Best Dirt Bike Helmets (for Motocross or Trails) Under $200-$700
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A quality helmet is arguably the most important piece of riding gear you’ll buy. When picking good dirt bike helmets there are a lot of variables that come into play. And to be honest, there isn’t really one “top” helmet that every rider should go out and grab.
However, there are a few that I consider to be the “best.”
In addition to some of the points that we’ll discuss here (size, style, fit, quality), there’s a lot to consider before buying a helmet. Just like boots, goggles, gloves and most other pieces of riding gear, MX helmets are available in a WIDE variety of prices, styles and colors.
In many ways, it’s going to come down to personal preference.
Do You Need to Buy a Good Helmet?
Yes, I think you should get a good one. There are many reasons not to pick a “so-so” helmet.
We’ll get into those reasons in a bit.
First, please let me Jerry tell you the real reason we need to pick a quality helmet. 😉
There are many things that we can point to that prove the human being is not smart. The helmet is my personal favorite. The fact that we had to invent the helmet. Now why did we invent the helmet? Well, because we were participating in many activities that were cracking our heads. We looked at the situation. We chose not to avoid these activities, but to just make little plastic hats so that we can continue our head-cracking lifestyles.
– Jerry Seinfeld
There you have it – the real reason you’re looking to buy a helmet.
You want to carry on with your head-crackin’ lifestyle (riding wheelies, jumping, etc.) but you don’t want to crack your head while you’re doing it.
I get that. I’m with you.
Back when I started riding (the mid 1980’s) helmets were no where near where they are today. The technology used to make our helmets today is awesome. When it comes to safety, just about all of the available helmets today will be DOT certified, and have you covered.
In other words, here’s look at some of best helmets to aid you in your head-crackin’ fun…
Motocross Helmet Reviews
Because the prices of helmets vary so much, I’ve decided to break this into a few categories. Let’s face it, not everyone is up to spending $700+ on a helmet. If you aren’t, that’s cool. There are plenty of dang good helmets for under that $700 mark.
Here’s what we’ll look at:
- Helmets under $200
- Helmets under $300
- The best for the money
- Best overall pick
Best Under $200
If you’re shopping on a budget (when did $200 become “budget” shopping) then I’d recommend the Fox V1. It’s a solid helmet and you won’t have to beat yourself up for spending a little less. Fox has been one of the industry’s leading brands and continues to put out solid products.
Shop Fox V1 Helmets Fox Sizing Chart
Best Under $300
With a slight bump up in price, you can grab a really sweet helmet. The Fly Racing F2 Carbon is my recommended semi-budget helmet… so much so, I actually just bought one of these last month and I really like it. You shouldn’t be disappointed.
Shop Fly F2 Carbon Helmets Fly Sizing Chart
Best MX Helmet for the Money (under $500)
When it comes to a true comparison of what you get, for what you pay, 6D has my vote. The ATR-1 is a killer helmet and it’s reasonably priced. It’s not quite as fancy as the ATR-2 (we’ll look at that next), but in all reality – it’s awesome! If you want one of the best mx helmets, but for quite a bit less than a premium price, go with this one.
Shop 6D VTR-1 Helmets 6D Sizing Chart
Overall Best Helmet
Alright, here’s the cream-of-crop. It looks awesome, it fits awesome, and… it’s expensive. Oh yeah, and it’s another helmet from 6D. I’m sorry but I’m not too imaginative today. And besides, these guys make a awesome helmet.
Shop 6D VTR-2 Helmets 6D Sizing Chart
What Size Helmet Do You Need?
Unfortunately, this is a bit more complicated than you might initially think. Fortunately, the big brands want you to be happy with your purchase. They want the helmets to fit you properly and they want you to feel comfortable wearing the helmet.
And so they provide sizing charts.
So… I’ve put the helmet sizing charts together (by collecting them from the manufacturer’s info) and have them here for easy reference. You’ll see each dirtbike helmet brands’s sizing chart in their respective section below. But first…
Here’s how you measure your melon for an accurate reading.
Yep, pretty easy. Just grab a cloth measuring tape and start from just above your eyebrows and wrap the tape around your dome keeping the tape above your ears and around the widest point on the back of your head.
You may want to try a couple times to make sure that you’re able to get the largest circumference.
Write down the largest measurement; you’ll need that when choosing between small, medium, large, etc.
Top Dirt Bike Helmet Brands
There a LOT of good brands out there. Here are some of the most popular motocross helmet brands.
Again, much of this will eventually come down to personal taste and preference, but these are where you want to start looking.
Arai
Arai is a fairly small, family company. The Arai helmets are some of the highest quality helmets out there. Although they do not have an extensive line of different dirt bike helmets, they do offer some very nice options. In addition to dirt bike riding helmets, Arai also offers automobile and street, or motorcycle helmets.
As far as their helmets go, Arai is best known for their VX-PRO4 helmets. These helmets generally run between $600-$750.
2XS 51-51 (20.1-20.5 inches) XS 53-54 (20.9-21.3 inches) SM 55-56 (21.7-22 inches) MD 57-58 (22.4-22.8 inches) LG 59-60 (23.2-23.6 inches) XL 61-62 (24-24.4 inches) 2XL 63-64 (24.6-25.2 inches) 3XL 65-66 (25.6-26 inches)
6D
6D is a young, yet highly influential company. They made a splash in the marketplace in 2013 with the introduction of the ATR-1 helmet. 6D helmets are known for being both cool looking helmets and very safe. They utilize ODS technology to help protect a rider’s brain from linear and angular forces.
The ATR-1 helmets range in price from about $450-$500 while the new-and-improved ATR-2 helmets price range from $650-$700. If you’ve got the money, these are sweet helmets.
XS 53-54 (20 7/8-21 1/4 inches) SM 55-56 (21 5/8-22 inches) MD 57-58 (22 1/2-22 3/4 inches) LG 58-59 (22 3/4-23 1/4 inches) XL 60-61 (23 5/8-24 inches) 2XL 62-63 (24 7/16-24 3/4 inches)
Bell
Establish in 1954, Bell has been around and is a trusted source for helmets – among a few other products. Bell provides high quality helmets for many different applications, including skate, street, dirt, snow and more, and is a partner with Nitro Circus.
Bell’s dirt bike helmets range in price from as low as $150 to as high as $700.
4XS 51 (20 1/16 inches) 3XS 52-53 (20 1/2-20 7/8 inches) 2XS 54-55 (21 1/4-21 5/8 inches) XS 56 (22 inches) S 57 (22 3/8 inches) M 58-59 (22 3/4-23 1/4 inches) L 60 (23 5/8 inches) XL 61-62 (24-24 3/8 inches) 2XL 63-64 (24 3/4-25 1/4 inches) 3XL 65-66 (25 5/8-26 inches) 4XL 67-68 (26 3/8-26 3/4 inches)
Fly Racing
Fly Racing is more than just a helmet company. In addition to being known for their helmets, Fly Racing produces some great goggles, pants, jerseys, protective gear, and just about everything else.
And, as coincidental as it is, is the maker of my helmet. 🙂
I’ve got to say… that mine is very comfortable. Everything from the cheek pads, to the chin strap, to the light (but cool looking) outer shell. Heck, even the eye port is well shaped for visibility.
Fly Racing’s motocross helmets are priced from around $120-$320.
XS 53-54 (20.5-21.25 inches) SM 55-56 (21.25-22 inches) MD 57-58 (22-23 inches) LG 59-60 (23-23.75 inches) XL 61-62 (24-24.5 inches) 2XL 63-64 (24.5-25.25 inches)
Fox Racing
Founded by Geoff Fox and started as team Moto-X Fox, Fox Racing has become the industry’s most recognized brands. Not only does Fox make some pretty cool looking helmets, they produce mountain biking gear as well as every-day apparel.
Fox helmets go for anywhere around $170-$500+.
XS 53-54 (20 7/8 – 21 1/4 inches) SM 54-56.2 (21 1/4 – 22 1/8 inches) MD 56.8-58.7 (22 3/8 – 23 1/8 inches) LG 59.1-60.3 (23 1/4 – 23 3/4 inches) XL 58.7-62.9 (23 1/8 – 24 3/4 inches) 2XL 61.3-65.4 (24 1/8 – 25 3/4 inches)
Leatt
If you’re in the market for a cool and unique helmet, Leatt has some good ones. Leatt helmets are constructed in carbon, composite, or polycarbonite and are offered in a wide range of styles and colors. The company was started by Dr. Leatt designing and then selling his first neck brace in 2004, after witnesses a tragic death during a 2011 race. Since that time, Leatt has been designing and producing safety-conscience products.
Leatt helmets range from $230-$500.
XS 53 – 54 (20.9 – 21.3 inches) SM 55 – 56 (21.7 – 22 inches) MD 57 – 58 (22.4 – 22.8 inches) LG 59 – 60 (23.2 – 23.6 inches) XL 61 – 62 (24 – 24.4 inches) 2XL 63 – 64 (24.8 – 25.2 inches)
Shoei
Shoei is known for offering premium dirt bike helmets as well as street/motorcycle helmets. What’s cool about Shoei helmets (one of the cool things, anyway) is that they are handmade in Japan. In addition to being known for making some of the top rated motocross helmets, Shoei looks great and FITS great. When it comes to quality, fit, looks, and protection – Shoei really does stand out.
Depending on which model you go for, a Shoei helmet will set you back $350-$720.
2XS 51 – 52 (20.1 – 20.5 inches) XS 53 – 54 (20.9 – 21.3 inches) SM 55 – 56 (21.7 – 22 inches) MD 57 – 58 (22.4 – 22.8 inches) LG 59 – 60 (23.2 – 23.6 inches) XL 61 – 62 (24 – 24.4 inches) 2XL 63 – 64 (24.8 – 25.2 inches) 3XL 65 – 66 (25.6 – 26 inches)
Troy Lee Designs
Troy Lee (as in the man behind the name) has been customizing helmets for racers for over 30 years, and it shows in the helmets they produce. TLD (Troy Lee Designs) has a mission to produce the best looking, most comfortable and lightest motocross helmets in the market… and they do a pretty-darn decent job.
TLD offers their helmets for $225-$650, again, depending on the model you choose.
SE 3 and Air Helmets XS 53-54 (20.9 – 21.3 inches) SM 54-56 (21.3 – 22 inches) MD 56-58 (22 – 22.8 inches) LG 58-60 (22.8 – 23.6 inches) XL 60-62 (23.6 – 24.4 inches) 2XL 62-63 (24.4 – 24.8 inches) SE4 Helmets XS 54-55 (21.3 – 21.7 inches) SM 55-56 (21.7 – 22 inches) MD 57-58 (22.4 – 22.8 inches) LG 58-59 (22.8 – 23.2 inches) XL 60-61 (23.6 – 24 inches) 2XL 62-63 (24.4 – 24.8 inches)
Is that all of the helmet brands out there? Nope.
If you don’t get a helmet from one of those brands does that mean it’s not good? Not necessarily.
Those are just some of the most popular, and in my opinion, they make the best dirt bike helmets. And yes, the helmets that I recommend are made by those brands.
