The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

The One K MIPS CCS Helmet wins Best Overall because it does the most for the most riders. One K lists MIPS technology, a washable, quick-dry, anti-microbial liner, a comfort padded harness with a Fastex buckle, five vents and a shell that takes the One K CCS color system, so one helmet can school on Tuesday and show on Saturday in colors you choose.

One K describes MIPS as designed to add protection against rotational motion from angled impacts. At the $$$ point of our price key, the MIPS CCS is the helmet to buy if you only buy one. Pair it with an Ovation Deluxe Schooler for daily rides and you have the rotation described further down this page. Look elsewhere if you want a rubberized lesson helmet you can hose off: the Ovation Deluxe Schooler (award 03) and Equinavia Gardian (award 07) are built for that.

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best Overall

Awarded to

One K MIPS CCS Helmet

For doing the most for the most riders: MIPS, an anti-microbial liner, a comfort padded harness, vents and the One K CCS color system, in one helmet for everyday riding, schooling and showing.

Price range $$$

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The One K MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim Helmet takes Best Wide Brim for sun cover with a polished look. One K lists a wider brim, MIPS technology, a polycarbonate composite shell, a moisture-wicking lining and compatibility with the CCS color system, and certifies it to ASTM standards.

The wide brim sits at the $$$$ end of our price key and makes the natural second helmet in a One K rotation: one rider with a wide-brim One K Long Oval MIPS says the fit matched her two earlier Long Oval Defenders exactly (her review sits under award 05). Look elsewhere if you want a light, simple everyday helmet: the Ovation Deluxe Schooler (award 03) is built for daily schooling.

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best Wide Brim

Awarded to

One K MIPS CCS Avance Wide Brim Helmet

For sun cover with a polished look: a wider brim on a polycarbonate composite shell, with MIPS, a moisture-wicking lining and the CCS color system.

Price range $$$$

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The Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet is the Best Schooling Helmet: Ovation builds it lightweight and low profile, with an easy-adjust dial, extra strong adjustment teeth, high flow vents, breakaway visors and a removable, washable liner, and certifies it to ASTM standards. The rubberized finish is simple to clean after a dusty lesson.

Riders tell us the Deluxe Schooler earns its place well beyond the schooling ring. One barn calls it a favorite for its low profile, one rider wore hers at A-rated shows, and another reaches for an Ovation schooler on hot, humid days because it is lighter than her usual helmet. At the $ end of our price key, it is the easiest second helmet to add. Look elsewhere if you want a wide brim or MIPS: the One K winners above carry those.

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best Schooling Helmet

Awarded to

Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet

For daily schooling and hot days: light and low profile, with high flow vents, an easy-adjust dial and a rubberized finish that is simple to clean.

Price range $

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The Shires Karben Sonic Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish Helmet wins Best Show Helmet: Shires Karben gives it a low-profile shape, a wide brim, an adjustable dial fit system, a fully adjustable four-point harness and TriVent Sonic Air passive ventilation, and the crystal finish puts sparkle at the crown for the ring. Shires Karben lists it as SEI ASTM F1163-23 and BS EN 1384-2023.

At the $$ point of our price key, the Sonic Alessa lets you keep one helmet for the show ring and school in another, the rotation this page is built around. Riders tell us Shires Karben helmets are light and comfortable to wear, and one rider who shows in hers plans to buy a second for every day. Look elsewhere if MIPS is on your list: the One K MIPS CCS (award 01) and Equinavia Crown MIPS (award 06) carry it.

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best Show Helmet

Awarded to

Shires Karben Sonic Alessa Wide Brim Crystal Finish Helmet

For the show ring: a low-profile wide brim with TriVent Sonic Air ventilation, a dial fit and a crystal finish that puts sparkle at the crown.

Price range $$

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The One K Defender Helmet takes Best Fit for Long-Oval Heads because One K builds it in two shapes, Regular/Round and Long Oval, with a washable, moisture-wicking, anti-microbial liner, a comfort padded harness, a Fastex buckle and seven vents, certified to ASTM standards.

Riders tell us the Long Oval shape is what finally fit. One XL Long Oval rider calls One K her answer, a former GPA rider loves that the Defender comes in regular and long oval, and a third says her wide-brim One K fit exactly like her two Long Oval Defenders. Measure front to back and temple to temple before you order. On our price key the Defender sits at $$$. Look elsewhere if your head is a very large oval: the Equinavia Crown MIPS (award 06) won that award.

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best Fit for Long-Oval Heads

Awarded to

One K Defender Helmet

For long-oval and deep heads: One K builds the Defender in Regular/Round and Long Oval shapes, and riders tell us the Long Oval option is what made it fit.

Price range $$$

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The Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet wins Best for Large Oval Heads: Equinavia builds it with MIPS, a wide brim, a flexible peak, dial-adjustable precision fit and a removable, washable moisture-wicking lining with memory foam, and lists it as ASTM F1163-23/SEI and CE EN 1384:2023 certified.

Riders tell us the Crown MIPS is the comfortable one. One rider with a very large oval head tried brand after brand at tack stores before it fit, and a 79-year-old dressage rider who rides four times a week calls it the most comfortable helmet she has ever bought. At $$ on our price key, it is the MIPS winner that still leaves room in the budget for a second helmet. Look elsewhere if your head runs long and narrow: the One K Defender in Long Oval (award 05) is built for that.

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best for Large Oval Heads

Awarded to

Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet

For very large oval heads: a wide brim, a flexible peak, dial-adjustable fit and a removable, washable moisture-wicking lining with memory foam, with MIPS.

Price range $$

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The Equinavia Gardian Riding Helmet takes Best for Lessons and Beginners: Equinavia gives it a lightweight, low-profile shape, airflow vents front and back, an easy-adjust dial, a flexible peak, a removable, washable Coolmax liner and an easy-care rubberized finish, certified to ASTM F1163-23/SEI.

Riders tell us the dial is the point: it adjusts for hair up and hair down, and one reviewer calls the Gardian a great helmet for a lesson program and a beginner. At the $ end of our price key, it is the easy first helmet and the spare that lives in the trailer. Look elsewhere if MIPS is on your list: Equinavia puts it on the Crown MIPS (award 06).

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best for Lessons and Beginners

Awarded to

Equinavia Gardian Riding Helmet

For lesson programs and first helmets: light and low profile, with an easy-adjust dial for hair up or down and a removable, washable Coolmax liner.

Price range $

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The Shires Karben Matteo Riding Helmet takes Best for Young Riders: Shires Karben designed the Matteo for a fine-tuned fit at an easy price, with a low profile, a flexible peak, a four-point adjustable harness, a dial fit system, a memory foam headband and a washable lining, certified to ASTM F1163-23.

Riders tell us Shires Karben helmets stay comfortable and cool. One bought the small for her great nieces, ages 5 and 7, who had just started riding, and another says the ventilation is no joke in desert heat. Fit a child's helmet to the head she has today, not the one she will grow into, and recheck the dial as her hair changes. Look elsewhere if your young rider has a long-oval head: compare the One K Defender (award 05).

The 2026 Riding Helmet Awards

Best for Young Riders

Awarded to

Shires Karben Matteo Riding Helmet

For young riders: a low profile, a flexible peak, a four-point adjustable harness and a dial fit, with a memory foam headband and a washable lining.

Price range $

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Riders tell us a Samshield isn't worth the money to them when the same budget buys two or three helmets they like just as much, so they buy our winners instead and rotate them by color, brim and discipline. One rider calls her Equinavia Crown MIPS Riding Helmet a fraction of the price of the Samshield she needs to replace; another keeps her Samshield for shows but says the Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet beats it on fit and comfort for a tenth of the price.

Rotation is what the money buys: a schooling helmet for daily rides, a show helmet for the ring, a wide brim for sun, each in a color you like. One rider owns a bunch of Ovation schoolers for daily rides and saves her pricier helmets for shows; another says a One K fits her the same as her Samshield at about half the price. The table pairs each ride with this year's winner and its place on our price key. Our Samshield alternatives and Samshield vs One K guides line the brands up side by side.

Charles Owen helmets have become very hard to get in the US, and Champion helmets are no longer sold here: Toklat has stopped distributing them. Riders who wore either for years are moving to this year's winners, One K, Equinavia, Ovation and Shires Karben, the new generation of riding helmets.

Riders tell us the switch paid off in fit and airflow. One rider who rode in Charles Owen for years says her One K is much cooler and the airflow was noticeable the first time she wore it, another moved to the Ovation Protégé, and a third shows in a Shires Karben and plans a second one for every day. Still looking for the shape you wore? Our Charles Owen alternatives and Champion alternatives guides match helmets by model and head shape.

What riders say about the Riding Helmet Awards winners

Riders tell us fit and airflow decide it. These four reviews come from riders who own this year's winning brands.