*Skip to the end for my 2022 update!
Like a lot of dads, I was itching to get my son Cooper out on a dirt bike. I had visions of him ripping through the desert with me. Reality set in very quickly after I realized my time table was a little accelerated. His first couple of years riding were definitely going to involve lots of bruises, scraped knees, coaching and turning wrenches (those dreaded 50cc bikes and their auto clutches!). After making the biggest decision on what his first bike should be (we bought a used KTM 50 sx), I quickly learned that safety gear was now my top priority. I started with the helmet, mainly because protecting my 2 year olds brain is kind of a big deal. In this article I’ll go over all the things that I had to consider when shopping for my kids first dirt bike helmet.
Sizing
Manufacture sizing charts are helpful but my one piece of advice is to take your kid in to your local moto shop and try on the helmets! This is one thing I would never buy online, even as an adult rider I purchase my helmets in person after I’ve put my head in it. When my kid was two years old, he hated trying on helmets and goggles. There was some screaming and crying involved but it was crucial for me to purchase a helmet that fit him correctly. Don’t buy a helmet a little big thinking they will grow into it. But the correct size that fits snugly and doesn’t move around when they quickly look back and forth. They will be riding off road after all, and the ground is not smooth. You’ll also be surprised on how fast your kid will ride and how quickly they will get there. My kid went from “I feel like his going at a safe speed” to “I need to buy every piece of protective equipment in the world” in about 1 month of riding. That being said, take your kid in for this one and work with your local shop on fitment; its worth it.
Weight
This was a huge factor. Young kids do not have strong necks. Cheaper helmets are not very light. The more expensive the helmet, the lighter it is. When I put a heavy helmet on my son, he hated wear it for any amount of time. It gets uncomfortable and he gets fatigued. The heavy helmet distracted him and he couldn’t focus on what he needed to; how to ride the bike! I made the mistake of buying a moderately priced helmet that was too heavy. I ended up buying a nice lightweight helmet later on and he still uses it to this day. We bought it when he was 3 and half and it still fits him great at 5 years old.
Safety Ratings
There are 3 safety ratings you’ll commonly see on helmets when you are shopping helmets. The safety ratings are located on the back of the helmet with a little sticker. Do these ratings matter? Yes it does.
DOT – This is the most common rating and simply put, the most basic. This rating has been around the longest but just because its the most basic, it doesn’t mean its the worst rating. Any helmet you but should at least have the DOT rating.
ECE – This is a independent test that is more common in Europe. This test focuses more on low impact crashes to the head. This standard is much newer than the DOT standard but in general is considered a better certification than the DOT.
SNELL – The SNELL designation is considered the gold standard of helmet testing. This form of testing accurately replicates the speed and energy that might be experienced during off road racing speeds. This test also focuses on the weakest parts of the helmet.
Style
Does style really matter? For some people this doesn’t matter. My brothers kids all have mismatched gear and mismatched bikes. That aside his 8 year is better than everybody his age and is beating kids twice his age. For some kids, half the fun is looking tough and feeling good in all their gear. I have to admit the styling of the “kit” matters to me and my son. I’m partial to certain brands and not only because of the colors and styles available, but because I see pros wearing specific brands and styles. Of course function plays a role of just pure style but I find that those two can often go hand in hand. If they look good wearing it then he won’t complain when its time to put it on!
Top 3 Best Kids Dirt Bike Helmets
Here are my top 3 picks based off safety and features. I also include a “budget minded” pick because not everybody can afford to drop $300 on a new helmet every few years!
1. 6D YOUTH ATR-2Y AERO HELMET
The 6D Youth ATR-2Y Aero Helmet comes in at number one. 6D has a patented safety system called ODS. This system is know for having the best protection in all forms of crashes; including multi directional crashes, high and low speed crashes, and impacts to the side of the head. 6D helmets are not cheap, but they offer some of the best protection out there. If your kid races or is planning to race, 6D should be seriously considered. The ATR-2Y meets and exceeds all the above mentioned standards including the ECE and SNELL gold standards. In my opinion this is the safest brand currently on the market (for adults too)
2. FOX RACING YOUTH V2 HAYL HELMET (budget friendly)
Number 2 on my list is the V2 Hayl From Fox Racing. This is one of the more budget friendly options out there and this helmet still meets and exceeds the ECE and DOT standards. This helmet has a Fluid Inside technology that produces results similar to the ODS system on the 6D Helmets. The V2 is a great helmet that balances weight, style, and safety along with a much cheaper price (about half the price of the 6D).
3. FLY RACING YOUTH FORMULA CARBON HELMET
Coming in at number 3 is the Fly Racing Youth Formula Carbon Helmet. As the title suggests, this youth helmet has a full carbon shell for superior lightweight feel and penetration resistance. The carbon is a nice touch but unfortunately the cost doesn’t out weigh the weight savings. This helmet still weighs the same as the 6D and the 6D has more safety ratings.
Purchase the Formula Carbon here.
*UPDATE 2022
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that cheap helmets are uncomfortable, hot, and heavy. But the lightest and most comfortable helmet you can afford. Surprisingly my kids head has not grown much. The biggest thing I’ve learned is that kids do not have strong necks. If they crash with a heavy helmet, it amplifies the impact. They can’t slow down their impact and even the smallest crash will lead to a very hard smack. I figured this out when learning about the g forces that you can experience on a hard crash. A 30 mph crash into a hard object can cause 50g forces. That’s not a typo. That means a 5lb helmet would feel like a 250 lb helmet. Obviously that’s an extreme example but the compounding effect of weight is staggering. Go with the best protection you can. Expensive helmets are light and help diminish those forces. The helmet will last years and you’ll be surprised how slow your kid’s head grows haha.
