Something new · Rider to rider
Replacing Your Samshield: Helmets Riders Choose Next
Your Samshield's replacement, in helmets riders say fit.
Riders replacing an older Samshield most often move to One K, Trauma Void, IRH and Equinavia for a head shape that fits, and many keep their Samshield for the ring while an Ovation takes the daily wear.
The short version
Riders Who Replaced a Samshield: the helmets they chose most
If they wore
Samshield 2.0 Shadowmatt
Riders switched to
Defender HelmetSeveral riders compare it with a Samshield. A sun visor is available.
Shop nowIf they wore
Samshield Miss Shield, wide brim
Riders switched to
Avance Wide Brim HelmetThe wide-brim One K, in the same family as the Defender.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Samshield on a long oval head
Riders switched to
IR4G XLT HelmetA long oval fit. One rider found it slightly more comfortable than her Samshield.
Shop nowIf they wore
A Samshield for the ring, plus a daily helmet
Riders switched to
Deluxe Schooler HelmetRiders keep the Samshield for shows and ride daily in a Deluxe Schooler.
Shop nowRider voices
What riders say when it is time to replace a Samshield
Riders replacing a Samshield describe fit first.
What riders value most, and the helmet they point to
Fit comes up first in the quotes, then a lower tier, then a helmet for everyday riding.
Below, each one in order, with the riders' own words behind it.
A shape that actually fits
The product they point to
Riders who couldn't fit other brands name the Defender and the IR4G XLT.
See the swap tableQuality at a lower tier
The product they point to
Both sit a tier or two below the Defender, and riders call the quality good for the price.
See the swap tableA helmet for daily rides
The product they point to
The lowest tier here, and the one riders pair with a Samshield for the ring.
See show and schoolingA shape that actually fits
A long oval head, a shape other brands never matched: riders who changed helmets describe the head shape first, and name One K, IRH and Trauma Void as the ones that fit.
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 loved my Samshield but when I retired it, I got a One K Defender with MIPS. It fits great and they have a sun visor option.
The IRH IR4G XLT also has a long oval fit and is extremely comfortable, it is actually slightly more comfortable than the Samshield.
I’ve found GPAs to fit very round. I had better luck with the Samshield with a particular liner, although I’ve ended up with the TraumaVoid and love it.
Quality at a lower tier
Riders weigh what a helmet costs to replace, and several found a good one a tier or two lower.
*Price - Wow! It’s so inexpensive for what you get. A fraction of the price of my Samshield I need to replace
I wear my helmet 3 to 5 times a week. Fit and quality is great. The cost is correct and not way over price like Samshield helmets. When you put my 4G against any other similar helmet the quality is just as good and better. If you want quality at affordable prices IRH helmets should be your helmet of choice. I bought over the years different companies products but have always returned to IRH.
A helmet for daily rides
Riders who show in a Samshield or a GPA ride daily in an Ovation schooler.
I have a bunch of Ovation schooler helmets for both me and my daughter. I also have more expensive helmets that I show in (GPA and Samshield), but I decided a while ago that I wanted to ride daily in helmets that I would actually replace if either of us took a tumble.
I have an Ovation Deluxe Schooler that I wore at quite a few shows last year (A rated). Got more compliments on that hat than my Samshield and it's super comfortable to boot!
Helmet age
How old is too old for a riding helmet?
Check your own helmet maker's guidance and the date on your helmet. Here is what two makers say.
Check the date
One K recommends replacing a helmet every three to five years from the purchase date. Troxel says at least every five years, sooner if you ride often.
After a fall
Both makers say to replace a helmet after a fall. One K says to replace it before your next ride after a fall in which you hit your head.
If you drop it
One K says a helmet dropped on a hard surface should be replaced too. One K also offers a discount on a new helmet within three years of purchase if it was in an accident, for US purchases.
What riders chose next
Helmets riders chose after a Samshield
Riders who replace a Samshield most often choose One K, Trauma Void, IRH or Equinavia. Several riders compare the One K Defender with a Samshield, a rider with a long oval head found the IRH IR4G XLT slightly more comfortable than hers, and a rider replacing hers chose the Equinavia Crown MIPS.
In fairness
Riders who stay with a Samshield most often name its fit and its liner.Find your Samshield in the left column of the table. The helmets riders moved to are beside it.
Price tiers among the picks: $ (lowest) to $$$$ (highest)
| If you wore | Riders switch to | Why riders choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Samshield 2.0 Shadowmatt | The Defender is the one riders compare most with a Samshield, with a sun visor option. The IR4G XLT suits a long oval head. | |
| Samshield Miss Shield | The Avance Wide Brim is the wide-brim One K, in the same family as the Defender. | |
| A Samshield, for a different shape or a lower tier | A rider who found other brands too round chose the Trauma Void Lynx. The Crown MIPS and the IR4G sit lower in this table. |
Fit tip
Measure around your head one inch above your eyebrows, then match it to the maker's size chart, not your Samshield size. Troxel's fit guide uses the same measurement.Shop One K helmets
Shop all ›Show and schooling
Keep a Samshield for the ring, add a schooling helmet
Riders who show in a Samshield often ride daily in an Ovation Deluxe Schooler. Keeping one show helmet and adding a schooling helmet leaves the Samshield for the ring while an Ovation takes the daily wear. One rider who wore her Deluxe Schooler at A-rated shows says it drew more compliments than her Samshield, and called it very comfortable.
Shop Ovation helmets
Shop all ›In fairness
What a Samshield does well
We'd rather you buy the right helmet than the wrong one from us. Riders who stay with a Samshield most often name its fit and its liner.
If a Samshield is the only shape that has ever fit your head, try one on again before you choose anything else.
If you love your liner, test the liner in any helmet you are considering: riders who like theirs say it is part of the fit.
If you show in a Samshield, keep it for the ring and add a schooling helmet for daily rides.
If your Samshield still fits and is inside its maker's age guidance, you have found your helmet. Keep it.
Replacing a Samshield: FAQ
Do you sell Samshield?
No. We don't carry Samshield. This guide covers the helmets we do carry, including One K, Trauma Void, IRH, Equinavia and Ovation, matched to what riders who replaced a Samshield tell us.
CloseWhat helmet fits like a Samshield?
Riders compare the One K Defender with a Samshield most often, and it comes with a sun visor option. A rider with a long oval head found the IRH IR4G XLT slightly more comfortable than her Samshield. Trauma Void and Equinavia are the other brands riders name.
CloseIs there a MIPS helmet for riders leaving a Samshield?
Yes. We carry One K MIPS CCS helmets, including the MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim, and the Equinavia Crown MIPS.
CloseHow often should I replace a riding helmet?
One K recommends replacing a helmet every three to five years from the purchase date, and Troxel says at least every five years, sooner if you ride often. Check your own helmet maker's guidance.
CloseShould I replace a helmet after a fall?
One K and Troxel both say to replace a helmet after a fall. One K says to replace it before your next ride after a fall in which you hit your head.
CloseCan I replace just the liner?
Several helmets riders choose have liners we carry, including the One K Defender Refit Liner and IRH replacement liners.
CloseWhere can I read more comparisons like this?
Riders replacing a Samshield also read these guides to compare fit, price and look across the helmets we carry.
- Samshield fit and head shape: what riders try instead
- Samshield vs value show helmets: IRH, Equinavia, Karben, Ovation
- Miss Shield alternatives: wide-brim helmets to try
- Samshield 2.0 Shadowmatt alternatives: standard-brim helmets
- Samshield vs One K: fit, price and look
- Samshield vs Trauma Void: fit, price and ratings
- Champion helmets no longer sold in the US? Alternatives
- Can't find Charles Owen? Alternatives
- Shopping for alternatives? KASK helmets
Brands we carry
Helmet brands riders chose after a Samshield
Every helmet on this page comes from a brand we carry: One K, Trauma Void, IRH, Equinavia or Ovation, with 365-day returns.