Helmets are an essential piece of safety gear for many activities like bicycling, motorcycling, construction work, and more. With so many helmet brands on the market to choose from, it can be tough to know which one provides the best protection.
In this in-depth blog post, we will compare the top helmet brands on key factors like safety certifications, materials, fit and comfort, extra features, price, and more. Read on to learn which helmet brands rise to the top and are worth investing in to protect your head.
Key Factors in Helmet Brand Comparison
When comparing the top brands for helmets, here are some of the most important factors to consider:
- Safety Certifications – Does the helmet meet safety standards like those from the CPSC, DOT, SNELL, or others? What tests have they passed? Higher certifications indicate better protection.
- Materials Used – The materials used in the inner liner and outer shell impact the helmet’s durability, breathability, and ability to absorb shock. Advanced materials can create lighter yet stronger helmets.
- Fit and Comfort – A proper fit is crucial for safety. Helmets should be snug but comfortable with adjustable straps and sizing options. Comfort features like padding and ventilation help as well.
- Extra Features – Some helmets add impressive extra features like MIPS technology, integrated lights, Bluetooth connectivity, removable liners, and more. These provide additional protection, visibility, and convenience.
- Price and Value – While important, cost should not be the only factor. Make sure the helmet provides excellent safety for a reasonable price rather than the cheapest possible option.
- Reputation and Reviews – Consider the brand’s reputation and what other users’ reviews say about aspects like fit, quality, comfort, and durability. This can indicate real-world performance.
With these key factors in mind, let’s compare the top helmet brands on the market right now.
Top Helmet Brand Comparison
Here is an in-depth look at some of the best and most popular helmet brands available for bikes, motorcycles, construction, and other uses along with how they stack up on the criteria:
Bell Helmets
Overview: Bell is one of the oldest and most trusted helmet brands, making them since 1954. They produce a wide range of helmet models for everything from motocross to skiing and more.
Certifications: Bell helmets are rigorously tested and hold certifications like DOT and SNELL. Their MIPS helmets also pass additional safety testing requirements.
Materials: Their helmets use high-quality materials like polycarbonate shells, impact-absorbing EPS foam liners, comfortable inner padding, and technical fabrics.
Fit and Comfort: Sizing is consistent across models and their adjustment systems allow you to dial in the perfect customized fit. They have models specifically designed for features like airflow and aerodynamics.
Extra Features: Many of their helmets are equipped with advanced features like MIPS brain protection systems, magnetic visors, integrated cameras and lights, Bluetooth, and more.
Price/Value: While Bell helmets are pricier than cheaper brands, most riders agree they offer an outstanding combination of safety, performance, features, and value across price points.
Reputation: Bell is one of the most highly regarded and recommended helmet brands among riders and cyclists. Their helmets are known for their quality construction and protection.
Giro Helmets
Overview: Giro is another well-known brand making cycling and snow helmets since 1985. Their product line includes helmets for everything from casual urban riding to racing.
Certifications: Giro helmets meet certification standards like CPSC for bikes and ASTM for skiing/snowboarding helmets. Their MIPS models have additional certifications as well.
Materials: Their helmet line uses materials like EPS foam, polycarbonate exteriors, nylon straps, antibacterial padding, and more. They offer lightweight designs.
Fit and Comfort: Giro helmets come in a wide range of sizes with an adjustable Roc Loc system for dialing in your perfect fit. Their padding makes them comfortable and stable on your head.
Extra Features: Many of their helmets add MIPS technology for enhanced concussion protection. Some also have integrated lights, visors, ventilation, goggle clips, and other extras.
Price/Value: Giro helmets are moderately priced with options in lower to higher price ranges. Their safety certifications and smart designs make them worth the price.
Reputation: Giro is a trusted brand known for making stylish, well-ventilated, and high-performing helmets for cycling and snow sports enthusiasts. Riders praise their comfort and quality.
Schuberth Helmets
Overview: Schuberth is a premium German helmet brand designing helmets since 1922. They focus on high-end and racing helmets with top-tier safety and performance.
Certifications: Their helmets meet or exceed certifications like DOT and ECE 22.05. They have an extensive in-house testing facility for safety.
Materials: Schuberth uses advanced materials like aramid, fiberglass, carbon fiber, EPS foam, and leather in their helmets. The materials are rigorously tested for structural integrity and impact absorption.
Fit and Comfort: They use an inner foam matrix interior to provide a custom fit that shapes to match your head. The helmets are designed for noise reduction, airflow, and rider comfort.
Extra Features: Schuberth helmets feature an integrated flip-up visor, antibacterial liner, built-in antenna for Bluetooth, wind stabilizers, tinted visor, and integrated sun visor on some models.
Price/Value: Schuberth helmets are expensive since they are a premium racing brand. But the exotic materials, safety certifications, and features make them worth it for serious riders.
Reputation: Schuberth is respected globally as the premier maker of high-speed racing helmets. Their helmets are renowned for their safety, quality, aerodynamics, noise reduction, and comfort during long rides.
6D Helmets
Overview: 6D is a newer helmet brand that started in 2011 that focuses exclusively on high-performance off-road helmets. Their technology is used across motorbikes, bicycles, snow, and equestrian helmets.
Certifications: 6D helmets are DOT, ECE, ASTM, and ISO certified for safety and performance. Their ODS system also goes beyond ordinary testing.
Materials: They use materials like carbon fiber, composite polymers, and elastomeric isolation dampers to make lightweight but extremely protective helmets.
Fit and Comfort: Their helmets feature adjustable visors, a lightweight design, breathable liners, and patented ODS isolation for maximum shock absorption and impact protection.
Extra Features: 6D helmets include additional features like MIPS, emergency cheek pad removal systems, reflectivity, hydration system compatibility, and integrated camera/light mounts.
Price/Value: 6D helmets are expensive, but their elite-level technology and maximum protection capabilities make the price justifiable for serious riders.
Reputation: In just over a decade, 6D has built a reputation for engineering some of the most advanced and safest helmets across multiple action sports categories thanks to their ODS technology.
Fox Racing Helmets
Overview: Fox Racing makes performance motocross, mountain bike, and other helmets designed for off-road riding, racing, and extreme sports.
Certifications: Fox helmets meet safety certifications like DOT, ECE, CSPC, and ASTM standards. Some models feature MIPS protection systems as well.
Materials: Their helmets use durable materials like carbon composite shells, Varizorb foam lining to absorb impacts, and comfortable, breathable liners.
Fit and Comfort: They offer a range of sizes with adjustable visors, multiple vents, and secure fit systems. The lightweight design makes them comfortable for all-day wear.
Extra Features: Some of their helmets include features like MIPS, magnetic visors, camera mounts, integrated lights, removable and washable lining, goggle clips, and more.
Price/Value: Fox Racing helmets are reasonably priced for their quality construction making them a good value for recreational riders. Higher-end models are pricier but include additional features and technologies.
Reputation: Fox is respected as a leader in dirt bike and motocross helmets. Experienced off-road riders praise their comfort, customization, ventilation, and durability.
Those are some of the top helmet brands on the market to consider across cycling, motorcycling, construction, winter sports, and more. While there are too many good helmet makers to cover fully here, this list gives you a cross-section of some of the most highly rated and popular options among enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which helmet brand is best for safety?
A: There is no definitive “best” helmet brand when it comes to safety, as many brands meet minimum safety standards. However, some brands that are frequently top-rated for safety include Shoei, Arai, Schuberth, HJC, Bell, Simpson, Nolan, and Scorpion. Ultimately the most important factor is finding a helmet that fits your head shape well and meets safety certifications like DOT, ECE, or Snell.
Q: Which brand makes the lightest helmets?
A: Some of the lightest helmet brands include Shoei, AGV, Bell, Scorpion, and Suomy. These brands use lightweight materials like carbon fiber, composite shells, and other innovations to reduce overall helmet weight while still meeting safety standards. Lighter helmets can be more comfortable to wear for long periods.
Q: What helmet brands have the best ventilation?
A: Helmet brands known for good ventilation include Arai, Shoei, Bell, HJC, Shark, Nexx, and Scorpion. Good ventilation involves intake and exhaust vents that allow airflow through the helmet to keep your head cool. Features like channeled EPS liner foam also improve air circulation inside the helmet.
Q: Which brand makes the quietest motorcycle helmets?
A: Some of the quietest helmet brands are Shoei, Schuberth, Arai, Nexx, and HJC. They use features like aero-acoustic shells, noise-reducing liner materials, and effective seals around vents, visors, and neck collars to reduce wind noise. This makes rides more comfortable without having to wear earplugs.
Q: What are the most stylish helmet brands?
A: Stylish helmet brands include AGV, Shoei, Bell, HJC, Nolan, Shark, Suomy, and Nexx. These brands offer graphics, custom paint jobs, and visor and vent designs that have eye-catching and modern styling. They aim to balance aesthetics with functionality.
Q: Are more expensive helmet brands worth the extra cost?
A: Not necessarily. Many affordable helmet brands still meet all key safety standards and feature technology found in more expensive models. The extra cost of premium brands is often due to lightweight materials, customizable options, noise reduction, and comfort features. Consider how you will use the helmet to decide if these extras are worth the investment.
Conclusion
As the in-depth breakdown shows, certain brands like Bell, Giro, Fox, and Schuberth stand out time and again for their stringent safety testing, use of innovative materials, customizable fit, impressive features, and excellent durability even through daily use and abuse. While you can’t go wrong with any of the major brands, you may want to give special consideration to industry leaders like these based on the criteria covered.
With the right helmet protecting your head, you can take on your favorite activities with significantly reduced risk. Take the time to research helmet brands thoroughly, read user reviews, and ensure the model meets all the proper safety certifications for your intended use. Keep the key factors covered here in mind as you shop and try on different options. This will help you make the safest and smartest choice to protect one of the most important parts of your body – your brain.