10 of the best riding hats for every horse rider and head shape

Choosing one of the best riding hats to suit your needs will not only help you avoid head injuries, but it will allow you to perform at your best in comfort and with confidence. A helmet is an essential piece of kit when you’re riding – whatever your level or discipline.

It can be tricky to know which is the best riding hat for you as there are so many stylish options, from the best adjustable riding helmets to the best riding hats for children, that include a vast amount of technology across a wide range of price points.

Best riding hats

The Elara helmet from evoke combines a stylish aesthetic with superior safety features, including a durable ABS shell for impact resistance and quadruple ventilation for consistent airflow.

It features a soft-touch, four-point adjustable leatherette harness designed for comfort and stability. It is suitable for all disciplines where a peak is permitted.

This helmet is from Lemieux's first-ever riding helmet collection offering customisation and convenience with its innovative features.

It gives your lots of options – not only can you choose between a matte and gloss finish, but it's supplied with interchangeable magnetic peaks (wide, narrow and brim) so you can quickly turn your peaked helmet into a skull hat. Plus, the interchangeable, magnetic central panel, allowing for a unique, customised look in seconds.

For fit, the 360° wrap system can be adjusted with a rear dial without creating any pressure points. It features a removable washable liner, removable padding in the crown and a low-profile harness.

This skull cap is engineered with a patented nose bridge protection system, a durable outer shell, and a high-density EPS core, providing superior impact absorption, enhanced facial protection, and lasting performance.

The rear dial adjustment system allows for a precise, customised fit, while the ventilation system offers airflow and breathability. The moisture-wicking and quick-dry liner is UV-disinfected for enhanced hygiene.

Designed with a lightweight, low profile, this hat is slimline and elegant with a flesh coloured harness. It comes with a quick-drying, padded liner that can be removed for washing, and it comes in a padded storage bag.

This lightweight skull cap from Charles Owen features a precision dial-adjustable fit, enhanced ventilation, and a fully adjustable quick-release harness.

It includes a removable, machine-washable wicking headband to keep you cool and dry. It’s certified to three international safety standards and comes with a ventilated silk.

The Champion Insight riding helmet combines advanced ventilation, customisable fit, and a striking design.

The ventilation system helps ensure maximum airflow to keep you cool under pressure. Removable crown pad liners allow you to adjust between oval and round fits, while the ergonomic faux leather four-point harness with lace adjustment provides a secure, tailored feel.

This slim profile, lightweight riding hat is made with a lightweight injection-moulded ABS shell. It features a nickel chrome front vent and textured PU leather inlay.

It includes a quick-dry, removable and washable, padded liner.

This helmet combines sportiness, climate control and safety, and has an extended rear section at the back to provide increased coverage in the event of a fall.

It also features a ‘pony-tail’ cut out and air vents for comfort. The easy to use dial fit allows for easy adjustment.

This traditionally styled ventilated hat features a removable, washable liner with a soft Coolmax-lined harness. The Dayglo reflective piping offers a small amount of increased visibility.

It is one of the cheapest riding hats in this guide, yet meets the standard for use in riding schools and competition, making it great value for money.

The NRG hat has a smooth, matte effect outer with two large front vents, ensuring a steady ventilation across the head. The lining of the NRG has been treated with Coolmax, which wicks moisture away from the head, and can easily be removed and machine washed.

It has an adjustable fit system and comes with sparkly stickers to customise your helmet.

How to choose the best riding hat for you

The first thing to consider when choosing the best helmet for you is the type – if you compete, each discipline has its own rules for what helmets can be worn, which includes minimum hat standards for competition requirements, and sometimes style (for example, for cross-country you’ll need a hat without a fixed peak) and colour.

Then you need to think about how much protection each helmet gives you – different safety standards test for different types of accidents – it’s best to choose a helmet with as many safety standards as possible.

It’s also wise to consider what features each helmet has that enhance the comfort or look – these could include removable headbands, ventilation systems, wide peaks, MIPS technology or being vegan friendly. The style and finish of a helmet can allow you to show your personality. These days you can find everything from the most traditional velvet to fully customised sparkle.

When considering budget, always buy the best you can afford, and bear in mind that the most expensive might not be the best. In the UK, helmets made to fit 55cm and below (usually child sizes) are VAT free. If you’re on a tight budget, we’ve rounded up the best riding hats under £100.

Finally, it’s really important to be sure that your helmet is a good fit. Horse & Hound strongly advises that you get your hat fitted by a BETA-trained professional before making a purchase – the same advice goes for the best body protectors, too. Find out if your local tack shop can provide this service here.

When should I replace my riding hat?

Your hat should always be replaced if it has suffered any sort of impact. Although it may appear fine from the outside, it’s the inside that’s important. For this reason, buying hats second hand is not recommended. Your hat also needs replacing if it’s more than two to three years old because the protective liner and inner padding will have begun to deteriorate with exposure to heat and repeated use.

To help your hat last as long as possible, store it in a cool environment – avoid leaving it in the car. Keeping it in a protective hat bag is an ideal way to keep it cushioned and away from strong sunlight.

If you compete, you’ll also need to keep an eye on the hat standards that are accepted by your governing body – if these change, then you may need to invest in a new, rule-compliant hat.

Current riding hat safety standards

There are five main safety standards that are recognised across the world. All riding hats and jockey skulls should conform to one of these standards and bear the CE mark.

When determining helmet safety, each of the individual standards have their own criteria and tests that place different emphasis on various types of injury. For example, they will examine how much of the head a helmet covers, how a rider falls and onto what type of surface, how a helmet moves, and how severe an injury riders can expect to receive from that fall, but all in a slightly different way and to different extents.

• ASTM F1163 (2015 or 2023) – This American standard includes two impact tests, but only the 2023 update includes a crushing test. Neither includes a penetration test.
• VG1 01.040 (2014-12) – This was introduced as an interim specification when the EN 1384 was withdrawn. It demands the helmet passes three impact tests.
• EN1384 (2023) – This European standard has been introduced to replace VG1 is similar to PAS 015. It includes four impact tests.
• PAS 015 (2011) – PAS stands for product approval specifications, which are developed by the BSI. It includes four different impact tests.
• SNELL (E2016 or E2021) – This standard was developed in the US and is the most rigorous with five different tests. It includes all aspects of ASTM and PAS 015 but is tested with a sharper horseshoe anvil (to replicate a kick or impact with a sharp surface), higher impacts and an additional hemispherical anvil (to represent an uneven but not sharp surface, such as a tree, fence or cobbled surface).

The graphic below shows the differences between the standards in a simple visual format.

Hat standards vs quality marks

Quality marks, such as the British Kitemark, show that the requirements of certification have been met and the manufacturer has complied with regulations. If your hat also bears one of these marks it tells that the manufacturer is continuously and independently monitored to ensure that they continue to make hats to a high standard. Quality symbols include…

• Kitemark – This is the registered trademark of the British Standards Institute. It indicates that a company complies with a rigorous system of regulation and testing, including regular testing of random samples. For example, one of every 200 helmets from a batch is checked before they will issue an approval label. If the helmets do not pass the standard, then the entire batch must be destroyed. It can be applied to PAS 015 and VG1-compliant helmets.
• IC mark – This quality mark is operated by Inspec and applied to PAS 015 and VG1-compliant helmets.
• SEI mark – The Safety Equipment Institute is the American equivalent of the Kitemark for ASTM standard hats.
• SAI Global – This Australian quality assurance scheme is also similar to the British Kitemark.

The CE mark is neither a quality mark or a standard, but a mandatory declaration under EU law that shows a manufacturer complies with essential requirements.

What does MIPS stand for?

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It’s a revolutionary technology designed to reduce the amount of rotational force upon impact to the head, providing greater protection in the event of a fall. If a helmet has MIPS technology they will have the yellow MIPS logo somewhere on the helmet.

If you’re looking for a riding hat with MIPS check out our guide to the best MIPS riding helmets.

How should a riding hat fit?

At Horse & Hound we strongly advise that you get your hat fitted by a BETA-trained professional before making a purchase. Find out if your local tack shop can provide this service here.

A well-fitting hat should sit firmly on your head – just above your eyebrows and ears. It should fit snuggly all the way around your head, with no pressure points at the temples. If you feel pressure in your temples when you flex your jaw, this indicates that the helmet is too tight.

When fastening your helmet, it’s important not to forget the part of the harness that fits around the back of your neck. This strap helps to prevent your hat tipping forwards on to your nose. Some harnesses, particularly those with lots of leather and lacing, are harder to fasten, but a trained fitter at your local tack shop will be able to help you if you take your hat in.

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