Quest for the Best Motorcycle Helmet

Frustrating though it may be, the question of a so-called best motorcycle helmet is not one so simply answered.  It’s a good question, because in declaring that we wish for the best motorcycle helmet, we're essentially stating we need the best conceivable protection for the ol' dome.  But, what this question doesn't acknowledge is that motorcycle helmets have too many variables, just like we do, for a “one size fits all” answer.  The best motorcycle helmet for me will almost never be the best for you.

So um, you say, where then does one start?  Well, there are a variety of places to begin, but in this post I’ll explain how head shape guides your journey to the best motorcycle helmet.

Similar to the many shapes of heads we've all got, producers of the best motorcycle helmets have made a variety of choices about the inner shape of their helmets.  Thinkin' back to those square pegs you amusingly sought to squeeze in the round holes as a kid?  So riddle me this: would you try to squeeze a square noggin into a round motorcycle helmet?  (by the way: a square head means you've got some problems beyond my ability to help you here.)

So, where to start?  Well the beginning is to determine what the shape of YOUR noggin is prior to thinking about the helmet.  Humans have (roughly) five head shapes: round, oval, egg, earth, and reverse egg.

Basically the shapes are what they sound like (all observing a head straight-on): round looks circular (most common with Asians), oval is longer up-and-down than side-to-side (most common by far among caucasians), earth is wider than it is tall, egg is wider at the top, and reverse egg is broader at the bottom.  I'm unsure of the demographic distributions of all the head shapes, but the point remains simple: the best motorcycle helmet for you will keep in mind the variations of head shapes we've got as human beings.

Next in your quest for the best motorcycle helmet (hey, that rhymed) is finding a helmet with an interior shape that fits the (exterior, hopefully) shape of your noggin.  Many manufacturers of motorcycle helmets don't publicize this info, so this can be a bit daunting.

You have two options: in-depth research, or trial-and-error in the stores.

If you’re confident and familiar with researching and buying things over the internet, you might raise an eyebrow at just how much data you can get on all the various motorcycle helmet brands and which ones tend to fit which types of head-shape.  I personally purchased my motorcycle helmet entirely on the internet, and it fits great.  You have to be okay with sending it back though if the helmet doesn’t fit quite right, so examine the website you're thinking of using to buy your motorcycle helmet to make sure they have an easy, consumer-friendly return policy .

The other option is the tried and true in-store method.  Go and find yourself a nice, big motorcycle helmet superstore and just go wild.  Even here you'll be greatly assisted by preparing yourself with prior research.  Then at least you can tell a sales person what shape motorcycle helmet you need, and if the employee is knowledgeable they should hopefully be able to point you in the right direction.

In future posts I’ll discuss, what else: size.  Which is the other primary variable you need to understand to find your very own, personal, best motorcycle helmet to ride off knowing your head is protected!