Get off the beaten track with MCN's pick of the best adventure bike helmets we've tested lately

Choosing a motorbike helmet to wear on an adventure bike is all about compromise. Peaks are handy off-road, for example, but can be a pain on the motorway. You want maximum ventilation on a sweaty trail but calm and quiet in a national speed limit.

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With adventure bike sales continuing to dominate all over the world, helmet manufacturers have developed better lids that can do it all – picking the off-road features they want to keep and melding them with the best bits of touring and sporty lids, too. It’s not just helmets, either, there’s loads of adventure bike kit of all types to consider these days.

If you’re never heading off the tarmac, a sports-touring helmet could actually be a better choice. These are designed to be quiet and comfortable with lots of creature comforts and tech included. But if you are planning to explore trails (or you just like the look of a peaked lid) then an adventure bike helmet is the way to go.

• Related: Insure your adventure bike with MCN Compare today

So which is the best adventure bike helmet to buy? We have rounded our favourite options and answered all of the important buying questions at the bottom of this article to ensure you make the right decision.

MCN’s recommended adventure helmets:

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• Related: Best adventure bike jackets for all trips and seasons

Our best rated ECE 22.05 adventure helmets:

The shift from the old ECE 22.05 safety standard to the new ECE 22.06 has meant that most manufacturers have brought upgraded models to market. But this has created some great bargains to be had on the older stock, which are still great lids and perfectly legal to buy… while stocks last.

• Related: Best adventure bike boots that blend protection with comfort

Things to consider before you buy an adventure bike helmet

Is it road legal?

To conform to UK law a helmet must either:

• Reach British Standard BS 6658:1985 and also carry the BSI Kitemark.
• Meet UNECE Regulation 22.06 (ECE 22.05 helmets can still be sold until stocks run out).
• Meet a European Economic Area member standard equivalent of BS 6658:1985 and also carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark.
• Most lids will have ECE 22-06 printed on them, usually at the back of the lid.
• Older lids will meet the ECE 22-05 standard. Although it’s an older safety standard, they’re still completely legal to wear, but they aren’t as rigorously tested as those under the newer standard.

Is it SHARP rated?

SHARP’s five-star safety rating is an independent helmet testing scheme ran by the Department of Transport. Where most full-face lids are rated, few adventure lids have been assessed by SHARP but those that have been can be located via the SHARP website.

Can I wear goggles with it?

When you are riding off-road, visors tend to get covered in mud, reducing visibility. Also, a visor is more likely to mist up when you are breathing hard due to exertion than goggles and has less ventilation. A lot of adventure lids allow the visor to be removed completely and goggles worn instead. If you plan on riding your bike off-road, look for a lid that allows the use of goggles.

Does it have a Pinlock insert?

One of the best anti-fog inserts on the market, many lids come with a Pinlock included in the box while others simply have its fixings and you need to purchase the Pinlock itself separately. If you need to buy it, factor this extra expense into your buying decision.

How much does it weigh?

A heavy lid can put extra strain on your neck, leading to fatigue when worn for a long period of time, so a lightweight lid can be an advantage when it comes to touring.

Is the lining removable?

Helmets get sweaty and removing the lining and cleaning it thoroughly is the best way of reducing smells and keeping it nice to wear. This is especially important if you are planning off-road use where you will exert yourself more and possibly even get the lid’s lining dusty.

Is the visor easy to remove?

A fiddly visor removal system can be very annoying when it comes to removing the visor to give it a good clean and remove and stuck on flies. Look for a well-designed system that will allow you to quickly remove the visor with minimal effort or use of tools.

Does it have an integrated sun visor?

A ‘flip-down’ sun visor is a really handy addition for when the sun is out as it means you can simply flip it down while on the go rather than stopping to fit a pair of sunglases.

What is its ventilation like?

A hot head is an uncomfortable head, so see if the helmet has vents and if they are easily operated by a gloved hand. The more vents, the cooler your head will be, however they can create extra wind noise.

Is it ready for a communications system?

Many helmets are ‘communications ready,’ which means they are designed with extra recesses around the ear areas so that you can insert headphones for a communications system. Without these recesses, the headphones can press irritatingly on your ears.

Is it designed for glasses?

If you wear glasses, a lot of helmets have special areas in them to allow the glasses’ arms to sit comfortably between the lining and your face, stopping them pressing on you or getting deformed and also making them easy to remove and put on.

What kind of strap fastener does it have?

There are two general types of helmet strap fastener – a D-Ring and a ratchet-style. The D-Ring requires manually threading and then tightening the strap where a ratchet-style system is a simple push-fit. It is a matter of choice with some riders preferring the ease of the ratchet-style and other opting for the secure feeling offered by a D-Ring.

Can I move the peak?

Adventure lids have a peak to help shade your eyes from the sun. Can it easily be moved to alter its position? Also, does it have cut-outs or aerodynamic features to stop it getting caught in the wind at speed, potentially putting extra strain on your neck.

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How MCN tests helmets

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our writers has an in-depth understanding of the needs of today’s biker… because they are one.

We’ve worn these tested adventure bike helmets for hundreds or thousands of miles on MCN test bikes and we ride in all weathers and conditions, too. We’ll never recommend a helmet we wouldn’t put our own head in!

If you can’t see a review against a helmet on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested it yet. These helmets will only be included if we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and rest assured, we will be working on bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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Our scores explained

When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given product, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

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