Winter kit tips: helmets

Riding in winter can be a lot of fun, with quieter roads and fewer bugs landing on your visor. However, when the mercury drops and the heavens open, you’ll want to be well kitted out to battle the elements.

Here’s what to take into consideration with your helmet in the winter:

It doesn’t matter whether it’s summer or winter, the most important piece of your kit is your helmet. Here’s how to make the most of your current lid and what to look out for if you’re planning on buying one.

• If you have an open-face helmet it might be an idea to switch to a full-face or a flip-up lid for the winter. Not only will you be warmer, but you’ll also have more shelter from the inevitable wind, rain and spray from larger vehicles.
• A clear visor will be more versatile in winter than a tinted one as most of your riding will be in reduced light. To get the best of both worlds, a great solution is a helmet with an internal flip-down sun visor, which lets you flick it up and down on the go as the conditions change.
• Any visor that mists up in cold and damp weather is pretty useless in winter. A Pinlock sleeve or a similar anti-fogging system on your visor will make a world of difference. To see the difference that a Pinlock system makes, just go to your local bike shop, try a Pinlock helmet on and do a couple of minutes of heavy breathing. Granted, you’ll look a bit suspect, but you’ll be amazed what a difference it makes.
• Wearing glasses in the winter can be a bit of a bother. To stop your specs misting up, the first thing to do is to make sure that your helmet vents are open so there’s enough air coming through. If the vents don’t help, opening the visor just a crack will get more air in. If all else fails, there’s always the option of wearing contact lenses.

In addition to helmets, you can also take your pick from a variety of neck scarves, buffs and helmet liners that can add to your comfort levels and help keep your noggin warm. Neck scarves have the added benefit of stopping draughts from your collar, and some buffs double-up as hats.