10 Best Karting Helmets in 2022

Whether you do go-kart racing professionally or as a pastime activity, it is always important to put safety as your number one priority. Compared to certain other types of motorsports, go-kart racing leaves you exposed to the environment, as there is nothing between you and the asphalt, unlike in auto racing. 

It’s therefore extremely important to be properly equipped with safety gear. One of the most important safety equipment that you need to have is a certified karting helmet. The United States, Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell) certify helmets with regards to safety. Both impose different measurements and requirements.

This list will feature only Snell certified helmets, as they are more commonly used in motorsports and are more strict with their certification requirements . With that in mind, let’s look at the go-kart racing helmets that you can find on the market. 

Karting Helmet Reviews

I’ve reviewed the best go-karting helmets and have created a list of what I think are the top 8. The reviews below will give you an idea of how I ranked them according to the most important criteria: ventilation, comfort, material, and weight.

I’ve rated each helmet individually and hope that you will be able to draw your own conclusions. Hopefully, this will enable you to make a more informed purchase decision. Here’s a quick summary of the best karting helmets for racing:

1. Typhoon Carbon Fiber Racing Helmet
2. Bell GP3 Sport
3. Zamp RZ-59 Helmet
4. Sparco Air Pro RF-5W Helmet
5. Bell K1 Pro White Helmet
6. RaceQuip PRO20 Helmet
7. Conquer Aerodynamic Helmet
8. Zamp RZ-58 Helmet
9. Zamp RZ-36
10. Typhoon Racing Helmet

1. Typhoon Carbon Fiber Racing Helmet

The Typhoon Carbon Fiber Racing Helmet is our top pick and therefore the best karting helmet in this list. This go-kart racing helmet is made of a carbon fiber composite shell giving it an extremely light weight of about 4 pounds.

It features a beautiful aerodynamic design with a glossy finish and absolutely shines in terms of looks. As great as it looks, the Typhoon Carbon Fiber Racing Helmet is equally impressive in it’s features. 

This karting helmet is Snell SA2020 certified making it ideal for go-kart racing. It also has HANS threaded inserts in the shell and a 3 mm anti-scratch shield. This ensures that the helmet is robust and can withstand heavy impact. The eye ports that this helmet features are very wide, giving your great visibility on the race track.

The interior is extremely soft and comfortable when wearing, as the inner parts are well-padded. The cheek pads are removable for easy cleaning. Once you are on the track, you will immediately feel how well ventilated the helmet is. It’s equipped with multiple vents which are well placed and ensure that your head stays cool throughout your race. You’ll be able to spot the vents all around the helmet. 

The Typhoon Carbon Fiber Racing Helmet is a great blend of high-quality, safety and comfort, deservingly taking our top spot as the best karting helmet in the list. An absolutely winner for go-kart racing! 

2. Bell GP3 Sport

The Bell GP3 Sport is an extremely high-quality racing helmet that is suitable for professional go-kart racing and comes in a close second place. This racing helmet available in various sizes and 2 color selections: black and white. Moreover, it has a SA2020 certification making a great choice for competitive karting!

This karting helmet is made of very light composite material making it ideal for racing go-karts on the track. It features an appealing aerodynamic design and a traditional F1 styling. You can really feel aerodynamic it is, especially in chicanes. The aerodynamic design also reduces drag during your kart-race.

The Bell GP3 Sport is also well ventilated and features Bell’s aggressive chin bar design. The ventilation ports do a great job and filtering fresh air into the helmet. There are multiple intake and extraction vents located on all around. Furthermore, its sturdy build provides the wearer high velocity impact protection. It also features a multi-foam density standard interior ensuring a tight and comfortable fit. 

It’s also equipped with integrated channels, which makes hooking up a radio communication system easy. As a bonus, there is also a drawstring bag to store the helmet, Overall, it ticks all boxes and is a fantastic helmet for professional go-kart racing. The Bell GP3 Sport Helmet is the second best karting helmet for good reasons.

3. Zamp RZ-59 Helmet

The Zamp RZ-59 Helmet is a fully-fledged racing helmet that is ideal for longer or professional go-kart races. It features a a great ventilation system, which lets the driver benefit from forced air, natural air and air plugs. These are accessible through the top and the sides of the chin bar and the additional aeration is noticeable.

As you can see, the amount of features in this helmet are extensive. The helmet shell is made of fiberglass, which is extremely light in weight, yet provides an extremely sturdy protection. It’s also complimented by an aerodynamic design and features a shell and chin bar.  

The inner material is soft and comfortable ensuring a nice fit. When wearing this karting helmet you’ll instantly feel how well it’s actually built. It also features removable interior pads that are fire retardant that are easily washable. There’s no surprise that this karting helmet features an array of professional racing features such as noise dampening ear muffs, M6 inserts for restraints, Z-20 series 3mm clear shield and chin bar.

Under the bottom line, this is a great helmet that is recommended for intermediate or professional go kart racing. The featured-packed Zamp RZ-59 is extremely well-equipped to handle professional go-kart racing.

4. Sparco Air Pro RF-5W Helmet

The Sparco Air Pro RF-5W Helmet is another karting helmet the perfect balance between comfort and quality. Moreover, it’s Snell SA2015 certified and features an aerodynamic design with a front, rear and top venting system, with a total of 6 air ducts. The air passes through the helmet optimally while sitting comfortably on your head. This is noticeable, the moment you hit the race track.

Its interior is generously padded with a fire-retardant material and features HANS threaded inserts. Just like with any high-quality helmet, this one also features removable interior pads which can be taken out and easily cleaned. The construction of the helmet is very aerodynamic, meaning that it promotes airflow into and around the helmet which is important when go-kart racing.

The Sparco Air Pro RF-5W Helmet is made of Kevlar and Fiberglass making a robust and high-quality racing helmet for go-karting. As it’s SA2015 certified you can also use this for professional go-kart races. If you are a seasoned professional that is looking to a top of the line helmet, this may definitely be one you can consider!

5. Bell K1 Pro White Helmet

The Bell K1 Pro White Helmet is another great high-quality entry-level karting helmet that is Snell SA2020 certified. It comes in 4 different sizes and 4 different colors. Bell helmets are known for their lightweight construction and aerodynamic designs, which shows in this helmet. While having a heavy-duty composite shell it only weighs 4 pounds and is extremely light in weight for a karting helmet. 

It also features a full chin bar, as well as ventilation around the forehead and chin bar area. Be mindful that the Bell’s orange version doesn’t  have any chin bar vents. So if you’re looking for a ventilated helmet, you should go for this custom painted Brus Helmet. 

As far as technical aspects are concerned, it features a 3 mm SRV Shield, large-sized eye ports and M6 hardware for neck and shoulder restraint devices. As you can see, the K1 Helmet doesn’t disappoint with its feature-rich design. The inner fabric of the helmet is extremely soft, however it is non removable. There are ways to wash it, but it could be slightly more tedious. The eye ports are 4.5″ and are Bell’s largest opening for any type of helmet. All-in-all. the Bell K1 Pro White Helmet is a solid pick for karting. 

6. RaceQuip PRO20

The RaceQuip PRO20 is another great and affordable racing helmet that is Snell SA2020 certified. It’s made of lightweight composite material and has a silicone shield in order to keep out dirt, dust and water. This feature is important for kart racing, as you are in direct contact with the environment and need to be well-shielded.

The NOMEX interior of the helmet ensures a firm and comfortable fit. NOMEX is a flame-retardant material and ensure that you are well-protected. The shell of the RaceQuip PRO20 is made of fiber reinforced polymer, which extremely durable. As you can see, it’s also constructed very aerodynamically, ensuring the least amount of drag n the kart track. 

This karting helmet also has great sound dampening, as there are no vented openings. This immensely reduces the noise levels while kart racing. However, this features comes at a cost, as there are no ventilation intake and extraction vents, meaning that it may get a little warm while racing.

If you’re living in warmer environments, you may want to get a ventilated helmet. Head and neck restraint anchors are pre-drilled, which makes the installation extremely easy and convenient!

All in all, the RaceQuip PRO20 Full Face Helmet is a great kart racing helmet that features a high-quality build and aerodynamic design, which is suitable for entry-level go kart racers. It comes in 5 different sizes and various different colors.

7. Conquer Aerodynamic Helmet

The Conquer Aerodynamic Helmet is great for go-kart racing, as it’s Snell 2020 certified and is equipped with great features. The exterior is made of high-grade Conquer’s fiberglass Aero shell that features threaded inserts for extra durability. There are also HANS device mounting points that enable you to attach restraint equipment. 

This karting helmet was specifically designed for increased stability with chin spoilers and aero ridges. This also reduces the drag, which is extremely important in go-kart racing. The Conquer Aerodynamic Helmet also features front, rear and top ventilation ports that ensure great airflow in the helmet. It also features a heat exhaust at the rear ensuring the outflow of warm air. 

The interior of the helmet has a Nomex lining, which is a fire-retardant material. It also feels extremely comfortable to wear, which is noticeable especially during longer races. The interior pads are removable for easy washing and the front of the helmet features a clear face shield with tear-off posts. 

Overall, the Conquer Aerodynamic Helmet is a great all-round helmet that is recommended for beginner and intermediate go-kart racers.It’s relatively feature-rich and can last you a long time before you need to upgrade.

8. Zamp RZ-58 Helmet

The Zamp RZ-58 is a very stylish helmet that is made of composite fiberglass and weighs only 3.74 pounds. It boasts some of Zamp’s latest technology, while maintaining a great cost-to-performance ratio. Let’s take a closer look at it’s features.

The shell of the RZ-58 is made of composite fiberglass, which is very sturdy and ensures that you are well protected during kart races. It’s equipped with a a 7-Top air system that ventilates the entire interior of the helmets. The chin, scalp and exhaust vents ensure that fresh air gets sucked in, while warm air exits at the rear. 

The interior is made of a fire-retardant material which is thick and comfortable to wear. On the front you can find a 3 mm clear shield with tear-off posts and 12.125″ center posts. The eye ports are relatively wide, allow you to have a great viewing angle throughout a race.  

The helmet is also equipped with M6 inserts for restraint devices. These inserts are ideally positioned and easy to install on any Zamp helmet. All in all, the Zamp-58 is a high quality yet affordable helmet that comes in 5 different sizes. Make sure that you select a size that is suitable for you. Ensure that you are always using the manufacturer’s sizing guide!

9. Zamp RZ-36

The Zamp RZ-36 is a great karting helmet that is suitable for all go-kart racing classes, but mainly used for entry-level races. As with any other helmet featured in this list, it’s Snell SA2020 certified and features a robust fiberglass exterior. The shell is very lightweight and comes in at around 4 pounds.

The interior of the helmet features a flame-retardant material and is also quite comfortable to wear. The interior is adequately ventilated through 7 air vents at the chin , scalp and rear area. There’s also a rear exhaust on this helmet which ensures to keep your head as cool and damp-free as possible during a kart race.

The front of the helmet features a standard 3 mm Z-15 shield with 12.25” banana-style tear-off posts. The visor is clear and the visibility is generous, allowing you to easily spot other go-karts on your sides. There are also M6 inserts that are strategically positioned that enable you to connect standard neck and head restraints.

The Zamp RZ-36 is a great helmet, but recommended for entry-level go-kart racers who are starting out. If you’re looking for a more feature-rich helmet you should consider getting a helmet that is gear to intermediate or professional go-kart racers.

10. Typhoon Racing Helmet

The Typhoon Racing Helmet is a good entry-level karting helmet that is SA2020 rated, like all the helmets on this list and a must-have requirement for go-kart racing. The shell of this helmet is made of a high-quality fiberglass composite and sits firmly and comfortably on your head.

There are also generous intake and exhaust vents located on the front, top and back of the helmet allowing for good air circulation while karting. Having proper ventilation is often underrated. If you take racing competitively and live in a warmer climate areas you should always consider ideal helmet ventilation, as it can directly affect your track performance.

The Typhoon Racing Helmet features a Kevlar chin strap that is firmly secured with a D-ring closure.  Kevlar is flame-retardant and abrasion-resistant. Additionally, it has a 3 mm hard coated face shield with eye port gaskets, which helt to filter dust, debris and other air particles. 

Moreover, the helmet is relatively light in weight coming in at 4 pounds, but it does have a hollow sound to it. The helmet fully complies with SCCA and NHRA helmet rules and is overall a great entry-level helmet for beginner to intermediate level go-kart racing.

How to Choose the best Karting Helmet – Buying Guide

There are many go-karting helmets on the market making it hard to find and choose the perfect one. I have tested many different ones and I have created a list of the best karting helmets for you to narrow down your choices.

It’s also important to understand that each driver has his own preferences and needs to make a choice for him or herself on which helmet is most suitable. Before making a choice, it’s wise to look at various attributes of racing helmets. The following section is dedicated to highlight helmet attributes such as type, material, comfort, size, design and price!

Type

There are different types of helmets depending on the category. While finding the perfect go-kart helmet can be difficult with so much selection to choose from, finding a good one isn’t as difficult as you might think. It’s all depends what you are looking for. 

The only thing you really need to ensure is that you opt for a full-face helmet. Go-kart racers are extremely vulnerable as there is no roll cage protecting the driver from contact with the asphalt. As far as types go, on the one hand you have entry-level helmets that have full safety ratings and mostly only a few additional features.

On the other hand, there are high-end go-kart racing helmets that have full safety ratings plus additional racing features such as HANS ports, air system, integrated channels, etc. These high-end racing helmets are also often made of a higher quality material. Then, you have everything else in-between. 

While shortlisting your go-kart helmet ensure that you consider what type of helmet you are looking for. Depending on if you treat this sport as a hobby or are participating in circuit races, you may want to consider the type of the helmet you are looking for. 

Certification

With all types of safety equipment, certification is extremely important, as it acts as a safety standard for manufacturers. For go-kart racing, you should get a helmet that is certified by Snell Memorial Foundation, also referred to as Snell. They certify helmets with regards to safety and impose different measurements and requirements, in order to ensure that helmet manufacturers meet the required safety standard. 

Visibility

Visibility is extremely important for go-kart racing, especially if you plan on winning races. The reason why wide eye ports are favorable, is because there are no side-view mirrors on go-karts. This means that you’ll have to turn your head in each direction, if you want to spot the karts behind you.

Turning your head is required, but you should try and limit the range of motion, as everytime you don’t look at the racing conditions ahead you are at risk. Wide eye ports help you to increase your viewing angle so that you don’t have to move your head as much and can use your eyes, which move much quicker and require less effort. Try to get a helmet with wider eye ports, as you can only really benefit from this.

Ventilation

You should definitely consider ventilation, which choosing a karting helmet. A properly ventilated helmet can ensure that you feel more relaxed and comfortable during a race. This is extremely important and any form of irritation can cause you to lose focus. 

If you live in colder climates, you can get away with an unventilated helmet, however, I would always recommend it. Getting fresh air in your helmet and having the rear exhaust funnel the warm air out really helps you to focus more on the race. You can easily spot ventilation ports on the helmet via the mesh grills at the chin and scalp area. These mesh grills help to filter out any unwanted particles, such as dust and debris which are very common on go-kart racing tracks. 

Material

Go-Kart racing helmets are made out of a hard shock-absorbing material that is designed to keep you head safe when a collision occurs. There are 3 types of materials that are commonly used: fiberglass, carbon or composite. Each material has its own benefit and it’s important to understand the differences. 

Fiberglass helmets are made of a fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber. These fibers are relatively strong in relation to their cost. These helmets are usually more affordable, but slightly heavier than the other alternatives. Carbon helmets are made of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer, which has an incredible strength-to-weight ratio. These helmets are usually higher priced due to the cost of materials used.

Composite helmets are made of a combination of different materials, commonly fiberglass, carbon fiber and Kevlar. They are also relatively expensive but offer an excellent strength to-weight-ratio.  Here is a quick summary of the benefits for each of the helmet materials:

Size

Getting your helmet in the right size is important. If the helmet is too small, it either won’t fit or it will be extremely uncomfortable to wear. If the helmet is too big, it’s going to start wobbling around and in the worst-case scenario detach from your head upon impact. This is extremely dangerous. 

When making your selection, ensure that you always follow the sizing guide of the manufacturer. These guides can often be found on the product page in the description section. For convenience, I’ve created a go-kart racing helmet size chart for reference. Please note that sizes like small, medium, large and extra-large will differ for each manufacturer and it’s important to check and verify for each one. 

As a rule, helmet sizes are measured by the circumference of your head. You can take a measuring tape and measure the circumference from your forehead to the back of your head. Match these measurements with the manufacturer’s sizing guide, and you’re good to go!

Design

Your preference on a particular design of a go-kart helmet will always be subjective. People will have different styles and what may look nice to some, may look weird to others. It’s quite common that people often go for style rather than substance, but always ensure that whatever color combination, design or style you go for that it’s a Snell SA2015 certified helmet. 

Features

Depending on your personal requirements you may need your racing helmet to be completely basic or extremely sophisticated. I personally use a helmet with various additional features as I race go-karts competitively and when I buy a new helmet, I must ensure that these features are accounted for. Below is a general list of features that you may want to think about when buying your go-kart racing helmet. 

Additional Helmet Features

• Anti-fog visors
• Font & rear ventilation
• M6 restraint ports
• Hydration system
• Integrated earmuffs
• Communication system mounts
• High-grade materials

Safety

Safety is without a doubt the most important requirement when it comes to any type of motorsport, especially go-karting. Regarding safety standards, there are two entities in the United States, Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Snell Memorial Foundation (Snell). Both entities provide equipment manufactures with certifications, which has already been covered. 

Apart from certifications, you should also ensure that the helmet is equipped with durable and robust equipment. Ensure that the shell of the helmet is made of high-grade and durable material and that the inner pads have good protection. Some karting helmets feature a flame-retardant material made of Nomex which is also known to be abrasion-resistant. 

Price

You should always consider a karting helmet that fits in your budget. Of course, your budget will depend on many different things and different people will have different budgets. What you may also want to consider is how you see and treat the sport go-karting in general. 

For example, if you race go-karts for leisure you may want to get a more affordable entry-level helmet, compared to a seasoned professional racer who may want to spend a little more. After all, a good helmet will  affect your performance in a positive way (e.g. weight, aerodynamics, ventilation, etc.)

Whatever you set your budget to be, please ensure that you get a full-face helmet for karting and ensure that it’s Snell SA2020 rated (previous Snell SA2015 versions may be outdated for competitive kart racing). There are no shortcuts when it comes to safety. You’re able to get an entry-level karting helmet for as little as $130.

Cheap and Budget karting helmets may suffice if their certification passes the requirements. Intermediate go-kart racing helmets start at around $180 and professional helmets at around $350. Here’s a list of budget ranged for karting helmets. 

• Entry-Level Karting Helmet: $130 – 180
• Intermediate-Level Karting Helmet: $180 – $350
• Professional-Level Karting Helmet: $350 – $1,200

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are still unsure about your helmet selection and still have some questions, please feel free to browse the FAQ section below where some of the most common go-kart helmet questions are asked and answered. 

Do I Really Need a Helmet for Racing Go-Karts?

Yes! Most definitely! Safety goes beyond anything else and you must ensure that you are always well protected on the track. Remember that go karts have no roll cages and safety belts. This means that you are extremely vulnerable to safety hazards. Your helmet can save your life if you get into a serious accident. Ensure that your helmet has the required safety certification before your step onto the track. 

Is There a Difference Between Go-Kart, Motorcycle & Auto Racing Helmets?

Most manufactures do not differentiate from auto racing and go-kart racing helmets as they have similar if not the same features. However, there certain helmet features are more important for go-karting than auto racing.

The list of the top helmets above is optimized for go-kart racers and you can rest assured that these are more than adequate for casual or racing conditions. There are differences between motorcycle and karting helmets.

Motorcycle helmets have and open face or full-face design. For go-kart racing, you should always use a full-face helmet that is made of either fiberglass, carbon fiber or composite materials. For a full comparison, read the guide on karting helmets vs motorcycle helmets!

How Do I Wash My Helmet?

Most of the racing helmets do not come with a removable interior, due to some of the certification requirements. If you have a helmet with a removable interior, you can simply remove the inner pads and hand wash them. Make sure that they are naturally air-dried before you place them back into your helmet. 

If you have a non-removable interior, you can soak a damp cloth in soap and gently dab the cloth onto the interior foam. Repeat this several times. After this, do the same thing with a water-soaked cloth so that you remove the soap from the interior.

Ensure that you helmet dries naturally from air and make sure the helmet is completely dry before wearing it. Otherwise, it can be extremely uncomfortable.

Conclusion

I hope that this article has helped you in enabling you to choose the best karting helmet, by making an informed decision. There are many different types of karting helmets, each having their own advantages and disadvantages. In a nutshell, please ensure that you are deciding for a full-face racing helmet that is SA2020 certified. 

You should also consider the helmet type, material, size, design, features and price when considering which helmet to buy. Go-kart racing is a lot of fun, so ensure that you are well protected when you are on the circuit. If you have any recommendation, questions or comments, please feel free to leave a comment!