Something new · Rider to rider
Looking for a show helmet like your Charles Owen AYR8 or Halo?
A show-ring helmet that keeps the look you wore, with a cooler fit and a MIPS option.
Charles Owen's AYR8 Plus and Halo are hard to find since UK production ended in December 2025. Try the Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ or Shires Karben Amity for an AYR8 look, a One K MIPS CCS for a Halo MIPS, and a One K Defender Suede or IRH Medalist for a velvet hunt cap.
The short version
If you wore an AYR8, Halo or Fian: the helmets riders try next
Trauma Void's EQ3 NEOZ and the Shires Karben Amity LTHR cover the AYR8 Plus show shell, One K's MIPS CCS covers the Halo MIPS, and One K and IRH cover the velvet hunt cap.
If they wore
AYR8 Plus (show shell)
If they wore
AYR8 Plus Leather Look or SP8 Plus
If they wore
Halo MIPS or Halo Luxe
If they wore
Halo with a wider brim
If they wore
Fian or Hampton velvet-look cap
If they wore
A velvet hunt cap on a budget
Availability
Is the Charles Owen AYR8 Plus still available?
The AYR8 Plus, Halo family, Fian and Hampton are hard to find, as of November 2026. Charles Owen ended UK production on 19 December 2025, and the company says some models may return, but availability is uncertain. The Kylo, Phoenix, Kontor, Shadow and Eclipse are made elsewhere and continue. Write down your model and size before you shop; these three helmets match the most common ones.
Rider voices
What riders say after leaving their Charles Owen
Riders tell us the helmets they moved to ran cooler and fit better than the Charles Owen they wore for years, as the eight riders below say.
Cooler than an AYR8
The helmets they point to
One K DefenderOvation SchoolerTrauma Void EQ3 NEOZ
The One K Defender, Ovation Schooler and Trauma Void EQ3 are the helmets riders compare with an AYR8 for heat.
See the cooler picksA better fit than years in Charles Owens
The helmets they point to
Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZOne K MIPS CCS
Riders who wore Charles Owens for years describe a Trauma Void, IRH or One K that fit and felt better.
See the swap guideCooler than an AYR8
One rider's ranking puts the One K above the AYR8 for ventilation, and the Ovation Schooler above both.
Trauma Void helmets
I own the helmet and it is much, much cooler than my CO Ayr8 - closer to how cool my old Tipperary was.
One K helmets
One k. Cooler than my Tipperary sportage was, much cooler than my ayr8, love the washable liner. Love the fit- only helmet I've ever worn where I forget I'm wearing a helmet.
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 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).
A better fit than years in Charles Owens
Fit decides the helmet: match your head shape first, then the look.
Trauma Void helmets
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.
IRH helmets
I had a Charles Owen for years, and then when I went to update I found that the newer models just didn’t fit me well- so IRH it is for me!
One K helmets
Most comfy and cool helmet I’ve ever had–always used Charles own stuff before.
One K helmets
I've got a OneK now, after having COs for years. I really love how much cooler it is; the first time I wore it, the airflow was noticeable.
Independent lab ratings
How the helmets we carry rate at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech's helmet lab rates the Trauma Void NEOZ EQ3 at 4 stars, sixth of 54 helmets in its 2026 equestrian table, and the Equinavia Gardian and Skylar at 3 stars. The same table lists the Charles Owen Ayr8 Plus and Halo MIPS at 3 stars, tenth and fifteenth.
| Helmet | As Virginia Tech lists it | Rank of 54 | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ Helmet | TRAUMA VOID NEOZ EQ3 | 6 | 4 stars |
| Equinavia Gardian Riding Helmet | EQUINAVIA GARDIAN | 20 | 3 stars |
| Equinavia Skylar Riding Helmet | EQUINAVIA SKYLAR | 26 | 3 stars |
Ranks, stars and model names as Virginia Tech's 2026 table lists them. A rating belongs to that model, not the whole brand, and the table does not measure fit or comfort.
Swap guide
Swap guide: the Charles Owen you wore and the helmet to try
Find your Charles Owen model in the left column. The helmets riders move to sit beside it, with a price tier for each.
Price tiers among these picks: $ (lowest) to $$$$ (highest)
| If you wore | Riders switch to | Why riders choose it |
|---|---|---|
| AYR8 Plus or SP8 Plus | A clean show shell with a wheel or dial fit and a removable liner. | |
| Halo, Halo MIPS or Halo Luxe | MIPS in a clean show shell; the Crown sits a tier lower. | |
| A Halo with a wider brim | One K adds MIPS to the wide-brim shape. | |
| Fian or Hampton velvet-look cap | A suede, velveteen or gloss cover on a vented shell. | |
| A warm AYR8 for everyday riding | Both have a washable liner and more airflow, per the riders above. |
Fit tip
Start with the Charles Owen you wore, then the look you want. Measure around your head about an inch above your eyebrows and size to the new maker's chart, not your Charles Owen size. Between two sizes, choose a wheel or dial-fit model.Closest match
Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ and Karben Amity for an AYR8 shell
The Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ is the helmet to try first if you wore an AYR8 Plus. It has an adjustment wheel, a magnetic fastener and a removable, washable Coolmax liner, and Trauma Void lists SEI ASTM F1163-23 certification.
The Shires Karben Amity LTHR is the lower-priced route to the leather-look finish, with a faux leather panel and a dial fit.
In fairness
Trauma Void suggests the EQ3 for rounder heads. If you wore a long oval AYR8, try the One K Defender, which comes in Long Oval as well as Regular/Round.Trauma Void helmets
I got a new Trauma Void EQ3 and so far it's MUCH better than almost all my CO helmets.
Shires Karben helmets
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 it's way out.
Shop Trauma Void helmets
Shop all ›MIPS show helmets
Halo MIPS alternatives: One K MIPS CCS and Equinavia Crown
The One K MIPS CCS is the helmet to try if you wore a Halo MIPS: it has a matte shell, a washable quick-dry liner, 5 vents and a color system for swapping panels.
For a wider brim, the One K MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim adds MIPS to the shape riders know. The Equinavia Crown MIPS is a MIPS show helmet a tier lower.
In fairness
MIPS is one feature among fit, vents and look, so choose the helmet that fits your head first.Shop One K MIPS helmets
Shop all ›Hunt caps
Velvet-look hunt caps: IRH Medalist and One K Defender Suede
The IRH Medalist and the One K Defender Suede are the closest carried helmets to a velvet hunt cap. The Medalist has a velveteen cover and a three-point harness, and IRH lists it as meeting ASTM F1163-15; the Defender Suede has a Chamude synthetic suede cover that One K says is reminiscent of traditional velvet hunt caps.
The Karben Amity LVSH has a gloss frame and wide peak, and the LeMieux Verv is a newer show option with interchangeable top panels.
In fairness
No helmet matches a Fian or Hampton exactly, so check your hunt's or show's rules before you buy.Have you tried the Charles Owen Fian or the One K Defender? After a long search, these were the least mushroom-y that I was able to find.
IRH helmets
Easy, affordable, well fitting option for foxhunting. This fits as well as my One Ks or my Uvex and meets the appearance and tradition standards of velvet helmets for foxhunting. Plus, its way more affordable than the Charles Owens ones.
Shop Karben Amity helmets
Shop all ›Heat
Cooler than an AYR8: One K Defender, EQ3 NEOZ and Schooler
The One K Defender is the show-ring helmet to try if your AYR8 runs warm: it has a washable, moisture-wicking liner and 7 vents. The Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ has a removable Coolmax liner you can wash and a wheel at the back to adjust the fit.
The Ovation Deluxe Schooler is a lightweight, low-profile helmet with an easy-adjust dial and a removable, washable liner, for schooling rather than the show ring.
In fairness
A cooler helmet only helps if it fits, so match your head shape before you compare vents.Shop Ovation Schooler helmets
Shop all ›In fairness
What Charles Owen does well
Riders chose the AYR8 and Halo for good reasons, and some of them apply to your next helmet too.
If you need a Round Fit, Charles Owen makes one alongside its regular shapes, so try any new helmet on before you retire the old one.
If you want the traditional hunt-ring look, the Fian and Hampton velvet caps are built for it; the IRH Medalist and One K Defender Suede are the closest we carry.
If your AYR8 Plus or Halo fits you well, bring the model name and size when you try the next helmet and compare how it sits.
Charles Owen AYR8 and Halo alternatives: questions riders ask
What replaces the Charles Owen AYR8 Plus?
For an AYR8 Plus look, try the Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ or the Shires Karben Amity LTHR. The NEOZ has a wheel fit and the Amity a dial and faux leather panel. Measure your head, then try two.
CloseIs there a cooler helmet than the AYR8?
Riders tell us One K, Trauma Void and Ovation helmets feel cooler than an AYR8. The One K Defender has 7 vents and the Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ a removable Coolmax liner. Pick the shape that fits your head, then compare vents.
CloseWhich MIPS show helmet can replace a Charles Owen Halo MIPS?
Try the One K MIPS CCS first, then the wide-brim One K MIPS CCS Avance or the Equinavia Crown MIPS. Each carries MIPS in a clean show shell. Measure front-to-back and ear-to-ear before you choose.
CloseAre there helmets that look like a velvet hunt cap?
Yes: the IRH Medalist has a velveteen cover, the One K Defender Suede a synthetic suede cover and the Shires Karben Amity LVSH a gloss frame. Check your hunt's or show's rules first.
CloseIs the Charles Owen Halo MIPS available in the US?
The Halo MIPS is hard to find in the US. Charles Owen ended UK production on 19 December 2025 and says some models may return, but availability is uncertain. Use the swap guide above to find the closest match, and measure your head first.
CloseWhere can I read more comparisons like this?
Riders replacing a Charles Owen also read these guides to compare fit and ratings across helmet brands.
- Can't find Charles Owen? Alternatives
- Charles Owen Kylo: alternatives
- Charles Owen MyPS and long-oval fit: alternatives
- Charles Owen skull caps and JR8: alternatives
- Charles Owen vs Trauma Void, One K, IRH, Equinavia and Troxel
- Champion helmets no longer sold in the US? Alternatives
- Shopping for alternatives? KASK helmets
- Shopping for alternatives? Tipperary helmets and vests
- Shopping for alternatives: Samshield helmets
- Miss Shield alternatives: wide-brim helmets to try
Brands we carry
Show helmet brands riders chose after a Charles Owen
Every helmet on this page comes from a brand we carry: Trauma Void, One K, Shires Karben, IRH, Equinavia, Ovation, LeMieux and TuffRider.
How we built this guide: Virginia Tech ratings from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab's 2026 equestrian table of 54 helmets, checked October 2026. Charles Owen's availability checked November 3, 2026.