From different types of helmets, the full-face helmet is the safest one. In terms of helmet materials, carbon fiber helmets are the most secure. Modular helmets, off-road helmets, Polycarbonate plastic helmets are also protective enough.
Which Type of Helmet Is Safe for Riders?
In this section, the safety of the helmets is separated by their design and materials. Stay till the end to know which one is safe enough for you.
Design
There are mainly 6 types of helmets used for head protection. Let’s know how safe is all of them.
Full-Face Helmet
Among other types of helmets, the full-face helmet is considered to be the safest. A full-face helmet covers more area around your head, neck, and jaw than the other types of helmets. The unique feature of this helmet is its chin bar which makes it the safest.
Research shows that the chin takes 50% of the severe blow from an accident. That’s why a helmet with chin protection is very important to save your fragile chin and jaws. Also, most full-face helmets have ventilation features to keep you cool and sweat-free. It helps to focus on the road and avoid potential risks.
Modular Helmet
Modular helmets or flip-up helmets are similar to full-face helmets, but you can open up the visor and chin bar. The included visor of this helmet protects you from sunlight. It is slightly less safe than the full-face helmet because of its hinge design structure. But it is safer than the open face helmet for its chin bar protection.
Open-Face Helmet
An open-face helmet or 3/4 helmet covers the top and side of your head but leaves your face unprotected. Because of the design, an open-face helmet can protect your head but it can not protect your chin are from any weather conditions, dirt, debris, or any accidents. You better avoid I for your safeguard.
Half Helmet
A half helmet is the most vulnerable helmet type. Most half helmets cover only the top of your head and upper forehead, leaving the rest of your head and face open. Even though it offers comfortable airflow, avoid wearing it on busy roads.
Off-Road Helmet
Off-road helmets are a bit different than full-head helmets. They are designed with more oversized visors and emphasized chin bars while offering minimum weight, more ventilation, and max protection to your head and chin. Still, they are not safer than full-face helmets.
In an off-road helmet, there is no feature for eye protection. You have to wear extra goggles for it. For that reason, this sturdy helmet couldn’t beat the full-face helmet in the protective game.
Dual-Sport Helmet
A dual-sport helmet is a blend of the full-face and off-road helmet. It features a large visor and lower chin bar for safety. The visor is not fixed. You can lift it and use goggles instead. But the chin bar is not much prominent and offers less airflow. The dual-sport helmet is safe, but not as much as the full-face helmet.
Materials
Many types of materials are used for making helmets. From this segment, you will get to know which of them are safe enough.
Carbon Fiber
Helmets made from carbon fiber are lightweight, but they are very strong for their weight. It also offers superb shock-absorption qualities. Carbon fiber helmets also look very cool. Although, it is not a flexible material as it is super sturdy.
To overcome this downside, manufacturers use some other types of materials with pure carbon fiber to make the safest helmets. All the carbon fiber helmets in the market are composite with a higher percentage of carbon fiber. But it sure is the best type of helmet to protect you from any damages.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass material is cheap, lightweight, and sturdy, which makes it suitable for any type of motorcycle helmet. It is also flexible and abrasion-resistant. But a fiberglass helmet is less safe than a carbon fiber helmet.
Polycarbonate Plastic
Polycarbonate plastic is incredibly tough, very lightweight, and offers enough impact resistance when combined with a polystyrene liner. This material is also cheaper, which makes it ideal for any crash-resistant helmet.
ABS Plastic
ABS plastic is popular because it can be repeatedly melted down. So any old ABS Plastic helmets can be recycled. It is also cheaper, lighter, and able to protect your head. However, like most plastics, this one is also toxic, which makes it vulnerable to other materials.
Other Helmet Lining Materials
EPS foam is cost-effective and lightweight lining material and excellent at reducing impact energy. Vinyl Nitrile foam can withstand more than a single impact where Zorbiam can regain its shape and firms up in hard impacts but easily deforms in low-speed impacts.
Best Motorcycle Helmet Brands
Best brands offer the best types of products made with high-quality materials. They also offer a money-back guarantee and a long-term warranty. These helmets are a bit pricey but still worth it. Some of the best motorcycle helmet brands are Shoei, Shark, Scorpion, and Nolan helmets.
Motorcycle Helmet Brands to Avoid
Opposing the best brands, some brands produce low-quality products and most of their customers are not happy. So, it’s better to avoid these brands. Some brands you must dodge are, AVG for the safety issue, Arai for ventilation problems, and HJC for safety concerns and ventilation problems.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Helmet?
Before buying a helmet, ensure the design of the helmet is secure and lightweight. The inside must have enough padding to protect your head in severe conditions. Also, adequate ventilation is necessary for an excellent helmet to evaporate sweat and make the rider comfy.
A helmet with an anti-scratch and anti-fog visor is better. You should also look for the DOT certification of the helmet you are buying. And, of course, look for a budget-friendly helmet with the most positive traits.
What Is the Safest Helmet Color?
Brighter colors are always better for protective purposes as they have higher chances of being seen by others and reduce risk. Research suggests that a yellow or orange helmet is the safest of all. A white helmet is also safer than dark colors like black or navy blue.
FAQs
Q: How many years is a helmet good for?
Ans: You should always replace your helmet after any damage or impact to be safe. But if your helmet never encountered any impact, you should still replace it after 3 to 5 years. Because many things degrade over time, like the foam and glue used in the helmets.
Q: What is the DOT certification for helmets?
Ans: DOT certifications are provided by the US Department of Transportation. Only the helmet that meets the standards and regulations can have DOT certification. It ensures the most basic of the safety features. You can easily identify a certified helmet as all the DOT helmets come with a DOT sticker on the helmet body.
Closing Statement
Prevention is better than cure, so you have to take proper precautions along with a safe helmet before going for a ride. Apart from helmets, always focus on the road and surroundings, stop for a while if you feel tired, and set GPS or any alarm system to help you in any emergency.
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