Best Ventilating Helmets for Hot Weather

You may be all in favor of wearing a helmet as you ride your motorcycle on a hot summer day for your safety. At the same time, a poorly ventilated helmet causes constant itchiness, sweat, and claustrophobic feeling. So you may be tempted to neglect safety precautions. However, there is no need to choose between your comfort and safety as you can get the best ventilated motorcycle helmet that would keep you cool and safe.

Our pick

Shoei GT-Air II

Best ventilating helmets for hot weather

With the innovative and highly-acclaimed GT-Air as a baseline, the all-new GT-Air II was destined for greatness from the very start. Read the full review.

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What to look for when choosing a helmet for hot weather?

• A removable and washable lining for easy cleaning.
• Adjustable entail and exhaust vents to promote better air calculation.
• A peak, visor, and internal sun shield for enhanced sun protection.
• Weight of the helmet – it should be light enough for comfy wearing.

What type of motorcycle helmet is the most ventilated?

While there are different helmet types, some designs are more suitable for hot summer days than others. So, let’s take a look at cool motorcycle helmets for hot weather.

Half motorcycle helmets for hot weather

If you are a careful motorbike rider who is not crazy about the speed, you will find a half helmet a great option for your summer rides. These helmets cover the top area of your head, leaving your face and ears open. However, they offer less protection and may not even include a visor or face shield.

Open-face helmets for summer riding

Unlike a half-motorcycle helmet that doesn’t cover the ears, the open-face design delivers side protection leaving the face unobstructed. Because of an open construction, you get your face naturally blown by road wind. Thus, if you’re seeking the best motorcycle helmet for summer, consider the open-face style for its excellent airflow and comfort. Mind that ¾ helmets (that’s another name of this helmet model) come without a chin bar, which reduces their protective properties.

Full-face helmets for summer

The full-face helmets deliver the highest level of your head’s coverage. Thus, they provide the utmost protection for a rider in the event of a crash. However, the level of natural ventilation is minimal. Therefore, manufacturers equip these helmets with vents that allow air in and out. Also, the interior of these items is made of sweat-wicking fabrics, which do not let you get too sweaty.

Modular motorcycle helmets for hot weather

If you tend to spend long hours in the saddle, a modular helmet is a good choice for you. It is a sort of a mix of an open-face and full-face helmet, meaning that you can open the front of your face by flipping up the visor and chin bar to let fresh air in.

Dual sport/ADV helmets for summer riding

Dual sport and ADV helmets are designed with an emphasis on airflow. They come with a larger visor and a more accentuated chin bar to promote ventilation. Just like in full-face helmets, air circulates through vents. Moreover, these great airflow motorcycle helmets boast a sweat-wicking lining to keep your face dry during hot days.

Best ventilated helmet for summer reviews

Shoei GT-Air II – full-face

If you are a fan of full-face helmets, even for hot summer days, cast your glance at the Shoei GT-Air II item.

Regardless of the full-face design, this breathable motorcycle helmet delivers a decent level of ventilation. The redesigned upper air intake and enlarged lower intake vents let more air go through the holes. You can easily close or open these vents even with gloved hands. A breath guard and chin curtain also come in the box.

The interior of the Shoei GT-Air II helmet provides you with the comfort you would want to see in summer headgear. The 3-D Max-Dry center pad, multi-layered, polyurethane foam cheek pads, and the chin curtain reduce the wind entry to eliminate the noise.

You can easily operate an in-built curved sun shield with one hand. You will appreciate an included Pinlock anti-fog lens as well.

The emergency quick-release system enables medical personnel to remove the cheek pads quickly. This helmet is DOT-certified, so you can be sure that it will protect you in case of an accident.

The aerodynamic shell design ensures you ride your motorbike comfortably. The multi-piece EPS liner absorbs impacts and enhances ventilation. However, this helmet is somewhat heavy (3.79 lbs), so this may add a certain degree of discomfort.

The chin strap has a ratchet design. So, on the one hand, it facilitates adjustment and removal. But on the other hand, you can’t lock the helmet to the bike like with a D-ring system.

Thanks to the integrated SRL 2 Bluetooth communication system by Sena, you can pair this helmet with your Sena speakers to add some mood to your rides.

Shark EVO One 2 – modular

The EVO One 2 helmet by Shark is positioned as the most secure modular helmet on the market. The enhanced chin locking system and other improvements make this item a great safety solution for your summer trips on the motorbike. Besides, it is DOT and ECE approved, so you can wear it with confidence.

In contrast to the open-face Bell Mag 9, this helmet gives you a choice to operate it as a full-face or open-face one depending on your riding needs.

The injected thermoplastic resin shell is sturdy, but it may feel heavy as the helmet weighs 4.03 lbs. The CoolMax liner is pleasant to the skin, and it absorbs moisture to help you stay cool. You can remove it for maintenance procedures as well.

The auto up/down visor system allows you to raise the visor or lower the chin guard for better ventilation. You may also find vents that let air in and out as you ride. But it looks like a top vent is not fully attached, so it makes a clicking sound when you are on the road.

This helmet model is Pinlock ready, so you can add the included fog-free lens for safer rides in different weather conditions. In addition, you can drive comfortably under direct sunlight because of an inner anti-scratch sun shield.

Thanks to the ​​new chin guard locking/unlocking system, you can secure the helmet more reliably. The double D-ring chin buckle works flawlessly and keeps the helmet in its place even when you ride at high speed.

Bell Mag 9 – open face

If you want to feel the wind blowing in your face as you take your bike for a ride, you can’t miss this Bell Mag 9 helmet. This open-face helmet is packed with modern features that will ensure you enjoy catching the breeze.

The interior of this Bell Mag 9 helmet is removable and washable for easy cleaning. Moreover, you will get an extra level of comfort with the contoured cheek pads. By the way, they also help reduce the wind noise when you are on a ride.

The Bell Pit Boss helmet I list in this review comes without sun protection features. Bell Mag 9 eliminates this minor flaw. It comes with a face shield and peak visor to protect your face and eyes as you are on the road. Unfortunately, the face shield doesn’t stay up in conditions of strong wind gusts. It will slowly make its way down until it starts interfering with your view.

The drop-down sun shield delivers protection from sunlight to ensure excellent vision on the road. But the greatest advantage of this unit is that it can be used in different modifications: with/without a shield and with/without a visor. You can replace the shield easily thanks to a tool-free replacement system.

The air ventilation works excellent in this item due to the velocity flow. No matter the temperature, you won’t get too hot while wearing this helmet.

The polycarbonate shell is tough and moderately lightweight. The overall weight of this helmet is 3.38 lbs, which is optimal for a summer headgear. Mind that the sizing of the Bell Mag 9 helmets is slightly off. I would recommend getting the next size bigger to ensure a comfy fit.

If you are keen on music as you saddle your motorbike, you will love that this helmet accommodates the Sena SMH10 Bluetooth stereo headset and intercom.

Arai XD4 – dual sport

If you don’t imagine your life without adventures or want to find a well-ventilated helmet for rides in summer, you can’t pass by the Arai XD4 model.

This helmet achieved a Snell safety rating, known for its rigorous testing protocols. It is possible due to a well-thought-out design that delivers outstanding comfort and protection.

You can modify the configurations in three ways, depending on your ride type. Remove the floating peak, the visor, or both to comply with your riding needs. This can be a significant benefit over the Shark Evo One 2 helmet, which lacks this customization. Unfortunately, there is no Pinlock on the stock shield, which may affect your driving in foggy weather.

The shell of the Arai XD4 has been tuned to enhance aerodynamic properties. But mind that this product is on the heavy side (3.66 lbs) and may be unsuitable for long rides.

The manufacturers made a great ventilation system. They added the exhaust ports to the top diffuser vents to let warm air out from the helmet. The chin vent has more intake ports and large sculpted side cowl vents, which add to the level of airflow.

However, there is a minor drawback to the vent design. As vents have covers, you can accidentally open them. As a result, they may fly away when you ride your bike and you’ll lose them forever.

The interior part of the Arai XD4 is all about your comfort. A liner features a Dry-Cool technology that absorbs moisture, so you won’t end up being sweaty as you take the helmet off. Thanks to the 5 mm peel-away pads, you can adjust the fit for greater comfort. All the elements are removable and washable.

Bell Pit Boss – half

Urban and cruiser riders will appreciate this Bell Pit Boss half helmet that provides an excellent level of natural air ventilation.

The blend of kevlar, carbon, and fiberglass, known under the TriMatrix name, makes the helmet’s shell sturdy and light (the helmet’s weight is 2.44 lbs). Therefore, it delivers unparalleled protection yet remains comfortable to wear.

DOT qualifies not all half helmets, but this one has successfully undergone safety testing, meaning you can rely on it in critical situations.

As it is equipped with an innovative speed dial fit system, you can easily adjust the helmet straps for a perfect fit to avoid slipping. In addition, a removable neck curtain will keep you warmer during rides in cold weather, which sets this item apart from Shoei GT-Air II without this feature. However, if you’re looking for the best motorcycle helmet for hot weather, note that you won’t find a visor in this helmet to protect your face as you are on the road. Although, on the other hand the good news about this model is that it fits over the glasses perfectly, so you can compensate for the lack of the visor with the glasses. Besides, there is an internal sun shade to hide your eyes from direct sunlight.

Another thing you may like in this helmet is the availability of speaker pockets. They allow you to add an audio enhancement to turn your rides into joyous events.

How does helmet ventilation work?

Helmet ventilation operates based on the principle of controlling airflow, ensuring riders’ comfort and safety, especially regarding the best cooling motorcycle helmet. It combines intake and exhaust ports and internal channels to create a steady airflow within the helmet.

Intake ports: These openings, positioned at the front and sides of the helmet, facilitate the inflow of fresh air while riding. These vents often feature adjustable covers or sliders, allowing riders to manage the airflow. In hot conditions, you can fully open it to maximize ventilation, while in cooler weather, they can be partially closed to reduce airflow.

Internal channels: As incoming air passes through the intake vents, it traverses internal ducts within the helmet’s expanded polystyrene (EPS) lining. These channels guide the airflow over the rider’s head, aiding in heat dispersion and moisture-enhancing comfort during the ride.

Exhaust ports: To maintain a continuous circulation of cool, fresh air, the heated and moisture-laden air inside the helmet requires an exit route. Exhaust vents at the rear or top of the helmet serve this vital function by expelling warm air, ensuring a comfortable and well-ventilated riding experience.

Top features of the best ventilated motorcycle helmets

Well, at the end of my review, I want to remind you what are the main aspects you should pay attention to when choosing such a helmet model:

Adjustable ventilation: The hallmark of superior ventilated motorcycle helmets, especially the best full-face helmet for hot weather, is adjustable vents. As I said before, they are the ones that allow you to fine-tune the airflow for optimum comfort in different driving conditions.

Anti-fogging features: Leading helmets incorporate advanced anti-fogging technologies, such as Pinlock visors and anti-fog breath deflectors. Integrated breath deflectors help channel exhaled air away from the visor, preventing fog buildup for a safer, uninterrupted ride.

Noise reduction: While ventilation is crucial, only the top helmets strike a balance by reducing wind noise without compromising airflow. They employ aerodynamic designs and strategically placed padding to minimize the disruptive effects of wind turbulence, allowing riders to enjoy a quieter journey.

Comfort liners: Long rides demand comfort, and these models deliver moisture-wicking and antimicrobial linings. These liners actively wick away sweat and moisture, keeping riders dry and comfortable, even during extended trips.