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Striking the perfect balance between safety and style is a ridiculous concept, but for motorcycle riders, this problem is very real.
Riders want assurance that their gear will hold up during a collision, but they also want to look good.
To satisfy both needs, many riders have turned to Icon for their helmets.
Here, we’ll examine the best Icon helmets to help you decide if this product is right for you.
Comparison of the Best Icon Helmets
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What Makes Icon Products Stand Out From the Competition?
Icon has mainly produced full-face helmets since its conception. Although its competitors offer at least three-to-four different styles, Icon has still grown into one of the most popular brands. The company offers a ton of graphic and color varieties, which is what separates Icon from its competitors – it understands that riders prefer a stylish helmet.
Photo credit: returnofthecaferacers.com
Review of the Best Motorcycle Helmets by Icon
Let's take a look at this year's top picks.
Best Overall:
Icon Variant
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.79lbs
Shell Sizes: Three
Shape: Intermediate oval
Style: ADV touring/Street
Review
It’s obvious to see why this model is in such high demand. Designed to be the ultimate crossover helmet, the Icon Variant merges street and trail performance in one product.
Its design is aerodynamic, the fit is comfortable, and the visor is both optically correct and fog-resistant. The energetic style looks good with any type of motorcycle. The helmet also comes in a few different color options but lacks Icon's typical wild graphic art designs. But even without these style perks, this helmet is the best helmet Icon has ever made.
Bottom Line
The Icon Variant helmet should be at the top of your most-wanted list if you’re looking for a mix of style and functionality. It blends these two aspects perfectly and packs all the typical Icon features while maintaining a cost-friendly price tag.
Best for the Money:
Icon Airmada Helmet
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.71lbs
Shell Sizes: Four
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/Performance
Review
Very few helmets can match the price, comfort, and quality that the Icon Airmada helmet boasts. Its outer shell finish is attractive, the visor is tough, and the ventilation is above average. Riding with the Airmada is smooth thanks to the improved aerodynamics that makes it less demanding on your neck and shoulders.
It can be noisy and the visor can be easily dinged, but we had no other issues. In fact, I had zero problems while using the test model for a three-day camping trip.
Bottom Line
You won’t find a better helmet for the Icon Airmada’s price. It’s not surprising that it’s sold out at most retailers. Don’t hesitate if you have a chance to pick one up.
Best Icon Airflite Helmet:
Icon Airflite Rubatone
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.79lbs
Shell Sizes: Four
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/Performance
Review
The Icon Airflite Rubatone is more of a hybrid creation, combining features from both motocross and street helmets. Its combination of a moto chin bar and street-styled visor looks fantastic.
The Airflite’s shell consists of the customary Icon polycarbonate blend, which meets all major safety standards. Some of the helmet’s perks include a built-in sun visor and an adjustable chin bar vent.
Bottom Line
The Icon Airflite Rubatone is the total package. It meets safety standards, it has quality ventilation, the liners are comfortable, and the built-in sun visor is the cherry on top. Even with Icon’s notorious high noise levels, putting on the Airflite is a joy.
Best Icon Bluetooth Helmet:
Icon Airflite Battlescar 2
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.79lbs
Shell Sizes: Four
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/Performance
Review
The Icon Airflite Battlescar 2’s appearance will undoubtedly garner a few long stares on the roads. Its similar appearance to the well-known “Master Chief” helmet, from the famous “Halo” video games series, is awesome. The Icon Airflite Battlescar 2 also features Bluetooth capabilities.
Additionally, the face shield has a remarkable visual appearance because it stretches all the way over the chin bar. It also comes in a variety of colors that are interchangeable with other Airflite helmet models.
Bottom Line
The Icon Airflite Battlescar 2 has a unique, badass look while also being aerodynamic, stable, comfortable, and offering excellent airflow. Its only issues are its heavy weight and noise level.
Best Icon Airframe Helmet:
Icon Airframe Pro
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.61lbs
Shell Sizes: Four
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/Performance
Review
The Icon Airframe Pro is very impressive. It offers superior quality, a comprehensive feature set, and meets both DOT and Snell safety standards. The top-notch fiberglass, carbon fiber, and Dyneema composite shell are about as durable as you can get.
Additionally, the Airframe’s finish looks gorgeous. The sleek and aerodynamic design also reduces the amount of wind drag while providing a wider field of view than other brands.
Bottom Line
The feature-packed Airframe Pro exudes quality, from its functionality to its overall style. It’s outstanding.
Best Icon Alliance Helmet:
Icon Alliance GT
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.69lbs
Shell Sizes: Four
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/performance
Review
The Alliance GT fits in well amongst Icon’s top-notch helmets. It’s a great choice for both hardcore and casual riders due to its superb safety certifications, strong outer shell, and comfortable interior line.
We’re confident in saying this might be one of the best-ventilated Icon helmets we’ve ever tested. Long-distance riders will appreciate the strong, smooth, end-to-end airflow. Though many other Icon helmets incorporate these types of vents, they seem to work consistently better on the Alliance GT.
Bottom Line
The Alliance GT is an affordable, elegant choice for folks who want a sleek, understated motorcycle helmet. It has just enough features to provide comfortable and safe riding.
Best Icon Women Helmet:
Icon Airmada Scrawl
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.71lbs
Shell Sizes: Four
Shape: Long oval
Style: Sport/street
Review
The Icon Airmada Scrawl is a highly recommend helmet for women. Racers who tend to ride in a more crouched position will appreciate the helmet’s narrow front and wider back, which provide solid stability when traveling at high speeds. The ventilation also provides comfort while the shield locking and shield mount machinery are user-friendly.
What really stands out is the Airmada Scrawl’s white-and-black design, which features a dagger going through a rose surrounded by snakes on top, bald eagles on the sides, a winged skull on the chin guard, and a tiger’s face on the back. It’s epic.
Bottom Line
Although it’s loud and tight, the Icon Airmada is affordable, aerodynamic, and easy to both wear and operate. Plus, its safety features are reliable, and the design and color scheme work.
Best Icon Full Face Helmet:
Icon Airflite Peacekeeper Rubatone
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.79lbs
Shell Sizes: Three
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/performance
Review
People were staring in admiration everywhere we drove with the Icon Airflite Peacekeeper Rubatone.
In addition to the eye-catching look, the Peacekeeper is simple enough for novices while offering enough features for more experienced bikers to play with. Plus, the polycarbonate shell is safety certified and the interior padding is soft and skin-friendly.
It can be difficult to put on and take off due to the narrow opening, but it doesn’t feel too tight or uncomfortable once it’s on.
Bottom Line
The Icon Airflite Peacekeeper Rubatone is one of our all-time favorites. It looks excellent, has great ventilation, and possesses a quality visor.
Best Icon Airmada Helmet:
Icon Airmada Wild Child
PROS
CONS
Weight: 3.79lbs
Shell Sizes: Three
Shape: Long oval
Style: Street/performance
Review
The Airmada Wildchild helmet is equipped with all the safety and comfort features you’d expect from an Icon product. The design and colors are beautiful, and the price tag is fair. Its abundant airflow and reasonably low noise levels make for a pleasant ride in any weather.
The Wildchild works well for any riding position and is relatively easy to operate. Its fit is somewhat tighter than usual but it’s not uncomfortable to wear. The visor can also be difficult to raise with gloves due to the small release peg.
Bottom Line
The Icon Airmada Wildchild is a lot of fun to wear. It fits comfortably, has good airflow, and the artwork is eye-catching. However, we got so fed up with the visor lock that we removed it. But overall, it’s a great helmet for any type of rider.
What is Icon Motorsports?
Icon Motorsports has made a large impression on the protective gear industry in a very short period. Established in 2002 in Portland, Oregon, Icon Motorsports designs and develops helmets, vests, shoes, jackets, gloves, and pretty much anything else you’d want or need when speeding down the road.
What Makes a Great Icon Helmet?
Icon doesn't just have products that are beautiful on websites and in catalogs – their helmets are absolutely stunning in person, both inside and out.
Experience
Icon helmets are designed and built in-house by experienced riders. They have firsthand knowledge of what works and what doesn’t.
Quality
Icon’s products are well-constructed, durable, and reliable. They meet or exceed all appropriate safety ratings and look fantastic, separating themselves from the competition.
Comfort
Photo credit: Behance.net
Motorcycle helmets tend to get hot, sticky, and are generally uncomfortable, especially when you must sacrifice comfortability for safety. Icon helmets haven’t eliminated these issues, but they’re more comfortable than many other brands.
Material
Icon's Hydradry and foam liners are crafted with a soft and breathable material, creating an effective mix of comfort and safety that few other brands can match.
Icon Helmet Size Chart
The helmet size chart below will help you with your Icon helmet purchase. Measurements must be as accurate as possible to avoid an uncomfortable fit and ensure optimal safety.
Photo credit: SportBikeTrackGear.com
Types of Motorcycle Helmets by Icon
Icon makes both full-faced and dual-sport motorcycle helmets geared toward the street- and sport-performance riders. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from each type.
Dual Sport
Photo credit: Chapmoto.com
Full Face
- The full-faced variety is Icon's most abundant style. It’s made specifically for street and sports motorcyclists. They’re typically safer as they protect the head, neck, jaw, and chin. That’s especially important as the chin and jaw account for about half of the more serious motorcycle head injuries.
- Full-face helmets also feature ventilation to help reduce visor fogging, disperse sweat, and keep the body cool. Additionally, they come equipped with Bluetooth speakers and unique visors.
How Do Icon Helmets Compare?
Here are a few breakdowns so you can see how Icon stacks up next to some of the other top brands.
Icon vs Scorpion Helmets
Similarities
- Both companies’ designs and functionality cater to the street/sports market.
- The price tags are both moderate.
- Icon and Scorpion are both seen as having some of the best helmets available.
Photo credit: Adventuremotorcycle.com
Differences
- Icon mainly makes full-faced helmets, while Scorpion produces modular, three-quarter, and half-helmet types in addition to full-face models.
- Scorpion uses the intermediate oval fit for pretty much all its helmets. Icon likes to incorporate round, intermediate, narrow, and long oval shapes.
- Scorpion also offers half-helmet, scooter, modular, adventure touring, and retro-style models. Icon doesn’t.
- Icon's full-face helmets outperform Scorpion’s in functionality, comfort, and style.
- Icon helmets use carbon fiber for some of their helmets while Scorpion doesn’t.
- Scorpion offers 11 different helmets while Icon only has five.
Icon vs Shoei Helmets
Similarities
- Icon and Shoei both offer full-face intermediate oval-style helmets.
- Both are Department of Transportation approved.
- Both have excellent safety records and loyal customer bases.
- Shoei and Icon share a focus on street-/sport-style helmets.
- Both share many of the same basic features and use similar types of materials for the outer shell.
Photo credit: Hiconsumption.com
Differences
- Shoei helmets are more expensive.
- Shoei has been in the protective gear industry for much longer than Icon.
- Icon’s helmets are considerably more artistic and stylish.
- Icon helmets tend to be a bit heavier and noisier.
- Icon helmets typically fit better.
- Shoei helmets have superior aerodynamics thanks to their sleeker, narrow design.
- Shoei offers more helmet styles.
- Shoei mainly focuses on intermediate oval-shaped helmets while Icon offers more sizing options.
Bell vs Icon Helmets
Similarities
- Bell and Icon helmets both have similar price tags and above-average safety certifications.
- Both brands make quality, well-reviewed products.
- Both companies refine their helmet technology by experimenting with bold new ideas.
- These two brands have similarly colorful artistic helmet designs, though Bell’s style is usually more retro.
Differences
- Bell has been in the motorcycle helmet business for much longer than Icon.
- Bell has significantly more types of helmets available for purchase.
- Icon and Bell have different interior pad thicknesses sizes and outer shell shapes.
- Bell offers plusher and tighter cheek pads, while Icon’s are thinner and have a silkier feel.
- Icon’s helmets are more stylish and attractive.
- Icon has more unique color and print choices.
- Icon focuses more on sport and street motorcycle helmets while Bell mainly offers dirt and cruiser models.
Photo credit: JPCycles.com
Each of the aforementioned brands is considered to be among the best in the business. Though they differ in many ways, none of them are drastically inferior. The important thing is finding a helmet that fits you.
Who Shouldn’t Choose an Icon Helmet?
Icon helmets are mainly tailored toward street and sport motorcycle riders. They’re not suitable for those who prefer an off-road model.
Icon considers how a person will sit on their bike when designing their helmets to properly place the visor and chin guard, among other characteristics. Choose a helmet that’s tailored for you, whether you sit upright or crouch forward. Otherwise, your helmet might not have the appropriate visor, chin guard, or ventilation to function optimally.
Conclusion
The most important thing to look for in a motorcycle helmet is fit. Icon helmets can comfortably fit about 80% of people's head sizes. Make sure to find one that comfortably fits you.
People Also Ask
Here are our answers to the most asked questions regarding Icon.
Where Are Icon Helmets Manufactured?
Icon’s helmets are manufactured in South Korea.
Who Makes Icon Products?
The Hong Jin Crown Corporation, better known as HJC, makes Icon-branded products.
Who Owns Icon Motorsports?
The U.S.-based LeMans Corporation owns Icon Motorsports.
How Long Has Icon Been Around?
The Icon brand has been around since 2002.
Are Icon Motorcycle Helmets Good?
Icon helmets are widely considered some of the best motorcycle helmets available.
Photo credit: RideIcon.com
What Kind Of Warranty Does Icon Offer?
All Icon products have a one-year warranty from the date of purchase against any material and workmanship defects.
Are Icon Helmets Legal In Australia?
Icon helmets don’t have an Australian-standard safety compliance certification. Therefore, using an Icon helmet warrants the same $550 fine you’d receive for wearing no helmet.
Are Icon Helmets Safe?
Yes. Less than 10% of crashes involving an Icon helmet user resulted in serious injury via impact to the head.
Are Icon Helmets Snell Approved?
Dominion 2 is the only Snell-approved Icon helmet.
