Light, breezy, and packed with features, these are the best summer motorcycle helmets we've tested this year.
We recently got back from an enduro trip in the mountains outside Barcelona. Riding off-road is always sweaty work, but doing it during the hottest day ever recorded in the city's history was something else entirely.
It was brutal in the shade and even worse in the sun, but in weather like that, riding in a jockstrap and flip-flops won't keep you from sweating.
The crew out in Vietnam, sweating through the gear and loving every mile.
We all know what good summer gear looks like: Lightweight, mesh-heavy, and loaded with ventilation.
But what makes a good summer motorcycle helmet?
We spend a lot of time leading tours in the heat of Vietnam's jungles and over the sun-drenched plains of Tanzania, and along the way we've found a few key features make any hot weather helmet truly stand out.
Here's what we recommend looking for in your next summer lid, as well as a few of our favorite summer motorcycle helmets we've been testing this year.
Quick List of Summer Motorcycle Helmets
| Helmet: | Summary: | Price: |
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A three-pound street helmet that does literally everything well outside of off-road. | CHECK PRICE |
| Super lightweight carbon fiber shell with massive ventilation and premium components. | CHECK PRICE | |
| Affordable ADV helmet with excellent ventilation and a lightweight build. | CHECK PRICE | |
| The lightest, best ventilated, and safest off-road helmet we've tested. | CHECK PRICE | |
| Lighter than your average modular with good airflow and a unique aerodynamic design. | CHECK PRICE | |
| A lightweight touring helmet with above-average ventilation at a great price. | CHECK PRICE |
What Makes A Good Summer Motorcycle Helmet?
The best summer motorcycle helmets all share two common features: maximum lightness and maximum ventilation.
Those aren't the only features that can help keep you cool though, so let's quickly break down everything you should look out for.
What's Considered a Lightweight Motorcycle Helmet?
Any helmet that weighs in around 3.5 pounds is lightweight. Helmets with added features and touring comforts can weigh a bit more, but for a summer helmet, we generally wouldn't recommend anything closer to four pounds.
"The Klim Krios Pro's ultralight carbon build is ideal for hot weather."
That being said, if you're shopping for an off-road lid, the bar is higher.
Due to the minimalist nature of these motorcycle helmets, finding a helmet that weighs around three pounds (or even less in some cases) is ideal.
What Does Good Ventilation Look Like?
A well-ventilated helmet should have as many large intake and exhaust ports as possible.
The latter is particularly important, because regardless of how much air your helmet lets in, hot, moist air needs somewhere to escape.
"The vents at the back of the helmet are just as important as the ones up front."
We'll also note that while multiple vents on the surface of the helmet (chin, forehead, back, etc.) are a good indicator, they need to be backed by effective air channels inside the helmet, both in the EPS foam and in the comfort liner.
What Other Features Should I Look Out For?
Riding with your face shield up/open/off will always provide better airflow than any vent, no matter how effective.
This is where goggle-friendly helmets like off-road and ADV lids come into play, as well as flip-up modular helmet designs.
"Lighter colors like white and silver won't get as hot in the sun."
It's also worth mentioning that lighter colored helmets (white, silver, etc) will run cooler in traffic because they absorb less of the sun's rays.
If you've been burned by a black helmet left to sit in the summer sun, you'll know what we're getting at here.
Tested: Our Favorite Summer Motorcycle Helmets
Keeping these factors in mind, we've been testing a few helmets over the last year or two that perform particularly well in the summer heat.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are the lids we've personally tested and would recommend ourselves.
Best Street: AGV K6 S
We've been living with the AGV K6 S for two years now, and it's become our go-to, do-it-all street helmet.
Truth be told, it's a great lid year-round, but it's also one of the best summer motorcycle helmets out there for a few reasons.
The first is weight. AGV builds the K6 out of carbon aramid fiber, so it tips the scales at just 3 pounds flat.
Between that and its exceedingly aerodynamic shape, the K6 feels featherlight on your head whether you're cruising at 80 mph or sitting in traffic.
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"The AGV K6 S kept us cool, even in the heat of a Miami Summer." Photo: Kevin Wing
The adjustable ventilation makes a difference you can feel every time you open or close one of the K6's five front vents.
Those vents link up to individual channels in the EPS liner, all of which pass over your head and out through the large rear exhaust port.
Fit is outstanding, padding is plush, and each of the visor's detents is robust, so the K6 has no problem riding at speed with the vent cracked.
It's a tad expensive, but compared to similarly light and premium lids, the AGV is a bargain.
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CHECK PRICE:
AGV K6 S
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Best Adventure: Klim Krios Pro
Of all the helmets we've tested over the years, we've probably got more time in the Klim Krios Pro than any other. It's every inch a premium adventure helmet, and an absolute homerun in hot weather.
Klim's top priority in building the Krios Pro was to improve upon the ventilation of the old Krios, and they did just that.
"Sublimely lightweight, even with a metric ton of camera gear attached."
The new and improved chin vent now actually flows air where you want it, while four large exhaust vents efficiently remove heat and sweat.
The Krios Pro is also special because it utilizes hollow "Koroyd" tubes for impact protection, which further facilitate the transfer of heat and moisture.
Top that off with a superlight hand-laid carbon shell, and the whole thing weighs under 3.5 pounds.
We've worn this helmet all over the world in all kinds of weather, and our main complaint is simply the asking price. We'll also note that it's a bit noisy on the highway, but that's a tradeoff we're willing to make for its off-road prowess.
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CHECK PRICE:
Klim Krios Pro
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Best Budget: Bell MX-9 Adventure Mips
If you're digging the do-it-all nature of the Klim Krios above but can't justify the spend, we recommend checking out the Bell MX-9 Adventure Mips.
All things considered, we'd say it's about 90% of the helmet for about 40% of the price.
Weight-wise, we dig that the MX-9 is still well under four pounds, just a few ounces above the Krios. It still works great with goggles, fits comfortably, and looks the absolute business to boot.
"Touring through Utah last summer in the Bell MX9 Adventure."
Ventilation is as good if not better, however, because the MX-9 Adventure is directly based off Bell's MX-9 motocross lid.
With five vents up front and four out back, the Bell goes toe-to-toe with the best in the business in our experience.
Those vents are also one of the downsides of the MX-9, however, as most of them aren't adjustable and let moisture creep inside when it's raining.
It's also worth noting that if the Klim is "noisy" on the highway, the Bell is downright loud, so earplugs are advised.
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CHECK PRICE:
Bell MX-9 Adventure Mips
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Best Off-Road: Fox V3 RS Carbon
There are ultralight helmets, and then there's the Fox V3 RS Carbon.
This is the most impressive off-road motorcycle helmet we've worn to date, due in no small part to the fact that it weighs a featherlight 2.9 pounds.
Airflow is just as impressive, with a whopping seven intake vents up front and another eight exhaust vents out back.
We've worn dozens of helmets in the heat, and the Fox V3 RS Carbon is as close as you'll come to feeling you're wearing nothing at all.
"Putting the RS V3 through its paces on a tour through India last year."
Adding to the summertime comfort are Fox's nifty silver-infused cheekpads, which give the helmet liner a noticeable cooling effect against the skin.
The V3 even has built-in routing for a hydration bladder tube so you can easily sip water on the move.
We honestly have zero complaints with this helmet aside from the fact that its lack of a face shield and non-adjustable vents aren't ideal for anything but dirt duty.
It's expensive, but compared to other premium off-road options, even the asking price is a plus.
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CHECK PRICE:
Fox V3 RS Carbon
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Best Modular: LS2 Advant X
If airflow is what you're after, a modular helmet is kind of a no-brainer: when the going gets hot, just lift the entire front of your helmet out of the way.
Some folks don't care for the design, but if you're a modular fan, the LS2 Advant X is our favorite.
What makes the LS2 special is that its chin bar slides all the way to the back of the helmet, converting the Advant X into a 3/4 style helmet while preserving its aerodynamic shape.
The faceshield moves independently to preserve eye protection on the move.
"Modulars are tough to beat in the heat, and the Advant X is the best of the bunch."
The Advant X is also lighter than most modulars at 3.5 pounds thanks to its fiberglass shell. Ventilation is above average in our experience, even in the fully closed position.
Granted, the Advant isn't going to flow as much air as an adventure lid, and we often found ourselves riding with the face shield open and sun visor down.
At highway speeds, however, it flows plenty of air to keep you cool in the summer.
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CHECK PRICE:
LS2 Advant X
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Best Touring: Shoei RF1400
If you want a comfortable touring lid but don't care for the added complexity of a modular, don't be tempted by the new Shoei GT-Air 3: the RF1400 they introduced 5 years ago is still the best summer motorcycle helmet you'll find for touring duty.
There are a few reasons for this. For starters, the RF1400 doesn't have a drop-down sun visor, which is important because the position of these visors blocks ventilation channels in the front of the helmet.
"Yes, the Shoei RF1400 has been out for half a decade. Yes, it's still the best."
The simplified design also translates to a lighter helmet, with the RF1400 weighing in at just 3.6 pounds.
It's just as comfortable and quiet as the latest and greatest, but also happens to be less expensive by several hundred dollars.
In summary: You'll miss out on a drop-down sun visor, but you'll get a lighter, better ventilated, and more affordable lid in exchange.
If your focus is on hot weather touring, the RF1400 remains the benchmark in the industry.
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CHECK PRICE:
Shoei RF1400
REVZILLA | AMAZON
Thanks for tuning in! We hope you found the perfect helmet for you next RIDE. Did we miss any? Make sure to leave us a comment. RIDE ON!
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