Different Types of Helmets Briefly Explained

Buying something is never easy, specially when there are so many options. Most of us cannot buy the very first thing that we see when we go to the market. Same goes for buying motorcycle Helmets, and if you’re that one person who is confused about which helmet they should buy, then you are in the right place.

These days, you may find several options when it comes to buying a motorcycle helmet but can every helmet provide good safety and protection?

Since there are different types of Helmets to choose from, we have collected all the information you need about all types of Helmets and provided that for you in this article.

Types of Helmets

There are six main types of Helmets:

  • Full Face Helmets
  • Open Face Helmets
  • Modular or Flip-up Helmets
  • Half Helmets
  • Off-road Helmets
  • Dual-sport Helmets

1) Full Face Helmets

full face helmet

Full face motorcycle helmets are considered to be the safest helmets out of all. They provide full coverage of head and neck.

A unique and important feature for safety that full-face helmet has is the chin bar/strap, not every helmet possess this feature. A study has proven that during accidents- causing head injuries in motorcyclists, chin faces the most pressure. Full face helmet provides protection of chin and jaw.

Since these helmet are completely enclosed, they stop wind from distracting your vision, reduce traffic noise and also prevent dust getting in your eyes.

But, while keeping you safe from wind, the enclosed helmet can cause suffocation, so to prevent this these helmets come with a proper ventilation system that allows fresh air in and reduces fogging. These vents are adjustable, so you adjust them according to the weather. But as many benefits they offer, they aren’t an ideal choice for claustrophobic people.

If you want more information on ventilated helmets, check out our article for the best motorcycle helmets for summer.

Full face helmets have a round shape and are structurally strong. They are designed for speedy rides and are often used in motor-racing but they can also be used for different purposes.

2) Open Face Helmets

open face 3/4 helmet

Open face helmets or ¾ helmets provide coverage to upper, back and side parts of the head while the face remains open. They are very popular for mostly scooters, cruisers, and mopeds.

Open face helmets are similar to full face helmets when it comes to their structure and the areas where they provide coverage.

These helmets lack chin bar, due to which they offer less protection than full face ones and also weight less.

Open face helmets are although unable to protect your eyes from dust and your face from harsh sunlight, they are best option for people with claustrophobia because it doesn’t restrict the airflow.

On the other hand, they provide minimum safety as compared to other helmets. They are best recommended for low-speed rides.

Also Check: Best Cruiser Motorcycle Helmets

3) Modular Or Flip-up Helmets

modular flip up helmets

Modular helmets or flip-up helmets are named so because of the mobility of the chin bar and visor they come with. Front part of the helmet is movable and can be moved up to make the helmet a half helmet.

They looks fairly similar to full face helmets but because of their adjustable chin bar and face shield they weight a lot more than other helmets, due to the screws and material used.

Modular helmets are commonly used by tourers and adventure riders.

Most modular helmets comes with typical face shield/visor and some includes tinted visors for better sunlight protection.

They also have a good Ventilation system for when the front part of helmet is lowered.

The important thing to remember about these helmets is that they are not as strong as full face helmets, therefore cannot provide as much safety and protection.

4) Half Helmets

half helmet

Half helmets cover the upper part of your head and forehead ,hence they don’t provide sufficient protection.

Few half helmets may provide coverage to your neck and ears but it leaves your face exposed.

Half helmets are really popular these days because of their style and due to the fact that you can enjoy fresh air while wearing it.

Half helmets also allows rider to enjoy sights and hear different sounds without restrictions.

They’re ideal for low speed rides. If you are riding at high speed you will need a helmet with more protection than half helmet.

Nearly all half helmets comes without built-in sun visor and face shield, so you will need to buy goggles to protect your eyesight.

5) Off-road Helmets

Off-road Helmets are specifically designed for dirt road travel, as they aren’t ideal for city roads or highway.

These helmets are light weighted and designed to provide maximum ventilation and protection.

Off-road helmets don’t have built-in drop down sun visor so the rider would need to wear goggles or glasses and especially on a muddy road- to protect eyes from dust.

Off-road Helmets also have peak visors which are designed to protect eyes from glaring sunlight.

Although noise levels cannot be reduced in these helmets, but they are really comfortable to wear.

6) Dual-sport Helmets

Dual-sport helmets are much like a combination of off-road and full face helmets, which is why they are also called hybrid. They are designed for both on and off-road travel.

Their key attributes includes glare-reducing sun peaks, proper ventilation, a built-in visor and chin bar for protection. For on-road travel, they can provide more warmth and noise cancellation.

Since they are Hybrids, they fairly have ventilation system like off-road helmets, but not exactly same. And they have soundproof system like full face helmets but not same. Their face shields are made in such a way that rider can wear goggles too, after flipping them all the way up.

In general, they are built versatile, for multiple purposes and can be used for any type of travel.

Conclusion

We have briefed six types of motorcycle helmets in this article that can be considered when you are buying one.

You can also check out our ultimate helmet buying Guide, for a complete guide on what to look for before purchasing a motorcycle helmet.

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