ATV riding has slowly gained popularity over the last decades and is continually attracting more enthusiasts. An ATV offers great versatility and is useful for various applications, making it a preferred option for many riders. However, when setting out on an ATV, it's paramount that you have the perfect ATV helmet, primarily for your safety. But, with the sea of options out there, what do you look for when purchasing a helmet for ATV riding? At Roseville Motorsports, we’ve drawn up the guideline below to ensure you get it right when choosing your ATV riding helmet. To learn more, visit our location in Rocklin, California, serving Roseville and Sacramento, California. 

What Kind of ATV Riding Do You Plan on Doing?

The style of riding an ATV is undoubtedly a leading factor influencing the type of helmet you purchase. Since ATVs have various purposes, you could be leisure riding on roads or trails, going about your agricultural work tasks, or sporting in the dirt and the jumps. 

Therefore, each of these activities needs a specific type of helmet; if you’re off-roading, get a helmet with a motocross design. If riding on the tarmac and off-roading at some point, best acquire a dual-sport helmet for their comfort and full-face design to handle higher speeds. For agricultural purposes, you can go for an open face or modular helmet. Here are some key safety features on ATV helmets.

Motocross Style Peak

These peaks help protect a rider from roost, occurring when the rear wheels of the rider in front of you spray mud and gravel at you. By design, the peaks need to be quick-release or detach on impact.

High-Quality EPS Layer

Look for a dual-sport helmet with a high absorption rate, i.e., it should have a variable density layer of materials for better impact absorption and minimize concussions.

Lateral Force Protection

It's essential you acquire a helmet that has a layered liner, therefore allowing slip and preventing whiplash, which occurs when a helmet smashes the ground. You need to focus on designs that have been developed for off-roading purposes, although they aren’t inexpensive.

Quick Release Linings

The recommended ATV helmets have a quick-release safety feature to allow for swift removal of cheek pads and lining in case of an accident. This feature is essential in minimizing further disturbance to the rider's neck and head when removing the outer shell.

Comfort Features: Venting

An ATV helmet should have a well-designed venting system to handle the hot and sweaty riding, particularly when you’re riding hard when off-roading. The venting system allows cold air into the helmet to cool your face, dry sweat, and expel the warm air via the exhaust vent at the back of the helmet.

Washable and Removable Liners

These are ideal for keeping the helmet fresh after being in use for a while and can be removed, cleaned, dried, and fitted back. Also, these liners are replaceable in the more advanced helmet models.

These are some of the factors to consider when choosing an ATV helmet. For more information, contact Roseville Motorsports today, and visit our location in Rocklin, California, serving Roseville and Sacramento, California.