What is it like to wear your helmet and start the journey? They say the best journey is when you don’t plan everything, it just happens. It is even better when you are on a motorcycle. You can enjoy every element. The rain is hitting your face, the wind will touch you and the best views will be at your feet. Everything will feel like a reality while riding a motorcycle. I know, you feel like starting the journey now. Hold on, are you ready yet? Do you have the best motorcycle helmet? How do you find the best motorcycle helmet for a long trip? Let me tell you how. Just hang in there with us.
What is a touring motorcycle helmet?
Did I inform you that you need a touring motorcycle helmet for your road trip? Now that I just said you are maybe curious what is a touring motorcycle helmet? Do I need another helmet for tours as well? It looks like too many helmets. Trust the process as it’s worth having a separate touring helmet.
A touring helmet focuses on riding on the road. It emphasizes safety, comfort, and the ability to ride quickly. You need so much comfort for traveling long distances. You wouldn’t understand that in just a two or three hours ride. When you do riding for long hours you don’t want to feel suffocated.
Touring motorcycle helmet focuses on large vents, wide visor, and plenty of ventilation. It’s like it will be just like other helmets but 10 times better than other helmets. It also has to be smart so that you can communicate well with the friends that join you. There are several touring motorcycle helmets available right now. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed with all the choices you have. Let me help you with your helmet choices. We are going to give you some things to look out for in a touring helmet. It will help you. There is no hard and fast rule that should follow to be the best touring helmet. It just will make your life easier.
What are the things that make a good touring helmet?
Now that I am telling you that you need a separate helmet for tour purposes I have to prove it. You might be thinking why to cant I just go by my old buddy that I have been wearing everywhere? I get it. But you don’t want to regret your decision as soon as you hit the road. When it is beyond uncomfortable and you are miles away from home you can’t change it. The discomfort will take away the joy, adventure, and excitement from you. So let’s take a look at what makes a helmet good for a road trip.
Fit
Why fit is above all? It’s because if the helmet doesn’t fit well there is no use of any other features. The first and foremost thing is you need to have a helmet that fits perfectly. Then your road tour will be comfortable. If there are thousands of features but it does not fit then what’s the use?
How do you understand the helmet fits well? There will not be any pressure points on your head. Especially if you order online make sure you are ordering ahead. Some companies provide smaller sizes than usual. So you don’t know if it is going to fit perfectly or if you have to return for a bigger one. Ordering ahead will save you some time and on the day of the road trip you will have your perfect helmet. Remember, the fanciest helmet won’t be able to save your life in a crash if it doesn’t fit properly. Speeding on road trips seems like fun and gives an adrenaline rush. But it’s not worth the risk it brings.
Ventilation
No matter what the season is in your travel destination, you have to think about ventilation. You don’t want to feel suffocated and get a hitting stroke while you are riding at speed. On the other hand, frostbite, won’t feel good either. So a helmet with ventilation is a must-have. A rainy day should be on your priority list as well when you are planning to buy a helmet.
Make sure you are getting a helmet that is pin-lock ready or has a pin-lock insert. It insulates your shield and makes it insulated. This way temperature difference won’t bother you. It is especially good for cold weather when you don’t want that cold wind near you.
Also, check for that extra shield that comes with the visor. These extra shield clips inside the visor will help the inside of your helmet stay cool. It won’t heat up quickly. There are so many options available when it comes to good ventilation. You don’t have to hunt down the market for that. Just remember to check other things and you are good to go. You may even have one that fulfills all the criteria that a touring helmet has. If that’s the case, you don’t even need to buy a new one. This one will work just fine.
Ease of use
When you are on the road for hours you don’t want to deal with hassle. You want your life as easy as it can be. You may already have a helmet that is great in the field of ventilation. But if it’s a pain to open and shut then what’s the use? You cannot stop in the middle of the road just to do all the engineering it takes to open or shut the ventilation. In case you feel too hot or too cold you would rather just suffer. So a touring helmet that comes with easy-to-use functions will be a lifesaver literally.
The same goes when you are dealing with the visor. You cannot put off your gloves on the road to deal with your visor. A helmet visor that you can operate wearing a gloved hand is the perfect touring helmet. so next time when you are buying a touring helmet keep these little things in mind. It will make your life so much easier on the road. You have to try at home and check if you can easily operate all the things I mentioned.
Features
Earlier I used to think there should be all the features available in helmets. More is more. But now that I understand how things work it is less is more. You need some useful features that will work. Thousands of features that don’t work will not be useful. It will just make the helmet heavy.
Such a useful feature is the removable cheek pads. You will be wearing the helmet for hours. At the end of the day, it is going to be dirty. If you can remove everything and clean it will be the best for you. So next time when you wear it is going to be fresh. A drop-down sun visor also comes in handy on road trips.
There are smart helmets that are for touring. They have a Bluetooth connection or you can add a Bluetooth device to it. The helmets should have a removable collar or cut-out to use headphones with it. When you are on a road trip and going with friends you must stay connected with friends. A Bluetooth smart helmet is a must. So take your sweet time researching it.
Did you think that a helmet is the only riding gear that you need on a tour? Wrong. The helmet is one of the most important gear that you need for a safe road trip. What are the other protective gears that you need for long trips? Here they are
Jacket
You may not think it’s a necessary thing. But if there is a crash you will understand how it saves your limbs, back, and organs. Some designs are specifically made for riding motorcycles. There are two variants of such jackets. One is textile and the other is leather. Textile jackets are water-resistant, cheaper, and resistant to abrasion. On the other hand leather one gives you a stylish biker look. It lasts longer so the price will not be an issue. Yeah, it’s a little more expensive than the textile one. Wear bright colors so that you are visible on the road. It will also give a stylish look. It will be wise if you keep the weather in mind. It will make your life a lot easier as you will be comfortable wearing it rather than boiling it.
High-quality glove
A pair of high-quality gloves are a key material that should be on your list of motorcycle gear. Why so? The first thing that hits the ground is the palm of your hand. So the gloves must be abrasion resistant. Leather or Kevlar is the best choice for such matters. The glove should cover your palm, wrist, and the back of your hand. The overlap of the glove and jacket should be such that no skin is shown whatsoever. A little exposed skin means it’s dangerous. The retention strap around the wrist that keeps gloves firm on the hands is a must. If not, then how it’s going to sit still and not going to betray when the time comes?
Did you know a perfect fit is also crucial in a pair of gloves? Thought it is just for the helmets. No, before you buy a glove check if it fits well or not. it should not cut into your skin or restrict blood flow. A restrictive one will not let you control the motorcycle perfectly.
Riding pants
Safety always comes first. You should never shy away from any amount of safety when you can afford it. Riding pant sounds too much. But it is worth it. Just as jackets save your organs and limbs pant will protect your legs. Perfectly fitted pant that you feel comfortable in is what you are looking for. There should be a certified rating of abrasion resistance.
If there is the possibility that you may get wet then look for pants that work in both wet and dry conditions. Change in friction will not give enough protection if the weather is wet but the pants aren’t wet weather approved. Beware that some manufacturers sell protective pants that are just like normal jeans. Prefer your good quality jeans over those so-called protective pants. Buy the best one if you have to.
Boots
Boots are stapled when it comes to protective gear. Boots are great for two purposes. It is going to help in case of an accident. Your feet and ankle will be safe if the motorcycle somehow falls on you. On the other hand, it is going to give you support in slippery and unpredictable places. So a win-win situation. Buy the high-quality ones for years of quality service.
Oil-resistant boots and nonslip sole with enough ankle support is a great choice. Boots that are laced up to the ankle will be stuck to your feet well. It won’t fly away in case of any mishaps. Speaking of mishaps, the boots should have heel and toe boxes. And armor over ankles and shins. And a metal plate in the sole so that there is no twisting accident. All these will keep you firm on the ground with your favorite pair of boots in an accident. And you will be safe. A boot will help you in other areas of the road trip as well. So it’s a good investment.
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to find the best motorcycle helmet for road trips, you are good to go. Pack your necessary things and start the journey when you are done buying the helmet and stuff. Hope you have a great road trip ahead. The magical journey will teach you a lot of things. Soak everything in and come with core memories. Let go off your routine and see how things turn out.
