Find your One K helmet
One K MIPS CCS vs Defender vs Avance Wide Brim Helmets
Three One K helmet lines: pick by head shape, brim and look.
Choose the MIPS CCS Helmet for swappable CCS color panels, the Defender for the classic One K shell in gloss, matte or suede, or the Avance Wide Brim for a brim that shades sun and glare.
MIPS CCS, Defender and Avance helmets side by side
| Line | MIPS CCS Helmet | Defender | Avance Wide Brim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tier ($ lowest of the three lines to $$$$ highest) | $$$ | $$ to $$$$ | $$ to $$$ |
| MIPS technology | Included | On Defender MIPS CCS | On MIPS CCS Avance and MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim |
| CCS color system | Customize with CCS panels | Defender MIPS CCS | CCS compatible on the MIPS versions |
| Shell | Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite, matte | Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite, glossy or matte; Suede version in Chamude synthetic suede | Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite |
| Vents | Two front, one back, two center stripe | Two side, two front, one back, two center stripe | Two front, one back, two center stripe |
| Liner and harness | Washable, quick-dry, moisture wicking, anti-microbial liner; padded harness with Fastex buckle | Washable, quick-dry, moisture wicking, anti-microbial liner; padded harness with hook and loop adjustment and Fastex buckle | Washable, quick-dry, moisture wicking, anti-microbial liner; padded harness with hook and loop adjustment and Fastex buckle |
| Best for | Riders who want a MIPS helmet they can restyle | Riders who want the classic One K look, including suede or stripe finishes | Riders who want sun coverage and the wide-brim look |
MIPS CCS Helmet: One K’s MIPS helmet with swappable panels
The One K MIPS CCS Helmet suits riders who want MIPS and the CCS color system in one shell. One K lists MIPS technology on this helmet and describes a low friction layer that allows a sliding motion inside the shell. The liner is washable, quick-dry, moisture wicking and anti-microbial, and the comfort padded harness has synthetic suede lining, hook and loop adjustment and a Fastex buckle.
CCS is One K's color system: separate panels, rails and shields you add to the helmet to change its look, so one shell can go from schooling to showing. The shell is a matte Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite with stainless steel mesh and five vents: two front, one back and two center stripe. For fit, one rider says a One K with MIPS fits better than any other helmet worn.
Look elsewhere if you want a glossy or suede finish: the Defender below has them, and the One K Defender MIPS CCS brings MIPS and CCS to that shell.
I needed a new helmet this summer to replace my CO MyPS but didn't like any of the new COs that I tried (AYR8, Halo, and Kylo). I also tried a few Trauma Voids and didn't like them either. I wound up with a OneK CCS that I love more than any helmet I've had in recent memory. It's very comfy and looks good on my head too.
I ride in a OneK with MIPS that fits me better than any other helmet I've worn, except for the OneK without MIPS that fit pretty much the same way.
Defender: the classic One K shell in gloss, matte or suede
The One K Defender Helmet is One K's original shape for riders who like a classic hunt-cap look. The shell is glossy or matte Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite, with two side, two front, one back and two center stripe vents, a washable anti-microbial liner and a harness with hook and loop adjustment and a Fastex buckle. One K lists it as certified to ASTM standards.
The line also covers the Defender Suede, whose synthetic suede covering One K compares to a traditional velvet hunt cap, plus Chrome Stripe and Rose Gold Stripe finishes. One K shapes the Defender in Regular/Round and Long Oval, and a refit liner moves the fit up or down a size. One rider, a former GPA wearer, likes having both head shapes and calls the venting good.
For MIPS and CCS on this shell, see the One K Defender MIPS CCS. For a brim, the Avance comes next.
I have the One K defender in matte, and it is literally the most comfortable helmet I have ever tried on!!! The vents keep my head way cooler than my Charles Owen Wellington Classic!
I'm a former GPA user and LOVE the One K Defender helmet. It comes in regular and long oval which is nice. It's also got a pretty good amount of venting.
Avance Wide Brim: One K’s sun-shading brim, with or without MIPS
The One K Avance Wide Brim Helmet suits riders who want the Defender with a wide brim for sun and glare. One K describes it as the Defender with a wide brim added for extra coverage from the sun, with the same Polycarbonate and Advanced ABS Composite shell, washable liner, stainless steel mesh, two front, one back and two center stripe vents, and an ASTM certification listing.
If you also want MIPS and CCS, One K makes the One K MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim Helmet, which lists MIPS technology, a wider brim and CCS color system compatibility. One rider reports wearing it about 8 hours a day, finding it comfortable under the California sun, and snapping in a CCS to change the color. Another rider says it looks less bulky than a competing wide brim.
Look elsewhere if you would rather skip the brim: the One K MIPS CCS Helmet and the One K Defender Helmet above come without one.
One K MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim Helmet
OneK has done it again with their wonderfully designed helmets. They fit beautifully. After wearing mine for about 8 hours a day, it's still comfy and I don’t get too hot in it under the California sun. I also ordered a CCS, and it was easy to snap in and change the color!
One K MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim Helmet
I have a OkeK MIPS with a wide brim and a GPA wide brim. I think the OneK makes me look slightly less like a Lego construction worker.
How to choose between MIPS CCS, Defender and Avance
- Pick your look: Defender gives the classic shell in gloss, matte or suede, and MIPS CCS gives panels you can swap.
- Pick your brim: Avance adds a wide brim for sun and glare, while Defender and MIPS CCS have none.
- Pick MIPS or not: One K lists MIPS on the MIPS CCS Helmet, the Defender MIPS CCS and the MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim Helmet.
- Get the fit right first: measure your head, choose Regular/Round or Long Oval, and use a refit liner if you fall between sizes.
Measure with our guide on how to measure your head for a riding helmet, and see when to replace a riding helmet once you own one.
What riders say about One K riding helmets
Riders tell us One K helmets fit heads that other brands did not.
I CANNOT fit in a CO. I tried both Samshield and One K (was prepared to buy whatever fit better), and it was the One K.
I have a very round head (I cannot wear Charles Owen, at all) and even the “long oval” OneK fits me, probably because it has a lot of padding.
The OneK has worked the best for me over the years. I used to loathe any helmet - I would have indentations on my forehead from any of them.
Second one I am buying (to get a clean one for shows). It's the only one that fits my oval-shaped head! Love it.
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One K helmet FAQ
What does CCS mean on a One K helmet?
CCS is One K's color system. Panels, rails and shields are sold separately and snap onto a CCS-compatible helmet, so you change its look without buying a new helmet. One K lists CCS compatibility on the MIPS CCS Helmet and the Avance MIPS CCS styles. Check the product page for your helmet before you order panels.
CloseDoes the One K Defender come with MIPS?
The One K Defender Helmet is listed without MIPS. One K makes the Defender MIPS CCS, which puts MIPS technology and CCS compatibility on the Defender shell. One rider says the Defender and Defender MIPS feel no different on the head. Open the Defender MIPS CCS page to compare the details.
CloseWhat is the difference between the Defender and the Avance?
One K describes the Avance Wide Brim as the Defender with a wide brim added for extra coverage from the sun. The Avance comes with and without MIPS, and the MIPS version lists CCS compatibility. Pick the Defender if you want no brim, and Avance if you want sun and glare covered.
CloseHow do I choose between Regular/Round and Long Oval?
One K shapes Regular/Round for a head whose front-to-back and side-to-side measurements are almost identical, and Long Oval for a head longer front-to-back than ear to ear. Measure your head and compare it with the size chart on the product page before you order.
CloseCan I change a One K helmet’s fit if I am between sizes?
One K makes refit liners for this purpose: a smaller or larger liner changes the fit by a size, and the Medium, Large and X-Large shells cover the range. A liner also helps if you wear your hair differently for schooling and showing. Check the size chart, then pick the liner that matches.
CloseProduct details from One K product information; rider quotes from verified reviews and rider forums, checked November 2026.