We’ve all had that claustrophobic feeling caused by the agonizing insulation of full-face helmets. Turns out, there’s a dark side against the safety they offer, as they can deprive you of the balmy weather you’ve been craving for so long.
Many folks think you need guts to ride with an open face helmet. But the fact that you have to trade your safety in exchange for a breath of fresh air is somewhat a delusion. Time to bust such myths with the best open face motorcycle helmet. Feel the cool breeze, along with a spontaneous view of your surroundings.
Best Open Face Motorcycle Helmet in Town
You can’t just leave your safety in the hands of every manufacturer you come across. Especially while there’s such an abundance of open face helmets out there, not each of them can be entrusted. Here’s a bunch of products that our experts believe are actually true to their words.
1. Westt Rover WD-009
Laudable Aspects
The sleek matt black finish has lately earned Westt Rover WD-009 quite the appeal among riders. Aside from that, you’ll get three color options for the side parts that you can easily interchange to step up your fashion statement.
However, it’s something more than the stunning design that caught our attention in the first place. We’re talking about its safety standards that are beyond what you would anticipate from an open face helmet. It meets the DOT certifications, meaning that it will easily eat up all possible impacts.
Most amazingly, it comes with an integrated sun shield visor to protect your eyes from dirt, debris, and especially UV rays. Since this visor is scratch resistant to some extent, it won’t easily get damaged from your daily commute.
When it comes to comfort, this helmet features a thick foam padded interior. Not only is this padding comfortable to wear but also easily removable for washing purposes. Besides, they’ve somehow managed to keep their weight only 2.4lbs. So, you’ll barely realize you’re wearing it.
Furthermore, this open-face helmet will not only allow you sufficient air to breathe but also keep your head cool on the warmest of days. Thanks to its correctly placed ventilation points, you’ll get enough airflow inside. Finally, you can easily take it on and off even with gloves due to a quick-release safety buckle.
Drawbacks
- No major drawbacks found.
2. YEMA YM-627
Laudable Aspects
Unlike the last one, YM-627 comes with dual visors in order to protect your entire face rather than eyes only. In addition to an inner retractable smoked visor that will give you UV protection, there’s a clear outer shield. This shield will give you a fair perception by keeping dirt, debris, or bugs out of your sight.
As for the main concern, you can count on it since it has been DOT FMVSS 218 approved. Besides, it has been made from a durable ABS shell with multi-density EPS to protect you against shocks. It also has a reinforced chin strap so that it sticks strongly on your head, keeping you safe.
Right on top of its high reliability, comes the unparalleled comfort offered by its thick inner lining pads. And to make sure these linings don’t stink due to prolonged use, there’s easy access to their removal. You can easily pull them out and have a quick flush out so that they become good as new.
Furthermore, you’ll never get sweaty inside since it consists of a number of ventilation channels. Thanks to this excellent ventilation system, air will flow directly through it, flushing all the heat and humidity straight out.
Drawbacks
- A bit awkward sizing.
3. Bell Custom 500
Laudable Aspects
While the market is flooded with bulky options typically made from thermoplastic alloy, Custom 500 focuses more on giving a low-profile look. Bell has used a fiberglass composite shell to construct this one, which is pretty much exceptional. Thanks to this featherweight material, you’ll barely feel its presence.
Aside from the material, its low-profile look is more or less obtained from the five shell and EPS liner sizes. Despite the look, the multi-density EPS liner can soak up all the possible impacts on the assumption of a fall. There’s also a five-snap pattern that allows you to install the aftermarket visors and shields.
Speaking more of the interior, you’re likely to feel no sorts of irritations from inside while riding. The interior features antibacterial leather that will make sure you stay fresh no matter how much humid the weather gets.
Apart from that, this helmet has the DOT certification, leaving no space for any doubts regarding its safety. Moreover, it has a warranty that will stay valid for up to five years, assuring you to buy with confidence.
Drawbacks
- No visors included.
4. ILM 205V
Laudable Aspects
ILM 205V, a name that defines durability, comfort, and convenience in the form of an open face helmet. What more could you ask for at such a reasonable price? That being said, it looks pretty neat rather than the boring bulky ones that come to mind while thinking of these qualities.
First of all, a top-quality ABS shell has been used to construct this helmet, making it worthy enough to take care of your protection. Whether you use it for regular commute or outdoor motocross sports, you can lay your money on this. Besides, DOT approval indeed adds to its reliability.
Secondly, comes the unrivaled comfort delivered by the high-density EPS foam used for its interior. And due to its skin-friendly ear flap, you’ll never feel any squeezing around your face. As for the ventilation, a set of vents will reduce all the heat that creeps up at the top of your head.
Finally, it features an integrated drop-down sun visor that is child’s play to put on and remove. This replaceable visor will not only keep your eyes safe from the UV rays but also prevent unwanted dirt and bugs from bothering you. There’s a quick-release chin strap for convenient operating as well.
Drawbacks
- Replacing visors might prove daunting.
5. Fuel Helmets SH-WS0016
Laudable Aspects
Nothing is more depressing than the abrupt wearing out of a helmet that you bought mostly because of its appealing shiny finish. However, the SH-WS0016 having a UV clear coated shell is not easily prone to such decay. Thanks to this coating, you can turn heads with the glossy look for years.
Now that only sorted out the safety of the helmet itself. What about your safety? Well, this one turns out to be a defender as well with the DOT FMVSS 218 approval. Therefore, you can undoubtedly put faith in its durability.
On top of that, it comprises pivoting shields that will not only protect you from dirt and debris but also provide a crystal-clear vision. Most amazingly, you can easily remove this face shield kit, whether you require a wash or a replacement.
Furthermore, it has got a sculpted vent system on the top from front to rear. These top vents will enable enough airflow through the helmet and around your head to extract all the heat and moisture away. Besides the cooling, they will also give the helmet a cool vibe from outside.
As for fitment, its D-ring closure will adjust the chin strap in order to make the helmet fit snugly over your head. Lastly, you’ll also find its cheek pads easily removable so that you can clean them after a number of rides.
Drawbacks
- The visor is not anti-scratch.
6. Vega Helmets 8527-051
Laudable Aspects
If you prefer a vintage retro design to the regular plain ones, the 8527-051 from Vega Helmets will indeed be a perfect choice. With a handful of exciting graphics as well as glossy designs to pick from, you’ll definitely turn some heads whenever you go out for a ride.
Aside from its sophisticated look, this helmet is quite the rival when it comes to delivering the utmost safety for your head. As it meets the DOT FMVSS 218 safety regulations, feel free to wear this thing whether you’re riding your cruiser, scooter, or street bike.
Though such a sturdy construction reminds more of a bulky helmet, the 8527-051 is anything but heavy. Its ABS thermoplastic alloy shell weighs no more than only 2.3lbs so that you can ride for an extended period causing the least amount of fatigue. Besides, this deeper retro shell is designed to sit low on your head.
Moreover, you’ll hardly have any complaint about the comfort beneath the exteriors. Its inner lining features an antimicrobial liner that will wick moisture, providing you a prolonged period of odorless riding. All these, what’s more, you’ll be backed up with a 5-year warranty from Vega.
Drawbacks
- Package misses out visors.
7. Conquer 350-OF
Laudable Aspects
Do you hate to compete in races with full-face helmets? Perhaps your good days are finally here, as the Conquer 350-OF is an open face helmet made especially for the race tracks. It will allow you to catch a breath, and at the same time, stay safe from every possible impact.
Thanks to its fiberglass shell construction, 350-OF is so lightweight that you’ll forget you’re wearing it. Despite the featherweight nature, this material can eat up a number of shocks before you finally have to look for a replacement.
As the impact from a fall during a race is far more threatening than that of regular commutes, you’ll need protection that’s up to the mark. That’s when this helmet strikes, as it has been SNELL SA2015 approved.
Since safety is the main concern, they’ve used fire retardant paddings for the interior. However, such durability won’t stop this interior from providing you the maximum comfort while riding.
Apart from these, you’ll get a fair amount of airflow due to its excellent ventilation system. And as it consists of Kevlar chin straps, its likely to stay attached no matter how fast you ride.
Drawbacks
- No specific coating on the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are open face helmets safe?
Ans: Well, the answer depends more on your riding habits than the statistics. Since there’s no protection on the front side, it will keep you safe as long as you don’t fall hard on your face. Therefore, usage is advised at low-speed regular commutes.
Q: How to find the right fitted helmet?
Ans: Wrap the tape above your ears and about a half-inch above the eyebrows, around the fullest part of your head. Then take the measurement at the forehead. Finally, match it with the closest mark on the size chart of the brand you’re dealing with.
Bottom Line
Whether you use your motorcycle as a regular transport or occasionally put it for a test on the race track, we’ve got it all covered. From the most comfortable to a safer option, our list has pretty much something for everyone. And we hope you found the best open face motorcycle helmet from there.
However, if you asked for our favorites, the Westt Rover WD-009 will definitely be on the list. The thing is, you can’t help falling for its sturdy yet lightweight construction that offers comfort and concurrent safety.
Nevertheless, we would rather prefer the ILM 205V to its counterparts if we were to make optimal use of our tight budget. Finally, Conquer 350-OF is indeed the must-have helmet for all the occasional racers out there.
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