UTV Helmets
UTVs and side by sides are excellent work and play vehicles that offer plenty of space for passengers and cargo with the rugged durability to tackle difficult terrains. You can use them on your work site or farm during the week and then take them off-roading through the hills or forests at the weekend.
However, while you’re riding in your UTV, no matter whether it’s for a job or for recreational purposes, it’s imperative that you follow certain safety precautions. One of the most important pieces of safety gear in your side by side arsenal is a well-fitting helmet that protects your head from impacts in the event of a crash or rollover. The staff of Dunfords of Havelock in Ontario understand how important it is that you stay safe on your UTV. To that end, here are our suggestions regarding helmets and why they’re important.
Why Helmets Are Important
When you’re riding in a standard passenger vehicle, you’re protected on all sides by doors and windows and a roof, unless you’re in a convertible. You also have the added safety feature of seat belts to keep you in place should your car hit something or be hit. However, a UTV lacks both sides and a roof, generally only offering a rollover protection system in the form of a kind of cage. This cage serves primarily to protect the side by side itself more than the passengers within, as you’re likely to be flung from the vehicle in the event of an impact. Therefore, you’ll want to wear some head protection in addition to your other safety gear of long pants and sleeves and sturdy boots and gloves.
Even if you don’t suffer an impact, the rough terrain that you’re most likely to operate a UTV on can kick up dust, debris, rocks and sticks that, without a windshield, can hit you in the face. This means protecting your face is also important. A standard bicycle helmet will not provide the protection you need on a side by side, so read on to learn what styles are more suitable.
Helmet Types
There are hundreds of helmet styles available for motorized vehicles, but there aren’t many that are specifically geared towards UTV riding. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t helmets that will offer you the comfort and protection you require while riding a side by side, though. On the contrary, a few different styles of helmet will work very well as UTV helmets.
One of your options is to purchase a motorcycle helmet. These come built for high impacts and offer full-face protection built in. Motorcycle riding presents similar dangers to UTV riding, so the crash ratings on these helmets are more than sufficient for a side by side rider. The only caveat with motorcycle helmets, besides their somewhat high cost, is that they can be hot and heavy, which won’t be as much fun on the trail. If you already have a good motorcycle helmet, though, you can wear it on your UTV without issue.
Another option that may be more suitable for most riders is a motocross helmet. These also offer face protection and are made for high-impact powersports, which makes them ideal for UTV riding. Their light weight and breathability means you won’t get overheated on the trail, too.
Whichever helmet you choose, look for ones with good crash test ratings that evaluate the helmet for impact and shock absorption, penetration by sharp objects, chin strap retention and your peripheral vision ability. This is also one area of your side by side safety gear where you don’t want to be too frugal: invest some good money in your helmet to get one that has all the safety features you need.
Facemask or Goggles?
To protect your eyes and face from rocks and debris, you’ll need to invest in either a facemask or a good pair of goggles. Depending on your helmet style, it may come with face protection already in the form of a shield. If you’ve chosen a motocross-style helmet, though, the standard eye protection for these is a pair of goggles. You’ll be able to customize the fit of your safety gear better if you purchase your helmet and goggles separately, which can make them more comfortable to wear. Goggles also offer a lot of additional safety and practical features such as anti-fogging lenses and UV filters. Your vision is important, so protect it while you’re on a UTV.
If you have any further questions about side by side safety practices or equipment, don’t hesitate to stop by our Havelock dealership to talk to us. While you’re here, we can also show you our vast selection of the newest side by side models. Dunfords of Havelock serves the Ontario communities of Peterborough, Belleville, Kingston, Kawartha and Oshawa.