Choosing an UTV Helmet

In all the fast, fun, wild situations in which you’ll find yourself on your UTV, the most important safety feature you’ll need is your helmet. You can’t always predict when an accident is going to happen, and when it does your best and most important defense will be a helmet. Choosing the right helmet isn’t always easy considering all the choices on the market. But with a little bit of help, you can find a helmet that will fit your needs. This guide was designed to show you some of the main tricks to finding the right helmet to wear when you’re riding your UTV.

Cool Springs Powersports specializes in UTVs and other powersports vehicles. Stop by our Franklin, Tennessee location if you live in Nashville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Dickson, or Hendersonville, Tennessee.

UTV Helmets: The Most Important Safety Feature

When driving a UTV, you won’t have much to protect you other than your own riding ability. That’s why a helmet is so important. Even if you’re the best driver on the planet, you can’t predict the behavior of other drivers, of wildlife, or of the conditions of the terrain around you. The longer you drive, the more inevitable a spill will become, and when that happens, you want the best protection possible. Not only will a helmet protect you from cuts, scrapes, and abrasions, but it can also help to lessen the likelihood of a concussion. Ask any veteran emergency room nurse and they will give you an earful about the importance of wearing your helmet.

Different Helmet Styles

There are a number of different styles of helmets on the market for motorsports and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For UTV driving, motocross helmets offer the most in terms of lightweight protection, breathability, and comfort. Motocross helmets feature a design that covers almost the entire head to offer the most protection possible. Often these helmets will feature an open eye area so that the rider can use their own goggles. For the casual UTV driver, it allows you to instead use sunglasses or your favorite eyewear for those times when it’s not quite necessary to have expensive eye protection. Some helmets, especially “dual sport” helmets designed to be used for road or off-road use, will feature a drop down face shield instead. This is another decent option for UTV drivers.

Getting a Correct Fit

Perhaps the most important aspect of a helmet is fit. If your helmet is too loose, it might shift, move, or roll around while you’re riding. In an accident scenario, this means you won’t be getting the optimum protection from impact. If the helmet is too tight, you will have a hard time getting it on, it will cause pressure headaches, make you sweat, and you’ll be less inclined to wear it. If you have a much larger head than average, you might have to look into specialty designs and sizing. If your head is much smaller than average, look at teen sizes. The benefit of the latter is that it might even save you a few bucks!

Goggles or Face Shields

As previously mentioned, many helmets give the rider the choice between goggles and a face shield for eye protection. A face shield is helpful in bad weather when precipitation can move in the gaps in your helmet. On the other hand, many professional riders choose the goggle option as it opens up more options for custom eyewear. You can choose the look and style of your goggles to fit your UTV and helmet. You can also choose among features like anti-fogging coating, UV protection, and shatter-resistant plastic. These features come at their own separate price, so if you’re on a budget, make sure to figure that into your final tally!

If you need accessories or riding gear for your UTV, stop by Cool Springs Powersports. We’re located in Franklin, Tennessee and we proudly serve the areas of Nashville, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Dickson, and Hendersonville, Tennessee.