HELP FOR HELMET FIT

Hair up or hair down, find the safest and best-feeling fit.

- SARAH E. COLEMAN

Buying a helmet can be tricky. There are so many decisions to make: brand, price, style, fit, color—the options can seem endless. But the most important thing that rises above everything else is proper fit.

Measuring Up

Start by talking to someone with experience fitting helmets. This could be your trainer, someone who works at a tack shop, or an adult who rides at your barn. Getting this expertise is key to making sure your head is protected if you fall.

The very first step to finding the right riding helmet is measuring your head circumference. Some helmets are sized in small/ medium/large (often with a dial to further snug the fi t), but others are sized in numbers (6 ⅞, 7, 7 ⅛, et cetera) that correspond to your head measurement.

To measure your head, get a vinyl or fabric measuring tape or a string and a ruler—and a helper. Put your hair in a tight, low ponytail at the nape of your neck.

Wrap the tape or string around your head at its widest point: about 1 inch above your eyebrows, just above the top of your ears and over the bump at the back of your head.

If you've used a string, grab hold of where the string crosses, then lay it out flat on the ruler.

Once you have that measurement, compare it to helmet sizing charts. Each brand's fit and sizing, like clothes, can vary. If your measurement is between sizes, it's often best to opt for the larger size. Some styles have a dial that lets you snug the size perfectly to your head.

THE PERFECT FIT