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Best Helmets for Electric Unicycles (2026): Full Face, DOT and Budget

By EUC ReviewPublished 11 min readHow we research

Affiliate disclosure: product links on this page go to Amazon, or to the maker's own store for brands that sell only direct. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you; a link to a maker's store earns us nothing. No retailer or brand sees our picks before they are published or has any say in them. How we choose.

The best helmet for most electric unicycle riders is a full-face helmet certified to ASTM F1952, the downhill mountain bike standard, and the Fly Racing Rayce is the one we would buy first. Fly lists CPSC 1203, ASTM F1952-15 and EN 1078 for it, gives a weight of 930 g (2.05 lb) in medium, and sells it for about $140. The chin bar covers the jaw and face, which an open helmet leaves bare, and F1952 is the only bicycle standard here that sets performance criteria for chin bars.

If you ride in traffic at speeds closer to a moped than a bicycle and want a helmet certified to the US motorcycle standard, the Fox V Core MIPS carries the DOT label, at the cost of about 540 g more weight. For tight budgets there is a DOT-certified full face from ILM for about $70, and for short, slow rides a half shell with built-in lights.

Every pick is ranked on the certification its maker states, the weight its maker publishes, and price. We read the standards themselves (16 CFR 1203 and FMVSS 218 on eCFR, ASTM F1952 from ASTM) so the table below says what each label actually tests.

Our top picks at a glance

  1. 1. Best overall

    Fly Racing Rayce Full-Face Helmet

    Certifications: CPSC 1203, ASTM F1952-15, EN 1078 · Weight: 930 g (2.05 lb), size M · Rotational liner: None listed · Type: Full face (bicycle)

    Amazon

  2. 2. Best motorcycle-certified (DOT)

    Fox Racing V Core MIPS Helmet

    Certifications: DOT (FMVSS 218) · Weight: 1,470 g (3.24 lb), size M · Rotational liner: MIPS · Type: Full face (motocross)

    Amazon

  3. 3. Best lightweight full face

    Fox Racing Proframe Full-Face Helmet

    Certifications: ASTM F1952 · Weight: 750 g (1.65 lb), sizes S and M · Rotational liner: MIPS · Type: Full face (bicycle)

    Amazon

  4. 4. Best budget DOT full face

    ILM Model 313 Full-Face Helmet

    Certifications: DOT (FMVSS 218) · Weight: 2.98 lb (1,352 g), size not stated · Rotational liner: None listed · Type: Full face (street motorcycle)

    ILM

  5. 5. Best for slow, short rides

    ILM E3-10L Helmet with LED Lights

    Certifications: CPSC and EN 1078, per ILM · Weight: 14.5 oz (411 g) · Rotational liner: None listed · Type: Half shell (bicycle)

    Amazon
1

Best overall

Fly Racing Rayce Full-Face Helmet

Three bicycle certifications including ASTM F1952 in a 930 g full face for about $140: the default helmet for most EUC riders.

Certifications
CPSC 1203, ASTM F1952-15, EN 1078
Weight
930 g (2.05 lb), size M
Rotational liner
None listed
Type
Full face (bicycle)
Shell
Poly-alloy shell, EPS liner
Sizes
XS to XL

Pros

  • ASTM F1952-15, CPSC 1203 and EN 1078 all listed on Fly's product page
  • 930 g plus or minus 50 g in medium, lighter than either motorcycle-certified pick
  • Five sizes from XS to XL
  • Replacement parts sold by Fly

Cons

  • Fly's page lists no rotational-impact liner such as MIPS
  • Not DOT or ECE certified, so it has not passed the motorcycle tests
  • The F1952 edition named is the 2015 one
  • Fly gives a vent description but no vent count

The Rayce is a full-face mountain bike helmet with a poly-alloy shell over an EPS foam liner. Fly lists three standards for it: CPSC 1203 (required for any bicycle helmet sold in the US), ASTM F1952-15 (downhill mountain bike, with a chin bar test) and EN 1078 (the European bicycle standard). Fly puts its weight at 930 g plus or minus 50 g in medium.

For an EUC rider that combination covers the face and jaw while staying light enough for a commute. Fly's own certification page says F1952 tests a larger area of the helmet than CPSC and EN 1078, and at a higher impact speed on the curbstone and hemispherical anvils (5.6 m/s against 4.8 m/s for CPSC).

Skip it if you want a rotational-impact liner (the Fox Proframe has MIPS) or a motorcycle certification for faster riding (the Fox V Core MIPS is DOT certified).

Check price on Amazon
2

Best motorcycle-certified (DOT)

Fox Racing V Core MIPS Helmet

A DOT-certified motocross helmet with MIPS for riders who spend their time at the top of their wheel's speed range.

Certifications
DOT (FMVSS 218)
Weight
1,470 g (3.24 lb), size M
Rotational liner
MIPS
Type
Full face (motocross)
Shell
Polycarbonate and ABS, 4 shell sizes
Sizes
XS to XXL

Pros

  • Certified to DOT FMVSS 218, which adds a penetration test the bicycle standards lack
  • MIPS low-friction layer, per Fox
  • Four shell sizes and five EPS sizes for fit across XS to XXL
  • Visor designed to release in a crash, per Fox
  • Sold and shipped by Amazon.com when we checked

Cons

  • 1,470 g in medium, about 540 g heavier than the Rayce
  • No face shield listed, so you add goggles or glasses
  • Fox's certification line names DOT only, not ECE 22.06
  • Fox's site points shoppers to the newer V1 when sizes sell out

The V Core is Fox's value motocross helmet: an injection-molded polycarbonate and ABS shell in four sizes, a MIPS layer, and nine intake and four exhaust vents. Fox's certification line reads "Exceeds DOT", meaning FMVSS 218, the US motorcycle helmet standard. Its size chart lists 1,470 g plus or minus 50 g in medium and 1,695 g in XL and XXL.

FMVSS 218 allows a higher peak acceleration than the bicycle standards (400 g against 300 g) but adds dwell-time limits and a penetration test in which a pointed striker is dropped from 3 m onto the shell. It was written for motorcyclists and other motor vehicle users, which is why some riders of fast wheels prefer it.

Skip it if your rides are short or hot: the extra half kilogram is felt on every ride, and the Rayce or Proframe will vent better for the same coverage. Riders who want both a motorcycle rating and a face shield should look at a street motorcycle helmet instead.

Check price on Amazon
3

Best lightweight full face

Fox Racing Proframe Full-Face Helmet

An ASTM F1952 full face with MIPS at 750 g in small and medium, for riders who want the lightest chin bar they can buy.

Certifications
ASTM F1952
Weight
750 g (1.65 lb), sizes S and M
Rotational liner
MIPS
Type
Full face (bicycle)
Visor
3-position, goggle compatible

Pros

  • 750 g plus or minus 50 g in small and medium, the lightest full face here
  • MIPS, per Fox
  • Three-position visor that works with goggles
  • Fidlock buckle that Fox says works with gloves on

Cons

  • The most expensive pick, and the Amazon price was above Fox's own list price when we checked
  • Large and XL weigh 850 g
  • Bicycle certification only, no DOT
  • Sold on Amazon by a retailer (Backcountry), not by Fox

Fox calls the Proframe its original full-face trail helmet. Its page says it meets the ASTM F1952 downhill certification, carries MIPS, and its size chart lists 750 g plus or minus 50 g for small and medium and 850 g for large and XL. The visor has three positions and clears goggles, and there is an under-visor camera mount.

For EUC riders who ride long distances in summer, weight and airflow are the reasons to pay more. The Proframe is 180 g lighter than the Rayce in medium and adds a rotational liner.

Skip it if price matters: the Rayce has the same F1952 certification for less than half the money. Check Fox's own store too, since Fox listed it at $299.95 when the Amazon listing showed $329.95.

Check price on Amazon
4

Best budget DOT full face

ILM Model 313 Full-Face Helmet

A DOT-certified full face with clear and smoked visors for about $70, sold direct by ILM.

Certifications
DOT (FMVSS 218)
Weight
2.98 lb (1,352 g), size not stated
Rotational liner
None listed
Type
Full face (street motorcycle)
Visors
Clear and smoked included

Pros

  • ILM says it meets or exceeds FMVSS 218 and carries DOT approval
  • Comes with clear and smoked visors and a neck scarf
  • Removable, washable liner
  • About $70 direct from ILM

Cons

  • ILM gives one weight with no size
  • No rotational liner listed
  • ABS shell, the basic material at this price
  • Sold here through ILM's own store, not as an Amazon pick

The 313 is a street-style full face with an ABS shell and EPS liner. ILM's product page says it meets or exceeds FMVSS 218 and DOT safety standards, and ships it with a clear visor, a smoked visor and a neck scarf for winter. ILM lists the weight as 2.98 lb without naming a size.

A face shield is the practical difference from the motocross-style Fox: no goggles needed, and it closes against wind and rain. That makes it a reasonable pick for commuters on a budget.

Skip it if you want a bicycle-style helmet that vents well at low speed, or a rotational liner. We could not confirm a seller for the Amazon listing, so we link ILM's own store.

See it at ILM
5

Best for slow, short rides

ILM E3-10L Helmet with LED Lights

A light half shell with built-in front and rear lights, for learners and short trips at low speed, not for fast riding.

Certifications
CPSC and EN 1078, per ILM
Weight
14.5 oz (411 g)
Rotational liner
None listed
Type
Half shell (bicycle)
Lights
USB-rechargeable front and rear LEDs

Pros

  • 14.5 oz, by far the lightest helmet here
  • Front and rear LED lights built in, USB rechargeable
  • Removable tinted lens that can be worn over glasses, per ILM
  • 10 vents

Cons

  • No chin bar: the face and jaw are uncovered
  • ILM's listing says it passed "ASTM CPSC CE EN1078" without naming an ASTM standard number
  • Not suited to commuting speeds in traffic

The E3-10L is a bicycle half shell with a PC shell integrated with the EPS liner, front and rear LEDs, ten vents and a removable lens. ILM says it passed CPSC and EN 1078 certification and lists the weight at 14.5 oz.

It suits the first weeks of learning, when speeds are walking pace and falls are mostly stepping off, and short neighborhood rides where the built-in lights help you be seen.

Skip it once you ride at commuting speeds; move to the Rayce or another F1952 full face. The lights are a supplement to, not a substitute for, the wheel's own lights.

Check price on Amazon

How we chose

An EUC has no handlebars to hold and brakes only through the motor, so a fall can happen at full riding speed with nothing between the rider and the ground. We looked for:

  • A named certification from the maker. Every pick lists the standard on the maker's own page. Helmets with only "meets safety standards" language were left out.
  • A chin bar for most riders. Four of five picks are full face. ASTM F1952 is the bicycle standard with performance criteria for chin bars, and DOT motorcycle helmets cover the face by design.
  • Weight. From the maker's size chart, so you can compare a 750 g trail helmet with a 1,470 g motocross helmet honestly.
  • Availability. In stock on Amazon US from the brand, Amazon or an established retailer, or sold direct by the maker.

What the helmet labels actually test

No helmet standard was written for electric unicycles. Each one below was written for another activity, and each drops a helmeted headform onto steel anvils at set speeds and limits how much of the impact reaches the headform. These are the figures from the rules and from Fly Racing's certification summary:

StandardWritten forFlat anvil impactCurb or hemispherical anvilPass limitExtra tests
CPSC 16 CFR 1203All bicycle helmets sold in the US (mandatory)6.2 m/s4.8 m/s300 g peakHot, cold and wet conditioning; roll-off; strap strength
ASTM F1952Downhill mountain bike racing6.2 m/s5.6 m/sUnder 300 gChin bar impact on full-face helmets; larger test area
EN 1078Bicycle helmets (Europe)5.42 m/s4.57 m/sUnder 250 gNone listed in Fly's summary
DOT FMVSS 218Motorcyclists and other motor vehicle users5.8 to 6.2 m/s5.0 to 5.4 m/s (hemispherical)400 g peak; over 200 g for no more than 2.0 ms; over 150 g for no more than 4.0 msPenetration (striker dropped from 3 m); retention
ECE 22.06Motorcycle helmets (UN regulation)Adds 8.0 m/s high-energy and 6.0 m/s low-energy impactsPer regulationPer regulationRotational acceleration test; accessories tested on the helmet

Two things follow from the table. First, the impact speeds are drop speeds, not riding speeds: 6.2 m/s is about 13.9 mph and the ECE high-energy test at 8.0 m/s is about 17.9 mph, both below what many wheels can do. A label tells you a helmet passed a defined lab test, not that it will protect you at any speed. Second, the CPSC rule itself requires every bicycle helmet to carry a warning that no helmet can protect against all possible impacts.

Bicycle full face or motorcycle helmet?

Weight and airflow

The bicycle full faces here weigh 750 to 930 g in medium; the DOT motocross pick weighs 1,470 g. EUC riding is low effort but hot in summer, and a lighter, better-vented helmet is one you will actually wear on short trips.

Test coverage

DOT adds a penetration test and was written for motor vehicle users. ASTM F1952 tests the chin bar and a larger area of the shell than CPSC. Neither is a superset of the other, so pick by how and how fast you ride: trail and commuting at bicycle speeds favor F1952; long stretches near your wheel's top speed favor DOT or ECE.

Rotational liners

Fox describes MIPS as a low-friction layer that lets the helmet move relative to the head. ECE 22.06 is the only standard in the table that includes a rotational test. Treat MIPS as a feature the maker claims, and weigh it alongside certification and fit.

Fit

Measure your head circumference at the brow and compare it with the maker's chart: Fox's V Core medium fits 22.4 to 22.8 in (57 to 58 cm), while the Proframe medium covers 22.0 to 22.8 in. The CPSC rule requires fitting and positioning instructions with every bicycle helmet, and a warning that it must be fitted and attached properly for maximum protection.

What to skip

  • Skate-only helmets. The CPSC rule excludes helmets marketed exclusively for skateboarding or other single activities from its definition of a bicycle helmet, so they need not meet 16 CFR 1203.
  • Helmets with no standard on the label. A DOT helmet must carry the DOT symbol, "FMVSS No. 218" and "CERTIFIED" on its label; a bicycle helmet must name its model and carry the CPSC-required warnings.
  • A helmet that has taken a hit. The CPSC label rule requires a warning that impact damage may not be visible and that a helmet that has sustained an impact should be returned to the maker for inspection or destroyed and replaced.
  • Solvents and sprays. The same rule requires a warning about damage from substances such as ammonia and bleach; Fox adds bug repellent and sunscreen sprays.

A helmet is one part of the kit: King Song's own setup guide lists a helmet, knee and elbow pads and wrist guards. See our guide to wrist guards, knee pads and armor. If you are still learning, read how to learn to ride an electric unicycle before you choose a speed, and how cutouts and tiltback work before you ride near your wheel's limits. Some cities and states attach helmet rules to the device classes they recognize; our state-by-state law page has the details, and the buying guide covers how much to budget for gear.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a full-face helmet for an electric unicycle?

No law we found requires one, but a full face is the better choice for most riders because the chin bar covers the face and jaw that a half shell leaves bare. If you want a bicycle helmet, look for ASTM F1952 on the label, since that standard includes a chin bar test. A half shell is reasonable only for slow learning and short low-speed rides.

Is a bicycle helmet good enough for an EUC?

A CPSC 1203 bicycle helmet has passed impact tests at 6.2 m/s on a flat anvil and 4.8 m/s on curb and hemispherical anvils, with a 300 g limit. That is a real standard, but it was written for bicycling and it does not test a chin bar. Most EUC riders are better served by an ASTM F1952 full face or a DOT helmet.

What does ASTM F1952 mean on a helmet?

ASTM F1952 is the US specification for helmets used in downhill mountain bike racing. ASTM says it requires greater impact protection than recreational bicycle helmets and sets performance criteria for chin bars on full-face helmets. A helmet cannot claim part of it: the standard says any compliance claim must cover all of its requirements.

Is a DOT motorcycle helmet better than an ASTM F1952 helmet for electric unicycles?

Neither is a superset of the other. DOT FMVSS 218 adds a penetration test and was written for motor vehicle users, while ASTM F1952 tests chin bars and a larger impact area, usually in a lighter helmet. Riders who spend long stretches near their wheel's top speed often choose DOT or ECE 22.06; commuters at bicycle speeds often choose F1952 for the lower weight.

Does the law require a helmet on an electric unicycle?

It depends on the state and on how the device is classified, and most state codes do not name electric unicycles at all. California, for example, requires a bicycle helmet on an electrically motorized board under Vehicle Code 21292, but whether an EUC is such a board is unclear. Check your state and city rules before riding.

How often should I replace my EUC helmet?

Replace it after any crash in which it hit something. The federal bicycle helmet rule requires a label warning that impact damage may not be visible and that an impacted helmet should be returned to the maker for inspection or destroyed and replaced. Also follow the age and care guidance in your helmet's manual.

Sources

  1. 16 CFR Part 1203, Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, eCFR (US Government Publishing Office)
  2. 49 CFR 571.218, Standard No. 218; Motorcycle helmets, eCFR (US Government Publishing Office)
  3. F1952 Standard Specification for Helmets Used for Downhill Mountain Bicycle Racing, ASTM International
  4. Safety and Certification, Fly Racing
  5. Rayce Bicycle Solid Helmet, Fly Racing
  6. V Core Helmet, Fox Racing
  7. Proframe Helmet, Fox Racing
  8. ILM Full Face Motorcycle Street Bike Helmet Model JK313, ILM
  9. ILM Bike Helmet with USB Rechargeable LED Front and Back Light Model E3-10L, ILM
  10. Unbox and set up the S22 Pro, KingSong

Cover photo: Mountain Biking by Joshua Tree National Park, Public Domain Mark, via Flickr. Cropped.

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