The key to knowing that your motorcycle helmet fits you well is to make sure that it feels comfortable and solid, but not uncomfortable when you put it on.
If your helmet is loose, it could come off or spin on your head in a serious crash. And the wind flowing from below when you drive can force it up and strain your neck.
A tight fitting helmet will pinch your ears and press against your forehead. It will cause headaches and distract you from your journey and surrounding traffic.
When trying on helmets before you buy, remember these key points…
- A well-fitting helmet will require some strength to put on. It may feel tight when slipped over your head due to the padding inside causing resistance.
- If a helmet slides too easily on your head, it won’t be snug enough to stay on properly or keep annoying wind noise from filling the helmet.
- You’ll know a helmet fits you when all of its interior padding makes solid contact with your head. A helmet will become uncomfortable and will not protect you adequately if it only makes contact with the top of your head.
- When you put on a full-face helmet, it should hold your cheeks and jaw firmly. It should make solid contact with the top and sides of the head. Many full face helmets offer removable/interchangeable cheek pads. Different sized pads can create the best helmet fit.
- Your helmet should surround and “hug” your head with even pressure at all times. It should not create “hot spots” due to uneven pressure points. It should not press uncomfortably against your temples, forehead, or cheeks.
- The padding inside a helmet that is comfortably fitted will compress and stay firm as it molds to your head.
- A helmet with padding that creates a seal around your ears will block wind noise and protect your hearing. It won’t block out important sounds like voices or car horns.
- Your helmet should not move when you vigorously shake your head up and down or side to side.
- Your nose or chin must not touch the face shield.
- The face shield of a full face helmet must seal the eye port.
- A face shield should move smoothly and easily and stay up when you pick it up.
- A face shield should not distort your vision, anywhere.
Take the “roll-ff” test to make sure the helmet stays on when you need it
No helmet can protect you if it doesn’t stay on in the event of an accident. So try this simple “peel off” test before you buy or wear a particular helmet. Put on the helmet and adjust the chin strap. Grab the rear edge of the helmet where it makes contact with the back of your neck. Then try to lift and roll the helmet forward to remove it from your head. Give it a good tug, even if the pressure is uncomfortable. If the helmet slides forward and comes off, you know to keep looking for one that will stay on during this test.
Does the helmet you’re considering give you the features you want most?
When you know a helmet fits comfortably and passes the “unhook” test, check to make sure it has all the other features you want.
Such comfort features include…
- Lots of comfortable padding around the head
- A tight seal that surrounds but does not touch your ears
- A thick, padded roll that hugs the back of the head and neck.
- No bumps that poke or press against the head or face.
One final test before you take it home…
- Put on the helmet, tighten the chin strap and keep it on for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
- Get used to how it feels and let it settle.
After a while, if the helmet makes you uncomfortable, for example by pressing on your forehead or the top of your head or pinching your ear, try a different size pad. If that doesn’t work, let go of that particular helmet. Continue the process with another “perfect client” until you find the one that completely satisfies you.