The 8 Best Helmets For Hoverboards
Updated by · How we research
Bike and skate certification, fit and sizes decide these eight hoverboard helmets. The Triple Eight Certified Sweatsaver leads with all three U.S. ratings. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
No helmet standard exists for hoverboards, so the label inside is what counts. A sticker for the federal bike standard is the legal floor in the U.S., and an added ASTM skateboard rating means foam made for the repeated tumbles new riders take. These picks run from toddler shells to adult sizes, and from budget helmets to one with a rotational-impact liner.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Triple Eight Sweatsaver now leads this list because it carries the federal bike mark and both ASTM skate ratings, which matters more than style for a rider still learning to balance. Only two earlier picks survive: the Sweatsaver and the OutdoorMaster skate helmet. The Zacros, Segway Ninebot and Retrospec CM-1 listings are gone, the LS2 Bagger is a motorcycle helmet, the Overade Plixi has no working U.S. offer, and we dropped the JBM gear set after JBM's adult bike helmets were recalled in 2023. The Mokfire and Base Camp helmets showed no sign of certification.
The new list is built around what's printed inside each helmet. We checked every maker's certification claims against the federal rule and the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's notes on skate standards, read Two Wheeling Tots' review of kids' skate helmets, and searched the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall records for each brand. That search ruled out the Retrospec Scout kids' helmet, recalled in 2024, and a string of unbranded helmet-and-pad sets.
March 31, 2020:
When riding a hoverboard, it is crucial that you have the proper protective equipment. It's incredibly important to wear a helmet, but it's also best to have the matching gear that will protect you in case of an accident. Look into buying elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards to makes sure you have the safest ride possible.
When purchasing a helmet, you should check to see if it has certain certifications that ensure it's of high quality. CPSC, for example, is a safety standard used by the US government to evaluate bicycle helmets. All options listed in this article meet or exceed this certification with the exception of the LS2 Bagger Helmet, which uses the DOT standard intended for motorcycle safety. Although CPSC is a bicycle helmet standard, it is an important certification that should matter to those riding hoverboards as well.
All of the helmets on our list are high quality, but several possess certain features that will make them particularly well suited for different user's needs. For instance, the Mokfire Helmet and Base Camp Helmet both feature a taillight that makes you more visible to oncoming cars, riders, and walkers at night. If you're more worried about portability, the Overade Plixi Helmet folds up to a third of its size, which makes it easy to transport in a small bag or backpack.
Be sure to measure your head carefully before purchasing a unit. Many have had to return their helmet because it did not fit properly. Read the measurement guides for each model to find options that will suit you well, since having a properly fitted helmet is essential for your safety.
Special Honors
Thousand Heritage 2.0 Thousand's Heritage 2.0 is a retro-styled helmet that its maker certifies to the CPSC bike rule and to ASTM standards for cycling, roller skating and skateboarding. It closes with a one-handed magnetic buckle, has a dial fit system and a hidden channel behind the logo for running a bike lock through it. It costs more than most skate helmets, and it has only seven vents. explorethousand.com
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute This long-running nonprofit site explains helmet standards, fit and replacement in plain language. Its pages on skate certification and on when to retire a helmet are a useful check before buying any multi-sport helmet. helmets.org
Read The Stickers Inside, Not The Title
That rule tests for one hard hit, which is how most bike crashes happen.
No helmet standard is written for hoverboards, so riders borrow from bikes and skateboards. Every bike helmet sold in the U.S. has to meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission's rule, 16 CFR 1203, and a sticker inside says so. That rule tests for one hard hit, which is how most bike crashes happen.
Skate helmets add ASTM F1492, a standard built around many smaller falls, with denser foam that holds up to repeated knocks. A third mark, ASTM F1447, covers recreational biking and roller skating. A helmet with all three is often sold as triple-certified, and it fits a new hoverboard rider who will fall often at low speed.
Don't trust the shape. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute points out that most skate-style helmets on the market are bike helmets with only the CPSC sticker inside. Two Wheeling Tots, which reviews kids' gear, found the same and notes that a European EN 1078 label alone doesn't meet the U.S. rule. Look for the stickers before the first ride, and skip helmets whose seller names no standard at all.
Skate Shell, Bike Helmet Or Slip Liner
A round skate shell covers more of the back of the head, which matters on a hoverboard because riders often fall backward when the board shoots forward. The trade-off is weight and heat: skate-rated foam is denser, and these shells have few vents. The Retrospec Dakota shows the middle ground, with a skate shape, ten vents and a bike-only rating.
A vented bike helmet is lighter and cooler, and it's fine for riders who already balance well and ride at a steady pace. Look for the extended-coverage version of the CPSC rule, which reaches lower on the back of the head.
Some helmets add a thin slip layer, sold as MIPS, that lets the shell move slightly in an angled hit. It's meant to reduce twisting forces on the brain. It adds cost, and it's not required by any standard, but it's a reasonable upgrade for a commuter who rides in traffic.
Fit, Kids' Sizes And When To Replace
Measure around the head about an inch above the eyebrows and buy the size band that matches today, not next year. A helmet that's too big shifts in a fall. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's fitting guide says a helmet should sit level and low on the forehead, touch the head all the way around, and stay put when you shake your head. Plan on 10 to 15 minutes to adjust the pads, dial and straps the first time.
Replace a helmet after any crash in which the head hit, even if it looks fine, because the crushed foam won't absorb a second blow. The institute also notes that helmets don't expire on a calendar: a helmet that fits and hasn't been crashed keeps working for years.
A helmet doesn't make the board itself safe. Most hoverboard recalls on the CPSC's SaferProducts site involve battery fires, so buy a board certified to UL 2272, charge it where you can watch it, and check the board's model against recall notices.
How we researched this
We compared about 20 hoverboard, skate and multi-sport helmets, read each maker's safety claims and sizing charts, checked them against the federal bike helmet rule and the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's guidance, read Two Wheeling Tots' review of dual-certified kids' helmets, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall records for every brand we considered. We left out helmets whose sellers name no safety standard.
Sources (9)
- eCFR: 16 CFR Part 1203, safety standard for bicycle helmets
- Two Wheeling Tots: best dual-certified skateboard helmets for kids (2026)
- Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: helmet standards and testing
- Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: how to fit a bicycle helmet
- Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: when to replace a helmet
- Retrospec: Dakota bike and skate helmet
- Thousand: Heritage 2.0 helmet
- Gyroor: helmet laws and hoverboard safety tips
- CPSC SaferProducts.gov recall records
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a helmet to ride a hoverboard?
Laws vary by state and city, and some only cover riders under a set age, so check local rules. Either way, a helmet is wise: hoverboards can reach 10 to 15 mph, and new riders fall often.
Is a regular bike helmet OK on a hoverboard?
Yes, a helmet that meets the CPSC bike standard is the legal floor for U.S. bike helmets and protects against one hard hit. A skate rating (ASTM F1492) adds foam meant for repeated falls, which suits beginners.
What does triple-certified mean?
It means the helmet meets the CPSC bike standard, ASTM F1447 for recreational biking and roller skating, and ASTM F1492 for skateboarding. Look for all three on the stickers inside.
What size helmet does my child need?
Measure the head with a soft tape about an inch above the eyebrows and pick the size band that fits now. Don't buy a size up to grow into, since a loose helmet can slide off in a fall.
When should I replace a hoverboard helmet?
After any crash in which the head hit, or if the shell or foam cracks, the straps fray or it no longer fits. A helmet that hasn't been crashed doesn't expire on a set date.
Should hoverboard riders wear pads too?
Wrist guards, knee pads and elbow pads help, since riders often catch a fall with their hands. We didn't pick helmet-and-pad sets because none we found named a helmet safety standard.
