How to choose a motorcycle helmet

help on making your motorcycle helmet purchase

When purchasing a helmet there a few general rules that always apply:

Only purchase a new helmet - never used. Used helmets are worthless because you can never know for sure if it had been damaged. Once a helmet has been dropped or damaged its ability to protect you is either partially or completely lost.

Only purchase a helmet that has passed at least one of the helmet certification standards.

Choose the right color. The right color does not simply refer to fashion. Remember, as with all riding equipment, helmets bright color (all colored fluorescent, orange, red, gold, yellow, bright green, etc) are more visible to other drivers so that they can see you better. Fluorescent orange is the best, solid white is a good middle ground, and black is the worst in terms of visibility.

Choose the right helmet style for you. There are different types of helmets, each with their positives and negatives. As in life, you cannot have everything in a helmet. If you want increased safety, you will have to sacrifice convenience and price. Below is a listing of helmet types ordered from least to greatest protection level:

beanie:

Fits in with the bad boy, rebel, cruiser look.
If style and convenience are more important to you than safety concerns, this helmet type is for you.

Cost (USD/CAD):
$40-$100

Positives:

• Protects the top of the head.
• Easy to put on and take off and can leave the helmet on in many cases.
• Ears unobstructed for maximum hearing.
• Usually the cheapest helmet you can buy.

Negatives:

• Outside noise (e.g. wind) can be harmful to the ears since it does cover the ears.
• Does not offer adequate protection for any other area than the top of your head in case you need it there.
• Does nothing much in the way of keeping the rain, wind, bugs, rocks/dirt/dust and cold out from anywhere other than the top of your head.

half helmet:

Along with beanies, half helmets fit in with the 'bad boy' cruiser look. Some Half helmets have leather ear protectors that fit over your ears and thus offers more protection in that area.

Cost (USD/CAD):
$40-$100

Positives:

• Half helmets protect the top and sides of the head, as well as the ears (plus possibly the eyes and neck).
• Easy to put on and take off and can leave the helmet on in many cases.
• Manufacturers design the half helmet to not obscure or block peripheral (side to side) vision, to balance protection and convenience and to not obstruct hearing.
• Usually cheaper to buy than either a ¾ helmet or a full face helmet.

Negatives:

• Outside noise (e.g. wind) can be harmful to the ears since it does cover the ears.
• Does not offer adequate protection for the face/chin/teeth/nose/ear/neck/eye area in case you need it there.
• Does not do much in the way of keeping the rain, wind, bugs, rocks/dirt/dust and cold out from anywhere other than the top of your head.

3/4 or open-face helmet:

3/4 helmets are popular amongst law enforcement officers as they allow full access to the face area without removal of the helmet. They are designed with a face shield for protection against the elements and debris that can flip up to provide greater access to the face area.

Cost (USD/CAD):
$40-$100

Positives:

• 3/4 helmets protect the head, neck, ears, and eyes.
• They allow the rider full access to the face area (putting on/off glasses, eating, drinking, talking, etc) without having to take off your helmet.
• Most 3/4 helmets come with a face shield to protect the eyes that can easily flip up.
• Manufacturers design the 3/4 helmet to not obscure or block peripheral (side to side) vision and to balance protection and convenience.
• Partially aids in keeping the rain, wind, bugs, rocks/dirt/dust and cold out due to its wrap around design.

Negatives:

• Since they cover the riders ears full face helmets can dampen outside noises.
• Does not offer adequate protection for the face/chin/teeth/nose area in case you land there.
• Does not completely aid in keeping the rain, wind, bugs, rocks/dirt/dust and cold out due to its lack of chin protection.

Modular aka. "Flip-Up" Helmet:

Modular helmets are designed to offer the same, or nearly the same, protection as full face helmets (see below).

It functions by allowing the helmet area that covers the chin and face to 'flip up' over the top of the helmet to allow the wearer access to the face area unobstructed. This is handy when making quick stops where you do not necessarily want to remove your helmet, such as filling up for gas. When the rider is ready to ride again the face and chin area is lowered and locks back into place to offer full face and chin protection.

On average, it is the most expensive type of helmet to buy. It may not be as protective in a crash as a full face helmet because the chin can come open on impact. It should be considered that modular helmets are a relatively new design and there is simply not enough research conducted on them yet to fully determine their degree of safety over full face helmets.

Cost (USD/CAD):
$400-$1000

Positives:

• Protects the head, neck, ears, eyes, face, and chin
• Allows the wearer freedom to the face area (putting on/off glasses, eating, drinking, talking, etc) without having to take off your helmet.

Negatives:

• As modular and full face helmets cover the ears they can dampen outside noises.

Full Face Helmet:

Full face helmets offer you the most protection over any other helmet type. As a result, nearly all types motorcycle racing riders wear full face helmets. Full face helmets protect the entire head, neck, ears, eyes, face and chin. Since the helmet protects the entire head, including the face, they also aid in keeping rain, wind, bugs, rocks/dirt/dust and cold out due to their wrap around design.

Full face helmets are the least convenient regarding access to the face area (putting on/off glasses, eating, drinking, talking, etc) as the entire helmet usually needs to be taken off to do any of the listed tasks. Full face helmets are, on average, less costly than modular helmets, however, they are still expensive compared to the other types of helmets.

Cost (USD/CAD):
$100-$600

Positives:

• Protects the head, neck, ears, eyes, face, and chin

Negatives:

• As modular and full face helmets cover the ears they can dampen outside noises.

choosing a helmet

Once you have decided on the type of helmet you want you it's now onto what brand and model of helmet you want to buy.

You can use our motorcycle helmet comparision chart to find a helmet that suits your needs.