Best Motorcycle Helmet For Claustrophobia

If you’re claustrophobic and you ride your motorcycle, when the weather is too hot, or the speed is too high, or the traffic is very dense, it may cause you to feel the pressure in the helmet and bring on the feelings of claustrophobia. 

The best bet is an open face helmet, but we put together five options and also answer: 

  • How to select a helmet for claustrophobia?
  • What factors to look for?
  • What’s the best type of helmet for claustrophobia?

Let us look into these factors in detail.

PRODUCTS FEATURES
Top Pick
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  • Classic and cool design aspects, polished outer shell in 7 vibrant colours. Excellent overall quality with comfortable wearing experience.
  • Five years warranty from the company.
  • Ideal for both men and women.
  • Available in all sizes.
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  • High quality built for safety and protection.
  • Half-style helmet, ideal for claustrophobia
  • Comfortable inner lining.
  • Modern and stylish helmet design.
  • Affordable pricing.
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  • Hassle-free usage and cleaning options.
  • Different size options.
  • Anti-fog release pin.
  • Dual rear air-flow vents.
  • Worth the price.
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  • Bluetooth connectivity and integrated headset system.
  • Balanced inlet and outlet air ventilation.
  • Anti-fog, dual inner and outer (sun protection) visor.
  • The robust outer casing is also shock-resistant.
  • Different options for colour and sizes.
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  • Dual outer and inner sun visor.
  • Double air ventilation – the crown and rear air outlet.
  • Chin area vent for air inlet.
  • Twelve attractive colours with all-size variants.
  • Affordable pricing.

Top Pick

Out of all the motorcycle helmets for claustrophobia that we reviewed, our top overall pick is the Bullitt Carbon Helmets by BELL. One of its top features makes it for riders with claustrophobia - its extensive and spacious eye-port.

Thus, the wearer feels less confined within a space, inhibiting the claustrophobic feeling.

This helmet is also DOT (Department Of Transportation) approved and fulfils the FMVSS 218 standard helmet requirement. 

What we particularly love about this motorcycle helmet 

Design

It has a low-profile helmet design in authentic vintage style, with modern aesthetics. It comes in seven cool and vibrant colours. In addition, it has integrated pockets for holding speakers. 

Quality 

Use of high-grade carbon composite shell outer covering for maximum protection. It comes with a clear flat face shield. Genuine leather inner lining that is removable and washable.  

Comfort

There are contoured cheek pads on the helmet for maximum comfort. Steel mesh vents around the forehead with lower rear exhaust vents are placed for better air circulation. Another excellent feature is its large eye port giving maximum comfort and view, with limited space confinement feeling. 

Pros
  • Classic and cool design aspects, polished outer shell in 7 vibrant colours. Excellent overall quality with comfortable wearing experience. 
  • Five years warranty from the company.
  • Ideal for both men and women.
  • Available in all sizes. 
Cons
  • Its wind-noise inhibition performance is average, quite loud at high-speed riding. 
  • Pricing is on the higher side. 

Can You ride with a helmet if You have claustrophobia?

The definition of claustrophobia is “the fear for confined/closed spaces.”

It can sometimes turn into panic attacks that can interfere with your ability to perform daily activities. Claustrophobia may also interfere with your concentration and normal functioning. 

It can get a little risky for motorcycle riders who feel claustrophobic putting on helmets. That is because a rider’s safety goes hand in hand with putting on a helmet when riding a bike/motorcycle.

One of the main concerns of claustrophobic people is riding a bike with a helmet. But don’t fret. It does, in no way, mean that you will not be able to ride a motorcycle if you are claustrophobic. 

According to Cleveland Clinic, specific exercises, breathing methods and behavioural training can treat mild to moderate cases of claustrophobia. 

If you are claustrophobic, there is one behavioural training step/tip to help your feeling of claustrophobia when putting on helmets. You can practice putting on the helmet in your comfort space for short intervals every day to be acquainted with it.

Hence, you can wear a helmet and ride a bike even with Claustrophobia problems. 

How to select the Perfect fitting

Did you know that approximately 12.5% of the world’s population has claustrophobia?

Alternatively, a survey comprising 44 countries found that more people owned bikes over cars. 

Consequently, there are thousands of helmet types, designs, and varieties of motorcycle helmets.

Hence, the key lies in finding the appropriate helmet not to trigger your claustrophobic feelings. Claustrophobic people can ride a bike while wearing a helmet with the ideal helmet. 

To find the fitting motorcycle helmet for claustrophobia, you need to understand certain factors. Factors that will help eliminate/minimize the feeling of claustrophobia when putting the helmet on. 

To help you understand better, let’s look into the various factors that make for a good motorcycle helmet for claustrophobia.

best helmet types for claustrophobia

Before selecting the best helmet type for claustrophobia, it is essential to understand the significant and different kinds of helmets. 

Here is a brief outline of each type with its features –

Open face helmets

As the name suggests, open helmets only cover your head. 

It comes with full-face/partial visor covering, with no chin bar. It is ideal for countryside cruisers and for riding in areas with less traffic and slow riding. 

While in terms of safety, it is lesser, and it is an ideal helmet for claustrophobia. 

Full face helmets

Full-face helmets make of the most popular and widely available type of helmets.

A full-face coverage, including the neck and chin bar, makes it amongst the safest motorcycle helmets. 

Since it is heavier inbuilt, with full-face coverage, it is not ideal for claustrophobic people.

Half face helmets

Half-face helmets cover the forehead, the highest point of your head and the rear of your neck.

With the face being exposed, claustrophobic people can own these motorcycle helmets.

Flip up-and-down helmets

These are otherwise also called modular helmets. 

It is more or less like a full-face helmet. Although, these helmets come with the option of the face visor and chin bar that can be flipped up when not in use. 

It has the most benefit for safety as that of a full-face helmet. In addition, the bonus of flipping back the visor with wider eye openings makes it an excellent option for claustrophobic riders. 

What to look for

In this section, we will give you a detailed account of the factors that you need to consider when looking for a motorcycle helmet that is claustrophobic-friendly.

Visor

A visor is nothing but the clear screen in a helmet that acts as a face shield. Some helmets have dual visors system – one for the face and one that works like sunglasses for the eyes.

A modular helmet with flip-up visors is an excellent choice for claustrophobic riders. 

Weight

Heavy-built helmets ensure maximum safety. But, if it’s heavy, it can be an instant claustrophobia trigger. 

Hence, opt for a lightweight but safe helmet casing material, e.g., EPS (expanded polystyrene foam). 

Vents

Claustrophobia may intensify if a helmet is deprived of proper inlet and outlet vents.

To avoid that, always check for helmets that provide maximum functional air vents. 

Eye ports

The bigger and broader the eye ports in the helmet, the lesser view you will have of the helmet altogether.

Hence, it is always advisable to go for broader eye ports.

Buckle chin straps

Long rides can sometimes feel stuffy and thereby trigger claustrophobia. 

Hence, going for helmets with buckle-release chinstraps will greatly help calm/balance your claustrophobia feeling.

Reviews

This helmet is feature-rich in terms of comfort, design and safety aspects. It is a half-open style helmet that makes it very convenient for claustrophobic motorcycle riders. 

What we Liked

Excellent Quality: It has high-quality outer material– ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), shockproof, water-resistant. The inner casing has soft cotton lining with a high-density EPS (expanded polystyrene foam) material for excellent impact resistance. 

Versatility: Having passed road safety product tests, it is ideal for motorcycles and helicopters, skateboards, scooters, etc. 

Sleek modern design: It has a compact, stylish, sleek modern design helmet with unique features. Its appealing half-style helmet makes it suitable for both men and women. 

Pros
  • High quality built for safety and protection.
  • Half-style helmet, ideal for claustrophobia
  • Comfortable inner lining.
  • Modern and stylish helmet design.
  • Affordable pricing.
Cons
  • Limited size options.
  • Not ideal for winter/cold seasons. 

The G-MAC Axis Evo helmet defines comfort, secure straps with stylish appeal. The flip-front drop dual visor system makes it the most versatile-to-use helmet according to one's needs. 

What we Liked

Premium quality: The helmet shell uses Multi-Poly Tech material, making it a safe and robust helmet for protection. It also adheres to the most updated ECE 22.05 standard compliance.

Easy to use: The helmet design caters to maximum ease of use for the rider. It has a quick-release anti-fogging pin and a secure micrometric buckle fastener. 

Dual visor system: Its integrated dual visor system is a cherry on the cake. The drop-down visor for sunny days makes daytime motorcycle riding a smooth one. 

Pros
  • Hassle-free usage and cleaning options.
  • Different size options.
  • Anti-fog release pin.
  • Dual rear air-flow vents.
  • Worth the price. 
Cons
  • Only 2 colour options.
  • XL size runs tight for big heads.

If you want to add a terrific design helmet to your collection, Mamao's motorcycle helmet makes for a good option. Its modular flip-type visor with anti-fog features are the key highlights.

Proper ventilation for air circulation makes it ideal for motorcycle riders who deal with claustrophobia.

What we Liked

Design options: With 32 different colour and style options to choose from, you can be sure to pick one that suits your taste and style.

Modern amenities: The most remarkable feature of this bike is its integrated Bluetooth system, with high-quality stereo output. You can easily connect it with your phone to answer calls or listen to music. 

Safety and quality assurance: The helmet adheres and meets the DOT ECE FMVSS 218 standard for safety. It is hassle-free with a removable soft, breathable material for the inner lining, washing and cleaning.

Pros
  • Bluetooth connectivity and integrated headset system.
  • Balanced inlet and outlet air ventilation. 
  • Anti-fog, dual inner and outer (sun protection) visor. 
  • The robust outer casing is also shock-resistant. 
  • Different options for colour and sizes.
Cons
  • Less inner padding
  • Slightly heavy. 

Zorax's flip-up motorcycle helmet with double visor is road safety tested. It also adheres to the ECE R22.09 standards for protection while on the road. Its flip-up dual visor system makes it very convenient for those who have claustrophobia.

In addition, it also has integrated vents for proper air circulation. 

What we Liked

Full Protection: The use of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) material makes it a safe and sturdy helmet for complete protection. Besides that, it also uses a high-density shock-absorbing fabric, EPS ((expanded polystyrene foam), for the casing.  

Hassle-free: The helmet is made using a scratch-resistant material. You can remove the inner lining and casing and clean in too.  

Comfortable and convenient: The padding for the inner lining uses soft and breathable material for maximum comfort. Adjustable chin straps and dual air vents make it more convenient.

Pros
  • Dual outer and inner sun visor.
  • Double air ventilation – the crown and rear air outlet.
  • Chin area vent for air inlet. 
  • Twelve attractive colours with all-size variants.
  • Affordable pricing.
Cons
  • It is slightly heavy.
  • No pin lock feature for outlet vents.

Conclusion

For any motorbike rider, wearing a helmet is the foremost necessity for safety. However, if you are claustrophobic, putting on a helmet can trigger the feeling. 

Hence, choosing a lightweight helmet with a broader range of vision is necessary. 

No wonder our top pick for the best motorcycle helmet for claustrophobia is the BELL’s Bullitt Carbon Helmets. The helmet does not weigh you down. Also, it doesn’t block your peripheral vision, so you don’t feel enclosed. 

Wishing you happy and safe riding!