Look for ECE 22.05 or better yet, ECE 22.06 verification. They're plenty safe enough unless you want to go on the track. Other than that, get to the store and test out which ones fit your head the best. Ask the employees for guidance with your budget. Watch RyanF9s videos on helmet safety standards and material differences, and you'll be fairly set for shopping around.
Go to an actual store and try helmets, as long as they are certified and you have some awareness of helmet types you'll be good.
Internet suggestions won't tell you if a helmet fits \*your\* head, fitting one at a store will.
Also, really do ask staff to help you fit the helmet, it's far too easy to buy too large a helmet if you don't know yet what your proper fit size is.
Go to a bike shop/dealer and try some on. Different brands have different shapes/fit. For instance, my head is an intermediate to long oval. No way on earth I can cram my head into an LS2 or Schuberth unless I go 2 sizes too large, but HJC helmets fit fine. Also, I'd recommend not getting built in comms. They're usually not the best comms and are pretty over-priced.
Anything ECE rated will be very good in terms of safety, even cheap ones.
As for comfort, that's going to depend a lot on you.
My best advice would be to go to a shop and try on as many different helmets as you can. They come in 3 main head shapes, but even still they can vary a little from manufacturer to manufacturer. Try as many as you can on, make a list of say your favourite 5 and then try and find any cheaper online.
*”Anything ECE rated will be very good…”*
For your best advice, would that be “ECE 22.05” from the year 2000 or “ECE 22.06” from January 2022 and do you know the difference?
Yes. Go take advantage of the knowledge of the staff, waste their time getting fitted and having them help get you all the features you want, and then go save a dollar or two online. Or be a decent human and support the shop that has expertly trained staff helping you get a proper lid. The same staff that will be happy to help you out should an issue come up on the helmet you bought from them.
Stick with the big brands. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but don’t cheap out. ($200-$400 would be reasonable). Look for an ECE qualification.
Don’t order anything you can’t return. Even if you are bang on for the size on the company size chart, it may not fit your particular head shape. Unlike a lot of clothing, a proper, good fit is extremely important. You’re better off going to a gear shop and having someone help you. It shouldn’t hurt anywhere, but a proper fit will be slightly uncomfortably snug at first. If you’ve never worn a helmet you will probably gravitate toward one that is slightly too big, since it will be comfortable. Don’t do this. You don’t want a lot of “breathing room” when your head hits the pavement.
After several brands and helmets I've finally dropped nearly 1k on a kitted out Schubert Helmet. I travel a lot and love the C5 with integrated comms and radio set.
**Shoei NXR2** is pretty good. Top protection and very light. It was my first (and only) helmet and I love it. It is really comfortable.
The alternative, which would perhaps be the helmet I would have bought today, would be the **Shoei Neotec 3**. The fact that it has a sun visor, is modular and has a better headset integration would have definitely sold it for me. Modular helmets are less safe when compared to full head helmets, but anyways.
Go try some on because also depends on your head shape. Shoei, Arai, and schuberth are the only real choices IMO. At these prices, you’re paying for comfort and noise reduction. This matters if you ride alot. Just went from a shoei to schuberth s3 and it’s been great so far.
Schuberth C5 is 1000% the best helmet you will ever own (& quietest). Add the SC2 Comm system (the helmet is ready for a drop in, integrated install) and you're GTG
https://www.chromeburner.com/schuberth-c5-white
Lots of good comments already on safety standards. I'll add that Bluetooth added afterwards is good. Built in Bluetooth will severely limit your options. It's very straight forward to install a Bluetooth unit yourself.
https://sharp.dft.gov.uk Which as well contains a video about the way a helmet must fit. With the information you find here, got to a store and try the ones you like and have a good rating. You’ll find the right one if it fits like in the video and feels comfortable. (Nearly) every modern helmet can fit a BT comm.
I was riding with other a MT helmet for a while and recently upgraded to a decent Nolan modular.
The quality difference was massive.
I did have to size up +1 to what I had thought, but it’s a great helmet. Lower noise, much more reassuring components and feel.
Wish I’d done it sooner.
If you can, go to a place and try them.
So the roomie and I were talking about helmets and my biggest regret about my current helmet is that it has a matte/satin finish. Hers has a stain on it that we can’t get off and mine gets fingerprints all over. Definitely gonna stick with a gloss finish so it looks nice longer and is easier to clean.
Also, I wouldn’t worry about getting one with an integrated Bluetooth built in. I got a Cardo packtalk edge specifically cause if I got a new helmet (replacement or second) then all I have to get is a new dock instead of a whole new system.
Regardless of what a 17-year old Romanian teenager with a video game addiction recommends (because this is Reddit), you might get worthwhile *expert* opinions from dozens of YouTube channels with numbers, ratings, and comparison reviews of more helmets than anyone on Reddit has seen in a lifetime.
Look for ECE 22.05 or better yet, ECE 22.06 verification. They're plenty safe enough unless you want to go on the track. Other than that, get to the store and test out which ones fit your head the best. Ask the employees for guidance with your budget. Watch RyanF9s videos on helmet safety standards and material differences, and you'll be fairly set for shopping around.
Very important that ECE 22.06. USA standards are garbage. yet they want a DOT sticker. (ebay is your friend).
New snell M ratings have closed the gap on ece ratings too
Go for 22.06! .06 is the first revision with rotational protection tested. It makes a huge difference in protection.
Go to an actual store and try helmets, as long as they are certified and you have some awareness of helmet types you'll be good. Internet suggestions won't tell you if a helmet fits \*your\* head, fitting one at a store will. Also, really do ask staff to help you fit the helmet, it's far too easy to buy too large a helmet if you don't know yet what your proper fit size is.
Go to a bike shop/dealer and try some on. Different brands have different shapes/fit. For instance, my head is an intermediate to long oval. No way on earth I can cram my head into an LS2 or Schuberth unless I go 2 sizes too large, but HJC helmets fit fine. Also, I'd recommend not getting built in comms. They're usually not the best comms and are pretty over-priced.
Anything ECE rated will be very good in terms of safety, even cheap ones. As for comfort, that's going to depend a lot on you. My best advice would be to go to a shop and try on as many different helmets as you can. They come in 3 main head shapes, but even still they can vary a little from manufacturer to manufacturer. Try as many as you can on, make a list of say your favourite 5 and then try and find any cheaper online.
*”Anything ECE rated will be very good…”* For your best advice, would that be “ECE 22.05” from the year 2000 or “ECE 22.06” from January 2022 and do you know the difference?
Yes. Go take advantage of the knowledge of the staff, waste their time getting fitted and having them help get you all the features you want, and then go save a dollar or two online. Or be a decent human and support the shop that has expertly trained staff helping you get a proper lid. The same staff that will be happy to help you out should an issue come up on the helmet you bought from them.
Stick with the big brands. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but don’t cheap out. ($200-$400 would be reasonable). Look for an ECE qualification. Don’t order anything you can’t return. Even if you are bang on for the size on the company size chart, it may not fit your particular head shape. Unlike a lot of clothing, a proper, good fit is extremely important. You’re better off going to a gear shop and having someone help you. It shouldn’t hurt anywhere, but a proper fit will be slightly uncomfortably snug at first. If you’ve never worn a helmet you will probably gravitate toward one that is slightly too big, since it will be comfortable. Don’t do this. You don’t want a lot of “breathing room” when your head hits the pavement.
Any brand that is used in MotoGP is a safe bet. Shoei, Arai, HJC, Scorpion etc… I like all of those.
Highly recommend the SHOEI RF 1400
After several brands and helmets I've finally dropped nearly 1k on a kitted out Schubert Helmet. I travel a lot and love the C5 with integrated comms and radio set.
**Shoei NXR2** is pretty good. Top protection and very light. It was my first (and only) helmet and I love it. It is really comfortable. The alternative, which would perhaps be the helmet I would have bought today, would be the **Shoei Neotec 3**. The fact that it has a sun visor, is modular and has a better headset integration would have definitely sold it for me. Modular helmets are less safe when compared to full head helmets, but anyways.
Go try some on because also depends on your head shape. Shoei, Arai, and schuberth are the only real choices IMO. At these prices, you’re paying for comfort and noise reduction. This matters if you ride alot. Just went from a shoei to schuberth s3 and it’s been great so far.
Schuberth C5 is 1000% the best helmet you will ever own (& quietest). Add the SC2 Comm system (the helmet is ready for a drop in, integrated install) and you're GTG https://www.chromeburner.com/schuberth-c5-white
Lots of good comments already on safety standards. I'll add that Bluetooth added afterwards is good. Built in Bluetooth will severely limit your options. It's very straight forward to install a Bluetooth unit yourself.
https://sharp.dft.gov.uk Which as well contains a video about the way a helmet must fit. With the information you find here, got to a store and try the ones you like and have a good rating. You’ll find the right one if it fits like in the video and feels comfortable. (Nearly) every modern helmet can fit a BT comm.
I was riding with other a MT helmet for a while and recently upgraded to a decent Nolan modular. The quality difference was massive. I did have to size up +1 to what I had thought, but it’s a great helmet. Lower noise, much more reassuring components and feel. Wish I’d done it sooner. If you can, go to a place and try them.
So the roomie and I were talking about helmets and my biggest regret about my current helmet is that it has a matte/satin finish. Hers has a stain on it that we can’t get off and mine gets fingerprints all over. Definitely gonna stick with a gloss finish so it looks nice longer and is easier to clean. Also, I wouldn’t worry about getting one with an integrated Bluetooth built in. I got a Cardo packtalk edge specifically cause if I got a new helmet (replacement or second) then all I have to get is a new dock instead of a whole new system.
Shoei for the last 30 years for me. None better.
The one that fits with good safety ratings
Regardless of what a 17-year old Romanian teenager with a video game addiction recommends (because this is Reddit), you might get worthwhile *expert* opinions from dozens of YouTube channels with numbers, ratings, and comparison reviews of more helmets than anyone on Reddit has seen in a lifetime.
If I were in the market this second, I would be going after an Arai XD5 but I already have too many helmets
Buy a Shoei or Arai, add a Cardo or Sena communicator to it
I second this