Apart from the fact that few people wear a motorcycle helmet (even if Administrative Order No. AHS 2008-015 requires it), there is also no regulatory body in the Philippines that tells bikers what style to buy or whether the helmet conforms to international safety standards.

Fortunately, helmet manufacturers (at least a majority of them) have ensured that their products meet the standards of at least one of the four internationally recognized certifying bodies: the DOT (that’s the US Department of Transportation), Snell Memorial Foundation, Economic Community of Europe standard and British Standards Institution.

Bear in mind that price is not an assurance that a helmet will protect its user from any serious injury should the biker find himself or herself crashing into the pavement.

Rather, as long as one’s chosen brand and style bear the approval of at least one of the certifying bodies—usually affixed to the back of the helmet or sewn on the inner lining—the user is assured that the helmet will reduce crash-related head injuries, which are the leading causes of death among motorcycle riders who don’t use helmets.

Which helmet to buy

After learning about what to look for in a motorcycle helmet, the next step is to know which helmet style to buy. There are five types sold in the market today.

1. Full face

This type of helmet provides the maximum protection as it covers the entire head and most of the face (equipped with a retractable plastic face shield, which can be clear or tinted).

While it is considered the safest, it tends to be the most uncomfortable as it may cause neck fatigue when riding in strong winds or for long periods of time.

It is the most restrictive since it limits one’s field of vision and hearing. It is prone to heat build up.

A full face (like all types of helmet) is generally made from a molded polycarbonate plastic, which is cheaper to manufacture.

Unfortunately, the material tends to weigh so much that manufacturers also use fiber composites, consisting of fiberglass, Kevlar and/or carbon fiber, which are not only lighter but also sturdier. Unfortunately, using these materials make a helmet a lot more expensive.

2. Dirt bike

A lighter version of the full face, a dirt bike helmet is used in motocross competitions as well as in off-road riding.

It differs from a regular full-face helmet by the presence of a large shade bill over the view port, a more protruded chin bar and the absence of a visor (which is why one needs goggles when using this).

A common error is to wear a dirt bike helmet while driving at high speeds. This type of helmet is not aerodynamically designed at meeting strong head wind. It has a tendency to jerk sideways if the rider’s head shifts just a little.

3. Modular

This is a modified full face. It combines the best qualities of the full face and the open face.

Like the full face helmet, it covers the whole head. However, its facial section—the visor and the chin bar—could be raised, flipping up like a medieval knight’s helmet.

A modular type is often chosen since it saves the rider from unfastening and removing the helmet and then replacing it and reattaching the strap, when he or she needs to communicate.

However, the hinges of the modular helmet could also be its weak points because the movable chin bar is not as solid as that of a full face helmet and may not protect the rider from bad impact on this part of the head.

4. Open face

This type of helmet is also called three quarters because it does not wrap around the face.

This design is popular among police officers and traffic enforcers as it allows them to communicate with others without removing the helmet.

Some open-face helmets have a clear plastic face cover but a lot of users find them unfashionable. They choose a model that has no plastic face cover so they can wear shades or sunglasses.

While an open face is nice to look at, this type of helmet still leaves the face vulnerable to injuries.

5. Half shell

This type is also called a “beanie” or skull cap because it covers only the top of the user’s head.

Wearing a half shell, which is popular among big bikers (Harley-Davidson type) and scooter riders, is often not recommended for obvious reasons.

While this type of helmet is considered the least intrusive (weighs the least, do not block the ears, and offers the least wind resistance), it affords too little protection even for a model that exceeds certification standards.

A half shell falls short of protecting the ears, the base of the skull, the chin and the jaws.

By the way, bicycle and rollerblade helmets, baseball hats, and construction and combat helmets are not intended for motorcycle riding. Hence, wearing them is illegal while riding a motorcycle.