By now you know you should wear a helmet for...well, most every physical activity, short of office parties. But if you like to bicycle, ride a hog, ride a horse, play heavy contact sports like hockey or football, or go skating or roller blading, then you most likely need a helmet. Not only do helmets keep people safe from head or face injuries, in some states, when you're on the road, motorcycle helmets may be legally required.

The Most Important Factors

What factors should you look for when you're choosing a helmet? The first consideration is what type of activity you (and your friends) will be participating in. Helmets are a necessity in ATV riding and motorcycle riding, because of the power of the vehicle and high speed travel. These helmets should feature lightweight but durable designs that protect the rider from a direct collision with hard ground or cement. For the same reason, bicycling is an activity that could be dangerous to attempt without any form of protection. Motorcycle helmets usually feature visors, as a way to protect the rider from dangerous distractions like excessive wind in the face (which can also distract from a rider's sense of hearing) as well as insects, which may not seem like much to worry about– until a bug is square in your face and you're unable to swat it away, holding both hands on the handles. Adjustable straps and sizing pads are also important in riding or in sports where comfort is just as important as collision. Most modern designs are innovative and very lightweight, despite offering heavy protection and other special features like anti-fogging or scratch resistance. It is also recommended players wear helmets for sports and activities like baseball, in-line skating, skateboarding, softball and rock climbing.

Helmet Brands

Top helmet brands are organized by category. ATV helmet brands include Answer Racing, Cyber, Fly Racing, Grex. KBC, MSR Racing and SixSixOne. BMX Bicycling favors companies like Azonic, Fox Racing and Troy Lee Designs, while motorcycle helmet brands include AFX, AGV, Arai, Bell, Daytona, Epic, HJC, Icon Racing, Nolan, Scorpion, Shoei, Skid Lid and Zamp. For snowmobile racing and other winter sports popular brands are AFX, Bell, Scorpion and HJC.

Many of the top helmet brands produce designs for a variety of sports and seasons. Prices can range from steep, well over $300.00, or cheap for less than $60.00. When it comes to buying a helmet, pay less attention to the brand name, but more attention to the level of quality the product promises. Wearing a helmet could save your life! And these are the guys that you want to meet before you see any action.