Whenever someone brings the subject of motorcycle riding protection up, the helmet is probably the first thing that comes to mind. The motorcycle helmet is the main protective gear that riders use and it’s the only kind of gear that is enforced by law. Whether no one will force you to wear a motorcycle jacket for example, equipping a motorcycle helmet while riding is an absolute must and not doing so is in many places, punishable by law.

The protective importance of the gear can easily be attested by statistics. It has been calculated that almost 80% of all serious motorcycle accidents would have been fatal to the victim if not for the helmet. Obviously, if the accident is too violent even the helmet will be useless, but as long as it can be a lifesaver in most situations, there’s no solid argument as to avoid wearing one.

Getting a motorcycle helmet is not that difficult either, since there are virtually thousands of models that you can choose from. The biggest choice however will be towards the type of motorcycle helmet that you will get. There are three main types of helmets (full face, open face and ½ helmets) and a series of variations. Full face helmets cover the entire head and they also have a longer rear side to protect the backside base of the skull. In addition, full face motorcycle helmet have a prolonged protective section under the chin, so most of your head is protected during an impact. The downside is that full face helmets are a lot heavier and potentially uncomfortable when compared to open face or ½ ones.

Open face helmets offer everything a full face helmet does except that it lacks the protective chin part. Open face helmets look similar to those used by police units for example. Their advantage is that they are a lot easier to handle and they offer more breathing room as well as better visibility. Still, the amount of protection offered is lower than that of a full face helmet, especially if the crash is frontal and your chin is exposed.

Lastly, the ½ helmets have the same design and looks as open face ones but they have a raised rear side, making them even lighter. The main disadvantage is that the ½ helmet is less stable and requires a chin strap to hold on, which can oftentimes be annoying or uncomfortable. Also in some states, ½ helmets are not approved as safe by local authorities because they only offer a limited amount of protection.

To conclude, whichever type of motorcycle helmet you go for, make sure that it’s a quality one in the first place and worry about looks and style last. Get a helmet that’s made out of a material that can absorb heavy shocks and protect your skull and brain as well as your head’s surface for external injury.