(…and other stuff to think about when buying a helmet)
At Billy’s Crash Helmets, we’ve made it our business to find out as much as we can about motorcycle helmet safety so we can offer as much advice to you when you’re looking for that new helmet. We’re not saying we’re the last word, but in the world of protective gear, we’ve picked our way through as many tests/papers/studies as we can so we can help you get the best.
So, if you’re after buying a helmet that’ll give you maximum protection, here’s what we advise you to do.
Buy a full face helmet
Full face helmets offer the best protection. End of. So if you want maximum protection, buy a full face.
They cover all the head – including the chin and face – so not only give you weather protection but protection to all the head in an accident.
See all our full face helmet reviews here.
Why not a modular or open face?
Modular helmets feature removable chin guards – and because they’re removable, they’re always a potential weak point.
Some flip-up helmets have been tested by SHARP (see below) and given maximum marks for safety. But even so, there’s still always potential for them to unlock and open in an accident – indeed of all the modular helmets that have been SHARP 5 star rated (the maximum score) not a single one managed to keep their chin guards closed and locked through all tests. Some came close, but none scored 100%.
See all our modular helmet reviews here.
Buy a SHARP five star helmet
UK Government testing agency SHARP (short for Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme) is an independent testing organisation whose testing regime is directly drawn from the most comprehensive real-world study on helmet safety.
Their maximum safety rating is five stars – so if you want a helmet you can rely on, it’s best to go for one of those.
Here’s a link to all our five star helmet reviews.
Buy a helmet that’s ECE and/or DOT certified
If you’re in the UK or Europe (and some other places like Oz), then any helmet on sale should be ECE 22.05 approved. In the US, the equivalent is DOT. So always make sure your helmet carries the relevant approval sticker on the back (DOT) or label inside (ECE).
ECE helmets all have to go through mandatory testing before getting approved whereas with DOT, manufacturers have to certify that their helmets are compliant.
Either way, ensure your helmet has the appropriate (genuine!) stamp on it so you know it’ll meet at least minimum safety standards.
All the helmets in our reviews are ECE approved.
Buy a helmet with other safety features
There’s always new features being added to helmets which all help with safety. Here’s a few to look out for…
EQRS
Stands for Emergency Quick Release System – basically a helmet with a couple of tabs at the bottom that paramedics can pull to extract the cheek pads safely and without disturbing your neck after an accident. Get a helmet with these if you can – esp if you take your bike on the track.
Here’s all our helmet reviews of helmets with EQRS.
Wide visor
Quite a few helmets are designed with really wide visors to give you better peripheral vision, so you don’t get caught out with cyclists and the like sneaking up on you.
Here’s all our reviews of helmets with wide visors.
Pinlock antifog
Stands to reason you need a nice clear visor to keep your vision clear. But things like rain, cold or humid weather can cause your visor to fog up. Stick in a Pinlock anti-fog (preferably a Max Vision that covers all the visor) and your vision will stay clear in all but the most extreme circumstances.
Here’s all our reviews of helmets that are Pinlock ready or come with Pinlocks in the box.
Sun visor
Riding into a low sun can be really dangerous, so a helmet with an integral sun visor is always there to flip down and give you some protection.
Here’s all our reviews of helmets with sun visors.
Buy a helmet that covers some or all these features and you’ll be well protected when you ride your bike.
At the time of writing, no single helmet ticks all these boxes – but talking of ticking boxes, use our Smart Filters to identify two or three features that you really want from your next helmet and quickly zoom in on the best helmets for you.
