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Melon. Noggin. Grape. Whatever you call head, it’s precious cargo. Should you decide to hit the streets and highways on two wheels, you’ll need a sufficient helmet. It’s a big decision. So, with motorcycle helmets and safety standards like DOT and Snell, what’s the difference between the classifications? Should you even care?

Snell motorcycle helmets meet and exceed the DOT standard set forth by the NHTSA

The Snell standard, set forth by the Snell Memorial Foundation in California is a voluntary and admittedly sought-after mark for motorcycle helmet manufacturers. Following the death of racing driver Pete Snell from head injuries, Snell’s Memorial Foundation devoted itself to developing and enhancing helmet safety standards. As such, Snell testing covers everything from drop tests to chin bar evaluations and penetration resistance. 

The DOT standard involves two styles of impact testing. The first is a drop test onto a flat anvil at 11.6 mph from a height of around four and a half feet, per Revzilla. Next, testers drop a helmet from six feet onto a hemispherical anvil at a faster rate than the first drop. 

A rider puts on their DOT full-face motorcycle helmet.
A rider dons a full-face helmet | Media Lens King via iStock

However, they’re not looking for damage. No, testers evaluate how much energy transfers from the helmet to a would-be head. Specifically, no DOT prospect will pass the evaluation if the helmet transfers more than 400 g of energy. Conversely, Snell helmets have to prove a much lower energy transfer to earn the coveted rating. That’s right, Snell requires just 275 g of energy transfer. 

Frankly, a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet can get the job done. If you see the little DOT sticker on your helmet, it meets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218. As a result, the federal government has confidence in your motorcycle helmet to protect you in a crash.

However, verifying that your helmet is DOT-approved is your task. Some novelty or budget helmets will use counterfeit DOT labels to mislead potential buyers. Of course, there are a few things you can do to better protect yourself. For starters, you can stick to popular brands like Arai, AGV, Shoei, or Bell. Furthermore, you can use trusted sales sites or brick-and-mortar establishments.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).