How to Choose a Helmet? | Match Type To Activity

Buying the right helmet starts with one question: what activity is it for? A bicycle helmet, a motorcycle helmet, and a workplace hard hat are each designed for different impacts and each carries its own required safety standard. Buying by style instead of activity is the most common mistake riders make. Match the helmet to the hazard, confirm the certification label, and then test the fit yourself—no standard can do that part for you.

Match the Safety Standard To the Activity

Every helmet sold for a specific purpose in the U.S. must meet a specific standard, and the label is how you verify it. If the label isn’t there, the protection isn’t guaranteed.

• Bicycle helmets:
• Motorcycle helmets: Look for the DOT symbol on the outside back of the shell, which signals compliance with FMVSS No. 218.
• Workplace head protection: Your employer performs a hazard assessment to decide the type needed, based on ANSI/ISEA standards like ANSI Z89.1.
• Other sports: Many recreational helmets follow voluntary standards. The helmet should carry that standard’s label or marking.

Compatibility matters. A certified bicycle helmet is not a substitute for a motorcycle helmet or a workplace hard hat, and the reverse is also true. Each standard tests for the hazards of its own activity.

How to Check Helmet Fit and Retention

Fit is not certified by any standard, so you have to test it yourself. Measure your head around the fullest part, just above the ears, before trying helmets on.

For a bicycle helmet, Consumer Reports offers a clear test. The front edge should sit no more than 1 inch above your eyebrows. When you push side-to-side, the motion should wrinkle the skin at your temples.

Motorcycle helmets follow a similar logic. The helmet should feel snug all the way around the crown, and the chin strap should allow no more than two fingers underneath it. A helmet that shifts or lifts off when you fasten it is the wrong size.

Inspect the Helmet Before Every Use

A helmet only protects if it’s in good condition. OSHA instructs users to inspect the shell, the suspension system, the chin strap, the cushioning, and the certification marks before each use.

Look for cracks, dents, wear, loose attachments, or damaged cushioning. If you find any of these, replace the helmet.

For bicycle helmets specifically, the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute warns about snag points, squared-off shells, excessive vents, dark colors, thin straps, complicated adjustments, and rigid visors—all features that can compromise fit or visibility in a crash.

Know the Standards That Apply To You

The U.S. uses its own standards for bicycle and motorcycle helmets, but international markings can appear on helmets sold here. Health Canada lists accepted ski and snowboard standards including EN 1077, ASTM F2040, Snell RS-98, and CSA Z263.1.

These markings matter if the helmet was built to another market’s rules. The legal requirements cited here are U.S.-specific for bicycle and motorcycle helmets, so verify the label matches the standard for your activity and region.

Once you’ve confirmed the standard and the fit, you’re set. For activities with less standardized gear—like equestrian riding—the same logic applies: match the helmet to the activity and check the certification. Our tested roundup of the best equestrian helmets covers top-rated options that meet the relevant safety standards.