What is the best helmet?

Criteria you consider?
Impact resistance?
Fire proof?
Abrasion resistance?
The most comfortable?
The most durable?

or whatever other criteria you may have.

Thanks, Joel

What application, drag racing, water skiing, motor cycle riding, sky diving or off road racing?

I'm not sure it's the "best" but I have a Simpson Bandit. It was a good chunk of money, but the cheek pad routinely needs readjusted, and the snout hits my nose jussssst a bit, enough to annoy me. I liked the look, but I'm not a huge fan of it. My first helmet was some clearance-priced HJC from a motorcycle shop and it was really comfortable and well made, but its cert expired.

Over the road trucking...you never can be too safe, there is a lot of bad drivers out there.


OK, just kidding, this would be for drag racing and land speed racing.

I would get the current SFI specs needed for both types of racing and go from their, I buy the best ones I can get, it They are built for protecting our brains in bad wrecks, correct

I don't know if it's "the best", but I bought a new G-Force last year that is very comfortable. I've had a variety of helmets over the years; for motorcycles my favorite is Arai, although Shoei is also top-level stuff.

I was on vacation and stopped at a speed shop in Tennessee. The counter guy brought a shopping cart full of helmets out to try on. I picked 3 or 4 then retried those back and picked the one I felt the most comfortable in.Birdtracker

Years ago I went through the whole what helmet fits saga.....I settled on the fit and comfort of Impact helmets. The one I have now will need replaced here in 25 and I will buy another.

The only thing I have ever had trouble with is the strap fraying from putting them on and taking them off so much, which a little epoxy on the end fixes right up.

Tried on many and settled on a Simpson Carbon fiber Bandit. My son has the same helmet.

I just ordered a new Impact 1320. Based on the recommendation of a friend who bought one a few years ago and likes it. And the visibility with the wide eye port. And the fact that Impact is the only helmet still made in the USA as far as I know. And I like the look, simple and clean.

Not the cheapest, but the best helmet IMO.

My head fits a little better in Shoeis, so I've had a few of them. Like you said, both are top shelf and are such quality pieces compared to most of the automotive offerings. I use the Shoei with my Plymouth as well, last I remembered I don't think a car rated helmet is needed until dipping into the 9's.

for us super slow guys, what is a good open face helmet, or don't those exist anymore ?

I have a Snell/DOT rated open face in my car. I think it's a JCB. I bought it off Amazon after my normal dealer retired.

I had the same helmet that didn't have the DOT tag on it and got bounced from Tech at RT66.

Open face ? Anything your face hits at even 30 MPH is gonna make a mess.
BTDT. I'd re-consider that idea.

I probably need a new (legal) helmet; mine must be 10 years old.
I like big eye port, something that will fit with sunglasses, with some ventilation for non-fogging.
Sprint-car buddy likes Bandits, and he's put one to use...

I don’t have much to compare against but my G Force is pretty comfortable

Did you forget you just bought a new helmet 2 years ago???

My preference is the Simpson Bandit.

The Impact 1320 is a great fitting helmet and it's Made In USA. I wore Bell open face helmets for 30 years. When I decided to go with a full face I ordered a Bell. It didn't fit well, the face shield fogged up instantly and it was made in Bahrain. I sent it back and bought the Impact. Couldn't be happier.

My buddy went to PRI with me a few years ago and walked around the place trying on every helmet there. He wears glasses and the helmet had to accommodate them. The Impact was the only one he liked. After using it a few seasons, he is still happy with it. Will have mine soon. Will report my opinion of it.

I've had Simpsons in the past, so we'll see.

How could I forget?

A tech official on Death Week informed me that it is a motorcycle helmet and not fire resistant. Plus the spots where the Nexgen fitting go have thick, non removable hard foam, so I can't mount them. So I need a new one.