Finding a helmet that fit’s well is a struggle for most of us. But what if you have a large head? Well, your journey might get even harder. I’m not talking about a little bit bigger than average, I’m talking about really big!
I’m wearing a size 60 (XL) Shark helmet which fits me well. I’ve got a large head, but I still had enough choice. This article is written for those that are looking into XXL – 5XL size helmets.
After reading reviews of over 50 helmets and reading dozens of blog posts, I’ve managed to find the overall winner for you guys.
The best motorcycle helmets for big heads are the helmets from Shark (Revzilla). It’s available up to size 5XL and will fit even the biggest and widest heads. It’s also a very affordable helmet, making it our top pick.
Helmet shaping vs sizing
There are a lot of misassumptions when it comes to helmet fitment. Most of us talk about sizing and say a helmet is too small or too big for our head. It can be true but don’t forget about the shape of the helmet.
We all have different shaped heads. Some are oval, whiles others are round. Some of us have big cheeks, whiles others barely have any cheeks but have a huge chin.
The shape of the helmet is super important when it comes to finding the right helmet for your head.
Some brands even come in different shapes. They offer the same helmet in a round and oval shapes, in different sizes. The size doesn’t only change by putting more or less padding it, it changes because the helmets have a different sized shell. Arai is one of those brands that does this. It’s great because this allows you to find the perfect fit. The downside, however, is the price. These kinds of helmets are pretty expensive.
That’s why we went for the Shark helmets (Revzilla). The pricing of this helmet is pretty good. It’s not expensive, especially for the quality you get.
Sure, you pay a little bit extra for sizes XXL and above, but that’s just because they are sold less often and because there is some extra material being used.
How should a helmet fit
But how do you know if a helmet fits you well? The first step is knowing what the right fitment is. Trust me if I say that most new motorcyclists don’t even know how a helmet is supposed to fit.
A new helmet should be tight. You should feel like somebody is squeezing your cheeks. However, there should be no annoying or painful pressure points!
Professional motorcycle gear resellers say that you should be able to stick two fingers between your cheek and the padding of the helmet. Are you not able to do this? Then you might want to consider going to a larger size.
Also, keep in mind that some helmets come with different cheek padding sizes. You can replace the default padding by wider or slimmer padding, to fit the helmet to your head.
Why the HJC CL-17 is our top favorite
The HJC is an absolute bang for the buck. It’s a great helmet for a very low price. It’s been sold thousands of times and there are happy users all around the globe. Some features to mention are:
- A pinlock-ready face shield with UV-protection
- Side face shield lock mechanism for an extra secure seal
- Great ventilation system that provides full front to back airflow
- Crown and cheek pads are fully removable and washable
- Cheek pad sizes are interchangeable for a custom fit
Be aware that the helmet only comes with one size cheek pad. However, you can purchase smaller or bigger padding individually and replace them for the default size.
I would also suggest buying a pin-lock, since it will keep your face shield free of fog at all times.
Best dirt bike helmet for big heads
The HJC is a full-face helmet which is suitable for most motorcycle riders. However, it doesn’t suit a dirt bike rider.
That’s why I also looked into dirt bike helmets. The overall best dirt bike helmet for people with a big and round head is the Scorpion VX-R70 (check prices on Amazon).
I have to be honest and say that this helmet isn’t extremely large. It goes up to a 2XL, which is quite big. But it doesn’t get as big as the HJC above.
However, the Scorpion does fit people with a round head very well. Nine out of ten times the problem is the rounder head, not the size itself.
The Scorpion isn’t as cheap as the HJC, but it has a reasonable price. Don’t forget you’ll have to add some extra bucks for a pair of goggles as well.
Frequently asked helmet questions
Is it okay to buy a second-hand motorcycle helmet?
No, you should never buy a second-hand motorcycle helmet! The most important reason is the fact that you don’t know if the helmet ever dropped to the ground. A dropped helmet should be replaced since it doesn’t have the right shock absorbing capabilities anymore. You can read more about this topic in my article about second-hand helmets.
Is an open-face helmet safe enough?
No, it is not. The facial area is the area with the highest probability of impact on a crash. You don’t want to ride with an open face. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life! I also wrote an article about this topic. Check my open-face vs. full-face helmet article here.
When should you replace your helmet?
There are several reasons to replace a helmet. The first one is, as mentioned above, a drop of your helmet. The shell is able to absorb an impact, but it can only do this once. If you drop your helmet (or you drop with your helmet) on the same place again, your helmet won’t be able to absorb the impact.
Another reason to replace your helmet is the expire date. A helmet only lasts for a couple of years. You’ll have to replace it after that since the inner-shell dries out and will lose it’s absorbing power.