A riding helmet is a purchase to make around your head, your riding and the exact model in front of you. A colour or familiar brand can help narrow the shelf, but it should come after fit and the information on the label. Use this guide to prepare for a fitting, compare the details that matter and understand what a retailer search can—and cannot—tell you.
Editorial buying guidance, based on the sources linked below. Horsepedia has not hands-on tested the products mentioned or assigned them ratings.
Start with a fitting
Charles Owen’s fitting guide explains that head shape matters as well as circumference: another model or shape may fit differently even when the size number matches. Its user guide calls for a firm, comfortable fit with limited movement. A dial or interchangeable liner does not remove the need to check the whole helmet and harness together. [1] [3]
Bring the hairstyle you normally ride in and describe your usual riding conditions to the fitter. Compare more than one shape if a model creates a pressure point or feels unstable. Ask them to demonstrate the model’s retention adjustment, then practise it yourself. The useful outcome is a repeatable fit you understand, rather than a size you can copy across every brand.
Read the exact certification label
The manufacturer’s current standards page lists equestrian standards including PAS015:2011, EN1384:2023 and ASTM F1163:2023. These are examples to recognise, not a universal competition acceptance list. Check the actual model’s label against the current requirements of your riding organisation or event. SEI also provides a searchable certified-products database; certification is tied to a product model, not simply a brand name. [2] [4]
Request a clear label photograph when shopping online and compare it with the manufacturer’s specification for that version. Separate a certification statement from advertising about ventilation, appearance or extra technology. Keep the model identification and purchase record with the user instructions so you can check later manufacturer notices or replacement guidance.
Know its history and care requirements
Charles Owen warns that impact damage may be invisible and says a helmet that suffers an impact should be replaced. Its instructions also cover storage, drying, cleaning and approved accessories. Follow the instructions for the helmet you buy rather than transferring a cleaning method or replacement interval from a different model. [3]
When comparing offers, ask whether the helmet is new, what the return conditions are and whether a fitting can be arranged. An unknown impact history is information you cannot recover from a neat photograph. Include a suitable storage routine in the purchase decision, and do not treat decorative modifications as automatically compatible with the original design.
Take these questions with you
Before you buy
- Can a fitter check this model on my head?
- Does the actual label meet my riding organisation’s current requirements?
- Do I have its user guide, purchase record and known impact history?
Ready to explore options?
Use this guide to build a shortlist, then check the exact product details and seller terms. A retailer search does not confirm stock, price, certification or suitability.
This is a regular retailer search link, with no affiliate tracking added by Horsepedia.
Read the original guidance
Sources & further reading
Checked on . Manufacturer sources describe their own products and should be read alongside the instructions for the exact item you choose.
- How to measure and fit a riding helmet Charles Owen
- Riding helmet safety standards Charles Owen
Manufacturer explanation; event acceptance requirements must be checked separately.
- Helmet user guide Charles Owen
- Certified products search Safety Equipment Institute