The 10 Best Helmets in 2025 for Riding ATVs
Our picks for ATV helmets that offer solid protection, good airflow, and comfort for riding in 2025
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3. : Arai Ram-X Helmet
When it comes to ATV riding, few pieces of gear matter more than your helmet. It’s your first line of defense against impacts, and it plays a big role in your overall comfort during long or challenging rides. While safety standards are non-negotiable, features like ventilation, modular designs, and lightweight materials can make a noticeable difference, especially when riding in hot summer conditions. Whether you prefer a traditional motocross-style lid, a more adventure-touring setup, or something in between, today’s helmets offer a wide range of options to suit different styles and needs.
We’ve put together a list of helmets worth considering for 2025, covering a range of designs, safety features, and price points—all with a focus on protection, airflow, and comfort for off-road use.
1. Leatt ADV 8.5 V25 Helmet Kit
Leatt is a trusted and well-respected brand in the protective gear industry. The company is synonymous with high-quality kit, and it’s one of the brands we wholeheartedly recommend when it comes to gearing up. Leatt’s ADV 8.5 V25 Helmet is one of those we approve of, with a three-layer composite matrix-style construction and Leatt’s patented 360º Turbine Technology energy-absorbing construction. It can also be configured in four ways with or without a visor, shield, and/or goggles, so it’s modular and even has a shield for off-road use.
2. HJC CS-MX 2 Drift Helmet
It has “drift” in the name, but this HJC helmet is one meant for dirt use. You get six rad color choices, and crucially for summer use, there are ventilation channels to help let cool air in and hot air out—just the way we like it when riding in the heat. The helmet’s polycarbonate composite shell and washable liner are nice, too.
3. Arai Ram-X Helmet
We get it, a motocross-style helmet isn’t for everyone. While we’ll never fully get behind a brain bucket, Arai’s Ram-X is a nice middle ground between a fully enclosed full face and a glorified bowl with a strap. This Arai helmet has a neat dual-pivot hinge mechanism for the face shield and an anti-fog insert, which is great for when the humidity is high. Those who wear glasses will undoubtedly like this style of helmet, and it also comes with the bonus of Snell M2020 approval on top of the standard DOT rating.
4. Arai XD-5 Trail Helmet
Sticking with Arai, the XD-5 might cost an arm and a leg, but at least it’ll do its best to protect your head. This one touts a Snell M2025 rating, a face shield that can be removed and reinstalled without tools, and multiple channels for ventilation. Arai makes the XD-5 compatible with comms systems, too.
5. Fox Racing V1 Helmets
What is a list of helmets without something from Fox Racing on it? One of the most prolific brands in the space of powersports attire and gear, Fox makes some very nice products, and the V1 helmet family is among those, especially considering the very reasonable price point. The helmet has MIPS safety built in, and 7 intake and 4 exhaust vents help optimize airflow.
6. Thor Hallman McCoy Helmet
If you’re looking for a vintage vibe, look no further than Thor’s Hallman McCoy helmet. Don’t worry, though, it has modern levels of protection and even antimicrobial sweat-wicking faux suede leather so you can live out all your retro fantasies without stinking the place up. Or, at least your head will stay dry. And should you want to shield your eyes, this helmet accepts all standard 3-snap visors and bubble shields.
7. Alpinestars Supertech M5 Helmet
Alpinestars is another brand synonymous with protective gear, so it’s only natural that one of their helmets makes the cut here. The Supertech M5, or S-M5 in Alpinestars speak, is a lightweight helmet with multiple air inlets and exhaust ports and even an integrated hydration tube channel.
8. Klim F3 Carbon Lightning Helmet
Remember when carbon fiber was reserved for airplanes and cars costing as much as most houses? Klim’s F3 Carbon Lightning helps democratize the tech. Better yet, it ups the ventilation ante with 13 intake vents and 6 exhaust vents, plus neck brace compatibility.
9. 6D ATR-3 Helmet
6D doesn’t get mentioned that much in the ATVing world, but their products shouldn’t be overlooked. The ATR-3 helmet carries a heavy price point, and it’s appropriately loaded with tech. It boasts a carbon composite shell, rebuildable Omni-Direction Suspension (i.e., a fancy energy absorbing system), speaker pockets, high safety ratings, and more.
10. Bell MX-9 Mips Helmet
Most think of bicycles when they hear the name “Bell,” yet the company’s work transcends this realm and extends into that of helmets for dirt use. It’s priced well and has the company’s Velocity-Flow ventilation system, plus an integrated vented roost guard. We won’t hesitate to recommend the products from Bell, and this helmet is no exception.
No matter where or how you ride, a good helmet is one of the smartest investments you can make. The options on this list all offer a strong balance of protection, comfort, and ventilation—important factors for ATV riders, especially in the heat of summer. Whether you prioritize lightweight materials, compatibility with other gear, or simply a good fit for long days on the trail, there’s something here that can meet your needs. Take the time to find a helmet that fits properly, matches your riding style, and meets or exceeds safety standards. Your head will thank you for it.
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What is the best ATV helmet?
Helmets are constantly evolving and what was the best helmet a couple of years ago has been eclipsed by new innovations. One of the big things going on with the current crop of ATV and off-road helmets revolved around making them better at absorbing impacts from multiple directions. If you think about how a helmet takes a hit, the impact occurs and the force gets transmitted into the EPS foam liner. That initial impact is spread through the foam, but that immediately diminishes the helmet's ability to absorb additional impacts. What does that do for your head? Well, it can lead to a concussion. The latest developments allow the helmet to take multiple hits from multiple directions, which is what happens during most accidents. The newest helmets are so good at doing this that the NFL and other sports where helmets are worn are now looking at ATV and motocross helmet manufacturers for developing safer helmets for other sports.
How should an ATV helmet fit?
One of the big considerations when deciding how to choose an ATV helmet is fit. Find your size by measuring the circumference of your head one-inch above your eyebrows and around the largest part of your skull. Once you get that number, go to the sizing charts for the specific helmet you’re looking at buying. Many helmet manufacturers use a standard size similar to a hat size. Find your size range and and determine which ATV helmet size you need. The helmet should fit snug, but not hurt. You should not be able to feel the helmet slide around or wiggle when you move your head.
Can I use a motorcycle helmet on an ATV?
By all means, you can definitely use a motorcycle helmet while riding an ATV. There are several styles of ATV helmets to choose from. The most common is the motocross full-face helmet. These have a chin bar that comes across the front of your face to protect it from impacts. Open face helmets cover the rear of the head, but do not provide any level of protection for the face area. There are also full-face helmets designed more for street motorcycle use, although they have found popularity with UTV drivers.
How much does an ATV helmet cost?
When it comes to deciding how to choose an ATV helmet, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Many ATV helmets can fit any budget. However, there is an old saying—if you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet. The more you spend, the more protection and ventilation you have, usually with a noticeable weight savings as well, as higher-end ATV helmets are made from space-age materials like Kevlar and Carbon Fiber. Set your budget when choosing an ATV helmet and find the right one. The same applies to kids’ helmets.
Can I buy a used helmet and save money?
Never, ever buy a used ATV helmet. Helmets, regardless of how much they cost, are designed for one impact. The foam material inside the shell is designed to crush and disperse that impact, and it only works once. But that one time is enough to save your life. You can never be 100% sure that a used helmet has never been involved in an incident, so don’t risk it to save a few bucks. And if you have an accident, have your helmet inspected before you use it again, and replace as needed.
Do I always need to wear an ATV helmet?
Going through all the trouble of figuring our how to choose an ATV helmet is worthless if you don’t actually wear it. Put a helmet on every time you ride, even for short rides where you think you’ll be fine. It is then when you’re most likely to have an accident. Always wear a helmet!
Ross hosts The Hooniverse Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast.
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