BELL Super Air R MIPS Helmet
Table of Contents
Specifications:
- Great ventilation
- Comfortable and safe
- Easy adjustments
BELL Super air helmet offers great comfort and a safe longboard ride. I enjoy how light it is. Yet it is super protective for longboarding, so even with keeping it soft and comfy didn’t no compromise was made on the quality.
Enjoyment or safety, what is more important while longboarding? Now let’s dig a little more deeper. How can you enjoy yourself to the fullest without any fear of injuries? Simply by using protective equipment. You should have the best longboarding helmets and pads if you are fond of longboarding.
While longboarding, the part of the body that is most in danger of getting injured is your head as you lose balance and fall from your longboard. Therefore, you must wear a helmet to keep your ride secure for yourself.
You will have many choices of longboarding helmets when you are looking to buy one. But you cant decide the one best and most suitable for you until you know what to look for in a longboarding helmet.
Just remember, a perfect helmet should be the most protecting one as well as a good size and design comfortable for your head size. We have discussed the characteristics that a longboarding helmet should have and provided you with a list to let you choose a helmet easily.
- Great ventilationy
- Comfortable and safe
- Easy adjustments
- High-quality EPS liner and pads
- Very protective
- Easy to adjust
- Comfortable
- Proper ventilation
- Cheap in price
- Well designed for functioning
- Easily fits and adjusts
Buyer’s Guide: The Best Longboarding Helmets 2022
A longboarding helmet should be:
Certified by both CE and ASTM both or Minimum
Before buying, check whether the helmet is certified by CE, ASTM, or CPSC. A helmet certified by these three means that it is tested by these organizations and meets the safety standards. It assures the safety for which a longboarder needs a helmet.
If you are a professional or racer, you should choose a specifically certified helmet for the type of board riding you opt for or the helmet certified for bicycle riding to provide the level of protection you need for riding with speed. Even for just cruising, a helmet that is certified by ATSM is necessary.
There are some certifications that are specifically for a certain area. For instance, in Europe, longboarders should buy a helmet with CE certification. Similarly, in Canada, CSA certification is observed for purchasing a helmet.
EPS Quality
EPS (expanded polystyrene) is the foam inside the helmet that is majorly for protection purposes. The material of this foam is comfortable for the head as it is light in weight. Besides a helmet being certified, it should have a high-quality EPS. It would be best if you always purchase a helmet with EPS that is certified by CPSC and meets the safety standards.
EPS starts to break down after a long time. Although it happens slowly, it affects the capability of the foam to work well; therefore, buy a certified helmet so that it is the best in quality, and if you are a professional, buy a new helmet after every 4 to 5 years.
Comfortable
Even if it is the best in quality, A helmet isn’t suitable for you if it doesn’t fit you well and is not comfortable on your head. Consider the size of a helmet, especially to make it fit you perfectly. If the helmet is loose to your head, it will not provide the protection needed and will have to be adjusted over and over again. And if it is very tight, it will cause pain and difficulty in ventilation.
About the size, you can also look for a helmet that has an adjustable fit system so that even if the size is a little bigger, you can still fit it properly on your head. Besides a perfect size, a comfortable helmet means that it offers a proper airing system and is made of durable material.
The Type of Longboarding Helmet Suitable for You
Different types of helmets can be used for longboarding or skateboarding. These include
- Standard skateboarding helmet
- Full-face helmets
- Dot or Snell helmets
Standard Skateboarding Helmet
Basically designed for skateboarding, the standard skateboarding helmet is the best for non-professionals as well as for professionals. Due to its lightweight, it becomes easier to carry it. Moreover, it covers the forehead and the back of the head, so it is not for protecting the face or eyes and jaws.
Standard skateboarding helmets are also known as half-shell helmets. Look for a half-shell helmet if you want a helmet for cruising, freeriding, or dancing. It will provide enough protection for a comfortable ride along the streets and parks.
Full Face Longboarding Helmets
A full-face helmet will provide you the complete protection from any severe injury for speed and racing. It covers the face and head completely. You will need this helmet for downhilling and pro-level freeriding.
Full face helmets give complete protection and vision to the rider for going at high speed. They are costly as compared to half-shell helmets. Before buying, check its certification properly and choose the best brand you know and that is suitable for your riding style.
Dot or Snell Helmets
Dot and snell helmets provide the most protection a rider needs. Basically, they are designed for motorcycle and bike riders. But they are sometimes worn by longboarders for speed and severe riding in races for sufficient protection.
No wonder these are the best helmet for protection, but they have a narrow visor that may cause problems for the longboard riders while taking a sudden sharp turn or doing tricks and stunts. But if you are an efficient rider and want the most protective helmet, you can opt for a dot and snell helmet.
The 6 Best Longboarding Helmets
1: BELL Super Air R MIPS Helmet
BELL Super air helmet offers great comfort and a safe longboard ride. I enjoy how light it is. Yet it is super protective for longboarding, so even with keeping it soft and comfy didn’t no compromise was made on the quality.
To enhance the helmet’s protective capability, high-quality EPS liner and soft pads do their work well. It is reliable for speed rides and for downhill longboarding. You won’t feel sweaty in it with the excellent ventilation system.
It has a beautiful design and several colors available. There is an adjustable chin bar that comes with it that is easy to insert for use. The chin bar adds to the safety without causing any trouble in the view for the rider. Moreover, if fitted correctly, the helmet stays in its place, and the visor and chin bar adjustments are reliable. But you can still make necessary changes in the adjustments.
- Great ventilation
- Comfortable and safe
- Easy adjustments
- High-quality EPS liner and pads
- The back adjuster is too small
2: Retrospec Dakota Bicycle / Skateboard Helmet for Adults
Retrospec Dakota helmet is specifically for adults. Having thick and hard paddings makes it look bigger on your head. Also, you need to buy one size bigger because of the thick pads to make it fit your head perfectly. If you buy the exact size, it will be too tight.
The helmet ensures the safety of the rider in case of an accident. It has a sturdy, high-quality shell with paddings that are both protective and comfortable enough to wear easily. Also, the straps are good n quality and adjustable. You might feel that it’s a bit heavy for your head due to its size but has proper ventilation to prevent sweating.
It is one of the best helmets available on the market for longboarding. I found it fit perfectly and comfortably. You are always safe while longboarding if you are wearing a retrospect Dakota helmet.
Even with all the padding and big size, it does not cause any discomfort, and you can enjoy long rides. Also, no compromise is made on the helmet’s quality and design, making it a speciality.
- Very protective
- Easy to adjust
- Comfortable
- Proper ventilation
- Looks too big
- A little heavy/ only for adults
3: Flybar Skateboard Lonfboarding Helmet
You can go for tricks and stunts on a longboard with Flybar Skateboard Helmet without any fear. It provides you 100 % protection with the necessary padding and strong shell. So basically, it’s a helmet for both a longboard amateur rider and a professional.
The design is remarkable, with plenty of color options, and you would surely be attracted to its look and buy it as a perfect combo with your longboard. Even the ventilation system is really impressive and adds to the beauty of the design.
Moreover, the helmet is going to fit you easily if you have chosen a size best fitted to your head; even for different shaped heads, you can adjust it with the adjuster at the back. If you are buying this helmet, you’re going to invest in something really good, but…
The quality of the strap of the helmet is not durable. It started to get rough at the point it was attached to the helmet and feels like it will soon break. So that’s the only thing you need to think about before purchasing this helmet. Otherwise, for this price, it is one of the best helmets for longboarding that you can find.
- Easily fits and adjusts
- Well designed for functioning
- The strap is poor in quality
- Looks too big
- A little heavy/ only for adults
4: Triple Eight Sweatsaver Liner Helmet
Triple eight sweat saver helmet is only for cruising or slow riding because it doesn’t have an EPS protection and also isn’t certified according to the safety standards. Therefore I wouldn’t recommend this helmet if you are a pro or racer.
I bought this helmet for commuting purposes only, and for that, it is a fine quality helmet. For normal speed, the helmet having thin pads is going to protect you from injuries if you meet an accident. But don’t risk yourself going at high speed with this helmet.
Besides talking about the protection it provides, it’s fair in price, and I was amazed to find out that they are providing more than one headband set at this price. The design makes it comfortable to wear. It’s a stylish helmet with attractive colors to wear and go for a ride. But the shell of the helmet is really soft, and light so doesn’t work well for safety.
For a perfectly fitting size, measure the size of your head and make sure to order one a size bigger than your measurements. Therefore, you don’t experience any pain having the paddings on.
- Design is amazing
- comfortable
- Reasonable price
- Thin padding
- Not certified
- Thin padding
5: Pro-Tec Classic Certified Skate Helmet
Pro-tec classic certified skate helmet is really comfortable in a way that you can easily adjust it as it has an adjustable strap and buckle lock that keeps it in place. Also, the pads on the inside of the helmet are soft enough not to cause any discomfort.
Yes, the pads are really soft, but the liner is very thin. It does not add to the quality and functionality of the helmet. I have used many other helmets, and they all had a liner that was thicker than the liner of this helmet.
I would say that the brand has made the helmet’s design ensure the user’s comfort by making it completely open for ventilation purposes. I wore it for a half-hour while riding my longboard for testing it, and I didn’t feel too hot or sweaty with it for the temperature that day.
Simply, it is a perfect fitting helmet for round shaped heads. So before making sure whether it will adjust you well or not, it will feel loose on the head. The shell looks good both in quality and design. It’s a bit heavy but is excellent for protection.
- Well protecting
- Soft pads
- Adjustable strap
- Great ventilation
- Very poor quality liner
- Only fits well for round shaped head
6: Giro Switchblade MIPS Adult Mountain Cycling Helmet
A Giro Switchblade is a sturdy helmet with a strong protective shell and enough padding. With the protection it provides, it feels heavy and warm. Although it’s a good product for head protection but the face shield of this helmet is of no use. It is not as protective as it needs to be.
Although it is certified and meet safety standards, you will have to watch out for face protection because the chin bar also does not fix properly. You can also enjoy longboarding with all the stunts and speed you want to go for.
If you think you can go without face protection, you can remove its face shield and chin bar. The head part is comfortable enough to wear for as long as you want to, so you can give it a chance for the protection and comfort it offers.
As for the price, I must say it needs too many adjustments. You can find some other helmets in this price range with qualities better than this one.
- Strong and protective
- Thick paddings
- Comfortable
- Great ventilation
- The face shield and chin bar don’t adjust properly
- Price is high
- Thick padding affects hearing
Yes! Even if you are only a cruiser or use a longboard for transportation, still ensuring a safe ride is necessary. Always wear a helmet so that you don’t get hurt at the head. Even the slightest injury can be avoided with the helmet
Longboarders mostly wear helmets specially designed for longboarding or skateboarding as these helmets have all the features needed for a longboard ride. The motorcycle helmet causes problems with the visibility while downhilling at a longboard.
Even though slow cruising doesn’t need too much protection, wearing a helmet is always good. You can choose a half-shell helmet for cruising if you don’t want to ride with a full-face one. Also, for speed cruising wearing a helmet is a must.
You will only need a full-face helmet if you plan to ride a longboard with speed or do tricks and stunts while downhilling or freeriding. Otherwise, a half-shell helmet will provide the safety and comfort needed for simple cruising or freestyling.
Conclusion – Best Longboarding Helmets
Always wear a helmet, and always wear the best helmet for your longboarding style. It’s better to be safe and at comfort at the same time to enhance your riding experience. You can find a number of great helmets with beautiful designs within a good price range, so the one most suitable for you after properly checking out all the options.
From our selection of longboarding helmets, Pro-Tec Classic Certified Skate Helmet and Retrospec Dakota Bicycle / Skateboard Helmet for Adults are the two best options. These helmets offer great protection and proper ventilation. You can find out from the reviews above whether they are suitable for you or not.