Can y'all recommend a good child's helmet?

[sidepasser]

My grandson is 7 going on 8 and is starting lessons. I want to order him a helmet and jodphur boots and have just gotten his measurements: head is 20 inches and the shoe size is a size 3.

Can you recommend a good helmet for a boy that is known to fit fairly well (I have to order and he's excited beyond belief! so don't want to have to return it if I can help it!). Boots I can do.

Thanks - as I told him today - no lessons without helmet and boots!! So he has already called and asked me "Mawmaw have you ordered my helmet yet?" lol..just got the measurements an hour ago...

Thanks
Sidepasser and a very excited grandson who will be taking dressage lessons!

[Noctis]

International AirLite is what my 22mo old uses. They come in S/M/L and she fits in a small, it has the dial fit back, and I can fit it in at its largest size. Comes in some colors too. And its CHEAP! Saxon paddock boots are also pretty nice, Sadie has a pair and they look good, they're pleather, but waterproof and well designed!

[JenEM]

A lot of the beginners/young riders at the old lesson barn I rode at had the International Dial-Fit (now Air Lite) helmets. Good for growing heads, and the kids seemed to find them comfortable. And they come in colors :)

[sidepasser]

Thanks - I will look into those!

[myvanya]

Some of the kids at my barn use the Aegis helmets which cost a little less than the internationals on average and have dial fit as well. They seem to be very good quality. I don't wear one myself but from what I have seen they are good helmets.

[Ambrey]

My daughter is pretty happy with her new Troxel Legacy. Don't get the sport- without the dial-fit, the fit is really iffy and the pads they use to fit it squish down within a year.

[sublimequine]

Aegis and International seem to be the most popular brands among kids. Aegis tend to run a bit smaller than International IMO, so if he has a really teensie head Aegis should work well.

[sidepasser]

Thanks, I will definitely purchase one with dial fit. I haven't had a little child taking lessons in 20 years and helmets sure have changed over time. Good to know what works and what to stay away from. Now off to order a helmet!

[avicia]

If it's possible to walk them in somewhere to try them on...I've bought for a couple of kids now and each one ended up in a different helmet. Probably I've ended up most with Internationals and Troxels. One of them actually gets a better fit in non dial fit helmets, don't ask me why! I think her head is very oval and lot of kids are more round? Or someone told me that kid that are oval are often still a little roundish at the forehead until they get older.

A store near us has a guy who is good at eyeballing the head and making suggestions...and not for the most expensive show helmet, either.