Skateboarding helmets question # 1: What type of skateboarding will you be doing?
For most skateboarding, a regular skateboard helmet, such as a Triple Eight helmet or a ProTec skateboard helmet, works fine. This type of helmet will help protect the top, sides, and back of your head. If your skateboard riding gets into high speed, downhill, and serious vert stuff, you may want to consider a full face skate helmet, such as a Bell, Giro, SixSixOne or ProTec helmet. A full face skate helmet (they're CPSC bike certified, but more on that in a moment) have a chin bar that extends across your face, and offer additional protection for the front of your face and your jaw.
Skateboarding helmets question # 2: Is the helmet for skateboarding only, or bike riding, too?
Depending on whether you want to use the helmet for skateboarding only, or for both skateboarding and bicycling, you'll want to consider two different helmet types:
- Skate helmets for skate use only, such as the Triple Eight skate helmet or the ProTec skateboard helmet, are designed to absorb multiple impacts and still provide protection. These "skate only" helmets have a soft foam liner that conforms easily to your head and is considered more comfortable than the harder foam liner of bike helmets. These skate helmets may, or may not be, certified to the ASTM skateboard helmet standard.
- Skate helmets certified to bicycle helmet standards, while offering a higher level of impact protection, may not be designed to absorb multiple impacts. Also, the liner in these helmets is a harder styro-foam material that some people consider less comfortable than the soft foam liners in skate-only helmets.
- What's the difference between the two standards? See our Skate Helmet Certification Guide for more info.
If you want to use the same helmet for skateboarding and riding your bike, choose a helmet designed for both skate and bike use. This skateboard protective gear meets the bicycle helmet standard, with some helmets also meeting the ASTM skate standard, and some helmets also offering multiple impact protection.
Skate helmet question # 3: How Big is Your Head?
If you haven't done so already, measure your head with our Helmet Sizing Guide. Skate helmets are sold with one, two, three, or four different shell sizes. The shell is the hard outer layer of the skate helmet. If your head is towards the larger or smaller end of the size charts, you may need to look for specific models of skate helmets that will fit your head. Every helmet has a sizing table at the bottom of the page that shows head size (in centimeters) and corresponding helmet size (Small, Medium, Large, etc).
Skateboarding helmets question # 4: What Style do You Like?
In general, "skate style" helmets tend to extend down lower on the back side of the head, have a rounder shell, and more distinct styling than typical bike helmets. Skateboard helmets come in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. You'll have to browse our selection of skate only skateboard helmets or dual use skate helmets and bike helmets to choose the skate helmet that suits you best.
Skateboarding helmets question # 5: Venting and Color
If heat is an issue where you live, you need to consider skateboard helmets that offer a lot of venting. More vents and bigger vents allow more heat to escape from skate helmets and they keep you cooler. That's a good thing. Also, shell color in this piece of skateboard protective gear will make a difference, too. Black looks really cool, but is hotter than white.
Skateboard helmet question # 6: Fit
A helmet has to feel good on you! Choose skateboard helmets that offer additional fit pads, different thickness liners for adjustability, or even a fit system that adjusts to your head. You want to choose skateboard helmets that can adjust to your head, because everyone's head is shaped a little different.
Skateboarding helmets question # 7: Want a Pro Model?
Certain skate helmet models offer versions that are endorsed by professional skateboarders or BMXers. These "Pro Models" may include special graphics, a sticker sheet, or some unique feature for skate helmets that sets them apart.
Skateboarding helmets question # 8: Of Course, Price...
Surprisingly, almost all skateboard helmets are between $25 and $40. So, although there is a price difference between models, the difference isn't that great. So, you can choose the exact skateboard helmet that meets your needs without breaking the bank!
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