Fantastic looking and safe retro helmet using proven modern tech: Shoei Glamster review.

The Shoei Glamster is another full face retro helmet that’s designed to give you yesteryear’s styling and attitude alongside a hefty dollop of modern day helmet tech.

It’s aimed at giving you the chance to stand out from the crowd while having much of the safety features and utility of a modern day lid. Which is a great idea.

And since the Glamster shares its AIM helmet shell with many other modern day Shoei helmets, and because it comes with a Pinlock antifog visor and features like EQRS (emergency quick release cheekpads) – the idea is that you really don’t have to compromise.

So, if you like the look of the Shoei Glamster and are wondering whether it’s worth buying one – here’s all the info you need.

• Retro full face helmet
• Fibreglass AIM shell
• SHARP 4 star safety rated
• 3 Shell Sizes
• EQRS
• Pinlock antifog insert included
• Sizes XS-XXL
• Double D-ring fastener
• Expect to pay £400-£500

Best places to buy a Shoei Glamster?

Please click below to visit the Shoei Glamster helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Overall/Summary

The Shoei Glamster delivers modern day helmet tech and a high level of performance in a quality retro package.

Not only does it look the part – using tried-and-tested Shoei tech – but the UK’s helmet testing bods at SHARP have tested it and awarded it an excellent four stars for safety, which is very good and makes it one of the best protecting retro helmets out there.

Shoei knows how to build a high quality helmet too and the Glamster has a ton of features that you’ll find on their modern full face helmets – including that Pinlock ready anti-fog visor (with free Pinlock) and EQRS.

The biggest downside found by most (not all) Glamster owners is that it a particularly noisy helmet, which is a massive shame.

Other than that, there’s a new wave of retro helmets that work like modern helmets and the Shoei Glamster is the latest in the line.

So, if you like the look of the Shoei Glamster and want a high quality helmet that works as a practical everyday helmet as well as looking the part (and as long as you always ride with decent ear plugs in!), then we’ve no doubt the Glamster will fit the bill admirably.

Safety

(more about helmet safety)

The first thing to say about the safety of the Glamster is that it’s got Shoei’s AIM (advanced integrated matrix) fibreglass shell.

That’s the same shell tech that you’ll find on the GT Air II and the SHARP 5 Star rated Shoei RYD.

OK, the RYD scored maximum marks for safety and it’s got the same helmet tech, but that’s not the whole story, because SHARP have tested four Shoei Aim helmets so far and they’ve scored anywhere from 3 to 5 stars.

Given those past results, it’s probably not suprising that when SHARP safety tested the Glamster in early 2022, it scored an excellent four star rating (out of 5), which is excellent going for a retro helmet.

From memory there’s only the Bell Bullet retro that’s been SHARP tested so far and it scored 3 stars.

Though I guess you could call the Simpson Venom a bit retro these days and that scored 4 stars too.

Shoei has created the Glamster in three different helmet shells – that’s good for fitment, looks and safety and it’s a reasonably number of shell sizes for what’s actually a competitively priced helmet.

Inside the helmet, you’ll find a dual density EPS liner (par for the course) and the helmet’s strapped to your bonce with a good ole fashioned and suitably retro double d-ring fastener.

D-rings are generally straightforward to use and secure, so you shouldn’t have any problems here. I say ‘shouldn’t’ because I’m currently struggling along with my latest Simpson helmet and the double-d ring doesn’t slide very well so it’s a real pain. Still, that’s a rarity.

Shoei has also included an EQRS liner inside the helmet – so if you do have an off-motorcycle excursion and the ambulance crew need to pull off your helmet, the EQRS cheekpads should make things easier.

Including a Pinlock-ready visor on a retro helmet is a great touch too. It’s not massively in keeping with the retro vibe, but I’m pretty sure if riders in the 60’s had the option of being able to see out of their visors on cold and rainy days, they’d have bitten your hand off for a Pinlock – so why not?

And it’s good to see Shoei including a Pinlock with the helmet – that’s always a big tick in the box in my book.

So, overall, there’s lots going for the Shoei Glamster to suggest it’ll be a sound, protective place to put your head – which should probably be item number one on why we’re buying a helmet, right?

Helmet Noise

(more about helmet noise)

Helmet noise seems to be the biggest fly in the ointment with the Glamster.

And while there are some dissenters who find the Glamster OK for noise suppression (including Jerry in the comments section below – thanks Jerry), the majority of owners we came across said it’s sub standard – being much noisier than many have ever come across.

A couple of owners reckoned it’s because there’s a direct route for noise to travel up from the neck roll and cheek pads straight into a small void left for speakers, just where your ears are. Some said if you ride anything over 50-70 and it becomes unbearable.

Other riders, who didn’t have so much of a problem, reckoned fitting the included chin curtain helps and makes it OK.

Obviously, noise perception is very subjective (speed, riding style, bike etc. etc.) but overall the concensus seems to be that the Shoei Glamster’s a noisy helmet.

Obviously, ensuring you’re wearing a good pair of ear plugs will help, but we’d suggest that you’re after a quiet helmet, then you might want to look elsewhere.

Ventilation

(more about helmet ventilation)

Shoei’s added a few air vents into the shell of the Glamster, though they’re very much erring on the side of style over function.

Those chin vents for example. While there are four of them – and they do let in a reasonable amount of air to the face and rear of the visor according to Glamster owners – they’re always-open, meaning that air’s always going to be pushing through the chin bar whether you like it or not.

The small forehead vent is closeable though, and that’s welcome. There are fairly generous internal air channels inside the helmet too and there are corresponding venting holes and cutaways in the internal liner to let some of that air get through to your head.

The only problem here is that there are only two tiny exhaust vents in the bottom of the neck roll to let any air out. Which, again according to owners, reduces the helmet’s ability to vent around the head.

It’s no surprise then that the word is ventilation’s about average – you can feel some air but you can tell they’ve prioritised form over function in this area, which is hardly a surprise in a cool-looking retro helmet I guess.

Visor

(more about visors)

Of course, venting’s also used to keep the visor mist-free, and if you’re riding in cool/damp/humid air, then the Glamster will have a tendency to fog up.

Thankfully, despite it being a retro-style visor, Shoei’s made it Pinlock ready and included a Pinlock in the box. So, attach the Pinlock and most of your misting problems will be gone.

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A couple of useful links…

– All our Retro helmet reviews –
– Top 10 full face helmets –

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Or at least that’s usually the case. The issue is that visor’s a bit retro too and because it’s more or less a 2D visor, a few owners said there can be a problem with it buckling slightly when you open or close it and that can unseat the Pinlock. It can also lead to a leaky seal around the visor in rain.

The good news here is that Shoei seems to have addressed the problem with later helmets and thickened up the visor a little.

The visor opening’s pretty generous and gives decent all-round vision including good peripheral vision. It isn’t a quick release visor though, so if you ever want to swap it out or remove it for cleaning, you’ll have to get your screwdriver out.

It’s still pretty simple though – literally unscrew a single philips either side and the aluminium spacer comes away and the visor pulls off.

Shoei’s put a visor lock on the bottom of the visor, so close the visor and it’ll automatically lock. Push up on the black tab/lock and the visor unlocks.

A couple of owners reckoned it can be a bit fiddly to use at first and you might need to pull the tab forward a bit to disengage – but who said looking cool and retro was going to be easy. I mean you’ve gotta suffer a bit to look this cool, right?

Other than that, Shoei’s taken an old style visor and made it work well… ish.

Comfort and Sizing

(more about comfort and sizing)

Internal fitment of the Glamster is medium oval – so should be the right shape for most riders’ heads.

There’s not much info on what materials Shoei uses inside, except to say it’s a fully removable/washable liner with 3D moulded cheek pads.

It’s also got EQRS quick removable cheekpads in there which is always worth having – anything to reduce injury, right?

Shoei does know how to make a comfortable helmet though, so provided you suit the head shape, several owners said they find their Glamsters a really comfortable helmet. On occasion the aero isn’t quite up to the standard of modern aerodynamically sculpted lids, but I guess that’s to be expected with a rounder shaped helmet.

But keep the speed down a bit – or sit behind a fairing – and you can expect the Glamster to be comfortable for long hours in the saddle.

Looks & Graphics

You can probably guess at the sort of graphic options available for the Glamster?

There’s a nice off-white and a couple of blacks as well as a plain Basalt grey and Laguna blue. At the time of writing there’s also a range of different colourways in the Resurrection graphic incuding a white, blue and black.

But you just know there’s going to be a stack more classy designs coming out soon. Feel free to click through to our recommended stores below to see the latest designs and Glamster deals. Nice one.

Best places to buy a Shoei Glamster helmet?

Please click below to visit the Shoei Glamster helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

Shoei Glamster Video

While the sound’s a bit shonky with this vid, Champion does know how to do a good helmet overview and this 7m video gives you a decent look around the Shoei Glamster.

Other stuff – weight, bluetooth, glasses, warranty

The Shoei Glamster weighs around 1.2Kg (2.65lbs) making it a properly light weight helmet.

If you’re looking to fit a comms unit inside your Glamster, you might be disappointed if your speakers are anything other than super thin, because there aren’t any really any speaker pockets in there, only a space next to the cheek pads where you could just about slot thin speakers in. And there’s not much room inside for a microphone either as the chin bar sits very close to the face.

If you’re a glasses wearer or like to wear shades when you’re riding, the good news is that there are cutouts for glasses in the liner, and several owners have said it’s a great helmet for glasses wearers.

It comes with an excellent 5 year warranty.

Good Alternatives to the Shoei Glamster?

If you’re in the market for an old-style helmet, the great news is there’s an increasing number of retro helmets with modern day utility.

Shoei’s own Ex-Zero is a badass looking helmet that uses the same tech as the Glamster and costs about the same money.

And there’s the fibreglass AGV X3000 which is arguably more authentic and even classier than the Glamster.

There’s the good ole SHARP 3 star safety rated Bell Bullitt which is properly retro and comes in a ton of different designs too – including a full carbon version.

Shoutouts to Nexx as well with their Nexx X.G100 and G100R which are both great looking composite fibre retro lids.

For more options, take a look at our Retro Helmets Pages.

Best places to buy a Shoei Glamster?

Please click below to visit the Shoei Glamster helmets pages at our recommended stores. And if you buy from one, we get a small sum from the sale at no extra cost to you – a massive THANKS! (it’s how we finance the site).

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Crash Helmet Buying Guides & Top 10s

For (hopefully!) other useful information to help you when buying your next helmet, check our various Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guides - or have a look at our Top 10 best helmet lists where we've got the top 10 best rated helmets overall along with Top 10 Best Budget/Top 10 Safest/Top 10 Best Full Face/Top 10 Best Modular/Flip-up/ Top 10 Best Sportsbike/Track helmets.

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