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Charles Owen Kylo Alternatives: Dial-Fit Helmets Riders Compare
A dial-fit helmet that fits your head, from brands we carry.
The Charles Owen Kylo is still liked by the riders it fits, and it can be hard to find: Charles Owen ended UK production on December 19, 2025, and says some models may return. We don't carry Charles Owen. If you can't find a Kylo, or want to try another dial-fit helmet beside it, riders look at Equinavia's Gardian, Ovation's Deluxe Schooler and Trauma Void's NEOZ and Lynx.
The short version
If you wore a Kylo: dial-fit helmets to try next
Equinavia's Gardian is a dial-fit schooling helmet at a lower price tier than the Kylo, and Trauma Void's NEOZ EQ3 is the MIPS pick with the best Virginia Tech rating of the helmets we carry.
If they wore
A Kylo for everyday schooling
Riders switch to
Gardian Riding HelmetA dial-fit schooling helmet with a removable Coolmax liner. Three stars in Virginia Tech's 2026 table, at the lowest tier here.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Kylo at the lowest tier
Riders switch to
Carbon Fiber Shell HelmetAn adjustable dial and a carbon fiber shell. Virginia Tech lists it at #13, 3 stars.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Kylo for a smaller head
Riders switch to
Deluxe Schooler HelmetA low-profile dial-fit helmet with a washable liner. Riders note that Ovation makes XS and XXS sizes.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Kylo MIPS at a lower tier
If they wore
A Kylo MIPS with a dial
Riders switch to
Crown MIPS Riding HelmetMIPS and a dial system for a personalized fit, from the maker of the Gardian.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Kylo MIPS with a regular peak
Riders switch to
EQ3 NEOZ HelmetMIPS, a regular peak and an adjustment wheel at the back. Virginia Tech lists it at #6, 4 stars.
Shop nowCharles Owen status
Where the Charles Owen Kylo stands today
Charles Owen ended UK production on December 19, 2025, and the company says some models may return. The Kylo is one of its outsourced lines, which trade press reported were not affected, so availability depends on the retailer. We don't carry Charles Owen. These are the dial-fit helmets we carry.
Dial-fit helmets we carry
Rider voices
What riders say about the Kylo, and the helmets they compare
Riders tell us the Kylo suits some heads very well and misses others, and the riders who looked elsewhere name Equinavia and Trauma Void.
A dial that grows on you
The helmets they point to
Equinavia GardianOvation Deluxe Schooler
Riders who like the Kylo's dial fit can find the same adjustment at a lower tier.
See the swap guideFit depends on your head shape
The helmets they point to
Trauma Void Lynx Smooth TopTrauma Void Pardus
If the Kylo's shape isn't yours, Trauma Void is the shape riders try next.
See Trauma VoidRiders who looked elsewhere
The helmets they point to
Equinavia GardianTrauma Void Lynx Smooth Top
A rider with a Charles Owen-level oval head puts the Equinavia first.
See EquinaviaA dial that grows on you
Riders the Kylo fits say so plainly, and one came around to the dial after a season of riding in it.
Charles Owen Kylo
I didn’t fit well in many other CO’s. But the Kylo was perfect! And I wasn’t sure about the dial system. But now that I’ve been riding in it for a season it’s no big deal and make it’s easier to put on, I just tighten it up once it on.
Charles Owen Kylo
Have you tried the CO Kylo? I was pleasantly surprised how nice it is for the price. It’s a dial fit and works for my fairly oval head.
Fit depends on your head shape
Riders with oval heads describe the Kylo as round, deep or low on the forehead, and say they needed a different shape.
Charles Owen Kylo
I've worn CO hats for last 20 odd years, but the Kylo is round, and I need oval.
Charles Owen Kylo
I badly wanted a Kylo the other year and it fit NOTHING like my former Ayr8 did and they were the only brand I had found narrow and oval enough for me. When I contacted them they said, well we don't make that fit anymore. Very disappointed in the helmet and the response.
Charles Owen Kylo
I found the Kylo was actually too deep on my head (it came down over my brows and the harness sat on my neck!).
Charles Owen Kylo
I have an oval head and bought a CO Kylo. I found it has some weird pressure points and sits quite low on my head.
Riders who looked elsewhere
One rider says an Equinavia looks so similar to the Kylo that the rider wonders about the factory, and another passed on the Kylo and bought a second Trauma Void Lynx.
Equinavia helmets
I have worked in a tack store and I have a Charles Owens-level oval head myself. This Equinavia helmet would be my first choice. To me, it looks so similar to the CO Kylo… so much so that I wonder if it was/is made in the same factory. My second guess for you with the the Traumavoid. Third would be a OneK Long Oval. I haven’t tried that on. I also find that OneKs want to pop up a little bit on some people’s heads. If you have a high forehead or are “tall” from your eyebrows to the top of your skull, I think OneKs will feel a tad shallow or will sit up too high like a top hat.
I also ride in a Lynx. I was looking into the Kylo and it did not sound like it would be the right shape for my head so I bought another Lynx.
Independent lab ratings
How Virginia Tech rated the Kylo, and the dial-fit helmets we carry
Virginia Tech's 2026 equestrian table lists the Charles Owen EQx Kylo 34th of 54 helmets, with 2 stars. Trauma Void's NEOZ EQ3 rates 4 stars, and TuffRider's Carbon Fiber, Trauma Void's Pardus and Equinavia's Gardian and Skylar rate 3.
| Helmet | As Virginia Tech lists it | Rank of 54 | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ Helmet | TRAUMA VOID NEOZ EQ3 | 6 | 4 stars |
| TuffRider Carbon Fiber Shell Helmet | TUFFRIDER CARBON FIBER | 13 | 3 stars |
| Trauma Void Pardus Smooth Helmet | TRAUMA VOID PARDUS MIPS | 18 | 3 stars |
| Equinavia Gardian Riding Helmet | EQUINAVIA GARDIAN | 20 | 3 stars |
| Equinavia Skylar Riding Helmet | EQUINAVIA SKYLAR | 26 | 3 stars |
| For reference: Charles Owen EQx Kylo | CHARLES OWEN EQX KYLO | 34 | 2 stars |
Ranks, stars and model names as Virginia Tech's 2026 table lists them. Virginia Tech scores helmets in lab impact tests; its table does not measure fit or comfort.
Swap guide
Swap guide: Kylo models and the dial-fit helmets we carry
Find the Kylo you wore or wanted in the left column. The helmets riders compare it with 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kylo for everyday schooling | Both have an easy-adjust dial and a removable, washable Coolmax liner, and both rate 3 stars in Virginia Tech's 2026 table. | |
| Kylo for a smaller head | A low-profile dial-fit helmet. Riders point out that Ovation makes XS and XXS sizes. | |
| Kylo MIPS | All three have MIPS and an adjustable fit. The NEOZ is the one Virginia Tech rates at 4 stars (#6). | |
| Kylo wide peak | TuffRider's wide brim helmet has an adjustable dial and a washable Coolmax liner. | |
| A Kylo that sat low or felt round | A different shape from the Kylo. The Lynx has a dial fit at the back and the Pardus adjusts with a screw at the rear. |
Fit tip
A dial adjusts the fit but not the shape, so measure around your head about an inch above your eyebrows, in centimeters, and match it to the new maker's size chart, not to your Kylo size. Try the helmet on with your hair the way you ride.Dial-fit schooling
Equinavia Gardian and Skylar: dial-fit schooling helmets
Equinavia's Gardian and Skylar are dial-fit helmets for everyday schooling, and both rate 3 stars in Virginia Tech's 2026 table, above the Kylo's 2. Each has an easy-adjust dial and a removable Coolmax liner, and Equinavia reports ASTM F1163-23 / SEI certification for both.
For a MIPS version with a dial, Equinavia's Crown MIPS adds MIPS to the same dial system, at a higher tier than the Gardian.
In fairness
Riders who fit a Kylo may find the Equinavia's shape different. In Virginia Tech's 2026 table the Crown MIPS rates 2 stars, like the Kylo, so choose it for fit and the MIPS layer.Shop Equinavia helmets
Shop all ›Smaller heads and a lower tier
Ovation Deluxe Schooler: a dial-fit helmet in small sizes
Ovation's Deluxe Schooler is the dial-fit helmet riders name for smaller heads, with an easy-adjust dial, high-flow vents and a removable, washable liner.
In fairness
In Virginia Tech's 2026 table the Deluxe Schooler rates 2 stars, the same as the Kylo. Choose it for sizing and price.Ovation helmets
Ovation makes an XS helmet in most of their models, added bonus of having the adjust-dial
Ovation helmets
Ovation makes an XXS one that fits even teenie tiny heads, and a Charles Owen JR8 comes in tiny sizes
Shop Ovation helmets
Shop all ›A different shape
Trauma Void NEOZ, Lynx and Pardus: MIPS and a different shape
Trauma Void's EQ3 NEOZ is the MIPS helmet we carry that Virginia Tech rates highest among the Kylo's alternatives, at #6 with 4 stars. It has a regular peak and an adjustment wheel at the back.
For riders whose Kylo sat low or felt round, the Lynx Smooth Top has a dial fit at the back and the Pardus adjusts with a screw at the rear.
In fairness
Trauma Void helmets sit at the top tier on this page. Choose them for shape and the Virginia Tech rating.Shop Trauma Void helmets
Shop all ›In fairness
What the Charles Owen Kylo does well
We'd rather you buy the right helmet than the wrong one from us. Riders who wear a Kylo have good reasons.
If the Kylo's shape suits your head, one rider says it fit when many other Charles Owen helmets did not.
If you doubted a dial, one rider says it stopped mattering after a season and made the helmet easier to put on.
If you want a dial fit at a lower price tier, a rider calls the Kylo a pleasant surprise for the price.
If a Kylo fits you well, note what fits (shape, depth, dial) and look for the same in the helmets above.
Charles Owen Kylo alternatives: FAQ
Is the Charles Owen Kylo discontinued?
Charles Owen ended UK production on December 19, 2025, and the company says some models may return. Trade press reported that the Kylo, an outsourced line, was not affected, so availability depends on the retailer. We don't carry Charles Owen.
CloseIs the Charles Owen Kylo adjustable?
Yes, the Kylo has a dial fit, as the maker describes it. Among the helmets we carry, the Equinavia Gardian, Skylar and Crown MIPS and the Ovation Deluxe Schooler each have a dial.
CloseWhat is a good alternative to the Kylo?
For everyday schooling, riders compare the Equinavia Gardian and the Ovation Deluxe Schooler. For MIPS with an adjustable fit, they look at the TuffRider R50 MIPS, Equinavia Crown MIPS and Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ.
CloseDoes the Kylo come with MIPS?
Charles Owen makes the Kylo with and without MIPS. Of the helmets we carry, the TuffRider R50 MIPS, Equinavia Crown MIPS, Trauma Void EQ3 NEOZ, Lynx Smooth Top and Pardus all have MIPS.
CloseHow did Virginia Tech rate the Kylo?
Virginia Tech's 2026 equestrian table lists the Charles Owen EQx Kylo 34th of 54 helmets, with 2 stars. It lists the Equinavia Gardian 20th and the Skylar 26th, both with 3 stars. The table scores lab impact tests, not fit.
CloseWhere can I read more comparisons like this?
Riders comparing the Kylo also read these guides to see what fits across Charles Owen and the helmets we carry.
- Can't find Charles Owen? Alternatives
- Charles Owen AYR8 Plus, Halo MIPS and velvet-look show helmets: alternatives
- Charles Owen MyPS and long-oval fit: alternatives
- Charles Owen skull caps (MS1 Pro, 4Star, Pro II Plus) and JR8: alternatives
- Charles Owen vs the helmets we carry: Trauma Void, One K, IRH, Equinavia, 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
- Tipperary Sportage alternatives: helmets riders try next
Brands we carry
Dial-fit helmet brands riders compare with the Kylo
Every helmet on this page comes from a brand we carry: Equinavia, Ovation, TuffRider and Trauma Void.
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 status checked November 3, 2026, against trade press reports from November 2025.