute minimum, and the First is where the value actually sits in OMP’s club-racing lineup. Club racers who buy the First tend to keep it for several seasons. The replacement rate suggests people are not buying it and immediately thinking about an upgrade.
The gloves tell a different story. At £88.80 the First Race Gloves sit between the Sport at £78 and the Sparco Land range at £78 to £82.80. That is a more crowded price bracket with more options from more brands, and the sales spread accordingly. No single glove product in the FIA range achieves anything like the volume the First boots and suit produce.
Why the balaclava leads the FIA list
The OMP First FIA balaclava at £37.20 is the cheapest FIA 8856-2018 item in the store. At that price the buying decision is quick in a way that a £384 suit is not, and it sells to two groups: people building a first full kit, and people replacing a worn one. It does not need much thought at £37.20, which is probably why it ranks above everything else in the FIA racing section.
Garreth’s view: anyone ordering a suit and boots should be ordering a balaclava at the same time. It is required kit for most FIA-regulated events, the weight is negligible, and at this price there is no case for skipping it. The balaclavas guide on this site goes through the full affordable range, open face and full face options included.
Karting volume and the X-Pro
The Sparco X-Pro at £90.87 inc VAT is the cheapest CIK/FIA homologated kart helmet we stock. Helmets are zero-rated for VAT in the UK, so £90.87 is what you pay. The OMP Star Helmet in matt black sold the same 26 units at £70.21, also CIK approved and also zero-rated. Between them, those two entry karting helmets account for over 50 units in the year to date.
Karting has a constant flow of new entrants, new parents, adults returning after a gap, children stepping up from hire helmets. The X-Pro and the OMP Star sit at the price point where the barrier is low and the standard is covered. Both carry the CIK/FIA 8859-2015 homologation that most UK kart clubs require as a minimum for track use. Paying significantly more at the start of a karting season carries a different weight than it does once you know the sport will stick.
The main variable between the two is size availability. Kart helmet sizing runs slightly differently to road or race helmet sizing, so Cameron checks head circumference before an order goes out. Drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will confirm the right fit before the order is placed.
Does entry-level mean buying twice?
The question Cameron gets from people looking at First kit for the first time is whether they will want to replace it after a season. The answer depends on why they are asking. If the question is whether they will need to upgrade the approval level, it is no: the OMP First S suit holds FIA 8856-2018, which is the current standard for single-layer suits in UK club racing. There is no higher FIA standard to move up to within single-layer suits. A two-layer suit is a different product for a different class of racing, not an improvement on the First.
Garreth’s position is that the reason people replace entry kit is usually fit, not performance. Someone finds a brand that fits their build better, or discovers a specific boot that works for their foot shape, and they switch for that reason. That is a reasonable thing to do, but it is not the same as buying kit that was not good enough the first time.
The sales pattern supports this. The OMP First range has been on the site for several years. The volume has not declined as more expensive options appeared above it in the range. If it were kit that buyers routinely wanted to replace quickly, the numbers would show that.
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From £37.20 Incl. VATPayPal CreditTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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Full Face Karting Helmets, Full Face Track Day Helmets, Sparco Helmets
£90.87 (No Tax)PayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Amazing valueTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
From £141.60 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £384.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditKlarna ReadyTry in-storeSelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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From £88.80 Incl. VATPayPal Credit0% pay-in-3Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Related guides on this site
The affordable balaclavas guide on this site goes through the full FIA balaclava range, open face and full face included, with live prices and the approval on each product. The best-selling products of the year lists the full year-to-date rankings in one place, including items outside the racing gear section.
Is the OMP First range approved for UK club racing?
The OMP First suit, boots, gloves and balaclava carry FIA 8856-2018 homologation. Most UK club racing series that specify a minimum FIA standard require FIA 8856-2018 or later for a single-layer suit. Check your specific series and class regulations before ordering. Cameron can confirm what your regulations require before the order goes out.
What is the difference between OMP Sport and OMP First race kit?
Both ranges carry FIA 8856-2018 approval. The First costs more: £141.60 vs £116.40 on boots, £384 vs £333.60 on suits, £88.80 vs £78 on gloves. The First has heavier construction in the lining and layering. When both are in your hands the step up is noticeable.
Does the Sparco X-Pro meet UK kart club requirements?
The Sparco X-Pro holds CIK/FIA 8859-2015 homologation, which most UK kart clubs require as a minimum for track use. It is zero-rated for VAT, so the £90.87 shown is the price paid. Check your specific club’s regulations, as requirements can vary.
Will I need to replace OMP First kit after a season?
Not on approval grounds. The OMP First S suit holds FIA 8856-2018, the current standard for single-layer suits in UK club racing. There is no higher FIA standard to upgrade to within single-layer suits. The cases where people replace it are usually about fit, not about the approval level.
If you want to check what your series requires or work out which kit makes sense for your budget, give us a call on 0115 9893488. Cameron can go through your regulations before the order goes out.
