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Shires Karben Sonic Alessa Helmet - Black Rose Gold
$149.99
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Shires Equestrian · Rider and Horse
Shires Karben
Shires Karben is Shires Equestrian’s helmet and stirrup line. Every Karben helmet (Amity, Sonic Alessa, Marzia, Silvia, Matteo) has a dial fit system, a four-point harness and a removable lining. Ultra Grip stirrups add a quick-release side arm.
Buying tip:Measure your head about 3/4 inch above your eyebrows and around the widest part at the back, use the largest of two or three readings, and buy the Karben size that number falls in. The dial at the back fine-tunes the fit inside that size range, so pick the size for your head, not for the dial.
What riders say about Shires Karben
Riders tell us the dial is what sells them on Karben: a close fit without pressure points, a light helmet that stays cool, and a look that holds its own at shows. Here is what they say, word for word.
Shires Karben helmet
I recently bought a Shires Karben WP helmet with a dial. It's a revelation - perfect fit and no more headaches from pressure points.
Shires Karben helmet
I have a Shires Karben for shows. It's gorgeous and looks like the One K Defender. It's super lightweight and comfortable and I will be buying another for every day as my Charles Owen is on its way out.
Shires Karben helmet
I've got a Shires Karben and it's really comfy, you don't get too hot or sweaty. It's light to wear as well.
Shires Karben helmet
The ventilation is no joke. My head stayed cool even while the rest of me was melting into the desert.
Rider reviews are quoted word for word from public rider discussions and retailer reviews, checked October 2026. Obvious misspellings are corrected.
In the Spotlight
The Shires Karben helmets and stirrups riders order most at Tack of the Day
Karben helmets and stirrups
Shop all ›SPOTLIGHT
Shires Karben Sonic Alessa Helmet
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Shires Karben Sonic Marzia Wide Peak Helmet
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Shires Karben Amity LVSH Wide Peak Riding Helmet
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Shires Karben Karben Ultra Grip Stirrups
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Shires Karben Sonic Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish Helmet
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Shires Karben Amity SMRT Riding Helmet
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Shires Karben Matteo Riding Helmet
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Shires Karben Amity LTHR Wide Peak Riding Helmet
Shires Karben Amity helmets: SMRT, LTHR and LVSH
The Karben Amity has a sculpted shell and the AIR-XC system of six outer and ten inner vents to move warm, damp air out and draw fresh air in. Each version is named for its finish. SMRT pairs a matte frame with a matching matte center panel for a clean, classic look; LTHR sets a textured faux leather panel into the matte frame; LVSH is high gloss on both frame and panel.
Amity comes with a standard brim (SMRT and LTHR) or the wider peak you see across the hunter and jumper rings (SMRT Wide Peak, LTHR Wide Peak and LVSH Wide Peak). Every Amity has the Karben dial fit system and a removable lining, in Small (52–54 cm), Medium (55–57 cm) and Large (58–60 cm).
Shop every Shires Karben helmet.
Shires Karben Sonic Alessa, Marzia and Silvia: standard or wide peak
The Sonic family shares a low-profile shell, the Karben dial, a fully adjustable four-point harness, a CoolDry headband and a removable, washable lining. The difference is the crown and the brim. The Sonic Alessa has a smooth matte shell with sparkle at the crown, in black, navy and black with rose gold; the Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish adds a wide brim for shade and glare and uses the TriVent Sonic Air venting and a 3D mesh liner.
The Marzia has a matte finish with a tone-on-tone leather-textured crown, and the Silvia a color-coded crown for one unified color. Both come with a standard peak that stops at the sides of the helmet, or a Sonic wide peak that wraps around the sides for more sun cover. All four run XS (49–51 cm) to XL (61–63 cm).
Shop Karben Sonic helmets.
Shires Karben Matteo schooling helmet, spare liners and peaks
The Karben Matteo is the everyday schooling helmet: low profile, a flexible peak, a dial adjuster, a fully adjustable four-point harness, a memory foam headband and a lining that goes in the washing machine. It comes in black, blue, pink and purple gloss, in three dial-adjusted sizes: XS/S (48–52 cm), S/M (52–56 cm) and M/L (56–59 cm). Riders tell us Karben's smaller sizes fit children who are just starting lessons.
Keep a Karben Schooling Helmet spare liner on hand so one can wash while the other rides, and a spare black flexible peak for the Alessa, Marzia and Silvia. Shires's own note on the spare peak: if your helmet has been damaged in a fall, replace the whole helmet, not just the peak.
Shop the Karben spare schooling helmet liner and the Karben spare schooling helmet peak.
Shires Karben Ultra Grip and Ultra Grip FX stirrups
Karben stirrups are cast, powder-coated aluminum, light in the hand, with a deep dual-grip footplate and rubberized treads for traction wet or dry. The Karben Ultra Grip has a spring-loaded breakaway side that clicks back into place in one move, in black or silver. The Ultra Grip FX has a flexible rubber outer arm that Shires describes as flexing under pressure to let the foot out and then returning to shape, a weighted base and an angled eyelet that turns the stirrup toward your foot; it comes in black/aluminum and black/black.
Both are one size. Our product listing for the Ultra Grip FX notes it is not compliant with USEF rule GR801.6 for USEF-licensed competitions; use it for schooling and non-USEF events at your discretion.
Shop Karben stirrups.
Shires Karben stirrups
I'm really impressed with them! They've got a really good safety feature that's got me out of a couple of scrapes. They're very well balanced, so my foot always finds its way back in with the stirrup the correct way round.
Shires Karben stirrups
I love the quick release side arm of these stirrups for safety's sake. I also appreciate that they're sleek and still look quite traditional from a distance, without being bulky. I do wish that the footbed had a little bit more grip for cross country riding or the bigger jumpers.
Which Shires Karben helmet: Amity vs Sonic vs Matteo
All Karben helmets share the dial fit, an adjustable four-point harness and a removable lining. Choose by brim, finish and size range.
| Helmet | Brim | Finish | Venting | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amity SMRT / LTHR | Standard | Matte; LTHR adds a faux leather panel | AIR-XC, 6 outer and 10 inner vents | S to L, 52–60 cm |
| Amity SMRT / LTHR / LVSH Wide Peak | Wide peak | Matte, faux leather panel or high gloss | AIR-XC | S to L, 52–60 cm |
| Sonic Alessa | Standard, flexible | Matte with sparkle crown | Passive venting, CoolDry headband | XS to XL, 49–63 cm |
| Sonic Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish | Wide brim | Smooth shell with sparkle crown | TriVent Sonic Air, 3D mesh liner | XS to XL, 49–63 cm |
| Marzia Standard / Sonic Marzia Wide Peak | Standard or wide, flexible | Matte, leather-textured crown | Vented crown, CoolDry headband | XS to XL, 49–63 cm |
| Silvia Standard / Sonic Silvia Wide Peak | Standard or wide, flexible | Color-coded crown | Passive venting | XS to XL, 49–63 cm |
| Matteo | Flexible peak | Gloss or matte, four colors | Thermo-regulated airflow | XS/S to M/L, 48–59 cm |
Shires Karben helmet safety standards, as Shires reports them
These are the standards Shires lists for each Karben helmet in the product data it supplies to us. Check the label inside your helmet and your discipline's current rule book before you compete.
| Helmet | Standards listed by Shires |
|---|---|
| Amity SMRT, LTHR, SMRT Wide Peak, LTHR Wide Peak, LVSH Wide Peak | ASTM F1163-23; EN 1384:2023 |
| Sonic Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish | SEI ASTM F1163-23; BS EN 1384:2023 |
| Sonic Alessa | ASTM F1163-23; EN 1384:2023; PAS 015:2011 |
| Marzia Standard Peak and Sonic Marzia Wide Peak | ASTM F1163-23; EN 1384:2023; PAS 015:2011 |
| Silvia Standard Peak and Sonic Silvia Wide Peak | ASTM F1163-23; EN 1384:2023; PAS 015:2011 |
| Matteo | ASTM F1163-23 |
Shires Karben helmet sizing: XS to XL in centimeters and inches
Karben helmets are sized by head circumference. Shires's Karben chart runs XS to XL; the Amity comes in S, M and L, and the Matteo uses its own three overlapping sizes. Measure, choose the size your number falls in, then use the dial to fine-tune.
Shires Karben helmet size chart, centimeters and inches
| Size | Head circumference | Helmets |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 49–51 cm (19.25–20 in) | Alessa, Marzia, Silvia |
| S | 52–54 cm (20.5–21.25 in) | Amity, Alessa, Marzia, Silvia |
| M | 55–57 cm (21.75–22.5 in) | Amity, Alessa, Marzia, Silvia |
| L | 58–60 cm (22.75–23.5 in) | Amity, Alessa, Marzia, Silvia |
| XL | 61–63 cm (24–24.75 in) | Alessa, Marzia, Silvia |
| Matteo XS/S | 48–52 cm (19–20.5 in) | Matteo |
| Matteo S/M | 52–56 cm (20.5–22 in) | Matteo |
| Matteo M/L | 56–59 cm (22–23.25 in) | Matteo |
- Use a soft fabric tape. Wrap it around the widest part of your head, about 3/4 inch (2 cm) above your eyebrows, just above your ears and around the bump at the back of your head. Measure over your hair the way you wear it to ride.
- Measure two or three times and use the largest reading.
- Pick the Karben size that reading falls in. If you sit on the line between two sizes, the dial lets the larger size close down; it cannot open a size that is too small.
- Spare liners and peaks are sized XS/S, S/M and M/L: match them to your helmet size.
Karben Ultra Grip and Ultra Grip FX stirrups are one size.
Riders on Karben fit
Shires Karben wide brim helmet
This is a fantastic option for a budget helmet that's still stylish but won't break the bank! The details make it look more expensive, and I love the wide brim. I have an oval head shape and this model fits me perfectly. You really can't beat it for the price!
Shires Karben helmet
The only non dial hats that I could find were Samshield (expensive) and the only dial one that came close to fitting was a Shires Karben.
Sizes from Shires Equestrian's Karben helmet size chart and measuring guide and Shires's Matteo product data, checked October 2026. Inch figures are converted from centimeters and rounded to the nearest quarter inch.
Who Shires Karben is for
Shires Karben suits riders who want a dial-fit helmet with a current look, and riders who want a light aluminum stirrup with a release side.
- Riders who struggle to find a fit: every Karben has a dial, and riders tell us it ended their pressure-point headaches.
- Hunter, jumper and equitation riders: the wide-peak Amity, Marzia and Silvia, and the Amity LVSH in high gloss for the show ring.
- Riders in hot climates: the Amity's AIR-XC vents and the Alessa Wide Brim's TriVent Sonic Air and shade.
- Children and lesson families: the Matteo in pink, purple, blue or black, and Karben XS from 49 cm.
- Riders looking at their first helmet of their own: a Karben is a step up from the barn's loaner without stepping into top-tier prices.
- Riders who want a release stirrup: the Ultra Grip's spring-loaded side or the Ultra Grip FX's flexible arm, for schooling and cross-country.
Our customers pick Karben for the look as much as the fit: the wide peaks and sparkle crowns give a show-ring finish to a helmet many riders wear every day.
Shires Karben FAQ
Is Shires Karben made by Shires Equestrian?
Yes. Karben is the helmet and stirrup line from Shires Equestrian, the family-owned British company that also makes Moretta, Aubrion, ARMA and Velociti.
What safety standards do Karben helmets meet?
Shires lists ASTM F1163-23 and EN 1384:2023 for the Amity helmets; ASTM F1163-23, EN 1384:2023 and PAS 015:2011 for the Sonic Alessa, Marzia and Silvia; SEI ASTM F1163-23 and BS EN 1384:2023 for the Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish; and ASTM F1163-23 for the Matteo. Check the label in your helmet and your discipline's rules before you compete.
What size Karben helmet should I buy?
Measure your head about 3/4 inch above your eyebrows and around the back of your head and use the largest reading. Karben XS is 49–51 cm, S 52–54 cm, M 55–57 cm, L 58–60 cm and XL 61–63 cm. The Matteo is XS/S 48–52 cm, S/M 52–56 cm and M/L 56–59 cm.
What is the difference between a standard peak and a wide peak?
A standard peak stops at the sides of the helmet for a low, classic profile. A wide peak extends around the sides for more shade and glare cover, the look you see across hunter and jumper rings. The Amity, Marzia and Silvia come both ways.
Can I wash the lining of a Karben helmet?
Yes. Karben helmets have removable linings, and Shires says the Marzia and Matteo linings are machine washable. Wipe the outer shell clean. Spare Karben schooling liners are sold separately in XS/S, S/M and M/L.
Can I show in Karben Ultra Grip FX stirrups?
Our product listing for the Ultra Grip FX notes it is not compliant with USEF rule GR801.6 for USEF-licensed competitions. It may be used for schooling and non-USEF events at the rider's discretion. Check your association's rules for any other show.
Sources: product details, features and listed safety standards from Shires Equestrian's product data and shiresequestrian.com; helmet sizes from Shires Equestrian's Karben size chart and measuring guide, checked October 2026.