Different Types Of Helmets You Should Know
Different Types Of Helmets You Should Know
Published on January 17, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes
As an owner of a two-wheeler or someone who uses a bike or a scooter to commute, it is important for you to have a helmet. This will allow you to protect yourself in case of an accident and also help you comply with the law. There are several types of helmets of various styles, colours, and prices available in the market. Let us look at them briefly. Hopefully, this article will help you choose the correct helmet for you.
Full Face Helmet:
These are helmets that cover the entire head and face. Some variants of the full-face helmet have a chin bar to protect the chin and jaw in case of an impact. A full-face helmet ensures maximum protection against sun and wind. It also minimizes the noise level. A full-face helmet can be selected on the basis of your biking preference and style. For example, if you are a sport biker, you would ideally prefer a full-face helmet that has a higher chin bar. In case you are a cruiser or a tourer, a full-face helmet with a lower chin bar should do the job.
Half Face Helmet:
Ideal for those who are not comfortable wearing full-face helmets, the half-face helmet covers the head, eyebrows and forehead. A visor shields the face and provides a view of your driving range. They offer superior airflow. However, in case of accidents, they provide minimal protection resulting in the rider being vulnerable to facial injuries. Half-face helmets also offer more wind resistance
Modular Helmet:
These are a cross between full and half-face helmets and are also popularly called flip-up helmets as they allow you to open their front by flipping up the chin bar and visor. Created with the same materials and fitment as full-face helmets, they are equally protective. High-end modular helmets also include an additional internal visor to protect the rider from sunlight. With a lower sitting chin bar, modular helmets are slightly heavier than full-face helmets.
These helmets are particularly ideal for tourers, cruisers, and adventure riders. Modern-day modular helmets also come with anti-fogging coating on their visors. Despite it having a hinge structure, the helmet provides much better protection as compared to its half-face counterparts. Modular helmets are recommended for those who are looking for comfort and optimum protection.
Half Shell Helmet:
Designed to cover only the top of the rider’s head till the ears, they are also known as skull helmets. This means that your face, jaws, and neck remained exposed while wearing the half-shell helmet. It also provides a complete view of the driving range. The major disadvantage of this variant of helmets is that it offers minimum protection in case of an impact or accident. Moreover, half-shell helmets enhance the wind resistance and cause an extra strain on the neck. The absence of a visor is another aspect that needs to be taken into consideration. As this results in your face being exposed to wind, dust, rain, heat, and UV rays. Half shell helmets are ideal for riders who travel very short distances or do not ride at a high speed.
Off-Road Helmets:
Ideal for riders who prefer to ride away from city streets and rough roads. Off-road helmets are perfect for off-road rides as the name suggests. They may appear similar to half-face helmets, however, they come with key distinctions. It features an accentuated chin bar resulting in significantly enhanced airflow. With its sharper design, it features a larger visor as compared to other helmets. It is also suggested that you purchase an off-road helmet made from fibreglass and carbon fibre ensuring that you have a lightweight yet robust helmet.
Dual Sport Helmets:
The dual sports helmet is the mix between an off-road helmet and a full-face helmet and offers the best features of both helmets. Resembling an off-road helmet featuring a large visor and lower chin bar. An additional feature worth mentioning here is that a dual sport helmet comes with an interior padding ensuring the comfort similar to that of a full-face helmet. Its visor does not lift with the wind as its aerodynamic and its chin bar supports minimized airflow and enhanced soundproofing. These helmets also come with a visor featuring eye protection. It can also be snapped to improvise glasses.
Conclusion:
There are several helmets available in the market namely full-face half-face modular, half-shell, off-road, and dual sports helmets. These helmets are categorized as per shape, features, and weight. Each helmet is ideal as per the ride characteristics. As helmets are critical for your safety, so is a two wheeler insurance. You can opt for the suitable insurance at HDFC ERGO.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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