Helmet fit and gear for US riders
Fit the lid first, then read the label
Measure your head, find your size, and learn what the DOT, ECE and Snell labels on a helmet actually certify. Then pick the helmet, intercom and gear that suit the way you ride.
- DOT FMVSS 218
- ECE 22.06
- Snell M2020
Find your helmet size
Open the full size finder →- XXS51-52 cm
- XS53-54 cm
- S55-56 cm
- M57-58 cm
- L59-60 cm
- XL61-62 cm
- 2XL63-64 cm
- 3XL65-66 cm
Enter your measurement to see your size range.
- Brand charts differ. The same head can be an M in one brand and an L in another.
- Shape matters as much as size: long oval, intermediate oval or round oval.
- Right fit: snug on the cheeks, no pressure points after 20 to 30 minutes.
Pick a topic
From choosing a helmet style to keeping a visor clear. Each topic leads to its notes, comparisons and gear guides.
- 01Choosing a helmetHelmet types, shells, noise and price, so you know which style fits the way you ride.8 notes · 6 gear guides
- 02Fit, sizing and safety ratingsMeasuring your head, head shapes, and what DOT, ECE 22.06 and Snell labels actually certify.10 notes · 0 gear guides
- 03Helmet brands and modelsShoei, Arai, Bell, HJC, AGV, Scorpion, Schuberth and Sena lineups, model by model.12 notes · 6 gear guides
- 04Intercoms and helmet audioSena and Cardo intercoms: choosing, installing, pairing and fixing them on the road.13 notes · 3 gear guides
- 05Jackets, boots and glovesArmored jackets, airbag vests, riding boots and gloves, with CE ratings decoded.7 notes · 6 gear guides
- 06Care and upkeepCleaning, visors, fog, storage and knowing when a helmet is due for replacement.10 notes · 0 gear guides
Gear guides
Narrow guides to one kind of helmet, intercom or gear, compared by what the listings state.
- Best Shoei helmets: the lineup explainedSix Shoei helmets compared by listed certification, shell, weight, sizes and visor: RF-1400, GT-Air 3, Neotec 3, Hornet X2, J-Cruise 3 and X-Fifteen.
- Best Sena smart helmets with built-in intercomSeven Sena smart helmets compared by intercom type (Mesh or Bluetooth), certification, shell, visor and lighting, from the Phantom to the OutForce.
- Best Sena motorcycle intercoms comparedEight Sena motorcycle intercoms compared by listed range, rider count, battery and Mesh or Bluetooth support, from the Spider ST1 to the 60S and 60X.
- Best Scorpion EXO helmets above $150Seven ScorpionEXO helmets compared on DOT and ECE marks, shell material, listed weight, size range and shield setup, from the R430 to the EXO-R1 Air.
- Quietest motorcycle helmets for touring, by listed noise featuresSeven touring helmets compared by what each listing states about wind noise, plus certification, shell, weight and shield details.
- Best open face motorcycle helmets for cruisers and scootersSix open face and 3/4 motorcycle helmets compared by listed DOT and ECE certification, shell material, weight, sizes and shield or sun visor.
- Best armored motorcycle jackets by season and armor levelEight armored textile motorcycle jackets compared on stated CE armor level, shell material and waterproof liner, from mesh summer jackets to touring shells.
- Best motorcycle intercoms for solo riders, couples and groupsEight Sena and Cardo motorcycle intercoms compared on stated range, rider count, battery life, mesh or Bluetooth link and whether you get one unit or two.
- Best motorcycle gloves: gauntlet, adventure and heatedEight motorcycle gloves from Alpinestars, KLIM and Gerbing compared on knuckle and palm armor, material, waterproof membrane, cuff length and heating.
- Best motorcycle riding boots for street, touring and sportEight motorcycle boots compared by listed CE or EN 13634 rating, upper material and waterproof membrane, from Alpinestars, Sidi, TCX, Gaerne and KLIM.
- Best modular motorcycle helmets for touring and commutingEight modular motorcycle helmets compared by certification, P/J rating, shell material, stated weight, visor setup and intercom readiness.
- Best mesh motorcycle jackets for hot weatherSix mesh and airflow motorcycle jackets compared by listed CE armor level, shell material and waterproofing, from REV'IT, Alpinestars, KLIM and Dainese.
Helmet types at a glance
Six shapes for six kinds of riding.
Full face
Street, sport and touring
Modular
Touring, riders who wear glasses
Adventure
Mixed road and dirt
Open face (3/4)
Cruisers and scooters
Half
Short, slow rides
Off-road
Dirt and motocross, with goggles
Tools and charts
Calculators and reference charts that do the working out for you.
- ToolHelmet size finderEnter your head circumference in centimeters or inches and see the helmet size range it falls in, with a flag when you sit between two sizes.
- ToolHelmet rating decoderTick the labels on a helmet (DOT, ECE 22.05, ECE 22.06, Snell M2020D or M2020R) and see who issues each, how it is tested and which one US street use requires.
Head to head
Two helmets, intercoms or labels side by side.
- Shoei X-15 vs RF-1400Shoei X-15 (X-Fifteen) vs RF-1400: shell, shield, ratings, race features and price compared, and why the X-15 is not the right helmet for every rider.
- Shoei vs Schuberth for touring ridersShoei vs Schuberth for touring: Neotec 3 vs C5 modulars and GT-Air 3 vs S3 full faces, compared on weight, noise features, intercom fit and price.
- Shoei vs Arai: how the two premium brands differShoei vs Arai compared model against model: shell design, head shapes, shield systems, safety ratings and current prices from the actual listings.
- Shoei vs AGV helmets: which brand fits your ridingShoei vs AGV compared on full face and modular helmets: shells, visors, ratings, comfort and price, using the RF-1400, K6 S, Neotec 3 and StreetModular.
- Shoei RF-1400 vs RF-SR: is the flagship worth the extra moneyShoei RF-1400 vs RF-SR: what the flagship RF-1400 listing confirms on shell, shield, aerodynamics and Snell rating, and what to check on the entry RF-SR.
- Shoei Neotec 3 vs Schuberth C5: which premium modular to buyShoei Neotec 3 vs Schuberth C5 compared on weight, shell, visor, ventilation, comms prep and price, using only facts from each product listing.
How-tos and explainers
- When should you replace a motorcycle helmet?Why helmet makers say replace every 5 years, where that guidance comes from, and the signs that mean you need a new motorcycle helmet sooner.
- Shoei helmet size chart and shell sizesShoei helmet sizes in centimeters and inches, how Shoei uses multiple shell sizes per model, and how cheek pad and center pad swaps fine-tune the fit.
- Photochromic and transition helmet visors explainedHow photochromic and Transitions motorcycle visors darken, how fast they change, why temperature matters, and what to know about tint legality.
- Wearing a motorcycle helmet with glassesYes, you can wear glasses under a motorcycle helmet. How eyewear channels work, which frames fit best, and how to put glasses on with the helmet on.
- How much does a motorcycle helmet weigh?Typical motorcycle helmet weights for full face, modular, adventure and open face models, how shell material changes weight, and listed weights of popular helmets.
- Motorcycle helmet types explainedFull face, modular, adventure, open face, half and off-road helmets compared in one table: coverage, noise, weight and which riding style each one suits.
Fixes and fit problems
Pressure points, fog, wind noise and intercom pairing, each with what to check first.
- Sena mesh not working? Fixes for 50S, 50R and 60SSena mesh not connecting? Check Open vs Group mode, the channel, firmware mismatch and reset steps for the Sena 50S, 50R, 50C and 60S.
- Motorcycle helmet too loud? Wind noise fixesCut motorcycle helmet wind noise in the right order: check fit gaps, add a chin curtain and neck roll, adjust windscreen height and wear earplugs.
- Motorcycle helmet visor fogging up: fixesStop your motorcycle helmet visor fogging: Pinlock inserts, breath guards, vent use and anti-fog sprays, ranked from most to least effective.
- Helmet pressure points and headachesWhy a motorcycle helmet squeezes your forehead or temples, how to tell break-in tightness from a wrong shape, and safe fixes like pad swaps that actually work.
- Intercom pairing, audio or charging faultsFix common Cardo Packtalk Edge, Pro and Neo problems: dropped pairing, low volume, a mic nobody can hear, and charging faults, in a simple step by step order.