There’s far more to choosing the proper racing helmet than simply finding the right size.
In fact, once you start digging into your helmet shopping, you’ll probably see some new names and acronyms that refer to various safety standards and ratings. And outside of the certification requirements, there are a few other vital factors that you need to consider, too.
SFI is an organization that applies ratings to various pieces of safety equipment—both for the vehicle and its driver. You’ll commonly see SFI ratings on everything from race suits to transmission bellhousings. Many helmets carry some level of SFI rating as well.
FIA certification is similar to SFI, with a broader, worldwide focus. Based in Paris, France, FIA is typically regarded as the go-to safety certification for several international race series.
Now, unlike SFI and FIA ratings, which can apply to a lot of different safety equipment, Snell certification only applies to helmets. The Snell Foundation does its own rigorous testing protocols and certifies helmet models based on the results of those tests.
Snell Certifications are reassessed and updated at least every five years. So, if you see a helmet with, say, a Snell SA-2020 certification, that means it was certified in the year 2020, and Snell may not issue a new set of certification standards until 2025. The SA part of SA-2020 stands for “Special Application,” which is a fancy way of saying racing. Other helmet classes have different prefixes. For instance, a motorcycle helmet is assigned an “M,” so a 2020 certification is designated as M-2020.
Snell standards are recognized by a lot of reputable racing series, national and international, including NASCAR, the NHRA, the American Motorcyclist Association, and the Sports Car Club of America.
So there’s a good chance the race series you’re in will require Snell certifications too.
Once you've determined your required certifications, there's fitment and other factors, too. This video covers it all!
https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/helmets
HELMET SIZING CHART
https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/blog/pages/sizing-charts
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