The Rundown: Helmets for Water Sports
Why you need a helmet for water sports, and how to choose the right one.
There was a time when wearing helmets on the water was unheard of and considered kooky. The fact is that water is perceived as having a softer landing when you wipeout compared to land-based sports. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily the case. Most water sports are action sports, and there’s always a level of risk-taking that calls for protective gear. It all comes down to how fast you’re riding, how high you’re jumping, and the speed and position of your body at which you hit the water. Ultimately, hitting the water can cause just as much damage as hitting concrete, which is why we advocate wearing helmets for pros and beginners alike – particularly for sports like wakeboarding, kitesurfing, and foiling.
In over your head when it comes to choosing a helmet? No worries there, in this blog post we’ll outline why you need a helmet for watersports, the different Mystic helmets that exist, and the factors to consider when choosing the right helmet for your sport and level of experience. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the game, understanding the importance of helmets in water sports can help you stay safe and perform at your best.
Helmets for safety and performance
Helmets have one goal: to protect your head and prevent serious injuries. They do this by absorbing impact energy and preventing objects from penetrating the shell. Despite being made of a couple of different key materials, our range of helmets all have that goal in common, along with the fact that they are CE-approved. This means that the helmets have been assessed by the manufacturer and deemed to meet EU safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. Our Vandal and Vandal Pro helmets are also UKCA-approved, which applies the same requirements but complies with UK legislation.
Wearing a helmet in water sports provides a range of benefits that come with feeling protected. Helmets can improve comfort, confidence, and performance, allowing riders to focus on their sport without worrying about potential risks. Overall, wearing a helmet in water sports is essential for safety, enjoyment, as well as performance. We hope you’ve already been wearing a helmet (seriously), but if for some reason you aren’t, then it could be exactly what you need to take your riding to the next level.
We’ve spent a lot of time in our product rooms finetuning helmet designs to raise the bar on safety. Mystic’s helmets differ in weight, comfort, shape, and closure systems, with different features to make them more comfortable for the rider and adhere to different budgets. Typically, these helmets are used in kitesurfing, wakeboarding, surfing, and winging, but it certainly isn’t limited to just these sports. In the next section, we’ll go over the main differences and features of Mystic helmets.
Choosing a Helmet
Our helmets are suited to riders of all levels and budgets. Our high-end helmets are equipped with advanced features such as dial adjusters, mesh comfort lining, Fidlock closures, and detachable parts, providing maximum protection and comfort for the most demanding sessions. However, we also offer more affordable options for those on a budget, with simpler designs and fewer features, while still providing key features like ear covers, ventilation systems, and quick-release buckles. Below we highlight some of the key features in our helmets, from our high-end options to the essentials.
Vandal Pro
Our top-of-the-line helmet. The Vandal Pro is the most ideal choice for the water, handling high impact with its ABS Shell, but staying super lightweight and comfortable due to EPP impact foam, which doesn’t absorb any water. Featuring an ergonomic design, it’s also got some epic features like the mesh comfort lining, adjustable 360 dial, and a magnetic Fidlock closure.
Vandal
As the Vandal Pro’s younger sibling, the Vandal helmet is lined with EVA foam instead of EPP making it slightly more bulky. Don’t get us wrong though, it’s still super lightweight and comfortable, fit with an adjustable 180 dial and quick-release chin closure.
MK8X
An essential all-around helmet. The MK8X is equipped with a lightweight outer shell with a ventilation system and detachable fit mesh pads. These pads allow you to shape the helmet to fit your head perfectly.
Impact Caps
Note that we also design impact caps, which are suitable for low impact. Because they’re built with foam panels and neoprene, they offer more flexibility than a hardshell helmet. This may be more suitable for sports that don’t require as much jumping and flying, like surfing.
Ready to get your hands on a new helmet? Check out our range of helmets here.
For further protection you can also check out our rundown on floatation vs impact vests.
EXPLORE OUR HELMETS
FAQ
The Legacy Helmet is made for riders who want a slimmer, closer helmet fit with extra side coverage. It fits more like a neoprene hood, but protects like a helmet, with extended temple and jaw coverage, airflow channels, water-drainage channels and sound-optimizing ear protection. The Vandal Pro Helmet and Vandal Helmet have a more classic watersports helmet shape with dial adjustment systems and optional detachable ear covers. Choose Legacy if you want the closest fit and more temple, jaw and ear coverage. Choose Vandal Pro or Vandal if you prefer a more traditional adjustable helmet feel.
No. The Impact Cap is not the same as a full hardshell helmet. It is a lighter cap-style protection option with a slim fit, brim, adjustable chin strap, Velcro fit adjustment and perforated ear pieces. It can be useful when riders want a more minimal feel, but for wakeboarding, cable parks, foiling, kitesurfing progression or higher-impact sessions, choose a full helmet such as the Vandal Pro Helmet, Vandal Helmet or Legacy Helmet.
It depends on the model. The Legacy Helmet includes sound-optimizing ear protection designed to shield against cold and wind chill while still letting sound pass through. The Impact Cap also has perforated ear pieces for wind and water protection while keeping hearing clear. The Vandal Pro Helmet and Vandal Helmet are compatible with detachable ear covers, but these are not included as standard. Add the Earpads for Vandal / Vandal Pro helmets if you want extra ear coverage for colder, windier or higher-impact sessions.
Choose the Legacy Helmet if cold wind, ear comfort and side coverage are important. It has integrated sound-optimizing ear protection, extra temple and jaw coverage, and a close fit that helps reduce wind and water discomfort. The Vandal Pro Helmet and Vandal Helmet are also strong choices for cold or windy sessions when paired with the Earpads for Vandal / Vandal Pro helmets. Choose the Impact Cap only if you want a lighter cap-style option with perforated ear protection, not a full helmet.
A Mystic watersports helmet should feel snug, stable and secure without creating painful pressure points. It should sit level on your head and should not move around when you shake your head. The chin closure should feel firm, but not restrictive. Use the product size chart to choose the right size, then adjust the dial system, Velcro fit system or fit pads depending on the helmet model. A good fit should feel locked in while still allowing comfort and clear vision throughout the session.
Choose your Mystic helmet based on how much protection, adjustability, coverage and comfort you want. Choose the Vandal Pro Helmet if you want our lightest and most adjustable helmet, with a 360 dial system, EPP impact foam, mesh comfort lining and Fidlock quick-release closure. Choose the Vandal Helmet if you want reliable watersports protection with a 180 dial system, EVA foam, detachable fit pads and a more accessible setup. Choose the Legacy Helmet if you want a slim, close-fitting helmet with extra temple and jaw coverage. Choose the Impact Cap only if you want a lighter cap-style option instead of a full hardshell helmet.
