Something new · Rider to rider
Charles Owen Skull Cap Alternatives: Eventing and Schooling Helmets Riders Pick Next
A low-profile skull-style fit for cross-country and schooling, from brands riders trust.
Charles Owen stopped UK production on December 19, 2025, and says some models may return, so the MS1 Pro, 4Star, Pro II Plus and JR8 are hard to count on. The Trauma Void Lynx Eventing Skull, which Virginia Tech's 2026 table rates at 4 stars, and the LeMieux Vexa Skull are the skull-style helmets we carry.
The short version
If you wore a Charles Owen skull cap: the helmets riders choose next
Trauma Void's Lynx Eventing Skull is the skull-style helmet we carry that Virginia Tech rates above the Charles Owen 4Star and MS1 Pro MIPS, and the LeMieux Vexa Skull, Ovation Deluxe Schooler and One K MIPS Jr CCS cover the other jobs these helmets did.
If they wore
4Star or MS1 Pro MIPS
Riders switch to
Lynx Eventing SkullA skull-style shell with a laced fit. Virginia Tech lists the Lynx Eventing MIPS at #7, 4 stars.
Shop nowIf they wore
Pro II Plus or a classic skull cap
Riders switch to
Vexa Skull HelmetLeMieux's take on the traditional skull cap, with a grippy surface for your hat silk and a wheel fit.
Shop nowIf they wore
JR8 for schooling
Riders switch to
Deluxe Schooler HelmetA light, low-profile everyday helmet with a dial fit, at the lowest tier of these picks.
Shop nowIf they wore
JR8 for a junior rider
Charles Owen status
Where Charles Owen skull caps stand: hard to find, with no restock date
Charles Owen skull caps are hard to find right now, and whether they return is uncertain. Charles Owen told UK retailers its UK production ended on December 19, 2025, and the company has said some models may return. We don't carry Charles Owen, so these are the skull-style and schooling helmets we do.
Rider voices
What riders say about the Lynx and JR8 stand-ins
Riders tell us the Trauma Void Lynx fits comfortably, and riders who wore a JR8 turn to One K and Ovation.
A Lynx for a Charles Owen head
The helmets they point to
Trauma Void Lynx Eventing Skull
Two riders describe the Lynx fit in their own words.
See the swap guideStand-ins for a JR8
The helmets they point to
Ovation Deluxe SchoolerOne K MIPS Jr CCS
Riders who wore a JR8 say One K fit a longer oval head, and riders praise the Ovation Schooler's comfort and price.
See the JR8 picksA Lynx for a Charles Owen head
One rider calls her Trauma Void Lynx the most comfortable helmet she has owned, and another with a very small head found it the best fit of every upscale helmet she tried.
Trauma Void Lynx
I have a Trauma Void Lynx and it’s the MOST comfortable helmet I’ve ever had (CO always fit me well too).
Trauma Void Lynx
I tried on every brand of upscale helmet and the Lynx was by far the best fit for my tiny, kid sized head.
Stand-ins for a JR8
Riders who wore a JR8 say One K fit their long oval heads, and riders say Ovation's Schooler is hard to beat for comfort and price.
One K helmets
One K. It fits my lonnnng oval head- almost a block head LOL, really well. My JR8 wasn’t quite long enough- this is perfect.
One K helmets
After riding in a Charles Owen JR8 for years, it was time to upgrade. I was looking for a helmet to fit my oval shaped head that also had a removable liner - nothing worse than a stinky helmet that you can't clean - and this one met all my criteria. I typically wear a 7 1/4" but the size Large was way too tight - I had to return and get the next larger size. This helmet seems to have more ventilation than my Charles Owen, which I appreciate immensely. The helmet looks great and fits great. I'm quite pleased with it.
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).
For comfort, adjustability, and price, Ovation Deluxe Schoolers are hard to beat.
Independent lab ratings
How Virginia Tech rated the Lynx Eventing, 4Star and MS1 Pro
Virginia Tech's helmet lab lists the Trauma Void Lynx Eventing MIPS seventh of 54 helmets in its 2026 equestrian table, with 4 stars, above the Charles Owen 4Star at twelfth and the MS1 Pro MIPS at nineteenth, both with 3 stars.
| Helmet | As Virginia Tech lists it | Rank of 54 | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma Void Lynx Eventing Skull | TRAUMA VOID LYNX EVENTING MIPS | 7 | 4 stars |
| For reference: Charles Owen 4Star | CHARLES OWEN 4STAR | 12 | 3 stars |
| For reference: Charles Owen MS1 Pro MIPS | CHARLES OWEN MS1 PRO MIPS | 19 | 3 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, and it does not list the Pro II Plus or JR8.
Swap guide
Swap guide: Charles Owen skull caps and the closest helmets we carry
Find the Charles Owen helmet you wore 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 4Star or MS1 Pro MIPS | A skull-style shell with a laced fit, and the one skull-style helmet we carry that Virginia Tech rates at 4 stars (#7). | |
| Pro II Plus or J3 | The Vexa keeps the traditional skull-cap look with a grippy surface for your hat silk. The Lynx is the laced alternative. | |
| JR8 for schooling | Light, low profile, with a dial fit and a removable washable liner. | |
| JR8 for a junior rider | One K's MIPS helmet in junior sizing. |
Fit tip
Measure around your head about an inch above your eyebrows, in centimeters, and match that to the new maker's size chart, not to your Charles Owen size. The Lynx is designed to fit a rounder-shaped head, so try one on with your hair the way you ride.Closest match
Trauma Void Lynx Eventing Skull: the closest match to a Charles Owen skull
Trauma Void's Lynx Eventing Skull is the closest skull-style helmet we carry to a Charles Owen skull cap. It has a laced fit at the base of the head, Coolmax lining you can remove and wash, and no visor, and Trauma Void makes it for eventing riders and jockeys.
In fairness
The Lynx is designed to fit a rounder-shaped head, so riders with a long oval head should try one on before they commit.Shop Trauma Void helmets
Shop all ›Schooling and juniors
Ovation and One K: JR8 stand-ins for schooling and juniors
Ovation's Deluxe Schooler is our everyday stand-in when a JR8 is hard to find: it is light and low profile, with a dial fit and a removable liner. For a junior rider, One K makes its MIPS helmet in junior sizing.
LeMieux's Vexa Skull is the pick for a classic skull-cap look, in a wheel-fit shell with a grippy finish for your hat silk.
In fairness
Choose the Ovation Deluxe Schooler for fit, weight and price.Shop Ovation helmets
Shop all ›In fairness
What Charles Owen skull caps do well
We'd rather you buy the right helmet than the wrong one from us. Riders who stay with a Charles Owen have good reasons.
If a Charles Owen skull cap has always fit your head shape, try any new helmet on before you retire your old one.
If you want a Charles Owen 4Star, Virginia Tech's 2026 table lists it at #12 with 3 stars.
If you can still find a Pro II Plus or JR8 in your size, it is worth trying beside these picks before you decide.
If you ride in a Charles Owen Kylo, the company says that line continues.
Charles Owen skull cap alternatives: FAQ
Are Charles Owen skull caps still made?
Charles Owen told UK retailers that UK production ended on December 19, 2025, and the company has said some models may return. Skull caps like the MS1 Pro, 4Star and Pro II Plus are hard to find, and we don't carry Charles Owen.
CloseWhat is the best alternative to a Charles Owen skull cap?
The Trauma Void Lynx Eventing Skull is the closest skull-style helmet we carry, and Virginia Tech's 2026 table lists it at #7 with 4 stars. The LeMieux Vexa Skull is the pick for a traditional skull-cap look.
CloseWhat helmet replaces the Charles Owen JR8?
For schooling, riders choose the Ovation Deluxe Schooler. For a junior rider, One K makes its MIPS helmet in junior sizing.
CloseHow did Virginia Tech rate the Charles Owen 4Star and MS1 Pro?
Virginia Tech's 2026 table lists the Charles Owen 4Star at #12 and the MS1 Pro MIPS at #19, each with 3 stars. The table scores lab impact tests, not fit.
CloseDo Charles Owen riders fit a Trauma Void Lynx?
Some may. The Lynx is designed to fit a rounder-shaped head, so riders with a long oval head should try one on. Measure in centimeters and try it on before you decide.
CloseWhere can I read more comparisons like this?
Riders replacing a Charles Owen can also read these guides to compare fit and ratings across the helmets we carry.
- Can't find Charles Owen? Alternatives
- Charles Owen AYR8 Plus, Halo MIPS and velvet-look show helmets: alternatives
- Charles Owen Kylo: alternatives
- Charles Owen MyPS and long-oval fit: 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 Windsor alternatives: wide-brim and MIPS helmets riders try
Brands we carry
Helmet brands riders chose after a Charles Owen
Every helmet on this page comes from a brand we carry: Trauma Void, LeMieux, Ovation and One K.
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 UK production status from trade press, checked November 3, 2026.