Helmet

A table with ten different types of helmets
Ten different types of helmets with varying designs, materials and coverage. From left to right, in the top row: a Giro Radix Cycling Helmet, a Giro G10 Ski Helmet, a US Army UCP PASGT Helmet, an HJC CL Motorcycle helmet, and an HJC AC-3 Motorcycle helmet. In the bottom row: An Urge Down-O-Matic Full Face mountain bike helmet, a Cascade CPV-R Lacrosse helmet, an Equestrian riding helmet, a Blauer Spear High Gear Helmet for martial arts, and a vintage firefighter's helmet.

A helmet is a form of protective gear worn to protect the head. More specifically, a helmet complements the skull in protecting the human brain. Ceremonial or symbolic helmets (e.g., a policeman's helmet in the United Kingdom) without protective function are sometimes worn. Soldiers wear combat helmets, often made from Kevlar or other lightweight synthetic fibers.

The word helmet is derived from helm, an Old English word for a protective head covering.

Helmets are used for numerous sports (e.g., jockeys, American football, ice hockey, cricket, baseball, skiing, hurling and rock climbing); dangerous work activities such as construction, mining, riot police, military aviation, and in transportation (e.g. motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets). Since the 1990s, most helmets are made from resin or plastic, which may be reinforced with fibers such as aramids.

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