Our Top Lightweight Touring Helmets

It’s said that the best helmet is the one you wear the most, and splitting hairs about features usually doesn’t matter a whit; if you’re wearing it and it’s comfortable, then job done. But helmets come in all shapes and sizes, and let’s face it, some are designed specifically to be better at one thing. In the case of touring helmets, that means tailoring the formula of weight, balance, and comfort to longer-distance journeys, with the rider sitting mainly in an upright position. Think of bikes like the BMW K 1600 GTL, Honda Gold Wing, or Harley-Davidson Street Glide and you get the idea. With that in mind, a thoughtfully designed touring helmet will optimize comfort, balance, and ventilation to tackle a wide range of touring scenarios. We picked helmets sporting premium features and finish, with robust feature sets and plenty of creature comforts, all of which weigh in at less than 4 pounds.

Spartan and light as a feather, the SportModular is based on AGV's top-line Pista GP R race helmet, so its shell is streamlined too. The 3-pound, 4-ounce weight is courtesy of its 100 percent carbon-fiber shell, and it sports metal locking hardware for the chin bar, a drop-down sun shield, adjustable venting, a reversible crown pad (with different fabric on either side for warm or cool climates), as well as quick and toolless shield removal. Safety? The SportModular is DOT and ECE rated, and a Pinlock insert comes inside the box.

With a refresh several years ago, the Arai Signet-X ticks all the boxes for long-oval headed touring riders, offering light yet rigid shell construction, new ventilation ducts for better airflow, and a new removable and water-repellent chin cover to smooth airflow and reduce wind noise from below. An antimicrobial liner keeps things fresh, while the VAS-MV shield will accept the new Pinlock-120 lens (included in the box). It’s also one of the few helmets here that’s DOT and Snell certified.

The GT's on this list because it's lighter, quieter, and less expensive than the touring-biased Neotec, coming in at around 3 pounds, 9 ounces. Redesigned this year, the new GT-Air II brings a longer internal sun shield for better glare protection; enhanced aerodynamics for less drag and noise thanks to a new streamlined shell shape with a molded spoiler; and improved, maximized airflow. The new shield is also wider and taller than the one it replaces and offers 99.9 percent protection from harmful UV rays. A Pinlock Anti Fog lens is included, and the GT-Air II can now seamlessly integrate with the all-new Sena SRL2 Communication System.

Klim’s all-carbon intermediate-oval TK1200 is lighter than most full-face lids, weighing in at just 3.2 pounds, mainly because it omits the integrated sun visor most touring lids have and uses a Transitions shield instead. This modular lid’s design allows the chinbar to rotate past vertical, to reduce force upon the head and neck in the event of an accident. The optically superior shield reacts to outside light, darkening as needed for a similar level of sun protection. A micrometric buckle securement allows for quick engagement and fast release, and there’s even a Pinlock lens included in the box. The Klim TK1200 is also DOT and ECE rated.