Best full-face motorcycle helmets (UK): buying guide and ranking

If you buy through our links, Amazon pays us a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our scores. How we are funded.

Your helmet is the one piece of kit where there are no shortcuts. In this guide we explain which specs to look at, which ones are marketing, and which nine full-face helmets we would buy today for each budget.

Is my helmet road legal in the UK?

In the UK, a motorcycle helmet must meet one of these standards:

• British Standard BS 6658:1985, with the BSI Kitemark.
• UN ECE Regulation 22.05 or 22.06.
• An equivalent standard from a European Economic Area country.

You will find the ECE label sewn onto the chin strap. All the helmets in this guide are ECE 22.06, so they are fully road legal in the UK.

What ECE 22.06 adds

ECE 22.06 replaces 22.05 and makes testing considerably tougher:

• Impacts at several speeds and on more points of the shell.
• An oblique impact test that measures head rotation, linked to some of the most serious brain injuries.
• Tests on the visor against high-speed impacts and on accessories sold with the helmet.

If you have a 22.05 helmet in good condition you can keep using it, but if you are buying new, go for 22.06.

SHARP ratings

The UK also has SHARP, a government helmet safety rating scheme that awards up to five stars after its own impact tests. It is a useful extra reference: if a helmet you are considering has a SHARP rating, check it on the official SHARP website before you buy.

Weight: what you will feel on every ride

A modern full-face weighs between 1,300 and 1,700 g. It sounds like a small difference, but on a four-hour ride an extra 200 g shows up in your neck, especially above 60-70 mph when the wind pushes the helmet.

Note: the weight quoted by brands is usually for one size (normally M). An XL can weigh 100 g more.

Shell sizes: the spec almost nobody checks

The shell is the outer casing. Budget brands make one or two shell sizes and adjust the fit with more or less padding. Premium brands make three or four.

Why does it matter? With a single shell for every size, a size S helmet is as big on the outside as an XL: heavier, more leverage on your neck and more wind. If you wear a small or large size, look for at least three shell sizes.

How to get the size right

1. Measure your head with a soft tape, one finger above your eyebrows and ears, around the widest part.
2. Check the brand’s size chart: every maker has its own.
3. With the helmet on, your cheeks should feel pressed and the helmet should not turn when you move your head.
4. Wear it for 15-20 minutes. If a pressure point appears on your forehead, it is not the right shape for your head.

A new helmet always beds in a little. If it feels totally comfortable in the shop, it will probably end up too big.

Our ranking

01

Best premium helmet

Shoei NXR2

8.7

Shoei

The lightest ECE 22.06 helmet Shoei makes. Expensive, but you feel every gram saved on long rides.

Weight

1,390 g

Approval

ECE 22.06

Shell sizes

4

Shell material

Multi-composite fibre (AIM)

Ideal for: Riders who cover big miles and want the lightest, best-fitting helmet they can afford.

Check price on AmazonFull review

The lightest and best-fitting of the group. If you do not need a sun visor and the budget allows, it is the purchase you are least likely to regret.

The lightest in our comparison: 1,255 g and four shell sizes. If you can live without a sun visor, it is the sports full-face you will appreciate on every mile.

03

Shoei GT-Air 3

8.7

Shoei

Shoei's touring full-face: a bigger sun visor, Pinlock in the box and ready for a fully integrated intercom.

Approval

ECE 22.06

Shell sizes

3

Shell material

Multi-composite fibre (AIM)

Internal sun visor

Yes

Ideal for: Tourers who want a premium full-face with a sun visor and an invisible intercom.

Check price on AmazonFull review

Shoei’s touring full-face: sun visor, Pinlock in the box and ready for an invisible intercom.

A hand-made shell, great ventilation and a Pinlock 120 included. For riders who buy into Arai’s approach to safety and do not need a sun visor.

The best premium option if you tour a lot: sun visor, double D-ring and four shell sizes.

Carbon, a sun visor and a Pinlock 120 included. A very good road option if your size is not at either extreme.

The most sensible buy for most riders: almost the same weight as the Shoei for much less money. It loses out on quietness and finish.

08

HJC i71

7.9

HJC

A comfortable, well-equipped full-face at a mid-range price. Pinlock in the box and an adjustable sun visor.

Weight

1,700 g

Approval

ECE 22.06

Shell sizes

3

Shell material

Polycarbonate

Ideal for: Riders who want a comfortable, complete full-face for commuting and touring without going premium.

Check price on AmazonFull review

Heavier than the Storm II, but more comfortable and with the Pinlock insert in the box.

For new riders or as a pillion helmet. ECE 22.06, with a sun visor, at a very keen price.

Looking for a flip-up helmet? See our modular helmet guide.

FAQ

How often should I replace my helmet?

After any significant impact, even if there is no visible damage: the polystyrene liner no longer protects the same way. Without impacts, most manufacturers recommend checking or replacing it after 5 years of use.

Is a more expensive helmet safer?

Not necessarily. Every ECE 22.06 helmet passes the same tests. The difference is in weight, fit, noise, ventilation and finish. A budget helmet that fits well protects better than an expensive one that is too big.