The 8 Best Motocross Helmets
Updated by · How we research
Eight dirt bike helmets compared on safety ratings, slip liners, fit and warranty. The Alpinestars SM3 Solid leads with Europe's current rating plus DOT. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A DOT sticker on a dirt bike helmet is a promise, not a test result: makers certify themselves, and federal spot checks keep finding models that fall short. Europe's 22.06 standard is lab-checked before sale and adds angled-impact tests. This list covers adult off-road helmets for track, trail and ATV riders, from budget lids to mid-price picks.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Alpinestars SM3 Solid moves to the top as the only pick here certified to ECE 22.06, Europe's current standard, which requires outside lab testing before sale and adds angled-impact tests that the U.S. DOT rule lacks. The Fox Racing V Core MIPS is the choice for riders who want a slip liner for less.
Only the Bell MX-9 MIPS survives from the earlier list. The MSR Mav-3, Suomy MX Jump and Fly Racing Toxin have left the market, the Troy Lee Designs SE4 has given way to the SE5, the LS2 Subverter Blackout was replaced by the Subverter Evo, and the Bell Moto 9 MIPS has newer Bell successors.
This time we sorted helmets by which certifications each maker actually claims, read against what NHTSA, the ECE rules and the Snell Memorial Foundation require, then weighed shell sizing, liners and warranty terms. The list stays in the budget and mid-price range; carbon and composite race helmets such as the Troy Lee Designs SE5 are in Special Honors.
Earlier notes
October 15, 2019, by Daniel Imperiale:
While our last ranking was very thorough and included a number of excellent helmets from top manufacturers, this go-around, we wanted to incorporate a relatively new piece of technology that's swept through bicycle and motocross helmets in recent years. This is MIPS, which stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, and is a kind of interior cradle within the helmet designed to reduce rotational movement on both initial and secondary impacts during an accident. The result is a much more stable fit throughout impact, better protecting the head.
As it turns out, only one of the models on our previous ranking — the Suomy Jump — actually had MIPS integrated, while all the others did not. That includes the Bell Moto 9, which we've replaced with another Moto 9 model that includes MIPS, despite a nearly identical model name. Some of the other previously included brands have offerings with MIPS now, including Troy Lee Designs and O'Neal, though O'Neal's MIPS helmets are very difficult to find outside Europe, and as a result, haven't found a place on our ranking.
Special Honors
Troy Lee Designs SE5 Troy Lee Designs' SE5 is a race-level helmet with a fiberglass composite or carbon shell and a MIPS liner, and retailers list the composite version with ECE 22.06 approval. It sits well above this list's price range and wasn't found from an authorized seller in our searches, but it's a common choice among serious racers and the successor to the SE4 that was on this list before. troyleedesigns.com
DOT, ECE 22.06 And Snell: What The Labels Mean
Every helmet sold for road use in the U.S. must meet the federal standard known as DOT, or FMVSS 218.
Every helmet sold for road use in the U.S. must meet the federal standard known as DOT, or FMVSS 218. The catch is that makers certify their own helmets, and the government only spot-checks a sample. When NHTSA's contract labs tested 167 helmets between 2014 and 2019, 72 failed at least one requirement (RevZilla). A DOT sticker on the back proves nothing by itself; NHTSA says to look for a permanent label inside with the maker, model and "FMVSS No. 218 Certified" (NHTSA).
Europe's ECE 22.06 works differently. Samples go to an outside lab before a helmet can be sold, and the test adds angled impacts that measure twisting force, which DOT doesn't check at all (Ultimate Motorcycling). The older ECE 22.05 still shows up on some helmets; it was lab-tested too, but without the rotation tests. Snell is a voluntary, stricter program, and its M2025 standard also adds an angled-impact test (Snell Memorial Foundation).
For trail riding, any properly certified helmet is legal. For racing, read your series rulebook first: some clubs ask for Snell or ECE, and FIM world championship events require their own FIM rating.
Fit Comes Before Features
A helmet only protects you if it stays put. Measure around your head about an inch above your eyebrows and match the number to the maker's chart; Alpinestars and Fox both publish one, and Fox suggests the larger size if you're between two. Head shape matters as much as size. Most U.S. brands build for an intermediate oval head, a little longer front to back than side to side, and GLX says so outright. A round head in an oval helmet feels tight at the sides, while a long oval head feels a hot spot on the forehead.
A new helmet should feel snug, with the cheek pads pressing your cheeks, and it shouldn't twist or roll forward when you push on it with the strap done up. The pads will loosen a little with wear, so don't buy one that's comfortable loose on day one. More shell sizes in a range help here: the Fox V Core comes in four shells and five foam sizes (24MX), so a small head doesn't end up in a big outer shell.
Bring your goggles when you try one on. The strap should sit flat on the back of the shell, and the frame should fill the eyeport without pressing your nose. Dirt helmets have no face shield because goggles seal out roost and dust better, and an open chin bar moves more air at low speed.
Slip Liners, Weight And When To Replace
Slip liners such as MIPS add a thin layer that lets the helmet move a few millimeters around your head in an angled hit, aiming to cut the twisting force that's linked to brain injury. They're a sensible extra, but a slip-liner badge on a DOT-only helmet isn't the same as passing ECE 22.06 or Snell M2025, which test for twisting force on their own. Alpinestars, for example, certifies the SM3 to ECE 22.06 without one (Alpinestars).
Weight is a comfort issue more than a safety one. Most adult dirt helmets in size medium weigh roughly 1,300 to 1,500 grams; Vital MX keeps a chart of premium models' certified weights (Vital MX). A heavy helmet tires your neck over a long day and can feel top-heavy in a crash.
The foam inside a helmet crushes once and doesn't spring back, so replace a helmet after any hard hit, even if the shell looks fine. Many makers suggest replacing one about every five years, since sweat, heat and UV wear down the liner and pads. Warranties vary widely: Bell covers the MX-9 MIPS for five years (Bell Helmets), while budget brands often offer one.
How we researched this
We compared 15 helmets from 12 brands, read the makers' specifications and certification claims for the 8 finalists, checked them against the DOT, ECE 22.06 and Snell M2025 rules, and searched NHTSA and CPSC recall notices. We found no independent lab test that compares these helmets head to head, so certification marks carry the most weight. Updated November 1, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Editors.
Sources (7)
- NHTSA: How to identify unsafe motorcycle helmets
- RevZilla Common Tread: What are Snell, ECE and DOT helmet certifications
- Ultimate Motorcycling: Helmet safety standards update 2024
- Snell Memorial Foundation: M2025 info card
- Alpinestars: SM3 Solid helmet ECE06/DOT
- Bell Helmets: MX-9 MIPS
- Vital MX: Premium helmets weight and certification chart 2025
Frequently asked questions
Is Snell or ECE 22.06 better?
Both are tougher than DOT alone, and both now test angled impacts. ECE 22.06 is required for sale in Europe and is lab-tested before sale; Snell is voluntary and uses its own harder hits. Pick the one your race series asks for; for trail riding, either is a strong sign.
Can I wear a street helmet for dirt riding?
You can, and it's safe if it's certified, but it's a poor fit for the job. Street helmets have a face shield that fogs and scratches, less airflow at low speed and no room for goggles. A dirt helmet's peak and open chin bar are built for roost, dust and hard breathing.
Do I need a helmet with MIPS?
It's a useful extra, not a must. MIPS and similar slip liners aim to cut twisting force in an angled crash. An ECE 22.06 or Snell M2025 rating tests for that force directly, which says more than the badge does.
How tight should a dirt bike helmet be?
Snug. The cheek pads should press your cheeks, and with the strap done up the helmet shouldn't twist or roll forward when you push on it. The pads loosen with wear, so a new helmet should feel a little tight.
How often should I replace a dirt bike helmet?
After any hard hit, even with no visible damage, because the foam liner crushes once. Otherwise, many makers suggest about every five years, since sweat, heat and sunlight wear the liner and pads.
