10 Best Half Face Helmets (Reviewed And Tested)

Half-face helmets offer more flexibility and breathability than regular full-face helmets, making them popular among scooter riders and bikers.

Even though their head protection is not top-notch like full-face helmets, half-face helmets tend to be more protective from the sides. With an open-face helmet, you can enjoy the usual features, plus feel less compact and unrestricted. 

Biking Security presents the all-time best half face helmets tested by experts. 

Let’s get started. 

10 Best Half-Face Helmets to Prioritise In 2023

Before selecting any helmets, we needed to be sure that our article was non-bias and had all the correct information. 

From the preferred 19 helmets, we select the below 10, which have all the top-notch features and good customer response. So, we checked some helmets and used customer-given information.  

1. ILM-726X Open Face Motorcycle 3/4 Half Helmet (Most Rated)

ILM is one of the most prestigious USA-based motorcycle helmet companies. Some of their single products have a customer-base! 

The 1st helmet we enlisted in this article is ILM-72X. A half-face helmet has some incredible features and an additional attribute that makes it different from other half-face helmets. 

Attachable and Detachable Chin Muzzle

Usually, half-face helmets don’t protect the chain because manufacturers only focus on the head. Almost every open-face helmet doesn’t have any cover for the chin area. Risky! 

For the ILM-72X, manufacturers created a separate detachable chin guard and sunglass visor. You can remove the chain guard and wear the helmet as a regular one. The chin guard is made with strong ABS material and has an adjustable air venting system in the front. 

Retractable Sun Visor

This valuable sun visor protects the eyes from harmful sun rays and blocks dust from entering your eyes. Effective visor material ensures that debris will not form and block your vision during a ride. 

Perfect Ventilation System

This helmet has a front, top and sideways ventilation system. All the venting shafts will take and release air from the back exhaust. ILM-72X has excellent ventilation for a half-face helmet, and an aerodynamic shape will make the rider feel more comfortable. 

A thin line of netting in the venting shafts blocks dust particles from entering the helmet. 

Pros

• Quick-release buckle strap. 
• Industrial-graded material. 
• Meets DOT safety standards. 
• Soft shock absorbent inner lining. 
• Removable and washable inner paddings. 

Cons

• Some customers found the helmet size relatively small. 

Expert’s Suggestions

You can use the ILM-72X as a full-face and half-face helmet simultaneously. Just remove the chin strap and turn it into an open-face helmet. 

2. WCL Beanie Motorcycle Half Helmet (Best Value)

WCL has made classic half-face helmets with perfect shape, size, and price. You can trust their product for its incredible build quality. 

Smart Shape of Helmet

The WCL Beanie Motorcycle Half Helmet‘s precise shape molds around the wearer’s head, shaping it perfectly. This process makes the helmet safer and provides more comfort than regular open-face helmets to the rider. 

However, the outer shell remains the same. 

Sturdy Shell Material

Like the ILM-72X, manufacturers used ABS material for the helmet’s base. This material allows half-face helmets to become incredibly strong and grants them surface hardness, tensile strength, and rigidity. 

In an actual accident scenario, the ABS shell will absorb the most impact force to protect the rider’s head from permanent injuries. 

Comfortable Inner Lining

Manufacturers installed soft inner padding made of foam and fabric inside this helmet shell. The inner lining absorbs shock from impact and protects the wearer’s head from accidents. 

Moreover, this inner lining will become more and more flexible, providing comfort like new material. 

Pros

• Aerodynamic design. 
• Unisex helmet. 
• Exchange guarantee by company. 
• Long lasting helmet. 
• Small and lightweight. 

Cons

• The buckle strap quality is poor.  

Expert’s Suggestions

This small and sturdy helmet offers excellent head safety. You can use this helmet while riding your scooter and bicycle. However, it will be best to avoid this piece if you ride a heavyweight motorcycle. 

3. GLX M14 Unisex Scooter Motorcycle Half-Face Helmet (Perfect Design)

The 3rd helmet on our list is the M14 Unisex Scooter helmet, which represents perfect design and comes with a decent cost of only $63. Also, it has a good build quality and material for a cheap helmet. 

Perfect Helmet Design

The design of the M14 is perfect for regular scooter helmets and offers quality features, like the top front hinge. This top front hinge works as an aerodynamic shape to channel the wind upwards for the rider. 

Plus, the hinge decreases impacts from front-forward accidents and protects the wearer’s eyes. Most open-face shells are made of ABS material because, as we said earlier, it is the most suitable for substantial shell construction. 

Manufacturers created multiple spots for installing Bluetooth devices inside the helmet. 

Retractable Sun Visor

One of the best parts about this helmet is the advanced retractable sun visor. This visor has 2 layers of shield – the clear one protects the eyes from the dust, and the smoke shield guards the eye against harmful UV rays. 

Both of these shields are tested and meet DOT standards to ensure compliance. This shield provides the utmost safety and is regular scratch resistant. 

Durable Buckle Strap

The helmet’s buckle strap is made of PU leather and industrial-graded fabric. But I encountered a problem with this chin buckle strap. While trying to wear the helmet, the quick chin-release strap feels complex and tight in some areas. 

To fix this problem, I adjusted the tightness using the black strap and red buckle on the right side. After altering it, you will not find the buckle strap uncomfortable. 

Pros

• Removable inner liner. 
• Impact-absorbing EPS foam layer. 
• 3-position shield mechanism.
• Replaceable visor. 
• Available in 4 different sizes. 

Cons

• For some customers, the chin strap is too small or tight. 

Expert’s Suggestions

The GLX M14 can be a perfect travel companion for long road trips and traveling. If you often like to take epic cross-country road trips with your motorcycle, then consider selecting this piece. 

4. ILM Motorcycle Half-Face Helmet (Quality Material)

Another ILM half-face helmet has excellent half-face helmet build quality. It’s one of their compact helmet designs that offer exceptional durability. 

Strongest Helmet Shell 

For half-face helmets, features could be a better trait. Your main concern should be the shell’s durability because it will absorb the most damage from any impact. 

This helmet has one of the most resistant outer shells among any open-face helmet. Manufacturers did several scientific helmet testing methods like dropping and presser-point testing. 

The pressure-point testing includes putting pressure on different weak points of a helmet and measuring how much tension it can endure before breaking up. 

Size Adjustable Dial

Behind the helmet, you will see a sizing dial to adjust. Use this dial to change any head size according to different measurements. It’s a convenient feature for quickly adapting to any head size. 

Retractable Tinted Sun Visor

Like the GLX M14, there are 2 visors you can attach to your helmet. The tinted sun visor is built-in with the helmet, but you need to purchase the clear one separately. 

The built-in visor seems legit to us with its retractable feature and durable detachable construction. 

Pros

• This helmet has 3-different colour options. 
•  DOT-certified helmet. 
• ABS shell construction. 
• Flexible and sturdy buckle. 
• Size adjusting dial. 

Cons

• Visors felt a bit small for the face. 

Expert’s Suggestions

The compact design of this helmet makes it perfect for casual use. Also, you are getting this motorcycle helmet under $100, so pretty cheap but has good quality benefits. 

5. Bell Mag-9 Open Face Motorcycle Helmet (Most Comfortable)

Bell specializes in making exceptional-looking sports helmets with beautiful designs and builds quality. Their open-face helmet also has many sport helmet features, and the Bell Mag-9 is no exception. 

Design Perfection

At first glance, it’s hard to believe that the Bell Mag-9 is not a sports helmet. The design resembles a sports helmet. Take the upper front elevated peak that blocks too much sunlight to flash eyes. 

This peak also works as a venting system and perfects the aerodynamic design for the top part of the helmet. There are 2 sets of ventilation and exhaust on the back that channels air. 

What makes the helmet more perfect is the visors that cover the entire face of the helmet. 

Comfy Inner Paddings

Manufacturers added high-quality 3 sets of EPS foam inside the helmet to provide genuine comfort for the user. You will feel a warmth inside the helmet that makes it more comfortable. 

We also noticed that the inside paddings are 2 times thicker than regular helmets, making it perfect for small heads. Moreover, the inner liner paddings are detachable from the outside. 

Intercom Attachable Part in the Helmet

Manufacturers created built-in communication ports and speaker spots inside the helmet. You can conveniently attach speaker wirings and communication devices inside the helmet.  

The shock-absorbent qualities of the helmet will protect your device from high impact. 

Pros

• Dual layer shell. 
• This helmet is lightweight. 
• DOT approved. 
• Velocity-flow ventilation system. 
• Full-face visor. 

Cons

• A bit costly and crosses the $150 limit. 

Expert’s Suggestions

Bull Meg-9 gives many similar vibes, like a sports helmet. You can use this helmet for quad bikes and use a neck gaiter mask for extra protection. The price seems a bit higher than regular helmets; a small price to pay for greater comfort!  

6. LS2 Helmets Open Face Verso Helmet (Equipped with Dual Visor)

LS2 is your all-in-one motorcycle accessories, like stylish endurance jackets, visors, and motorcycle helmets. Some helmets from LS2 are so good that we needed help listing them in this article. 

The LS2 Verso we listed here offers a unique feature that other half-faced helmets don’t. 

2 Visors at the Same Time

With LS2 Verso, you can enable both the tinted sun visor and smoke visor at the same time. Well, it may seem pointless, but dual visors can help you see the road ahead more clearly in dusty or snowy situations. 

These visors are constructed with polycarbonate material, a space-age polymer with high resistance to impact.

Also, you can use all the features with dual visors. The quality of the dual optics is pretty impressive, and the scratchless feature makes them durable. The only problem you may face is cleaning time will double. 

Adjustable Air Venting System

Manufacturers created a dual venting system within the top of the helmet controlled by a sliding mechanism. With the sliding mechanism, you can close or open the vent. 

This simple mechanism makes the venting more precise and controllable. If it’s cold outside, turn off the vent or open it when you feel too hot. 

Comfortable Neck Roll

In an actual accident scenario, your neck will also withstand tremendous impact force and may snap from the pressure. Manufacturers added an extra round EPS foam layer covering the entire neck area that prevents neck injuries. 

This extra layer will absorb most of the impact force around your neck and spread it evenly. 

Pros

• Hypoallergenic helmet. 
• Reinforced chin strap. 
• Laser cut inner lining paddings. 
• Vortex generator visor. 
• Steel-quick release buckle. 

Cons

• For some customers, the helmet’s size is too small. 

Expert’s Suggestions

This helmet can be perfect for scooters and lightweight motorcycles. Usually, the stylish floral design helmet is suited for female riders. 

7. LS2 Rebellion Motorcycle Half-Face Helmet (Best Buckle Strap)

Another LS2 product that made its place on our list is LST Rebellion. By its name, you can guess that this helmet can remain intact from formidable beatings. A rebellion will not stop providing safety, even in the extremest situation!

Heavyweight Buckle Strap

In most helmets, you will notice the buckle of an open-face helmet doesn’t often cover the ear area, and the ear remains unprotected. Your helmet’s buckle strap must have extra fabric that guards the ear area against friction and smash damage. 

No one wants a bruised and smashed ear after an accident. For LS2 Rebellion, the side buckle straps cover the ear areas and leave a small proportion of the ear to protect them from impact. 

Moisture Proof Helmet

The LS2 Rebellion‘s shell is built with shock-absorbent KPA (Kinetic Allow Polymer) that doesn’t let moisture form on the helmet’s surface. Instead, water droplets will roll over the helmet’s base from sideways and will not block the view. 

Flexible Inner Lining

The helmet’s EPS inner lining is comfortable and highly resistant to impact. What makes this inner liner even more impressive is the technical fabric. This material is hypoallergenic and doesn’t affect the surface of the sensitive skin.  

If you sweat a lot, the liners absorb the sweat from the face and keep the rider’s face dry. 

Pros

• Removable and retractable visor. 
• Bluetooth installation port available. 
• Perfect exhaust. 
• Washable inner liner. 
• Visor lock feature. 

Cons

• Visors were too small for the customers. 

Expert’s Suggestions

You can use the LS2 Rebellion for big front-wheel motorcycles, like the Harley Davidson Rodder. You will have that majestic feel when going outside on your bike. 

8. Royal M139 Open Face Motorcycle Helmet (Best Compact Design) 

The Royal M139 represents the good old-style vintage outlook with some modern-day features. Its compactness makes it unique and safer than regular helmets. 

Cover Your Entire Ear

One of the priority reasons for vintage-style helmets is head coverage. The extended side edges of the helmet will cover your entire area, providing the most security possible. These helmet parts have the same material as the shell, so don’t worry about durability. 

Microfiber-Based Inner Paddings

Do the inner paddings make your ears too hot after some time? Nope, because the inside pads are moisture-resistant, and micro holes in the paddings make the helmet breathable. 

Even though Royal M139 doesn’t have a ventilation system, air will pass seamlessly inside the helmet and prevent odor. The 3-part removable liners make the assembling and reassembling process more effortless. 

Wide View Visor

The visors will cover the entire face, and a below-extended part blocks dust more effectively. Manufacturers used polycarbonate as the base material and coated the outer surface with UV stabilizing additives. The visor surface is also scratchless and fog-resistant. 

Pros

• Premium pouch in the package. 
• DOT-approved helmet. 
• Double-D ring fasteners. 
• Thick inner paddings. 
• Impacted tested helmet. 

Cons

• Building materials could be better. 

Expert’s Suggestions

As manufacturers advised, the Royal M139 is perfect for short trips in the city. You can show off the vintage look of the helmet in front of your friends. 

9. ScorpionEXO Covert Helmet (Convertible Helmet)

ScorpionEXO is famous for making expensive motorcycle helmets of high-end quality. Most of their helmets will cross the $200 limit, but the quality will be worth burning your pocket, trust me! No half-face motorcycle helmet can compete with the ScorpionEXO‘s build quality. 

Unique and Sturdiest Helmet 

The Scorpion Covert doubles your value because it gives you the value of 2 helmets with the detachable chain guard. Detach the stylish chin muzzle to convert this helmet into an open-face helmet and reattach it for a full-face helmet. 

The chin muzzle design is exceptionally stylish and has small venting ports outside the surface. These ports will effectively channel air into the helmet and exhaust excess air from the helmet. You can use the side detaching button to remove the chin guard. 

Excellent Build Quality

This helmet is made from a secret formula (Undoubtedly, polycarbonate) developed by ScorpionEXO manufacturers. It’s tough, capable of taking multiple impacts, and remains unbreakable in a real accident. 

What makes this material more incredible is the spreading feature. When this helmet gets hit from any spot, the entire force will be evenly spread in the helmet’s surface area, keeping the rider’s head unaffected. 

Comfortable Thick Inner Paddings

The inside inner paddings are 3-times thicker than regular paddings because of the dual layer stacking. Plus, the coating fabric of the inner paddings is not skin sensitive and doesn’t cause any rashes. 

Pros

• Heavy-Duty chinstrap. 
• Removable neck-roll. 
• UV-resistant sun visor. 
• Lightweight. 
• Less noise motorcycle helmet. 

Cons

• The muzzle venting ports may funnel too much air into a windy atmosphere.

Expert’s Suggestions

You can use the covert for ATVs, sports bikes, and street cruiser motorcycles. Its stylish and unique outlook will stand out in a group motorcycle ride with friends. 

10. West JET Open Face Motorcycle Helmet (Multipurpose Helmet)

The final installment in our list is the West JET open-face helmet that offers some classic features with a modern look. Also, it’s one of the cheaper options costing you only $74.95. 

Sturdy Retractable Visor 

Like LS2 Verso, the West JET has 2 visors, and both can retract from their previous position. The side-rotating hinge functions flawlessly to provide effortless control to the rider. 

Manufacturers made sure that visors may remain unbroken after a significant amount of impact. So, they used shock-absorbent polycarbonate beads as the source material. 

Perfect Details 

The Westjet has neat small details that make this helmet look expensive, like extended side edges. For these edges, your entire ear remains protected from any accidents. Plus, the coverage will not block your hearing. 

A small lock system on the left side of the helmet holds the tinted visor in a fixed position. You can adjust it according to your preference. 

Optimal Fit And Lightweight Helmet

This helmet only weighs around 1.85KG! You will not feel anything while wearing it. Manufacturers provided a size chart from small up to XL to fit in all shapes. 

It’s crucial to check the size before ordering a helmet because most customer issues happen with the size. 

Pros

• FMVSS-certified helmet. 
• Quick-release safety buckle. 
• Integrated sun visor. 
• Visor lock. 
• Unisex helmet. 

Cons

• This helmet has poor ventilation parts. 

Expert’s Suggestions

The West JET open-face helmet can be perfect for big scooters and ATVs. However, you can also use this helmet for cruisers, dirtbikes, and Harley motorcycles.  

Which Helmets are Better? Full-Face or Half-Face? 

In an actual accident scenario, full-face helmets are superior to half-face helmets. Half-face helmets aren’t bad either because they will protect your main head. 

Instead of jumping to any conclusion, we need to consider some points. 

What Part of the Head and Face Should Your Helmet Protect? 

Your main vital head points are the top/back surface, face, eyes, chin, and neck area. A full-face helmet will protect all of these parts from accidents and decrease the chances of injuries. 

As for the half-face helmet, the chin area and face remain unprotected, so that’s a disadvantage. But the visor and strong chin guard will stop the helmet from loosening and block debris from hitting your face. Also, some half-face helmets can convert into full-face ones. 

So, the full-face helmet will win this round for protecting most heads and face parts. 

Which Helmet Offers Better Comfort? 

Even though most companies claim their full-face helmets have superb airflow. But what happens in the summer? In the summer, a full-face helmet will trap heat inside, making the situation unbearable and sweaty for the rider. 

Open-face Helmets have ventilation parts too, but their uncovering face specialty will benefit the rider in hot weather. You will not sweat much and safely feel the wind breeze. 

In terms of comfort, open-face helmets will win this round. 

What Type of Motorcycle Do You Ride? 

Different motorcycles benefit from different helmet types. A half-face helmet can be perfect for less to medium-speed rides, and fast rides need face protection, so a full-face helmet is perfect. 

Both helmet types will equally score in the rider’s preferred motorcycle type. 

Which Helmet Offers More Features? 

If we are talking about features, both helmet types have enough attributes to fill a rider’s needs, 

• Both helmets will have a built-in tint and sun visor. 
• Both are built with the same polycarbonate material. 
• Venting systems are equally good. 
• Some half-face helmets have removable muzzles or slidable chainguard that fully convert them into full-face helmets. 

In conclusion, full-face helmets may offer extra safety for the face and chin, but from a greater perspective, both helmets are equally good. 

3 Types of Motorcycle Helmets

Besides the half and full-face helmet, 3 other types of helmets are available in the market. 

1. Flip-Up Helmets

If you can flip your chain guard upwards along with the visor, it’s a modular or flip-up helmet. These helmets are just a combination of 3/4 and full-face helmets. 

In some flip-up helmets, the front tinted visor is attached to the flippable chainguard, but it weakens the overall design of the helmet. You should always select the modular with a glass connected to the main body, and the chainguard is separated. 

Flip-up helmets have some of the best features among other helmet types. These helmets will also provide maximum security because your entire face will remain protected from impact. 

However, the flip-up mechanism will affect the helmet’s protection because it adds extra weight and motion that require more joints. 

2. Dual-Sports Helmet

Dual-sports helmets are recognized by other names, like the crossover, ADV, Enduro, and Hybrid. These helmets provide the most safety than any other helmet type because of the high shock-absorbent material. 

The outer area of the helmet looks similar to off-road helmets because of the extended chin area, and large tinted visors make it look like a full-face helmet. Hence the name crossover and hybrid originated. 

Besides excellent build quality, these helmets will also offer moderate ventilation features. 

3. Off-Road or Dirt Bike Helmets

Off-road helmets are a unique helmet genre that provides the best ventilation for dusty and hot environments. Dirt biking and other off-road ATVs require physical effort and may increase a rider’s mental stress. 

So, manufacturers ensure that off-road helmets remain lightweight and don’t pressurize your head. Also, these helmets have multiple ventilation spots to maintain perfect airflow inside. 

Unlike other motorcycle helmets, dirt bike helmets are not a combination of different parts. Instead, they are built like a single structure without extra components. This single formation makes the helmet more durable, and you don’t have to worry about the helmet breaking apart. 

Off-road motorcycle helmet’s main attraction is the extended chin mount. Rather than adding a muzzle or chainguard, you will get a chin mount. This part allows more airflow through the helmet and efficiently filters out dust particles. 

Things to Consider Before Selecting a Half Face Motorcycle Helmet 

It’s always best to explore a few extra details before selecting your final helmet because your physical well-being will depend on it. 

Below are some points you can consider while selecting the best half face helmet. 

How Good are the Helmet Visors? 

For a motorcycle helmet, visors are the only parts that protect your face from a face-forward accident. Most feature-rich helmets have sun and tinted visors. 

This main clear visor will have UV-resistant material that protects the eyes during the day from light and dust. You will ensure that it covers your entire face and has an elevated edge below the surface. 

The inner tinted visor reduces any flashing light effectiveness and increases your vision’s clarity. Tinted visors may have different colors, like blue, dark, green, and yellow, but dark ones are the best. 

Sometimes to packaging defects, visors come broken, and retractable features might need to be fixed. Immediately contact the seller to replace your helmet if you receive one.  

Does Your Helmet have any SSC (Stand Security Certification)?  

It’s always crucial to select a helmet that meets essential safety standards and is inspected by the official authorities. 

The most standard certification process is the DOT Certification by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It ensures that your helmet meets the most basic safety standards and protocols of the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard)

Some other certifications include ECE 2.0, ACU, and Snell standard certifications. 

Is the Helmet Size Suitable for Your Head?

Most customers face the size problem and want to replace the product without further consideration. You can use some simple methods, 

• Measure your head’s size and select the helmet. 
• See the provided size chart. 
• Select the most suitable one. 

Still, if these methods need to be revised, contact the manufacturers and ask for the correct size. This sizing depends on your head shape and helmet type. 

The size problem often happens with compact design helmets with thick inner paddings and neck guards. 

Is the Helmet Retention Perfect? 

Helmets will need to stay on the head in the worst situations. So, retention is the term used for how well the helmet fits your head. Follow the below steps to check the retention, 

• Wear the helmet and fasten your chin strap. 
• Now, pull the helmet from behind to see if it rolls back. 
• If the retention is not perfect, it will move out of your head. 
• Adjust the helmet and see if it fits or not. 
• Lower retention helmets won’t work even after adjusting. 

Accurate retention is a must for smaller head sizes, so check it out after the delivery. Nowadays, most helmet companies will give you an exchange warranty after purchasing. You can use it to get a new perfect one. 

FAQs

Conclusion 

We reached the peak!

Now that you have all the necessary information about half-face helmets, we believe you will select a suitable helmet. One last thing to consider is that half-face helmets don’t cover the front neck. 

So, in the winter, you can use a neck gaiter or balaclava inside your helmet to protect your face from the chilling wind. 

What do you think about all these helmets we mentioned in this list? Are these helmets’ potential enough to meet your expectations? Let us know in the comments. 

Have a nice day!