Let’s face it, if you want to ride safely and avoid serious problems, you need to buy a decent helmet. While it’s not fun, you must find one that fits well and offers comfort and protection. With that being said, here are four tips to choose your next motorcycle helmet.

Try it on for comfort: Above all else, if you are on a long ride, you want to go out of your way to feel your best. So, when trying on helmets, you should walk around the store and make sure it fits well, just like with shoes. If there is any issue, you need to quickly search for another one. Remember, don’t buy one online, especially if you have not tried it on in person as you are setting yourself up for disaster. Furthermore, move your head around and make sure it fits snuggly and comfortably as you want to leave the store feeling confident that your helmet will work for you.

Bright: Now, if you go out on the road often, you want people to see you, and you should buy a bright helmet. While an orange or yellow helmet does not scream cool or sexy, it may save your life on a long ride, especially at night. So, if you care more about safety than vanity, you should grab a bright helmet that others on the road can easily see.

Ventilation: If you are going to spend a lot of money on a helmet, you should make sure you buy one that is well-ventilated. To get an idea on this, you should research the specific brand you want. While true, think of your own area you live in and ride in. For example, in San Diego, I don’t worry about water coming through my helmet on rainy days. But, I worry about the heat, so I buy helmets offering excellent ventilation. Luckily, when you try it on, you will get an idea on how much airflow the helmet provides. Finally, if you ride in hot weather and sweat often, make sure to buy a helmet with a removable liner, that way you can pop it off, wash it and enjoy a clean and fresh smelling helmet.

Do some research on safety: Since a motorcycle helmet will protect your most important organ, you should do some research and make sure to buy a quality helmet. With the Internet, you have a lot of information at your disposal, and you should head online to check out reviews and even go to websites such as helmetcheck.org. That way, you are going to find the right helmet that will protect you should the unthinkable happen. Remember, the most important reason to have a helmet is to protect your head, and you should make sure you buy one that has high safety ratings.

While not a fun thing to run out and buy, you need to take your time and do a lot of research while checking out helmets. When doing so and choosing a quality one, you will go a long way in ensuring that you have a safe, comfortable and fun ride when you hit the road.