Jynxter (H.org) did a mod where he just bent the hook open, and it makes it about 100 times easier to get a helmet
on the hook.
Is that the mod where you grap the hook with your finger and pull it up a little bit.

You've got the right idea, just the wrong tool. Use a piece of pipe that fits over the hook, or a
big pair of pliars and bend the hook up and more open. Makes an amazing difference. You don't have to fight with the strap like a dork trying to get your helmet back off of it.