Helmet compare · Trauma Void
Trauma Void Helmet Alternatives Riders Try When the Fit Is Wrong
Match the helmet to the problem: head shape, heat, pressure points or tier.
Trauma Void puts MIPS in every current helmet and suits a rounder head. If yours is oval, runs hot or gets pressure points, One K, Ovation, Troxel, Equinavia and Shires Karben each solve one of those better.
Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ Helmet
One K Defender HelmetTrauma Void vs One K, Ovation, Troxel, Equinavia and Karben
| Helmet | Tier | Best for | Standards the maker lists | Fit system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma Void EQ3, Lynx, Pardus | $$$ | Rounder heads; MIPS on every model | SEI ASTM F1163-23 (EQ3) | Adjustment wheel |
| One K Defender and MIPS CCS | $$$ to $$$$ | Oval and long oval heads; show look | ASTM (Defender) | Regular and Long Oval shells |
| Ovation Deluxe Schooler, Sphero ERT | $ | Hot days, schooling, juniors | ASTM; ASTM F1163-23 SEI, VG1 (Sphero ERT) | Dial fit |
| Troxel Spirit, Terrain MIPS | $ to $$ | Round heads, trail, western, kids | ASTM/SEI | DialFit |
| Equinavia Crown MIPS | $$ | Large, very oval heads | ASTM F1163-23/SEI, EN 1384:2023 | Dial fit |
| Shires Karben Amity, Sonic Marzia | $ to $$ | Pressure points, wide peak | ASTM F1163-23, EN 1384 | Dial fit |
What riders like about Trauma Void, and when it doesn't fit
Trauma Void builds MIPS into every current helmet. The Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ Helmet adds a Coolmax interior, a magnetic snap, a removable washable liner and an adjustment wheel, and Trauma Void lists it as SEI ASTM F1163-23 certified. The Lynx Smooth Top and Pardus weigh about 600g by Trauma Void's figures, and the Lynx Eventing Skull about 560g.
Riders tell us Trauma Void fit them when Charles Owen and other shells didn't, especially riders between sizes. The shells suit a rounder head, so riders with an oval or long oval head are the ones who most often go looking. If Trauma Void fits you, stay with it; the helmets below solve the fits it doesn't.
Trauma Void helmets
Shop all ›The Trauma Void helmets fit me SOOO much better than the Charles Owens. It’s been a huge uptick in my quality of life. I can’t even describe. I was a devoted CO owner but had issues along the way. Headaches, helmets would only fit well for 7 months or so and then they’d stretch.
I tried on several OneK helmets, but not the MIPS one, and I seem to be between sizes so none of them fit. For reference, my head is 57.5 cm. I got the Trauma Void in a 58, because that's what they had, and it fit better than any other helmet I tried on
Oval or long oval head? One K Defender and CCS
One K is where riders go when a Trauma Void won't sit right on an oval head. The ASTM-certified One K Defender Helmet comes in regular and Long Oval shells with a washable, anti-microbial liner, and the One K MIPS CCS Helmet adds MIPS and the CCS color system of swappable panels, shields and vent rails.
Riders tell us One K has the venting and the shape choice they wanted, and several who tried Trauma Void first say One K is the one they kept. One K sits a tier up from Trauma Void on the MIPS CCS models.
One K helmets
Shop all ›I've always ridden in COs, since I traded in my old hunt cap for an actual helmet. 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.
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.
Running hot or replacing often? Ovation schoolers
Ovation is the answer when heat or tier is the problem. The Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet is a lightweight, low-profile helmet with a dial fit, a removable washable liner and breakaway visors, certified to ASTM standards per Ovation. The Ovation Sphero ERT adds an ERT foam liner and eight vents, listed to ASTM F1163-23 SEI and CE VG1.
Riders tell us the Ovation Schooler is the coolest helmet they own, the one they reach for on hot, humid days because it's lighter than their show helmet. Both sit at the $ tier, so replacing one after a fall is an easy decision.
Ovation helmets
Shop all ›I have an oval head, but I find in terms of ventilation my CO AYR8 is better than the old velvet helmets; the OneK (oval) is better than the AYR8; the Ovation Schooler is the best (maybe even a bit better than Tipperary, but it's been a while since I had one of those as they didn't quite work on my head after they changed it).
My favorite helmet is the GR8, but on hot humid days I wear an Ovation schooler. It's pretty comfortable and a good bit lighter than the CO.
Round head, trail or western riding: Troxel
Troxel fits the heads Trauma Void doesn't: round, large and growing. The Troxel Spirit Helmet is low profile with a DialFit system, a removable FlipFold headliner and ASTM/SEI certification, and the Troxel Terrain MIPS Helmet adds MIPS, 12 large vents and a Coolcore headliner, per Troxel.
Riders tell us Troxel is the helmet they forget about on a long trail ride, and one rider with an oval head found the Spirit fit better than every other price point she tried, though she finds it warm in summer. For western and trail riders, the Cheyenne and Sierra give a western look.
Troxel helmets
Shop all ›My primary interest is trails, obstacle courses, and gaming. I love the low profile fit. I just wore it for a weekend clinic, and the fit was great. No headaches! In fact - I didn't think about my helmet any, which is how you want it to be.
I have an oval head and of all the helmets I tried in all price points, the perfect fit for me was a Troxel Spirit. Fits my head shape perfectly even without tightening the straps. It is, however, a very hot helmet in the summer.
Large, very oval head with MIPS: Equinavia Crown
For a large, very oval head that still wants MIPS, the Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet is the helmet riders name. Equinavia lists MIPS, a wide flexible brim, front, top and rear vents, a washable memory-foam lining and a dial fit, certified to ASTM F1163-23/SEI and CE EN 1384:2023.
Riders tell us the Crown MIPS fit after other MIPS helmets didn't, and that it's reasonably priced: it sits a tier below Trauma Void.
Equinavia helmets
Shop all ›Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet
I have the Equinavia Crown MIPS helmet for my very large oval head and I love it. There's a limited range of brands where I live, I drove around a bunch of tack stores, tried on a few MIPS and CO models and none were right.
Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet
I've just bought the Equinavia crown MIPS helmet and love it for my large and very oval head. Very reasonably priced too
Pressure points or a wide peak: Shires Karben
Shires Karben is the pick when pressure points are the problem. The Shires Karben Sonic Marzia Wide Peak Helmet pairs a dial fit with a wide peak, listed to ASTM F1163-23, EN 1384:2023 and PAS015:2011, and the Shires Karben Amity SMRT Riding Helmet adds a matte frame with a matching center panel.
Riders tell us the Karben dial fit ended their headaches from pressure points, and that the wide brim looks like a far more expensive helmet. Look elsewhere if MIPS is a must: these Karben helmets use a standard liner.
Shires Karben helmets
Shop all ›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 Sonic Marzia Wide Peak 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!
How to switch from Trauma Void without guessing
Switching brands works best when you start from what bothered you about the Trauma Void.
- Name the problem: shape (One K or Equinavia), heat (Ovation), a round or growing head (Troxel) or pressure points (Shires Karben).
- Measure around your head about an inch above your eyebrows and check each maker's size chart; a 58 cm Trauma Void and a One K medium are different shells.
- Read the label inside each helmet for the standards it lists, and check them against your discipline's rules.
- Try two shells and keep the one that stays put when you shake your head with the harness open. A dial fine-tunes fit; it doesn't fix the wrong shape.
More help: round or oval head shapes, measuring your head, when to replace a helmet, and the show-ring helmet rules.
What riders say after finding the helmet that fits
Riders tell us fit and comfort decided it: a shell that suits their head, a dial that ends the pressure points, and a helmet they forget about on a long ride.
One K Defender Chrome Stripe Helmet
Finally! A helmet that fits well AND looks good on. I've been riding for over 40 years and this is the prefect schooling helmet. Well done OneK!
Trauma Void Pardus Smooth Helmet
I have an oval head and like my Back on Track Pardus very much. It has a dial fit that I did not think I would like, but I do.
Shires Karben Matteo Riding Helmet
The ventilation is no joke. My head stayed cool even while the rest of me was melting into the desert.
On a two-hour ride I had no issues with the headgear whether going up or down hills. I love this helmet, by the end of the ride I felt like I was wearing a baseball cap with a chinstrap.
Trauma Void alternative questions riders ask
What helmet is similar to Trauma Void but fits an oval head?
The One K Defender comes in regular and Long Oval shells, and riders with oval heads often switch to it from Trauma Void. For a large, very oval head that wants MIPS, try the Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet.
CloseAre Trauma Void helmets MIPS?
Yes. Trauma Void lists a MIPS system in every current helmet we carry: the EQ3, the Lynx Smooth Top, the Lynx Eventing Skull and the Pardus.
CloseWhich helmet is coolest for summer riding?
Riders tell us the Ovation Deluxe Schooler is the coolest helmet they own for hot, humid days. The Troxel Terrain MIPS lists 12 large vents and a Coolcore headliner.
CloseHow much does a Trauma Void helmet weigh?
Trauma Void lists the Lynx Smooth Top and the Pardus at about 600g and the Lynx Eventing Skull at about 560g.
CloseStandards, weights and features are as each maker lists them on its product pages, checked November 12, 2026. Tiers compare these helmets with each other: $ the most affordable, $$$$ the top of this range.