If you’re scrolling through Facebook, talking to a friend at the barn, or reading on various forums, at some point you’ll come across a few “facts” about horse riding helmets, that belong more in the realm of myth and legend, than non-fiction. After hearing a few of these myths presented as fact, we’ve decided it was time to bust out our white coats and safety glasses and get to work busting some of these myths.
#1: MIPs helmets aren’t worth the hype.
MIPs rider helmets are new technology on the market, so it’s natural that there would be a few misunderstandings about how MIPs works. The biggest question we hear is, “Are MIPs helmets really as good as they say?” The answer is simple: yes.
MIPs technology is designed to reduce the rotational motion of an impact. According to the MIPs website, rotational motion is a common cause of concussion and brain injury, especially in the case of oblique hits to the head. MIPs technology works by adding a low friction layer inside horse riding helmets. In the event of an accident, this layer moves just enough to help redirect forces away from the head, thereby helping to reduce the risk of brain injury.
This technology isn’t something a marketing team made up, like a snake oil salesman. MIPs technology was designed by scientific and medical researchers after over 25 years of experiments and trials. MIPs actually has their own helmet technology test lab, where they run their experiments to further develop new safety innovations.
Shop for your MIPs TuffRider helmet here.
#2: The more expensive the horse riding helmet, the better the protection.
The more you pay for something, the better the product, right? That’s not necessarily true when it comes to safety equipment. As a matter of fact, three of the top ten rated horse riding helmets in the Virginia Tech Helmet Study cost less than $150. Meanwhile, the KEP Cromo 2.0 was one of the most expensive helmets in the study ($649) and ranked #46 out of 50 helmets tested.
With a five star rating, the TuffRider Carbon Fiber Helmet was fifth out of 50 rider helmets tested in 2022. When the study first came out, it even ranked second! This TuffRider helmet has an ABS outer shell to protect against possible impacts and absorb the force of an impact during a fall, all of which reduces your risk of injury. A high-quality EPS inner layer reduces the amount of energy transferred to your head during an accident, thereby adding extra protection. While this horse riding helmet has ventilation openings for airflow and breathability, they’re covered in stainless steel mesh to add extra strength to the helmet.
The best part? This helmet costs less than $100.
#3: Any helmet in your size will fit.
So, if the safest helmet is not necessarily the most expensive or the cheapest, what is the safest riding helmet? At the end of the day, the safest horse riding helmet is the one that fits you the best. Fitting a helmet is more intricate than simply measuring your head. Just because you measured your head and bought a riding helmet in that size does not mean it will fit.
Like our hands and feet, our heads come in a variety of shapes. Some people may have a more oval-shaped skull, while others are round. The size measurement does not account for the shape of your skull, just the circumference. When buying a rider helmet, make sure you have the opportunity to return it if you try it on and it doesn’t fit.
Move your fingers all around the brim of the helmet where it meets your skull. It should fit snugly without any gaps or pressure points. Wear it around the house for at least a half an hour to make sure it fits snugly, but not so tight that it will give you a headache.
#4: Every helmet comes with a warranty/buyback credit for the first five years.
Have you ever heard that all horse riding helmets come with a five-year warranty? While that would be nice, it simply isn’t true.
Every company has their own unique policies and there is no one overarching umbrella policy covering rider helmets. Most companies will cover manufacturing defects and many accept helmets that were involved in accidents in order to improve their research and development of new and improved helmet models.
At JPC Equestrian, we will replace any TuffRider helmet involved in an accident at a 30% discount from the prevailing MSRP. We established this policy to encourage equestrians to replace helmets that have been involved in an accident quickly. Helmets that have been involved in an accident should not be worn again, as they may have suffered from internal damage that is not visible from the exterior.
Bonus: Explore the New Helmet Standards
Do you know what standards your horse riding helmet meets? There are several differing international standards, but the ones followed in the United States are set by the Safety Equipment Institute. As of February 2025, all rider helmets must meet a new standard. Helmets that meet ASTM F1163-15 are no longer acceptable, now they have to meet ASTM F1163-23.
As a whole, the ASTM/SEI standard ensures all horse riding helmets withstand impact and retention tests and must have a visor that breaks away or flexes without injuring the face. To increase the stringency of these tests, the helmets are tested after being frozen to negative 20 degrees, heated to over 120 degrees, and submerged in water overnight.
There is one big difference between ASTM F1163-15 and ASTM F1163-23. While both standards focus on protecting the rider’s head in the event of an impact, F1163-23 also requires rider helmets to pass a crush test. It must be able to withstand force without collapsing inwards on the rider’s head.
You can see a list of SEI certified helmets here.
Breeches.com: Safe Helmets for All Equestrians
At Breeches.com, we pride ourselves on offering a variety of horse riding helmets for a variety of budgets, head shapes, and sizes. With brands like TuffRider helmets, Tipperary, Charles Owen, and more to choose from, we have dozens of helmets to choose from in one convenient online tack store.