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Here’s the definitive guide for buying a motocross or enduro helmet. Let’s see what the most important features of off-road helmets are and which you should take into account.

Here’s the definitive guide for buying a motocross or enduro helmet. Let’s see what the most important features of off-road helmets are and which you should take into account according to the use you’re going to give it, motocross, enduro or another speciality.

Come on, let’s get covered in mud!

Most important features of off-road helmets

First of all: off-road motorcycle helmets in general fall into a common category. There are no helmets just for motocross or others just for enduro. Which is why we’re writing this post, to tell you which features be will be more useful to you:

We’ll do so bearing mind four segments: protection, ventilation, comfort-fit and weight.

• Protection

Let’s start with the most important: protection. This depends on what material is used to make the shell. We have helmets made with fibre and helmets with thermoplastic resin. Without a doubt, the fibre helmets are the safest and lightest, and are used in competition. But, on the other hand, they’re the most expensive.

As examples: the Shoei VFX-WR, the Airoh Aviator 2.3 and the Alpinestars Supertech S-M10 are helmets at the top of their segment. All have fibre shells, although they use different materials: multi-composite of organic fibres for the Shoei, a Kevlar and carbon combination for the Airoh and carbon alone in the Alpinestars.

There are brands like Fox that offer a range with fibre as well as with resin. The Fox V3 is made of carbon fibre whilst the V2 and the V1 are of polycarbonate. So there are various prices to choose from. For example, the V2 stands out for the balance between what it offers and what it costs: one of the best polycarbonate helmets available.

• Ventilation

The second most important point for an off-road helmet is ventilation. If we’re going to do motocross, we’re going to sweat a lot and we’’ll need A LOT of ventilation. We sweat, our head temperature shoots up leaving us with a headache and dehydration. Avoid this for safety’s sake. Check out the model with the most inlets, with the most airflow towards the interior and with the most breathable padding possible.

And for enduro, cross-country or even doing the dunes? Well, yes, if it’s summer then ventilation is important, but it’s more likely that you’ll go out all year round, especially in winter. And here the ventilation turns against us, therefore, look for models that are not so vented.

Before, we put the example of three models (Alpinestars, Airoh and Shoei): well, of these, the Alpinestars Supertech S-M10 is maybe the more vented one of the trio.

• Comfort and fit

Third point, tied in importance with ventilation: the fit. It’s vital to get the size right: too small and it will cause a headache, too big and the helmet will “dance around”…imagine jumping and the helmet moving around!

How to avoid it? Easy answer: size guide. At Motocard.com you’ll find the size guide for each helmet and we have a video tutorial of how to measure your head to find the right size.

Last thing about the fit: the closure, always double ring, the safest system.

And as to comfort: very important. The softness of the fabrics, that the seams don’t rub against the skin, sweat wicking etc. and always make sure that the entire interior is removable and washable: think about the mixture of sweat, mud and dust generated inside, not at all hygienic.

Continuing with the comparison of the three top helmets, the Shoei VFX-WR will probably be the one that offers greater comfort and luxury interiors.

Weight and other details

Another thing to bear in mind is the weight of the helmet. We’re looking for lightness. We want to abuse our neck muscles as little as possible, they’ve enough to put up with, what with absorbing all the knocks and all the work moving the head around.

As we said before, the fibre models have the advantage here, as they are lighter than the thermoplastic resin ones. Here the Airoh Aviator 2.3 stands out, super light, only just over 1000 grams.

Then check out the practical details, like if it grips the goggles strap well or if the visor to protect against stones and dust is easy to remove and if it can be adjusted. Or also whether there’s a particle filter in the entrance of the chin bar.

And to finish: the colour. It might seem to be a purely aesthetic detail, but there are also practical reasons. If you’re doing motocross you’ll surely want an orange helmet if you have a KTM or blue for a Yamaha, but if you’re going to do enduro, we recommend you choose loud colours. Fluorescents, purples, oranges, reds…that stand out amongst the mountain vegetation. Two reasons for this: that any hunter can see you from far away and for if something happens (you get lost, an accident, etc.,) any emergency unit can easily find you.

Conclusion

Ok, summarising: safety, choosing the material of the shell. Good ventilation, especially for motocross. Perfect fit. Removable and comfortable interiors. Low weight and good visibility or enduro.

Having said this, find your helmet