Cold weather helmet

[Frankencelery]

I'm sick of hiding in the house! This has been the worst Iowa winter (and for many others I'm sure) in the 16 years I've lived here. We've had bitterly cold temps and tons of snow, and I've mostly avoided riding. Today I took a snow day and stayed home, but after about 7 hours of working from home on my so-called PTO day I got crazy cabin fever and went out for a ride.

I've mostly got enough gear to keep warm but my basic full-face Raider helmet just isn't quite enough. I'm wearing a full-face mask over it, but it makes the helmet super tight and the combination causes major fogging of my goggles. So I decided that maybe I need a snowmobile type helmet for this kind of weather. Do any of you guys use those, and if so, what works? Some of them actually have heating elements between two panes of shield. That sounds cool, but too complicated for my taste. Besides, I don't want to mess with wiring power outlets on my trikes.

I'm looking for ideas on a relatively inexpensive helmet setup that works well for cold weather. I'd love to hear what others are using....and no laughing from all you folks down south who are probably still riding around in t-shirts!

[MTS]

I use a similar set up- a mx helmet with a balaclava underneath and goggles, Works good up to about -30 or so, Just need to breath through your mouth and down, and pop the goggles off when you stop- i do have to wipe them every once in a while, a heated visor is the way to go IMO, its pretty simple to hook up too...

[MudBug]

I just use a snowmobile helmet!

[Daltons200x]

i use a crotch rocket helmet but leave the sheild open just a little bit to prevent fogging. and since its an older helmet it is loose so i can wear a hat and under armour mask underneath.

[posty2100]

I just bought this helmet this week for snowmobiling. ZR1 helmet with a electric shield. My sled has a spot where you plug it right in and your all set for snowmobiling. But the helmet comes with the wiring to wire it right to a battery and I thought to myslef, shhitt, I could just put this on my 3 or 4 wheeler and would work fine also. I have used the helmet the last few days and very happy with it. I would recommend this helmet but is not super cheap. I payed 139.99 at my ski doo dealer but you could probably find it cheaper somewhere else.

I asked my dealer about using my MX style helmet but the mouth piece and good goggles for winter was going to cost around $100 together. So i figured do it right and get a good helmet cuz nothing worse then not being able to see.

http://www.z1rhelmets.com/

[4cfed]

i love winter riding... i run my mx helmet year round, i have smith dual lens goggles ( dual lens are a must for inter riding) single lens will fog almost instantly.. and i wear a face mask type thing, like you would wear under a snow mobile helmet, works great!!! i even snow blow with my goggles and mask on!!!

my wife wears her raider full face but the shield fogs up so she leaves it cracked open... fleet farm/ farm n fleet sell a dual lens kit for the raiders thats like $30.. you can also buy the 45 breath box from there for it to.. but like i said ether way .. dual lens is a must!!

[Frankencelery]

I wonder how much that electric circuit takes. I don't think our trikes were ever designed to power accessories. I'd probably just go with a good "regular" snowmobile helmet. Raider makes some for about $80-$90. I've got such a huge melon that I need XXL so that's a limiting factor in trying them on at the ATV shop!

[4cfed]

chec kinto the winter kit for the raider helmet.. the place you bought it at should carry them in stock or be able to order it for you.. the only diff is gonna be the dual lens and breath deflector

[harryredtrike]

i tape hand warmers to my face it works pretty well.i also use a snow mobile helmet and that works too.plus the helmet looks cooler.

[oscarmayer]

^ I can see it now.
Harry, did you forget to use the static anti-cling sheet in the dryer again?

[fabiodriven]

Celery, forget about the electric crap. I went out last year and bought a brand new HJC snowmobile/streetbike helmet. It has a little thing that velcros into it that directs your breath down and out of the helmet so there's no fogging. I highly recommend it. Then if you want to use it in the warmer months you just remove the little breather. It works great.



I don't know why this fricken pic is so small. If anybody can help me make it bigger please let me know.

[Name Brand]

I use my motocross style helmet year round. In the winter I pair it with a good set of goggles and a neck gaiter. I made the gaiter I use now out of a big square of thick arctic fleece. I folded it like a bandanna and sewed the back where the knot would normally be. It's big enough to stay tucked in my jacket and reach the bottom of my goggles. If you keep the goggles warm they shouldn't fog. I'll often slip the goggles off when we stop and just set them over a warm spot on the machine.

I'm sure I've worn this setup while on the snowmachine for twelve to fourteen hours in temps averaging 0f.

[Frankencelery]

Fabiodriven, I agree. I think I'll avoid the extra complexity of the electric part. As far as the winter kit for the Raider, I checked that out, and that only seems to apply to the motorcycle helmets that already have a face shield. Mine is an MX helmet with no shield. I've been using googles with that, but of course they fog up bad when you're wearing a mask.

I'm going to drag my wife along today to some shops and see if we can find one. My birthday's coming up!

[fabiodriven]

There ya go. Mine has never fogged on me once. Not only that, but it keeps your head and neck nice and toasty. I snowmobile for hours at a time in the thing. Best $100 I ever spent.