Helmet Buying Primer

By Glen Konorowski

"How much to you value your head?" Those were the words from some of the helmet manufacturers that I contacted when I was asking about their product. Many people think that all helmets are all the same. Yes, they do look alike and they do have to pass a minimum set of standards, but there is much more to a safe helmet than looks and safety requirements.

Helmets come in a range of prices and styles, and it was my goal to find out what these differences are. I was lucky enough to get five companies that wanted to participate in the comparison. There are many more in the Canadian market, but using my criteria as a guide, I hope you can find the best compromise of fit, finish, and comfort to meet your budget.

Motorcycle helmets come basically in four different forms: the full-face, the open face, half helmets and beanie. Everyone in the business will agree that the full-face is by far the safest type of helmet you can wear. Open-face helmets can be fine if you're a bit claustrophobic - some even meet the very strict Snell standard - but for those in the know, half-helmets and beanies are considered to be for those who don't much value their safety, hearing, or eyesight,

All four types of helmets sold in Canada must pass at least DOT (U.S. Department. of Transport) specifications. This is the minimum safety standard. If you want a higher standard of safety for your head, a Snell (Snell Memorial Foundation) approved helmet is the way to go. Snell-approved helmets must go through a more rigorous set of tests. The tests aren't cheap, and neither is building a higher-spec helmet, so Snell helmets are generally more expensive.

One of the most important things to remember when picking any helmet is the fit. A helmet must fit snug but not tight, and most of all it must be comfortable. So it is a good idea to try on a few helmets to find the one that fits the shape of your head. Do not allow yourself to be convinced to pick one that just looks good or matches the colour of your bike.

In the low end of the price spectrum is the G-Max, coming in at under the $150 mark. This helmet is good quality in overall constriction. Unfortunately the quality of the graphics was not as good as the rest of my test helmets, as a chip occurred when removing a small sticker. It's not a bad looking helmet; most everyone who looked at it liked the graphics. It has a good ventilation system, with vents in the mouth and forehead areas.

As for fit, this one did not fit as well on me as some helmets. It's important to note that fit is very individual; my head is more oval shaped and this helmet seems to be designed more for a rounded head. A friend found it very comfortable, pointing again to fit as an important factor in choosing a helmet. The G-Max is DOT approved.

In the mid-priced range $150 to $200 are the AFX and CKX helmets. Both these helmets were similar in looks and weight.

The AFX Blaster, as it is called, is a new design by the London, Ont. based AFX firm. A new polymer shell makes the Blaster a well-balanced helmet, distributing the weight around your head fairly evenly.

Fit and comfort were very good so it was not a chore to wear. A new feature of the Blaster was the removable liner. This allows it to be washed, which is nice if you have oily hair or get hot and sweaty in summer weather. Ventilation consisted of the standard mouth and forehead vents.

What really made this helmet a little more special at this price point was the extra quality AFX puts into their helmets. This is evident by the stitching inside, and the fitting of the rubber around the edges.

The AFX Blaster is both DOT and Snell Approved.

The CKX VGS model full face helmet was the winner in the ventilation department. Vents at the mouth, jaw area and forehead are supplemented by exhaust vents in the ear and back of the head. Adding to this all the intake vent area opened and closed with a precisian movement that I really liked.

Like the AFX, the CKX also has a removable liner on the inside. Fit was also very good on this helmet. Unlike some that fit better once they were on or 'broken in', the CKX fit right the moment it went on. This was the only helmet of the group that did not have any graphics, so I really can't comment on that.

The CKX VGS is also both DOT and Snell approved.

Moving on up the price range, $400 to $900, were the AC-10 by HJC and the TZ-1 by Shoei. These two were both top quality helmets with very attractive graphics to boot. Both the HJC and Shoei are made of Advanced Composite Materials, making them lighter than regular helmets and purportedly stronger as well.

The HJC AC-10 is the lightest helmet of the group. Like many in the group, the AC-10 comes with a removable headliner and also a quick release visor that took a little time to learn, but worked well. This visor was the stiffest to put into place. It almost took two hands to pull it down into position. A small point that may have been only applicable to this helmet, but it's worth noting when buying. As for venting, it was the runner-up with just about as many vents as the CKX, making it relatively cool inside while riding.

As for fit, this was one helmet that took a few minutes for my head to adjust to when first put on. After that the helmet seemed to mould to my head and it fit comfortably.

It too is both DOT and SNELL approved.

To no surprise the Shoei TZ-1, the most expensive helmet in the sample, was just about the perfect helmet for me. Having never used an expensive helmet, I expected fit and finish to be good, and it was, but everything else worked and fitted so well too.

Like the HJC, the Shoei has an quick release shield. This one was easy to use and allowed the shield to go up and down perfectly. It has only two vents, one at the mouth and one in the forehead, but the vent system worked as well as the helmets with multiple venting.

Popping my head into the TZ-1 for the first time, I found the fit very comfortable, but once on and tightened I thought it seemed to be a little loose. After checking the Shoei instructions, however, I found that it should fit snug but not tight allowing the weight of the helmet to be distributed around your head making it very comfortable.

One surprise with the Shoei is that it doesn't come with a removable liner. The liner in it is made of a different material (towel like) than the rest, so I will assume it can be cleaned with a damp cloth, soap and a little water.

As expected the Shoei it is both DOT and SNELL approved.

One last point I would like to bring up is that of eyeglasses. Using sunglasses I found that some helmets were not that comfortable. So if you wear glasses, bring them along when trying on helmets. It might help with your final decision.

And once again, I must reiterate that every helmet is different in shape, as well as in sizing. A medium HJC doesn't necessarily equate to a medium CKX, or even to a medium in a different HJC model. Trying helmets on, and leaving them on for at least a minute or two, is critical to finding a good fit. And fit is the single most critical factor in both comfort and safety.

I hope this information helps you make some important and informed decisions when buying your next helmet.