Why won’t you just wear a surf helmet?

I didn’t see this coming, but here we are—we’re going to be talking about wearing helmets in the lineup. Whether you’re ready or not, the helmet revolution may be arriving at your surf spot sooner than you expect.

What’s on your head when you paddle out?

There’s a good chance that the last time you paddled out and thought about what you’re wearing on your head was…probably never. Honestly, the only time I think about wearing a hat in the surf is when I get mightily frustrated with my hair ending up on my face and blocking my vision.

As for helmets, I might see one once every three weeks at my local break, in the distance. But I can go months without seeing one, too.

But when you see investors on Shark Tank jumping at the opportunity to invest in a surf helmet brand, and when you hear stories about young surfers at Pipeline now opting for helmets—because their friend almost died hitting the reef—you gotta ask yourself: is the helmet-wearing tide about to shift?

Whatever the reason, it looks like now’s the time to talk about surf helmets.

️ A little helmet history

If you’re new to surfing, you may not even be aware that helmets were rarely seen in surf lineups before the 2010s.

Only big wave surfers and some water patrol teams began using them more regularly post-2015, especially at reef breaks. Two prominent surfers who embraced helmets were Owen Wright after his 2015 brain injury, and Kalani Chapman after a 2017 near-death wipeout.

❓ But do they work?

Unsurprisingly, many surfers questioned the efficacy of helmets.

What if they scoop up water during a wipeout, potentially causing whiplash? What if a helmet compromises a surfer’s overall sense of balance? What if you can’t hear?

And—God forbid—a helmet-wearing surfer gets cocky, overconfident, and a false sense of security leads them to take risks beyond their skill level, affecting other surfers?

Why surfers are considering them now

More and more surfers are considering helmets for a variety of reasons. Some—after close calls or traumatic incidents. The common triggers, I’d call them “after the fact” moments, are when their head hits the reef, they take a board to the head, or they get knocked out.

Other riders see them as a solution to medical conditions they’ve been dealing with—like prior TBIs, concussions, or neurological vulnerabilities. For others, it’s protection from cold water, surfer’s ear, even cancer risks. And some just want to feel safer in crowded lineups, bigger wave conditions, or shallow waters.

Helmets get “cooler” and more acceptable in the lineup every year. But if you’re considering one, it’s worth knowing what they’re good for—and what they’re useless for.

What helmets can do

Worried about skull fractures, scalp lacerations, cuts from fins or rails? A helmet is your friend. It may protect you from minor knocks from boards during wipeouts, and it will offer some impact reduction on reefs or rocks.

What they can’t do

But no surf helmet is guaranteed to prevent concussions—and no surf helmet will protect your neck.

No helmet on the market has top-tier lab ratings for rotational or impulse force protection (Virginia Tech Helmet Lab results). In plain speak, the former relates to how well a surf helmet deals with the forces that contribute significantly to concussions and brain injury. The latter—how well a helmet absorbs impact forces—basically how hard the blow is, and how much of that force is transferred to the head.

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is an independent research lab that tests helmets and publishes performance ratings based on how well they protect the head in realistic impact scenarios—so it’s definitely worth checking their ratings before you buy a surf helmet.

️ So many options, so little sizing

Honestly, we probably need a separate guide to surf helmets, because there are so many things to consider.

We’ve got hard shell helmets like the Gath models (Neo, EVA, Gedi)—they’re the most common, also the most polarizing. There’s Simba from Surftech, which apparently offers better coverage for chin and temples but ends up bulkier as a result. And a new entrant—Oakley WTR Icon—a newer, premium option.

Then we enter the universe of shell+hat combos and soft helmets.

The Shark Tank star Surf Skull offers a soft shell+brim hat hybrid. DMC Soft Surf Helmet is supposed to be good for sandy breaks and lower-consequence wipeouts. Manera is an interesting one—it’s a soft shell that hardens on impact. That’s a feature of it being made from non-Newtonian material. Olaian from Decathlon is a popular budget option.

Why wouldn’t you wear one?

Is there a case against wearing a surf helmet? There’s a bit of a kook factor, stigma, and the “I don’t want to stand out” mentality—but that’ll change with time.

The bigger challenge is that helmets offer limited protection, and won’t help much with serious concussions or spine injuries. And because they’re still relatively new, sizing hasn’t caught up, and the newer, cooler brands sell out very quickly. Plus—here’s yet another purchase you need to make to go surfing.

How much should you expect to pay for a helmet? Depending on what it’s made of, anywhere from $50 to $200.

Should you get one?

Only you can tell.

In 2024, the International Surfing Association (ISA) recommended protective headwear for athletes competing at Teahupo’o in the Olympics.

And now think about this: in snowsports, helmet use went from about 25% in 2002 to around 90% in 2023 among skiers and snowboarders.

You know, just something to think about.