The best helmets for inline skates or quads

Skate helmets, along with elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards, are part of the basic safety equipment of any skater. Its function is to protect the head as a whole and, above all, the neck from possible blows caused by falls and accidents. These usually occur when learning to skate, but can happen to even the most experienced skater. In addition, they are robust, light and comfortable, they have ventilation holes to guarantee freshness and ventilation and they have very original youthful designs.

All these features are brought together by this ValueTalks skating helmet. In fact, it has a very easy-to-use adjustment and retention system, high-quality EPS padding and includes protections for knees, elbows and wrists, which has earned it to be considered the best helmet for skates in this comparison made in based on the analysis of user opinions. This Fstoption skate helmet is also very noteworthy for its straps with velcro closure, ideal for children. Any of these options will become a smart purchase.

Best, Our Pick: ValueTalks Protective Skate Helmet

We start by talking about the best ValueTalks brand skate helmet based on Amazon customer ratings. They give it an average grade of 4.5 out of 5 and a maximum score of 70%. “It's a fully adjustable 7-piece skating starter set. I have given it to my son and he is delighted" says María, to which Alberto adds "this skating helmet with a rotary button is very easy to use. It was enough to touch it to realize that it was of very good quality”.

This helmet for electric skates, inline skates, quads and skateboards has an outer shell of ABS plastic and an inner padding of high-density polystyrene. In addition, it includes elastic and breathable pads that provide extra comfort. Its adjustment system using straps and a rotary button is very easy to use. Specifically, it is a skating kit for beginners that, in addition to the helmet, includes two knee pads, two elbow pads and two wrist pads. It is recommended for children between 3 and 12 years old.

Second Choice: Fstoption Skate Protection

With a 4.5 out of 5 rating and 72% 5-star reviews, this is the best Fstoption brand skate helmet based on Amazon user reviews. For example, Isabel tells us about it that “my 5-year-old son has quickly learned to wear this helmet on his own thanks to its velcro straps”, while Antonio focuses on the fact that it is “light, comfortable and very resistant to shocks” since “my son used it to learn to skate and, a year later, it is still as good as new”.

Here we talk about another 7-piece skate set that, in addition to the helmet, includes knee, elbow and wrist pads and can be used for skiing and skateboarding. It has a retention and fixing system using velcro straps specifically designed so that children can use it on their own. In addition, it guarantees high breathability thanks to its ventilation holes.

Alternative: Helmet for skates and bicycles KORIMEFA

As an alternative, we want to talk about the best Korimefa brand skate helmet based on reviews written by Amazon customers. One of them, written by Katrin, defines it as “a multisport helmet with a CE safety certificate. Knowing that my daughter uses it when skating, I feel much calmer.” For his part, Martín focuses on the fact that "it is assembled and disassembled very easily and is completely washable". Its average score, 4.8 out of 5 with 78% of maximum ratings, attests to how much its buyers liked it.

This anti-sweat skating helmet has a total of 11 ventilation holes in its ABS plastic shell filled with highly impact resistant expanded polystyrene foam. It also has an adjustable strap and is recommended, depending on the size chosen, for children between 3 and 8 years old or between 8 and 13 years old. It can be purchased in blue, red, pink, black, gray and orange.

How to choose a skate helmet and what to consider before buying one?

To find a deal on suitable skate helmets, it is necessary to consider all these aspects:

1. Outer shell material: preferably polycarbonate, although ABS plastic also provides good performance in terms of rigidity and strength.
2. Inner padding fabric: expanded polystyrene foam is ideal for minimizing the force of impacts. However, shock absorbing gel skate helmets are also highly recommended.
3. Design: it must be ergonomic, light and comfortable. Although it is not the priority, a skate helmet with ventilation will help us feel cooler while walking.
4. Lining: soft and pleasant to the touch. In addition, it must prevent the accumulation of odors. For this, a skating helmet with an anti-mite lining is ideal.
5. Versatility: the best helmets for skating are also valid for skateboarding and electric scooter riding.
6. Safety: the helmet must have an adjustable retention system in the area of ​​the forehead and the nape of the neck. It must also have nylon straps and fastening buckles under the chin and, if possible, lights and/or reflectors on the front and back for skating at night.
7. Price of the helmet for roller skates: one with good value for money can cost between €18 and €25. For a little more we can buy a set of helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards that make up the complete safety equipment we need to skate.
8. Brands: ValueTalks, Fstoption and Korimefa have been the best rated manufacturers in this comparison.

What is a skate helmet?

A skating helmet is a unisex accessory that all skaters should wear to protect their heads from blows caused by falls and accidents. It is characterized by especially protecting the area of ​​the neck since in this sport falls backwards are frequent. Together with knee pads, gloves and elbow pads, it is part of the basic safety equipment of any skater.

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There are different types of skate helmets:

1. Speed ​​skating helmet: it is the type of helmet most similar to that used by cyclists. It has an oval shape, is very light and is perfectly ventilated. Its aerodynamic design is ideal for skating for many kilometers in a row at high intensity.
2. Multisport skating helmet: the most versatile and traditional of all. It has a round shape, poor ventilation and a very rigid outer shell. It is the recommended type of skate helmet for figure skating, skateboarding, longboarding and electric scooters.
3. Helmet for downhill skating or Downhill: it is a full face helmet similar to that used by motorcyclists. It offers a very high degree of protection since falls in this discipline are especially dangerous due to the high speed reached. They have visors with ultraviolet rays that also prevent insects and other elements from entering the eyes and inside.
4. Roller hockey helmet: they are also ice skating helmets and are popularly called Rollerderby. They are similar to multisport helmets but have an even harder outer shell and a higher degree of padding.

How are they used and what are they for?

Putting on a shock-resistant skating helmet is very simple:

1. We put the helmet on the head so that it is balanced and we tighten the retention system to adjust it to the forehead and the nape of the neck.
2. We fastened the secure-locking buckles of the nylon straps under the chin to ensure the helmet doesn't come free upon impact.

For its part, to understand the usefulness of an approved skate helmet when it comes to preventing head impact injuries, it is necessary to know its composition:

1. Polycarbonate shell: it is the rigid part located on the outer face of the helmet.
2. Lining: breathable. It is the area that comes into contact with the user's head.
3. Internal cover of expanded polystyrene: it is a soft material that absorbs the force of impacts and distributes it throughout its surface to minimize damage.
4. Retention system: to adjust the helmet to the forehead and the nape of the neck.
5. Adjustable straps and fastening buckles: to prevent the helmet from flying off after being hit.

Skate safely and protect your head from being hit by branches or accidental falls while practicing this sport

When a skater falls and hits his head on the ground or when he rides upright and hits a tree branch, the polycarbonate shell receives an impact on a small and specific area of ​​its surface. The force generated by this passes to the soft and thick sponge made of expanded polystyrene foam which, due to its specific density, distributes it over its entire surface. This makes it reach the user's head in a much more moderate way and the risk of injury is considerably reduced.

Why is it necessary to wear a helmet when skating?

A skating helmet with a high-density inner shell manages to absorb 100% of the impact force in blows suffered at low speed (generally less than 20 km/hour). This reduces the chances of sustaining a head injury from a skating accident by almost 90%.

We must always keep in mind that a skater is exposed to many risks. For example, it is common to hit your head on the ground or against the curb when falling. This is especially common in those who are learning to skate. In addition, they are not exempt from suffering the impact against the branches of a tree or against a traffic signal due to a miscalculation.

In addition, when crossing pedestrian crossings or traveling on the road, skaters can also have an accident with a motor vehicle or a bicycle. In all these cases, having even a cheap skating helmet seems essential.

What would be the consequences in case of having an accident and not wearing a helmet?

The consequences of having an accident without having a skate helmet with an ABS or polycarbonate outer shell and gel or polystyrene padding can be fatal. A blow to the head without protection against the ground at a speed of 15-20 km/h can cause the following injuries:

1. Cuts and bleeding on the face and scalp.
2. Fractures in the skull.
3. Cranioencephalic trauma.
4. Loss of vision, memory, confusion, etc.
5. In the most dramatic cases, death.

What are the differences between bike helmets and skate helmets?

Many people confuse them, but cycling helmets are not the same as quad or inline skating helmets. These are the main differences between the two:

1. Design: adjustable skate helmets have a rounded shape that covers almost the entire neck. This is because when learning to skate, it is common to fall backwards, something that does not happen when riding a bike. In addition, they hardly have ventilation openings. On the other hand, bicycle helmets usually have many holes to breathe properly and have sharper designs designed to give a better aerodynamic response.
2. Shock resistance: a cycling helmet is designed to absorb a strong impact against a hard surface. On the other hand, a skating helmet for children or adults offers better performance against small bumps.
3. Hardness: bike helmets are much more rigid and hard than those designed for skating.

It is not recommended to use bicycle helmets to skate since they must be replaced when hit

It is not uncommon to see all kinds of people skating down the street with a bicycle helmet on their head. This is something that can be done but is not recommended. The reason? Cycling helmets need to be replaced every time they receive an impact from a fall since their polyurethane shell and expanded polystyrene foam lining lose their performance when absorbing the shock. And, when learning to skate, it is common to suffer small and frequent bumps for obvious reasons.

Of course, not even professional skate helmets should be used for cycling since they are not prepared to withstand the force of impacts at high speeds.

Is it illegal to skate in the street?

It depends. This is a question that we have frequently encountered among users when making this comparison of skate helmets. Specifically, the General Regulation of Circulation in Spain (RGC) considers that a skater is a pedestrian for almost all purposes. Therefore, they have the obligation to circulate on the sidewalk and at the speed of a person. Only in those municipalities that have their own legislation that allows it, they will be able to use the bike lanes.

However, the RGC empowers pedestrians to walk on the shoulder of the road when there is no sidewalk available or when it is impassable. It also allows them to move along the road in the opposite direction to the movement of vehicles to be more visible in the event that there is no hard shoulder or sidewalk. However, skaters do not. They are required to remove their skates and walk along the shoulder or the road itself if necessary.

Is there a law that requires me to wear a helmet while skating?

No, although it is recommended. As we said before, the RGC considers skaters to be pedestrians and therefore does not require them to wear a protective sports helmet. Not even when it comes to children. This may differ if we talk about electric scooters. However, each municipality is free to regulate its use, so it is impossible to give a unified answer.

Can I be fined for not wearing a helmet?

No, unless we use an electric scooter and in our municipality of residence there is some specific regulation that regulates its use. In all other cases (inline skates or 4-wheel skates) we cannot be fined for not wearing a helmet. Yes, there will be a risk of being penalized if we circulate with the skates on the road or the shoulder.

skating tips

Learning to skate is simple, although it requires a little patience and following these tips:

1. Use the correct safety equipment: we are talking about a skating helmet for adults or children and knee, elbow and wrist pads to protect the areas most vulnerable to blows.
2. Long-sleeved clothing: Long pants and sleeved tops will keep you from scraping your skin when you fall.
3. The placement of the skates: it must be done from the ground and close to a wall that helps us to get up. They should be fastened fairly tightly to prevent them from shifting or wobbling as you walk.
4. Open the legs: so that the feet with the skates are at shoulder height.
5. Practicing while stationary: lifting one foot, then the other, bending down and getting up without moving from the spot will help us improve our balance and self-confidence.
6. Bend your knees: slightly. This will lower the center of gravity of our body and give us greater stability.
7. Walking: the movement made with the feet is not different from what we do while walking. It should be as natural as possible.
8. Learn to fall: This is especially useful. You always have to try to fall on your front and on your protected knees to avoid hurting yourself. If we fall on our backs, even if the helmet prevents the blow to the neck, we can injure our lower back and coccyx.

Tips for safe skating

Beyond buying a skate helmet and using it together with the other safety elements for elbows, knees and hands, it is advisable to follow these tips to skate safely:

1. Carry your wallet in a zippered pocket or, at least, some money in case you need to buy water on the way or have an accident that requires you to take a taxi or a bus back home.
2. Exit with the DNI or any other document that identifies us.
3. Wear reflective clothing, especially if we are going to skate at night. This way the rest of the pedestrians and vehicles will see us more easily.
4. Carry a whistle in case we need to ask for help at any time.
5. Have a mobile phone always at hand in case we have to make an emergency call.

What types of skates are there?

1. Fitness skating: it is the most common and the most performed by amateur skaters. It gives them total freedom to do what they want, from taking routes within the city, going to work, visiting parks, etc.
2. Figure skating: it is much more complex since it is based on the performance of figures that must be evaluated by a jury. It is identical to ice skating, but using inline skates or quad skates.
3. Skating with cones: another quite popular variant. A series of cones are placed on the ground to limit a course full of slaloms and acrobatics that the skater must overcome without touching them.
4. Speed ​​skating: the most dizzying and dangerous of all. It consists of making a descent through a closed circuit reaching speeds greater than 60 km/h.
5. Off-road skating: it is done on natural trails and, obviously, requires a special type of skates. It is an ideal discipline for lovers of skating and hiking.

What are the most recommended skate helmets?

According to the opinions on skate helmets analyzed here, the best value for money models on the market belong to one of the following brands:

1. ValueTalks - One of the best beginner skate helmet brands. In fact, it specializes in marketing starter packs that also include knee pads, wrist pads and elbow pads for a fairly reasonable price. They are available in various colors and have all the required approvals and safety certificates.
2. Korimefa: here we are talking about a fairly prestigious manufacturer, especially when it comes to the sale of helmets for skates with child protection. In fact, it even has a wide catalog of helmets with a youthful design and provided with original and striking prints. They are also very light and breathable.
3. Fstoption: A good alternative to ValueTalks for those looking for a good value skate helmet that includes knee, elbow and wrist guards. These are very versatile safety devices that can also be used to ride a skateboard or electric scooter.

You don't need anything else to buy the best skate helmet for your age and experience level.