You can’t put a price on safety – and H&H recommends you always choose a hat that meets the up to the current riding hat standards – but a higher price doesn’t always mean a safer hat, so you don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds to find a suitable, stylish, comfortable riding hat. If you’re looking for a cheap riding hat you’ll have to forgo the latest technology, such as MIPS, that you might find featuring in some of the best riding hats, but you can still find adjustable riding hats and ventilated options that look smart, meet your needs and the current safety standards.
Riding hats for children are not subject to VAT in the UK, so you’ll notice that some styles are cheaper in the smaller sizes. All the riding hats listed in this guide are less than £100, no matter the size and whether you’re buying for an adult or child.
Before making your final selection, it’s worth reading up on how riding hats are tested – this will help you understand the difference between each standard and why some hats have multiple. It will also show you that some cheap riding hats are tested in more scenarios than some of the most expensive options.
Best riding hats under £100
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Shires Karben Avena
Colours: Black, navy or grey
Sizes: S–L (53–61cm)
Standards: PAS015:2011 (with Kitemark)
RRP: From £82.99
This helmet is about as smart as you can get – it has a smooth outer with attractive shiny accents and smart trims – and it meets the highest British safety standard, too. To help keep you cool, it has front and rear air vents, a thermoregulating mesh liner and wicking headband, which takes away any sweat to help prevent hat hair. It’s available in three sizes, each with a micro-adjustable dial system to help you find the perfect fit.
This jockey skull has a simple, classic design on the outside and fun cartoon lining on the inside. It meets the highest British safety standard, so you know your child is protected when they’re in the saddle. It’s light enough for smaller heads while the inner crown padding will keep children comfortable when they’re riding, too. All sizes of this helmet are VAT exempt.
With the largest sizes coming in at just under £100, this Karben helmet is another great option. Like the Avena, it has cooling vents and a mesh lining to prevent hat hair, as well as a micro-adjustable dial system for a good fit, but instead of the smooth shell it has a synthetic suede finish for a different look.
This deep-fitting helmet is available in round fit as well as standard fit, which is just what some heads need for a comfy fit. It has ten ventilation holes for optimum breathability to prevent sweaty heads. All sizes of this helmet are VAT exempt.
Colours: Black, navy, black/sparkle or navy/sparkle
Sizes: XS–L
Standards: ASTM F1163 (with SEI mark), VG1
RRP: £99.95
The NRG helmet has a smooth, matte effect outer with two large front vents adorned with silver sparkles. The breathable lining is removable and machine washable, so your hat can be kept fresh and clean. It’s available in four shell sizes, with an adjustable dial system that means you can finely tune the fit for you.
This lightweight, stylish helmet has a matte finish and gloss details. It features an antibacterial, moisture-wicking, padded liner that can be removed, washed and replaced. It also has a dial system to adjust the fit, discrete ventilation points, and a fully adjustable four-point harness with a subtly padded chin guard.
This hat has a soft-feel harness in addition to a removable, washable liner and ventilation holes along the front. It would make a perfect choice if you have regular lessons at a riding school.
You can get this hat for much lower than the RRP, so it’s a great value. It has a sporty look with a multi-texture design. It also benefits from a patented side impact protection system, has a removable and a washable Coolmax lining, plus nine air vents and a synthetic leather chin strap.
In short, no, do not be tempted to buy a second hand riding hat. Even if it meets that current required standards for your chosen activity, it can be impossible to tell whether it’s been damaged and, therefore, whether it will adequately protect your head. Lots of the best riding hats are expensive, but there are plenty of cheaper options that will meet your needs, too.
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Georgia is Horse & Hound’s deputy website editor and equestrian products expert. She curates content across the website with a particular focus on upcoming equestrian events horse care and buying advice. She also manages all the ecommerce opportunities that allow us to give you easy access to the best products at the lowest prices via our buying guides. Georgia has first-hand knowledge of all the equestrian brands and their ever-evolving product lines, having been working with them closely since she started in equestrian media in 2015.
