Retro helmets

Click on any of these retro helmets below to read their full review. Or click 'load more' to see more and more retro lids, listed in date order.

All these retro helmets have been scored in terms of safety, noise, features, value and comfort then listed in highest-lowest order below. So, if you're after a retro helmet but don't want to compromise in how easy it is to live with and how well it performs, you probably ought to grab yourself one of these.

Common Retro Helmet Questions

1. Are retro helmets any good?

2. Any disadvantages of retro helmets?

Retro helmets are a relatively recent entrant to the helmet market and take inspiration from the design and style of helmets anywhere from the late 1960 onwards. Back then, helmets had limited ventilation, rubbish visors, dubious safety records and the aero properties of house bricks. And while modern retro helmets might have similar looks (and in some cases, aero!) in most respects they're a drastic improvement.

OK some take it a step too far by keeping visors secured with studs and no vents, but most brands know that modern punters want performance and functionality with their retro styling. And of course all modern retro helmets must comply with modern ECE safety standards. There are disadvantages with some retros compared to their modernday counterparts, but many are great performing lids as well as really looking the part.

Back in the day, rider to rider comms consisted of bellowing at each other while trying not to drop your Woodbine. These days, it's handier to install a bluetooth headset - as long as your helmet has the speaker pockets and space to fit one. All these retro helmets are either designed to let you fit a bluetooth communicator or owners have said they'll take one, no problem.

Retro helmets tend to prioritise style, design and quality - and that generally means a higher price tag. Which is not to say you can't have some retro chic to match your retro bike (and no, a CX500 still doesn't count!) and not pay through the nose. Here's some lower priced retro helmets.

I guess back in the day you were limited to full face helmets or piss pots - and there aren't many of us wanting to ride around in a papier mache shopping helmet from the '60s! OK there are one or two open face retro lids around, but if you're thinking retro helmet, chances are you're thinking of a full face. All the helmets in this section have that retro look but offer decent full face helmet protection.

OK, they're not very authentic for the retro vibe, but pull down sun visors can be hyper useful. There aren't many of 'em around but if you're after a retro helmet with a sun visor, you should check out one of these lids.

Goes without saying that stuff like noise suppression probably plays second fiddle to cool looks when designing a retro helmet. But we've still gotta wear the things and even retro bikes can break the speed limit in the blink of an eye, so having a retro helmet that cuts down the wind noise would be proper useful. OK, it's always subjective, but where owners reckon their retro lids are quieter than the norm, you'll find them in this section.

If you're into retro lids you're probably either a codger or a hipster. Either way, you're gonna want to shove on some shades or bifocals and that means you need a helmet with some glasses grooves in there. All these retro helmets either have glasses grooves or we've had feedback from owners that they work well with glasses.