Helmets are more than just a glorified dress code accessory that bikers can use to show their style off. Their safety is something that experienced bikers take seriously.

There were an estimated 88,000 motorcyclists injured during 2013. That number was down five percent from the previous year. Improvements in motorcycle safety, such as helmets, could be a major contributor to this trend.

If you already own a motorcycle helmet, this is a question you may have asked at some point before purchasing. In case you're looking to buy your first helmet, then you might ask: what are all the helmet safety ratings about?

Well, not all helmets are created equal. Some just do the bare minimum for preventing death, while others give your skull a fighting chance. The differences in coverage are obvious -- the full-face helmet provides the best protection.

As for the safety ratings for helmets? That will require a bit more explanation.

What Are Helmet Safety Ratings?

These are designated safety ratings for a motorcycle helmet. They are given out by a few different agencies.

You need to have a DOT Approved helmet while riding in certain states in the U.S. and an ECE certified helmet in Europe. Official DOT helmets will say DOT Approved FMVSS 218.

DOT standards for helmets look at the strength of the outer shell, the integrity of the inner liner, and the padding. If your helmet contains only a shell and soft padding, then you might as well toss it in the garbage.

These certifications go through rigorous testing to ensure that the head and everything inside is protected from piercing and concussive forces.

3rd Party Certifications

In addition to DOT and ECE, there are two voluntary testing certifications you may see.

SNELL is a certification associated with professional riders and racing motorcyclists. There is a street standard given by SNELL under M2015 as well. These certifications are a bit of mixed bag of opinion in the motorcycle community.

The other helmet safety sticker you may encounter is by SHARP. Which is a british standard, more commonly used in the UK. This is not the same as having a DOT, ECE, or SNELL certification.

SHARP assigns helmet safety ratings to helmets that pass certain thresholds. This isn't just a simple "pass" or "fail" grade.

These safety ratings for helmets utilize a different impact test system. They use different tests for both high- and low-velocity impacts. Every helmet is tested in five different areas to identify any weak points.

There is some debate as to whether SHARP helmets or better or worse. For example, a helmet may be strong in all areas except for the most vulnerable spot, the chin. SHARP gives star ratings and color-coded regions that indicate weaknesses.

You can buy a motorcycle helmet that has multiple certification stickers.

SNELL and SHARP cost money to be tested and certified, so you may not see those very often. Just be sure you have a DOT certified helmet if you live in the U.S. and an ECE certification if you plan on riding in Europe.

The best motorcycle brands will have multiple sticker certifications. If you see a helmet with none of these stamps, then it's probably made of fake insulation and offers no real protection. These helmets are illegal to wear anyway.

How Motorcycle Helmets Are Tested

Understanding how helmets are tested is important if you're trying to figure out which ones are the best.

Motorcycle helmet safety ratings aren't perfect because a helmet has to do more than stay intact. Unlike car crashes, there are tons of variables that affect the impact of a person on a bike.

For a car crash safety test, impacts are given head-on for all sides of the car. These accident scenarios are fairly simple, while a motorcycle rider's position, angle, and trajectory are very complex.

The best method for testing the integrity of a helmet is to focus on energy transfer from the impact.

A motorcycle helmet must be tested for both its strength against punctures and how well it absorbs energy. This means that if a helmet can absorb the bulk of the energy of an impact, it may prevent concussions or brain damage.

The Process

The tests start out with a helmet placed on a jig or apparatus that holds it securely. Then, a heavy iron anvil is dropped from specific heights to reproduce the blunt-force trauma from hitting a car or pavement. The level of force that is recorded is combined with how much damage is recorded on the surface.

This information gives safety experts a reasonable idea of how safe the helmet is.

A helmet is put through a series of these tests with varying shapes and sizes of anvils. Usually, the same place is struck with two different kinds of anvils to simulate certain types of situations.

A common example of a crash that will combine two different forces is falling off or jumping off a bike going at a high rate of speed. Upon impact, a helmet will need to absorb blunt-force damage and abrasive force from sliding on concrete.

A helmet's material needs to be hard, yet smooth enough to protect the head and neck from injury.

Anvils can also simulate puncture damage that can compromise the outside shell's integrity. This would include scenarios where the head would come into direct contact with a car's grill, rocks on the side of the road, and more.

Finding the Safest Helmets

Full-face motorcycle helmets are the safest. They protect more surface area, stabilize the neck, and protect the chin. Many riders say that comfort should take priority while on a motorcycle.

While this is true, don't expect the highest safety ratings from a three-quarters face helmet.

A full-faced helmet provides the best custom-fitting of your head. The EPS foam that lines the interior and protects the head from concussions also lines the bottom portion of full-faced helmets to protect the jawline.

Some helmets are now coming with an added safety feature that isn't measured in crashes: HUDs or heads-up displays. These small displays provide valuable information in the corner of the helmet to tell you how fast you're going, where you're going, and weather alerts.

It's also worth mentioning that no matter what safety ratings for a motorcycle helmet are stated, there is still no prevention of brain tearing and bruising.

This is because any rapid change in direction can cause the brain to rotate in the skull. The tissues holding the brain in place can rip, or the brain itself can be bruised by slamming against the inside of the skull.

All of these things can happen even when a helmet's strength and integrity is intact. Development is underway, though, to make helmets that provide an extra, outer membrane that can reduce rotational brain injuries.

Sizing Matters

Now, back to finding the safest helmets. We've discussed all that goes into manufacturing a safe motorcycle helmet, but none of this matters if it doesn't fit.

Getting a snug-fitting helmet means that the EPS layer of protection on the inside sits flush against your head.

This is not to be confused with the soft comfort liner that is there to keep the pressure low and shifting to a minimum.

Plus, everyone has a different shape to their head. Some people have more egg-shaped heads, others nearly completely round. You can measure your head to make sure you're getting an accurate read on helmet sizing charts for each brand.

You should measure the top of your head above your eyebrows so that it reaches the furthest part on the back of your head.

Now, when it comes to trying on your helmet, a perfect fit should include a chin strap that is tight. You should only be able to fit two fingers in-between your chin and the strap.

It should also be difficult to fit any fingers at all around the sides of the helmet. If it feels tight upon first putting it on, give it a few minutes. Move your head in all directions; any sliding or shifting over your face point towards an improper fit.

The Best Form and Styles

If the helmet fits right and has all the safety ratings for helmets, then you're down to just form-factor and style.

How a helmet breathes is an often overlooked and underrated comfort feature. In hot or really cold climates, its ability to move air through the interior can make or break a purchase.

You want at least some level of airflow, no matter how cold it is outside. This also relates to the insulation of sound.

Too much insulation can leave you cut off from outside cues of traffic and surroundings. Too little insulation means your hearing could be impacted by constant wind breaking against your helmet.

Final Thoughts

Get a helmet that fits good and has a level of aerodynamic capability. Many times, we see helmets that do nothing to cut the wind, so the users are forced to ride like a turtle in retreat.

If you need some advice or inspiration on which helmet you should buy, feel free to contact us. We pride ourselves on keeping only the best motorcycle helmet safety ratings in stock.

Stay safe, stay cool, and stay Xtreme!