The Importance of UTV Helmets

Riding is a thrilling, but risky, activity. You need the proper gear to protect yourself against the elements and the hazards on the road. The most important safety item you can buy is a helmet. But it’s not enough to wear a helmet – you need to wear the right helmet. How do you know which one is for you? Use the following guide of course! If you have any questions, you can always visit Family Powersports San Angelo. We can help with any aspect of the side by side riding experience, from finding the perfect helmet to fixing performance issues in your powersports vehicle. We proudly serve those in Abilene, Big Spring, and Sonora, Texas.

Types of Helmets

Within the world of helmets, there are a few different types. They vary in their features and the protection offered. You’ll need to find one that fits, that offers enough protection, and that meets legal requirements. A ½ helmet won’t offer much protection and usually doesn’t even meet legal requirements. In many states, a ¾ helmet is considered sufficient enough to meet legal requirements. We recommend, however, going with a more protective helmet. Keep in mind that when you ride off road with your side by side, the chances of taking a spill are higher. Then there’s the jostling motion of a side x side that can lead to cracking an exposed part of your head upon falling off the vehicle. That’s why it’s important to go with a helmet offering the best protection.

Stick with a full face or dual purpose helmet when riding your UTV. They each offer great protection to keep you safe. A full face helmet offers better protection from intruding branches or debris. A dual purpose helmet offers better ventilation (but you will need to buy goggles). We recommend trying on both styles and seeing which is more comfortable. Make sure you have a good range of motion without any wobble. It needs to be snug to ensure it won’t slide around upon impact.

Replacing Your Helmet

A helmet will only offer the protection you seek when it’s in good condition. The internal layer of a helmet is designed to break when it experiences a significant impact. This allows the inner layer to absorb the majority of an impact and protect your brain from most of the force.

However, after a helmet has suffered one serious impact it is no longer an effective form of protection. This impact can be more than a collision. If you drop your helmet onto a rough surface, that impact could also be damaging enough that you’ll need to replace your headgear.

Goggles

Part of protecting your head involves protecting your eyes from flying debris, low hanging branches, and so on. If your helmet doesn’t come with a visor, you’ll want to invest in a set of goggles. Just like with helmet shopping, it’s important to ensure they fit comfortably. If your goggles slide and shift around while you ride your side x side, it’ll become distracting and a hazard (as it could impede your vision).

Another key thing to consider when buying goggles is their anti-fog capacity. Riding a side by side is an athletic activity. Throw in a hot summer’s day and before long you’ll be working up a solid sweat inside your helmet. Even if your helmet is well vented, moisture trapped in your goggles will quickly turn to vapor. This will turn your ride into a miserable stop-and-go exercise in removing your helmet, gloves, and goggles to give yourself a temporary period of visibility before your goggles fog up again. If you don’t want to put in the extra cash for anti-fog goggles, at least get yourself some anti-fog spray.

For all your side x side needs, visit Family Powersports San Angelo. We proudly serve those in Abilene, Big Spring, and Sonora, TX.