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The 6 Best Dirt Bike Helmets [+ Brands] In 2021

Looking for the best dirt bike helmet? On a budget? Read our buyer’s guide to finding the perfect MX helmet for every rider and budget.

2021’s Best Dirt Bike Helmets

1. Shift White Label Dirt Bike Helmet

shift white labelIf you’re short on cash, you’ve got a couple of options. Answer, Shift and O’Neal all offer helmets in this price bracket.

However, I’d always suggest going for last year’s model. So, in 2021 you’ll want to look for the 2020 model. You’ll usually get the next spec up for the same price if you go with last year’s model.

Right now, you can grab the Shift White Label lid for under $100, and I think that’s a bargain. If you want the current White Label model, expect to pay $60-100 more.

The Dri-Lex comfort liner means when you sweat, it dries quickly and that keeps you comfortable.

This is helped along by the 9 intake vents and the 4 exhaust vents – keeping fresh air flowing through the helmet at a steady pace.

The only problem here, is helmets in this price range are safe, but heavy. The Shift White Label weighs in at nearly 2.2kg.

A top helmet from a leading brand for under $100? I don’t think we can really ask for more, this is the best dirt bike helmet for those on a tight budget.

Our Pick For: Best Dirt Bike Helmet Under $100

Shift Motocross Helmets  

2. Fox Racing V1 Dirt Bike Helmet

fox racing v1 mx helmetWhen you’re looking at helmets and have a budget up to $200, you’re starting to give yourself a lot more choice.

The EVS Vortek is a great choice, but I’d be leaning towards the Fox Racing V1.

Fox Racing are one of the leading motocross brands, in fact, you’ll see our intro features them.

They do a tiered range of helmets being the Fox V1, Fox V2, Fox V4 and Fox V4. Of course, every model up comes with a bigger price tag, heading towards $400 for the V4. Put simply, Fox Racing offer some of the best dirt bike helmets for every budget.

The injection moulded polycarbonate construction of the Fox V1 means it’s going to withstand some big impacts.

Compared with the Shift White Label you’ll notice two things.

The first, is that the 3-shell construction makes for a snug fit; it’s comfy.

It offers the same breathable characteristics of the Shift White Label with 9 intakes and 4 exhaust vents, as well as exceeding the standards set by ECE 22.05 and DOT certifications.

Secondly, weight. The Shift helmet weighs in at 2.2kg, whereas the Fox Racing V1 is just 1.8kg. A 400g saving on your bike? No biggie. But, on your head? That’s going to make a significant difference.

Our Pick For: Best Dirt Bike Helmet under $200

Fox Racing Motocross Helmets  

3. Troy Lee Designs SE4 Poly Motocross Helmet

best mx helmetWith a budget of under $300, you’ve got a big choice. You’re going to get a lightweight, breathable and extremely safe helmet. And, you’ll be able to choose from most brands.

In this price bracket, you’ve got the capacity to grab the Fox Racing V2, but I’d be leaning towards the Troy Lee Designs SE4 range.

Troy Lee Designs have been in the motocross and supercross game for years. And, the TLD SE3 and TLD SE4 helmets are really what have propelled them from being a company that designs cool MX gear, to a company that keeps motocross rider’s safe.

We’re getting into the super-lightweight motocross helmet category now, with the TLD SE4 weighing in at just under 1.5kg.

But, the focus for TLD is fit, design and safety. They offer 3 shell sizes so the helmet fits better than most, and that means an impact is spread evenly across the helmet, leaving less force to be absorbed by our noggins.

And, god forbid we have a big accident, there’s an emergency release system, so EMS responders can attend to you safely.

You wouldn’t think cheap and breakable parts would be welcomed in a expensive dirt bike helmet, but they are. And, that’s exactly what you get with the plastic visor screws. They are designed to break on impact. Screws in cheap helmets are designed to sustain an impact, but that force must go somewhere; your head and neck.

Our Pick For: Best Motocross Helmet Under $300

Troy Lee Designs MX Helmets  

4. Suomy Mr/MX Jump MX Helmet

suomy mr mx jumpIf you’re looking for the lightest motocross helmets on the market, look no further than Suomy.

They’re a high-end brand focused on safe but lightweight helmets.

And, the reviews online are nothing but good – I can see why.

I’ve used the Suomy MX for 3-hour endurance races.

The first thing you notice is the weightless feel. It weighs a ridiculously low 1000g/1kg (depending on size).

Let’s bear in mind that even at the $150-400 mark, you’ll expect your MX helmet to be weighing 1.5kg-1.9kg.

The second thing I noticed is the breathability. In a 3-hour race your gonna’ sweat, but it felt a lot more manageable in the MX Jump than the lower end O’Neal I usually use.

If you’re looking for a lightweight helmet that’s safe, and reasonably priced; the Suomy MX Jump is for you.

Our Pick For: Lightest Dirt Bike Helmet

Suomy Dirt Bike Helmets  

5. O’Neal Series 3 & Series 5 SRS

oneal series 5 motocross helmet

I’ve had a couple of O’Neal helmets and I’ve been impressed with them. From looking at their specs, and my person experience, they feel undervalued.

The O’Neal Series 3 retails for just over $100, and the higher-end O’Neal Series 5 SRS retails for just under $200.

O'Neal MX Helmets  

6. Arai VX-Pro 4

arai vxpro

Arai have been top of this game for a while. The problem is, they top the price charts too. No doubt, the Arai VX-Pro 4 is an awesome lid, but it weighs in at over $600!

So, it’s for those that are not on a budget.

Arai MX Helmets  

Why You Shouldn’t Buy A Cheap Dirt Bike Helmet

Only the best dirt bike helmets on the market will meet certain safety standards.

I know it’s tempting to purchase a cheap motocross helmet in the $40-50 range, but don’t; it’s just not worth the risk.

Many of you will have seen Ken Roczen’s big crash at Anaheim 2 2017.

And, then his message on Instagram afterwards.

fox v3 helmet crash report

There’s no way you walk away from crashes like that with a $50 lid. And, that’s why we’ve detailed the best motocross brands below. Even if you don’t take onboard specific helmet recommendations, it’s worth sticking to these brands.

Different countries have different standards to make sure only the safest helmets are approved. Most racing organisations won’t let you race if you don’t have a helmet that meets these safety standards.

For example, in the UK, we have a motocross association called the ACU. They offer an ACU Gold Stamp to all helmets that meet certain criteria.

Over in the USA, helmets need to meet standards such as DOT, Snell M2005, Snell M2010 or ECE R22-05.

Realistically, any reputable manufacturer will offer the relevant safety mark as standard (i.e. you don’t need to buy a top of the range model to get the safety mark).

The Best 21 Dirt Bike Helmet Brands

Below is a list of the best dirt bike helmet brands.

Prices vary. If you get a 1-year old model (i.e. not second hand, just last year’s design) you could be paying as little as $90.

For the high-end brands and their brand-new model, you could be looking anywhere up to $750.

  1. 6D Helmets
  2. AFX
  3. Airoh
  4. AGV
  5. Answer
  6. Arai
  7. Bell
  8. EVS
  9. Fly Racing
  10. Fox Racing
  11. HJC
  12. JT Racing
  13. Leatt
  14. LS2
  15. MSR
  16. O’Neal
  17. Shift
  18. Shoei
  19. Suomy
  20. Thor
  21. Troy Lee Designs

Get The Best Dirt Bike Helmets Available  

Motocross Helmet Sizing Chart

It’s important to get the right fit and therefore the right size helmet. Helmet sizing from different manufacturers will be similar, but not always the same.

Here’s an example of a motocross helmet sizing chart from Bell that gives a rough estimate of what size helmet you’ll need.

motocross helmet sizing chart

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