Modern cars and trucks are powerful and capable of considerable speeds. In those vehicles we wear seat belts, and in the event of a crash they protect us and keep us in position so the vehicle’s airbags, seat headrests, crumple zones, side intrusion beams, interior padding, and overall cabin structure can do their job and prevent injury. Today’s powersports vehicles like ATVs, UTVs (also known as side-by-sides), snowmobiles, and Personal Watercraft (PWC) are also very powerful and fast, however, with the exception of seat belts and roll bars found on some UTVs, they don’t have safety features. When you’re riding off-road the only protection you have is the gear you’re wearing, and the most important component of your protective attire is your helmet. No matter how you like to have your powersports fun, exploring the woods on an ATV, charging across the desert on a UTV, hitting winter trails on a snowmobile, or riding the waves on a personal watercraft, we have your helmet.
When riding off-road over varying surfaces and uneven terrain, crashes and get-offs are always possible, and impact to an unprotected head can result in serious injury or worse. But besides common-sense safety, wearing a helmet and eye protection has other benefits including reducing noise and fatigue from wind, and preventing distraction and injury caused by insects or other debris striking you in the eyes and face. Helmet use is also required in many states when riding an off-road vehicle, including ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles. So, since a helmet will be as much a part of your off-road experience as the machine you’re riding, it makes sense to get a helmet that is comfortable, with the features you want, and with the style you’ll want to be seen in. We have helmets for all size and shape heads including round oval, intermediate oval, and long oval, and in your choice of matte or gloss solid colors, or sensational multi-color designs and graphics. In addition to dirt bike and dual sport helmets, we have full face, modular “flip up”, and open face helmets. All are DOT (Department of Transportation) certified, and some have ECE (European) certification and/or Snell approval.
Given that dirt bikes and ATVs are ridden in the same environment, it’s only natural that dirt bike and motocross helmets would be the helmet of choice for many ATV and UTV riders. Any kind of off-road riding is much more strenuous than riding on the street, and as it’s generally done at lower than highway speeds you don’t get the benefit of forced airflow through the helmet. That’s why dirt bike helmets have an elongated chin bar and much more extensive venting, to let more cooling air in around the rider’s head and face while still providing protection from dirt and debris. The extended, exaggerated peak visor also provides protection from roost, as well as from the sun. Dirt bike helmets are lightweight to reduce fatigue, have large eye ports for easy goggles fitment, and removable, washable liners and cheek pads – very important to prevent smell when you’re sweating on every ride. A dual sport helmet is an alternative for riders who want the design of a dirt bike helmet but with the added protection afforded by a pivoting full face shield.
Another option is a regular full face helmet. Like a dual sport helmet, a full face helmet features one-piece construction, a built-in chin bar and integrated face shield, but in a configuration that is visor-less, more aerodynamic and optimized for street riding. Their design and shape make full face helmets much quieter than other types, but since most have advanced ventilation systems, you’ll stay cool. Openings at the chin bar and top of the helmet take in air that circulates through the interior and exhausts through vents at the rear, and most openings can be closed so you can be warm in colder weather. Full face helmets generally have more standard and available features than other helmets, like internal retractable sun visors, optional face shields including anti-fog Pinlock® lens ready shields, communications system compatibility, and more. The open face is the classic, old school helmet, but we offer models that combine vintage looks with modern amenities like external visors, internal retractable sun visors, pivoting external full face shields, removable liners, and some even have vent systems and provisions for communication systems.
Modular helmets, also known as “flip up” helmets because of their flip up chin bars, provide the best of the full face and open face helmet designs. They combine the protection, comfort and noise reduction of a full face (although the hinge mechanism makes them not as strong and as quiet as a full faces’ one-piece construction) with the convenience of an open face. When the chin bar on a modular helmet is flipped up, it’s easy to put on glasses, have a conversation, get a drink, have a smoke, or just get some fresh air when you’re taking a breather out on the trail, without having to remove your helmet. Modular helmets generally have standard and available features similar to a full face, such as removable liners, breath deflectors, internal retractable sun visors, Pinlock® ready face shields, and communication system provisions.
Snowmobile helmets come in styles like the above-mentioned full face, modular, dual sport and dirt bike styles, but with features optimized for cold weather riding. Full face, modular and dual sport style helmets with their full face shields will keep you the warmest if you regularly ride at speed on fast trails in cold temperatures, and some come with chin curtains to further retain your body heat. Snowmobile helmets have breath boxes to keep your breath off the face shield or goggles to prevent fogging, and the face shields are dual pane, with a layer of gas between the shield panes that creates an insulator to prevent fogging. Some come with electrically heated shields that plug into the snowmobile for the ultimate in fog prevention. For active riders who may not be riding at such high speeds or in extreme cold, dirt bike/motocross style snocross helmets with their superior ventilation are a good choice. These usually come with a shield to close off the vents if desired and they should be used with a good set of snowmobile goggles that seal well to the face, and a balaclava to keep warm.
To some the idea of wearing a helmet while riding their PWC may sound strange, but if you have a get off, hitting the water at speed can be like hitting a solid object, plus a helmet with a chin bar can prevent injury if you hit a wave and your face contacts the handlebars. It’s also easier to fit goggles to a helmet, which can protect your eyes from water. Wearing a helmet is also required by PWC racing sanctioning bodies. We offer helmets that are ideal for PWC use and feature light weight, extensive venting, and removable and washable liner and cheek pads.
If your helmet didn’t come with all the features you want, or you want replacement parts, you need look no further than right here. You can upgrade style and functionality with a tinted face shield, available in a range of finishes. Shield fogging in cold weather is an age-old helmet wearing problem. We can help improve your dirt riding visibility with a breath deflector, and a face shield with anti-fog coating or a Pinlock® lens, or for snowmobiling, a dual pane or electrically heated shield, breath box and chin curtain. If your helmet’s feeling a lot looser these days than when you bought it, you can restore fit and freshness with our replacement liners and cheek pads, and if you need to make repairs we have replacement face shield pivots, covers and hardware, and replacement visors and peaks. We also have related necessities like helmet hangers, storage bags, and helmet locks, and care products to keep your helmet clean, fresh, and looking good.
Dirt bike/motocross and snocross helmet wearing riders know the importance of having the right eyewear. We hear you, that’s why we offer a huge selection of goggles with clear and tinted lenses, in designs specifically made for off-road and snowmobile riding. Plus, we have replacement lenses in various tints and replacement straps. And there’s no reason to put your ATV or UTV away when the temperature drops when you shop here. With our balaclavas, masks, bandanas and neck warmers you can be warm and comfortable aboard your sled or continue riding your off-roaders and be warm and stylish at the same time. And you can stay connected and entertained while on your powersports vehicle with our communication products. Here you’ll find everything you need to have hands-free phone conversations, stream music, listen to the radio, and have GPS navigation. Many helmets today have provisions for speakers and other communications systems and we have the products to take advantage of these features including speaker kits, microphones, helmet intercom systems, and Bluetooth communication systems.
