Some of the best helmet options on the market
“I’d say half of the best guys at Pipeline all now wear a helmet, and almost all of the girls,” said Liam McNamara, the former Pipe Masters Champion and one of the most high-profile early adopters of protective headwear. “In the 1980s and 1990s, I was in the one percent, but I’m stoked that helmets are now starting to go mainstream. There is no debate; they save lives.”
Liam’s anecdotal evidence is backed by data. A recent 20-year study by the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii showed that while there had been a decrease in overall injuries presented to the United States Emergency Departments, there had been a steady increase in concussion rates.
That has been reflected by high-profile surfers like Owen Wright, Albee Layer, Billy Kemper, Kai Lenny, Jamie Mitchell, India Robinson, Nikki Van Dijk, Tyler Wright, Natxo Gonzalez, and Koa Rothman all being open about the devastating effects of brain trauma caused by surfing injuries.
Now, while these are elite athletes surfing some of the heaviest waves in the world, the trickle-down to “normal” surfers has been evident in lineups all over the world. For any surfer who wants to surf over reefs or in solid waves, a helmet should really be part of their travel kit.
“You don’t even need to hit your head – it is the “whiplash” movement jerking the head back and forth that is most dangerous for concussion,” said Brett Jarosz, a Melbourne sports chiropractor who has helped athletes and surfers in neuro-orthopedic rehabilitation. “Protective headwear also mitigates those types of injuries too.”
The good news is that as the number of surfers wearing helmets has increased, so has the range of brain buckets on the market. The tech is progressing rapidly, meaning comfort is growing with better protection. Prices are also coming down as the economies of scale kick in.
You can choose from harder or lightweight shells that offer a range of comfort and protection. Given the small cost and the vast benefits, it’s, if you pardon the pun, a no-brainer that most surfers add a helmet to their quiver.
To help with that decision, here’s a list of some of the better options on the market.
The Oakley WTR Icon
The newest entry on the market, Oakley claims that the WTR Icon’s weight of about 13 punches (365 grams) is the lightest of all surf-specific helmets. It is made from strong Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and is designed to absorb impact, disperse energy, and reduce blunt force trauma. Many reviewers say it’s easy to hear when in use, which is one of the issues many surfers have with helmets. It was a prototype of this model that Caity Simmers wore on her way to her iconic win at the 2024 Pipeline Pro. It retails for around $180
Gath Helmets
Originally from Western Australia, Gath has been making helmets since the late 1980s. It was a Gath model that Liam wore at Pipeline in his heyday, and more recently, Tahitian Kauli Vaast claimed his Olympic Gold Medal wearing the iconic design. Gath has a range of models, including Gedi, SFC EVA, and Neo, priced from $140 to $180, and an enduring legacy in surf helmets.
Simba
Simba entered the market around five years ago with its Sentinel 1 model. Its distinctive Roman Centurion look buckets have been tested by Garrett McNamara, Koa Smith, and Joao de Macedo at some of the world’s heaviest waves. The aerodynamic design also covers the lower forehead, jawline, and temples, although it weighs a little heavier than the models above. The Sentinel 1 is available mainly on third-party retail sites and priced around $210.
GameBreaker Pro
Unlike the harder shell-like protection of the above, there is a range of boxing headgear-style helmets that absorb impact. The GameBreaker Pro is one of the most popular models and features D3O impact protection. With no metal or hard plastic parts, the shell molds to the wearer’s head. French big-wave surfer Justine Dupont uses the GameBreaker, and if it works for her at 80-foot Nazare, then it should be fine for some big Mexican beach breaks or on a Mentawai boat trip. It comes with a 5-Star Top Performer rating in Virginia Tech’s ground-breaking research and retails for around $80.
Mystic Legacy
The Dutch company has a background in kite, wake, and windsurfing, all sports that were earlier adopters of helmets than surfing. They claim their Legacy Helmet can be used in all watersports and fits like a neoprene hood but protects like a helmet. It has a high-impact ABS outer shell that absorbs heavy hits, and extended temple and jaw coverage helps guard against direct impact. Each helmet comes in three sizes and three colors (red, white, and black) and retails for around $180.