The 10 Best Motorcycle Helmets For Kids
This wiki has been updated 19 times since it was first published in January of 2020. For children and teenagers who ride motorcycles, whether enjoying off-road sports such as motocross or riding pillion with an adult, a high-quality, well-fitting helmet is an essential and potentially lifesaving purchase. All the models in our ranking are chosen with safety, comfort, and aesthetic qualities in mind, and cover a range of styles and prices to suit most biking conditions and budgets. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Editor's Notes
April 09, 2021:
With the rising popularity of low-powered dual-sport bikes and electric motorcycles, children and young adults are starting to ride earlier than ever before and safety will be one of the main concerns for any parent or guardian when encouraging responsible riding. Thankfully, there is a growing number of companies producing safety gear for kids, including gloves, footwear, shinguards, jackets, kneepads, and, of course, helmets such as those ranked here.
When updating our list we found a greater selection aimed specifically at children, not just scaled-down adult helmets, and these include the TCMT Offroad, which immediately caught our eye with its choice of camouflage graphics or a cool carbon-fiber-style woven look. As the name suggests, this is ideally suited to motocross, but bear in mind you will need to purchase goggles separately as it doesn't include a built-in visor.
The same goes for the O'Neal Unisex, which is guaranteed to stand out in any off-road competition thanks to its bright neon graphics. It is also functionally impressive with its rubber roost nose guard and polycarbonate and ABS composite shell, with highly effective ventilation, ensuring it maximizes both safety and comfort.
Balancing out our new picks is the ILM Full Face, which is well-suited to teenagers who are just starting out riding on the road, or those who ride pillion with an adult. While it offers more protection than its open-faced counterpart, it is especially well ventilated and directs condensation and sweat away from the face. Its clear visor is easy to replace if damaged, and its adjustable chinstrap makes for a better fit and has a quick-release buckle for ease of use.
March 07, 2020:
When choosing a motorcycle helmet for yourself or a child, safety should be your primary concern, and as such, this ranking consists only of helmets that successfully conform to U.S. Department of Transportation standards. Many also incorporate additional safety technology, such as the GLX GX623 with its shock-absorbent, multi-density expanded polystyrene (EPS) lining, or the Vega Mighty X2 Stinger with its impact-resistant Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) shell.
As our target market in this category are not usually eligible to drive on the road, most helmets listed here are more suited to off-road pursuits such as motocross and ATV riding, or may even be used for mountain biking and BMX racing. However, some full-face helmets, such as the HJC CL-Y and Nenki NK-856 would be more suitable for road-going kids, should you wish your child to join you on your motorcycle as a pillion passenger, for example. It should be noted that in some U.S. states, age and/or height restrictions apply to motorcycle passengers, and other regulations may factor, depending on your location.
Special Honors
Hand-Painted Helmets by Airgraffix Let your kids' imaginations run wild and have them choose from one of many amazing helmet designs that are perfect for children (and big kids as well). These custom hand-painted graphics cover a vast array of characters, from Batman's Joker, to Ninja Turtles, Smurfs, Mandalorian helmets, and Minions! While these helmets are certainly more expensive than your average headgear, it's certainly worth checking out their inspiring range. airgraffix.com