When choosing the best dirt bike helmet or motocross helmet there are quite a few things to consider when it comes to protecting your noggin. This guide will discuss the many different features to consider, your safety being one of the most important.

So what is the best dirtbike helmet? Here are 4 you should consider:

1. Fox V1
2. Shoei VFX-W
3. 6D ATR-1
4. Troy Lee Designs SE4

My top choice was the Fox V1, which was not only affordable but performed the way I wanted it. The overall quality was great for the price I paid.

I understand choosing the best motocross helmet can be a difficult decision. My hope is this guide will help you make the most informed choice regarding your head protection and style of riding.

Types of Dirt bike Helmets

When you are looking to buy a dirt bike helmet or motor cross helmet basically you will be looking at off-roading helmets. These types of helmets are typically used with all-terrain vehicles such as ATVs or UTVs. This type of helmet is considered to be stronger than your standard motorcycle helmet, which is necessary in this type of high energy, dangerous sport. These helmets will give you the additional protection necessary to save your head.

However, I know not everyone is a fan of wearing off road helmets, especially if your style of riding is not that dangerous. Here are 3 main types of helmets to consider for riding your dirtbike.

Off Road Helmet

As I previously mentioned, this is the most common type of helmet used while riding a dirt bike. You see all of the motocross professionals using this style of helmet with goggles. It provides excellent protection and ventilation.

Full Face Helmet

You can use a full face helmet for riding your dirt bike. This type of helmet is typically seen on people riding motorcycles. If your style of riding is not as adrenaline pumping as the motocross pros then this type of helmet will be fine to use. It will protect your from weather, wind, and bugs.

Open Face Helmet

This style of helmet is typically worn for motorcycle riding but can also be used for off-roading. It covers about three quarters of your head leaving the face exposed. Some models include visors so you may need to purchase goggles if you like this style of head protection.

Need A Specific Type of Dirt Bike Helmet?

If you have a certain type of need that needs to assessed while riding, here are a few helmets that should suffice. I have listed some of the specific types of helmets riders want or are searching for.

Best Dirt Bike Helmet For Females

To the ladies of this sport. One of the best dirt bike helmets for women is the Vega Helmet. You will love the purple and pink finish. It is super comfortable and incredibly functional. It is durable so your pretty little head will remain protected during a crash.

Best Dirt Bike Helmet For Kids

Is your child interested in motor cross? The first thing you want to get him or her is a helmet. The TCMT Youth Motocross helmet is the just the one to buy. It is DOT certified and a pair of riding gloves is included with purchase. It is a very strong helmet that will keep your child protect at all times. It is lightweight, which make it easy for your kid to keep the head upright and won’t limit their turning radius. It has excellent ventilation and a UV protective coat to preserve the integrity of the helmet. It is affordable and has amazing graphics that your child will love wearing.

Best Bluetooth Dirt Bike Helmet

Want to rock out while riding your dirt bike? If you are looking for a protective helmet with bluetooth I suggest grabbin the FreedConn Bluetooth Motorcycle Helmet. I know it’s a motorcycle helmet but it will still function to protect your head while riding and giving you the capability to listen to your tunes. If you are looking for a dirt bike helmet with communication functionality check out the Nikko N719. It has a bluetooth intercom system that is pretty nifty.

Best Motorcycle Helmet For People That Wear Glasses

Normally I’d like to recommend an open face helmet for people that wear glasses. Those types of helmets can be worn if your style of riding is non-aggressive. However, if you do ride aggressively, I’d recommend getting an off-road helmet with these Oakley goggles, which are one of the best dirt bike goggle for glasses.

Fitting A Dirtbike Helmet

After you decide what type of dirtbike helmet you want, you need to make sure it fits correctly. It’s important to get the right sized helmet because this will make a difference if you get into an accident.

It should also feel comfortable. The human head comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes so make sure to get a helmet designed for your head.

I wrote a post on how to measure your head which you should read to get an estimate of the helmet size and shape you need. The guide also provides a few additional tips for the perfect fit.

What’s Your Budget?

The cost of a motocross helmet will definitely plays a factor in your buying decision, especially when you are on a budget. I have broken the typical cost of a dirt bike helmet into three different categories.

On one end of the spectrum, there are the cheap dirt bike helmets that you can usually find for no more than $50. The mid-tier priced helmets cost between $100 and $250. The higher end dirt bike helmets usually cost above $300.

Cheap Dirtbike Helmets

Need an affordable dirt bike helmet? This new motocross helmet is a decent helmet at a very economical price. I don’t recommend sacrificing quality for the price but sometimes money is an issue so you need to make the best of your situation.

Be wary of purchasing helmets under $100, which may not have the best overall quality. Saving a dollar on your helmet may not be the best strategy when it comes to protecting your own life.

Cheap dirtbike helmets tend to use less quality material and are not designed as strong as some of the more expensive models. You will certainly notice a difference if you compare a cheap dirt bike helmet to an expensive dirt bike helmet.

Moderate Priced Dirtbike Helmets

For those that are more serious about riding and have a larger budget, try the O’Neal 5 SRS. It is made of durable polycarbonate for ultimate protection. It will keep you cool and meets all of the standard safety requirements.

High-End Dirtbike Helmets

One of the more luxurious and most expensive motocross helmets on the market is the Fox Racing ProFrame. This will give you an idea of just how much some of the higher end models cost.

How Are You Using It?

When you are ready to buy a helmet, it is important to determine how you will be using it. This involves the style of riding you perform with your vehicle.

For Beginners

Since this site is dedicated to first-time riders, purchasing a high-end fully loaded helmet would not make sense. These types of helmets would be better suited for the more experienced riders. Therefore you should not be spending an arm and a leg on your first helmet unless you want to.

Are you upgrading?

If you are replacing a helmet for your first time then you might want to think about upgrading. You may still be a beginner rider but now have more experience under your belt.

You might be ready for a more advanced helmet with better features that will make you feel like a pro! Plus if you plan on riding more, you should make the investment in a more durable helmet.

Standard Features To Look For

In addition to the information mentioned previously, here are a few design features to look for when purchasing your first dirt bike helmet. This will help guide you in choosing the best helmet and avoid poor quality.

Safety

I hope by now it is clear to select a helmet that meets or exceeds all safety standards. You want to make sure to have a helmet that meets all Snell, DOT, and ECE requirements. This ensures you are protected.

Available Parts

A smart idea is to choose a helmet whose parts can be readily available from the manufacturer. You never know when your helmet could break or malfunction. Therefore it would be convenient to have a helmet with parts readily available should something like this happen.

Comfort

You don’t want a helmet that is uncomfortable. You will be wearing this for hours on end if you are serious about this sport or hobby. Therefore get a helmet that is super comfortable.

Helmet Weight

This is something you may forget about when buying a helmet. The weight plays a significant role in your overall comfort.

If it is too heavy, the weight of the helmet can put unnecessary stress onto your neck. This will make your more tired while riding causing your performance to suffer.

How much does a dirtbike helmet weigh?

A quality dirtbike helmet should weigh no more than 4 lbs. The best motocross helmets are low in weight but high in durability.

Ventilation

You want a helmet that is well-ventilated. Trust me. If you wear a stuffy helmet you won’t be able to breathe. Plus you will sweat so much it will drip into your eyes. If you ride during the summer or live in a warm climate, make sure your helmet is strongly ventilated.

Graphic Design

The graphics won’t protect you nor will they make you perform any better. This is strictly for style points. Do you want to look cool while riding?

Technology

Due to technology, there have been many advancements implemented in helmet design. There are more features now than ever! Some of the most innovative and best helmets are lightweight, use goggle grabbers to keep your goggles in place, adjustable face pads, removable mouth vents, and removable liners for easy washing.

Shell Material

The most popular helmets are made of lightweight, strong material such as polycarbonate, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. I’d recommend getting a helmet that uses this type of material because it is super durable.

Liner

If you wear your helmet a lot then you have more or less sweated in it. Your sweat can stink up your helmet. Therefore it is best to get a helmet with a removable liner so you can wash out the stink and germs or easily replace with a new one.

Helmet Shape

Everyone has a different shaped head. Helmets are designed in a way to fit the many different head shapes that humans have. Make sure to do your research to determine if the helmet is oval shaped or round. You can review my helmet measurement and sizing guide for more information.

Chin Protection

Having a helmet with extended chin protection will prove to be helpful in preventing dust and debris from hitting your face. It will guard against anything that tries to get up underneath your helmet.

Dirt bike Helmet Reviews

Now that I have covered just about everything you should look for when purchasing a motocross helmet, here are the top three best-sellers. These are excellent dirt bike helmets for beginners. These are even popular among some of the more experienced riders.

#3 Troy Lee Designs SE4

This is one of the most sleek and sexy helmets on the market. You will absolutely love the outer shell design and graphics. The carbon fiber material is strong enough to keep your head protected in case of an accident. You will be amazed by the ventilation and weighs less than 3 pounds. Read my review on the TLD SE4 to learn more about this helmet.

#2 6D ATR-1

All I can say about this dirt bike helmet is that it is simply amazing. The aerospace-grade carbon material, carbon fiberglass, and Kevlar make up the shell. This thing is practically indestructible.

The design implements omni-directional suspension technology, which is a super protective solution against a variety of different impacts points and pressure. This high-end design will keep your brain safe at all times.

The 6D ATR-1 exceeds all DOT and ECE standards. It also features a sternum pad and emergency release cheek pads. It weighs just over 3 pounds. You will definitely fall in love with this super lightweight and durable helmet. Learn even more about this helmet by checking out my 6D ATR-1 helmet review.

#1 Shoei VFX-W Helmet

The Shoei VFX-W is one of the best dirt bike helmets you can own. The company is extremely reputable and stand by their consistently strong safety rating.

This is by far one of the strongest lightweight helmets in the market. It is a premium helmet that comes at a hefty price but is well worth the investment.

The advanced technology of this helmet design makes it one of the best. Read my in-depth Shoei VFX-W review so you can learn more about this helmet before buying.

Why You Need A Dirt Bike Helmet

I’m hoping this is obvious but in case it isn’t, you need to wear a helmet while riding a dirt bike to protect your head in case you get in an accident. You see the motor cross professionals wear them so why wouldn’t you?

Wearing a helmet is the single best way to protect your head from injury. Other safety equipment is good to wear but a helmet is by the far the most important.

How strong is a dirtbike helmet?

Many people don’t realize how strong a dirtbike helmet actually is. Some think it won’t protect you in a crash. To those people who doubt the strength of a helmet watch the video below to see just how hard a dirt bike helmet is.

If that video does not convince you to get a helmet then I don’t know what else to tell you. Clearly, a dirtbike helmet can withstand a significant amount of force. A helmet of this caliber will definitely provide maximum protection in an accident. Wearing a helmet is one of the best preventative measures you can take if riding a dirt bike.

Maintaining Your Helmet

If you want to expand the lifespan of your motocross helmet then make sure to engage in consistent maintenance after each ride. You should check out my post on how to clean and maintain your helmet properly for some awesome tips and instructions to help keep your helmet looking brand new and performing optimally. Rember to replace your helmet if cracks.

Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this post in order to buy your first helmet then you are in the right place. This guide covers just about everything you need to look for in a quality helmet. It also provides a few recommendations and reviews of some of the best dirt bike helmets in the market.

Shopping for a motocross helmet can be challenging. There are a few different types to choose from. The most common is an off-road helmet. You can also wear full-face helmets and three-quarter helmets. The prices range from cheap dirt bike helmets under $50 to higher end models that cost over $600.

Dirt biking is a very dangerous sport. Therefore safety is your number one priority when it comes to choosing your helmet. You need to make sure it fits correctly and wears comfortably.