It is no secret that helmets are essential for anyone who owns or uses a two-wheeler. Whether you are a rider or a pavilion, you must own or wear a helmet whenever you use a two-wheeler.
Some people often complain about how suffocating or claustrophobic wearing a helmet can be. This is where a flip-up helmet or a modular helmet comes into play. A flip-up or a modular helmet allows more airflow into the helmet which makes it a good choice for many riders.
We have put together a bunch of flip-up helmets as alternatives to traditional helmets that you can opt for. But first, let us understand what exactly is a flip up or modular helmet.
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What is a flip up or modular helmet?
A flip-up helmet also known as a modular helmet are helmets that give you the option of both a full face helmet as well as an open face helmet. While riding, most riders prefer to keep them shut and use them as full face helmets, but they can be opened from time to time based on your mood and convenience. Though not considered very safe, they are easy to use and one can enjoy a snack, a drink or answer a call comfortably while wearing a flip up or modular helmet. Flip-up or modular helmets offer good flexibility. They are also safer than three-quarter helmets when the visor is down but even then they have a weaker structure than full-face helmets and are less powerful than full-face helmets during an impact.
Even then they are preferred by many riders and are most appropriate for city driving.
Best Flip-Up Helmets in India
Here are some of the best flip-up helmets available in the market.
Vega Crux CRX-B-L Flip-up Helmet
The Vega Crux CRX-B-L Flip-up Helmet gives you an easy fit with good ventilation. Better suited for city driving rather than long rides, pick this up if your commutes are limited to the city.
Shell
The outer shell is made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene to absorb any kind of impact during a ride. The inner material is made up of multi-density EPS liner for a soft cushion. This helmet weighs approximately 1.5 kg and gives a light feel on your head. It is available in sizes ranging from small to extra large.
Visor
The flip-up helmet comes with a removable visor which offers good visibility at all hours of the day. The glass is scratch resistant and provides protection from pollution. Moreover, being a flip-up helmet, you have the option to ride without the visor whenever you wish to.
Looks
The Vega Crux-B-L Flip helmet is a stylish helmet with a leather matte finish. You can choose from a range of colors like red, white and black. The helmet is unisex and can be used by both men and women.
Comfort
The multi-density EPS liner is soft. The inner lining is removable and can be easily washed and cleaned. Moreover, in general, flip-up helmets are considered more comfortable as they offer better ventilation and enough space to wear headphones or glasses. The flip-up mechanism is easy to use with the touch of a single button.
Studds Ninja Elite Flip-Up Helmet
Studds is one of the best helmet providers in the market today. Designed in Europe, the Studds Ninja Elite Flip Up Trendy Helmet is a great helmet that comes with a removable chin guard and a quick release mechanism.
Shell
The outer shell is made from a special high impact thermoplastic material crafted with special engineering techniques. The inner material is made up of multi-density EPS material for a soft cushioned experience. The inner material offers a concussion padding and an anti-allergic velveteen lining to keep allergies and germs from sweat away from you.
Visor
The visor is made up of polycarbonate and duly coated with silicon. It is scratch free and hard coated with silicon for a scratch resistant surface. It also comes with spare visors in colors like, clear glass, smoke tint, mirror glass and rainbow glass options, so you can choose from a variety of visors as per your taste.
Looks
The Studds Ninja Elite Flip Up Trendy Helmet is a good looking helmet. It can be further customized with different visor colors. Ideal for both, men and women, the helmet is light, and weighs 750 grams. It has a simple pleasant design.
Comfort
The helmet offers good ventilation and a breathable experience. The inner lining is soft and can be removed to clean and wash. The anti-allergic velveteen keeps sweat odor away so you can experience a fresh and odorless ride.
Steelbird SB-41 Oscar Dashing Black with Plain Visor
The Steelbird SB-41 Oscar Dashing Black helmet comes with a plain visor and single button flip up. This is a great helmet in this segment, offering a visor locking system and ratchet locking system.
Shell
The outer shell is made up of high impact Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS material. The inner part is made up of high-density EPS. Just like the Studds Ninja Elite, the Steelbird SB-41 Oscar is also lined with anti-allergic velveteen concussion padding for safety against force or high impact. The helmet weighs around 1.32 Kg.
Visor
The Steelbird Oscar Dashing Black comes with a plain visor. The helmet sports an Italian design with a polycarbonate coated visor with an anti-scratch finish. The visor is easy to operate and does not require any tools.
Ventilation and Comfort
The helmet uses an air booster system and is equipped with an air intake in the chin guard, in the front and on the top area. There are another two rear extractors for recycling the air inside the helmet. Apart from this, there is a neck protector and screw free ratchets. The mouth guard is odorless and it is easy to clean the helmet and keep it hygienic and dry.
Looks
The helmet is light and comes in a classic black color. It sports a unisex look much like the others in this segment. Although you can check other color visors too that doesn’t affect performance.
Steelbird Ares Glossy Flip-Up Helmet with Golden Visor
Steelbird is a pioneer in helmet making, which is why another Steelbird helmet makes it to this list of modular helmets. The Steelbird Ares Glossy Flip-Up helmet is light in weight and has a beautiful golden visor that makes the helmet stand apart and surpass all the other helmets in the looks department.
Shell
The Steelbird Glossy Flip-Up helmet is made up of high impact ABS material. The inner part is made from high-frequency interiors of soft PU foam along with Jersey Dress fabrics. The phase change 360 technology offers temperature control by being sweat resistant. The inner shell is made up of EPS 25 for proper safety and comfort during your ride.
Visor
The highlight of the helmet is the anti-scratch golden visor. The golden visor adds to the look of the helmet making it appear chic and stylish. You also get an additional clear glass anti-scratch visor for day time use along with the golden visor. The helmet is equipped with advanced visor locking system and is easy to operate.
Comfort and Ventilation
The chin strap is easy to use and is affixed with a metal cap to adjust the size. There is an anti-theft ring and polyester webbing used in the chin strap for a comfortable wear. The helmet offers both, chin and back ventilation for an easy ride experience. The interiors are made up of soft PU foam with jersey dress fabrics for a soft cushioned feel. The neck pad too is made up of reflective fabrics for extra safety. The helmet also has a ratchet locking system.
Looks
The highlight of the helmet is its look. The golden visor gives it an edge that makes it perfect for the youth or anyone who wants to stand out in the crowd. The helmet brings an x-factor to you and your bike. For those of you who are particular about the looks of a helmet, this is a good pick.
Vega Boolean BLN-DK-L Flip-Up Helmet with Double Visor
The last helmet to feature in this list is the Vega Boolean BLN-DK-L Flip-Up Helmet with Double Visor. This Vega helmet is an extraordinary flip-up helmet with a double visor. Unlike the other helmets in this category, the Boolean BLN-DK-L offers a double visor technology.
Shell
This is an ISI certified helmet. The outer shell is made up of ABS material for safety from high-pressure impacts. The helmet is lightweight and weighs 1.3 Kg. Made with advanced CAD technology, the helmet provides a comfortable fit.
Visor
The visor is equipped with a single button release mechanism. There are two face shields in this helmet as this is a double visor helmet. Both of them can be released. You can also choose from multiple visor options and colors. Both the visors are scratch free and UV coated. The inner face shield is to protect your eyes and works as goggles. It is very effective in keeping dirt, pollution, rain etc from entering your eyes. The double visor design provides great protection to your face.
Comfort and Ventilation
The helmet is a typical modular shaped helmet and allows great airflow from all sides. It keeps heat, humidity, and sweat at bay and lets the rider enjoy an odor-free ride. The visor and the inner lining are both detachable and washable. It is easy to keep the helmet clean and maintain hygiene. In addition to this, there are two front vents to reduce fogging.
Looks
The helmet comes in a matte finish and gives an understated yet stylish look. The outer surface is coated with a clear finish UV lining that does not let the color fade. It also keeps the surface scratch free.
Now that you know the features of all these 5 helmets, you must choose from one of them. There are some factors that can help you decide which one amongst them is the best fit for you. Let us now discuss them.
What are the things to consider while buying a flip-up or modular helmet?
Even though a flip-up helmet is a choice for those who need more air flow while riding and prefer a more open helmet, it is important to always keep in mind that the primary job a helmet is to protect you from injuries. These are some points you should always consider before buying a flip up or modular helmet:
The Outer Shell: As explained above, the primary job of a helmet is to protect you from injuries. The outer shell of the helmet is an extremely crucial component of the helmet. You must pay attention to the material used to make the outer shell of a helmet before you buy it. Look for a helmet with a solid material like polycarbonate and ABS, so it can withstand the impact of an accident. Never go in for a helmet that is cheap and is made up of weak material.
Inner Foam: Just like the outside material, the inner material is also important. Look for a helmet with hypoallergenic lining. Hypoallergenic materials keep sweat, germs and odor away from the helmet, so you can ride fresh. It is also advisable to look for a helmet with detachable lining and visor, so you can wash and clean your helmet from time to time.
Fit: The fit of the helmet is extremely important but not many people know how to check if the helmet fits you properly. When buying a helmet, wear the helmet on your head and try nodding. If the helmet moves, then it is loose for you. Do not worry about a helmet being tight as most of them loosen within 10 days of use. But never buy a helmet that is loose for you as it may come off in the unlikelihood of a crash.
Certification: Whether you are buying a flip-up helmet or any other helmet, always buy a helmet with proper certification. Most helmets today have an ISI certification. Instead, look for DOT and ECE certification. These two certifications are safety standards for US and Europe respectively. DOT stands for Department of Transport and ECE stands for United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. But DOT ECE helmets are too expensive even we don’t list here because those cost more than 10000rs
Ventilation: While flip up or modular helmets come with the promise of better airflow due their removable visor design, it is still important to check for vents. Your flip-up helmet should have multiple air vents for when you drive with your visor down. Look for chin, side and top vents in a helmet as they will provide good air flow to the head.
D String Strap: A D String strap ensures that you helmet doesn’t come off in the unlikelihood of a crash. Always look for a helmet with a D string strap instead of a traditional buckle. A buckle may come off easily and not withstand high pressure.
Chin Guard: Look for a helmet with a supportive chin guard. A chin guard is extremely important in a flip-up helmet as it provides the right support to your face. It is also a crucial component in the event of an accident.
Safety over Design: While it is important to want to look good. What is more important is to be safe. These days most helmets are stylish with beautiful colors and designs to choose from. But never make the look of a helmet, your only criteria for purchasing it. Consider all other factors as stated above before you go ahead and buy your helmet.
Price and Brand: A helmet is as important as your bike, or perhaps more. Never buy a helmet from a roadside kiosk just because it is cheap or less expensive. Always buy a branded, reputed and certified helmet. You can many options under Rs 3,000 in the markets from reputed brands these days. You can pick one based on your need.
Final Words
We hope you enjoyed this section and these reviews will help you in your purchase of a flip up or modular helmet. Remember that a helmet is as important as your bike. You must give it as much thought as you did to your bike.
All of these helmets are from reputed brands with proper certification. They come with a guarantee of safety which is extremely important for any rider. They offer good protection and comfort to the rider as well as the pavilion.
We hope this review has helped you in making a decision. Ride safe!
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Ankur Jokhani says
Worst helmet options in India. !