Best Cricket Helmets: Cricketers Guide [2024]

We’ve produced a cricket helmets guide because choosing the best cricket helmet takes time and effort.

Here at Cricket Yorkshire, we thought we’d do the research to give you trusted advice as well as links to buy.

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Why wear a cricket helmet?

Allow me to very quickly explain what a cricket helmet does, what it’s made of and the chief parts.

A cricket helmet is a piece of protective equipment you wear on your head. Sounds obvious but I thought I’d get that out of the way early. It is worn by cricketers of all ages to play safely, in case you are hit by a cricket ball.

Typically, a batter will wear a cricket helmet, a wicketkeeper also often wears one and if there is a fielder close to the batter (like short leg or silly point) then they will have one on too.

Cricket helmets are a requirement in junior cricket in England & Wales for all cricketers under the age of 18. The advice from the ECB is to use a cricket helmet (or ‘head protector’ as they term it) that has been tested against junior cricket balls – which are smaller than adults.

Being hit with a cricket ball in the face or head can cause serious and permanent damage. Spending a few minutes to read this guide and choose wisely will be absolutely worth it.

It consists of the main helmet and the grill (typically made of steel or lighter titanium) which is the front face protection.

🏏 Shop Cricket Helmets at Serious Cricket

What is the best cricket helmet?

The best cricket helmet is one that fits well, from a reputable cricket brand and is a safe choice that you are comfortable using when you bat.

Making that choice, with price a factor too, combines a few decisions that we’ll talk about in our cricket helmet guide.

How to choose a cricket helmet?

When you’re buying a cricket helmet, you should think about:

* Size
* Weight
* Safety
* Price

Let’s dive into each of these to explain why they matter and how to buy what’s right for you.

1. SIZE

What size cricket helmet should I get? A cricket helmet has to fit correctly to do its job. If it’s too big, it might impair your vision or slip off entirely. If it’s too small, it may hurt your head and you’ll be focussing on that – and not the next cricket ball coming at you!

We all have funny-shaped heads. No offence, but we do. No two batters will be the same. Our heads are like our fingerprints, unique to us.

That said, the key to buying a cricket helmet that’s comfortable – and the right size – is to know your head measurement.

Take a tape measure – I know, old-school – and measure the ‘circumference’ from your forehead (above your eyebrows), above your ears and round to the centre at the back.

You can do it in the mirror. No tape measure? Use a piece of string and then measure that after.

How should a cricket helmet fit?

A cricket helmet should fit snugly to your head. Not move around when you run and not be too tight that it’s distracting or uncomfortable.

The chin strap should be secure against your chin, not hanging loose underneath.

This video by our retail partner Serious Cricket gives advice.

Here are the size guides for a selection of brands, if you’re looking for others then Google will surely help out.

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What size cricket helmet should I get?

Masuri Cricket Helmet Size Guide
Brand                       Helmet Size                   Head Circumference
Masuri                      Junior Small                  51 - 54 cm 
Masuri                      Junior Large                  54 - 57 cm 
Masuri                      Small Mens                    55 - 58 cm
Masuri                      Mens                          58 - 61 cm
Masuri                      Large Mens                    61 - 64 cm

Shrey Cricket Helmet Size Guide
Brand                         Helmet Size                Head Circumference
Shrey                         Youths                     52 - 54 cm
Shrey                         Small Mens                 54 - 57 cm
Shrey                         Standard                   58 - 61 cm
Shrey                         Extra Large                60 - 63 cm

GM Cricket Helmet Size Guide
Brand                            Helmet Size               Head Circumference
Gunn & Moore - Neon Geo          Small                       53 - 56 cm
Gunn & Moore - Neon Geo          Medium                      56 - 59 cm
Gunn & Moore - Neon Geo          Large                       59 - 62 cm
Gunn & Moore - Purist Geo        Junior Small                52 - 55 cm 

Gunn & Moore - Purist Geo         Junior                     54 - 59 cm 
Gunn & Moore - Purist Geo         Senior                     54 - 59 cm
Gunn & Moore - Purist Geo         Senior Large               58 - 62 cm

For women’s and girls’ cricket, there’s no separate sizing so the same process applies to head measurements to gauge the correct size.

Junior cricket helmets

Cricket helmets for kids are not that different from adults in so much that they need to fit well and usually major brands have plenty of junior sizes to cover all of the bases.

One of the things you’re likely to see in junior cricket is a batter playing with a helmet that is too big for them.

2. WEIGHT

Whether you’re batting in a cricket helmet or have one for wicket-keeping, the longer you wear one, the more you’ll appreciate a lighter lid.

So, weight matters.

What is the lightest cricket helmet?

Well, Shrey lay claim to that title although new designs are constantly evolving. (I don’t think anyone has compared the weights of all of the brands and models.)

The Shrey Masterclass Air Titanium weighs just 750g and was marketed as the lightest cricket helmet on the market to have passed British Safety Standards.

The Shrey Koroyd titanium cricket helmet weighs in even lighter at around 730g.

An alternative – in a similar price bracket – might be the Masuri E-Line Titanium cricket helmet.

The truth is that you won’t notice a few grams here or there. But, if you can afford one, more expensive helmets tend to be built with lighter materials.

3. SAFETY

This could easily have been the very first thing we talked about as safety is the reason you’re wearing a cricket helmet in the first place.

The safety credentials of a cricket helmet start with choosing a brand (and there are a few) that work in cricket and have a reputation for quality and safety.

Masuri, Shrey, Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls and Gunn & Moore are five brands to look out for.

You don’t need to dedicate weeks but read up on the tech behind these designs because a) it’s fascinating stuff b) you’ll know your head is in safe hands.

Let’s talk about vision next.

One of the major complaints about cricket helmets is that it can feel as if it’s more difficult to see the ball. The grille at the front only allows a limited amount of space to see through. On the plus side, a cricket ball won’t get through and re-arrange your face!

Wearing a cricket helmet is a bit of a generation thing too.

If you’re in your 20s, it’s second nature through junior cricket and isn’t a big deal. If you’re 40+ then you may not have worn a helmet at school so it becomes a choice as an adult.

It’s essential that you wear a cricket helmet while batting. It doesn’t matter if you’re facing a slower bowler or the pitch is low and doesn’t bounce. Accidents can and do happen all of the time.

It’s just not worth the risk.

There’s also an argument that goes like this: Those who wear cricket helmets bat without fear because they know they’re safe and this can get them into trouble.

I’ve never subscribed to that logic.

I’d rather a cricket ball hit my helmet and not my head. It really is that simple.

Ok, let’s wrap up this section by talking about protecting your neck and the back of the head.

Sometimes when we bat, we twist our head as an instinctive reaction, usually against fast bowling, and it can have tragic consequences.

Masuri designed the StemGuard – a clip-on accessory that combines military-grade crush foam with TPU (a flexible and strong material between plastic and rubber). It attaches to a Masuri VS or OS2 helmet with moulded clips.

It’s extra protection in the unlikely (but still possible) event that you are hit by a cricket ball in an area not covered by the traditional cricket lid.

Other brands have their version of the StemGuard so the Shrey Neck Guard 2.0 is available; an arc-shaped neck-guard moulded with hard outer and semi-soft inner foams.

With these accessories, the concern was a feeling of restricted movement of the head while batting – but these have been out for years and so that wouldn’t seem to be the case.

🏏 Shop Cricket Helmets at Serious Cricket

How often should you replace your cricket helmet?

If your cricket helmet is struck by a cricket ball then inspect it for damage. You don’t need to replace your cricket helmet every time; that could get pretty expensive.

But, if there are signs of significant damage like a bent grille or a crack in the surface then you’ll need to buy a new one.

Don’t forget the primary job of a cricket helmet is to protect you. If it’s damaged then it can’t do that as well as it should.

4. PRICE

Cheap cricket helmets are a false economy.

Seriously? You want to roll the dice on something that might save your life one day?

Pay extra and buy peace of mind.

In the UK, a cricket helmet price range is £50-£225 with junior helmets in the lower bracket.

(🏏 Explore Cricket Helmets at Serious Cricket)

Lighter cricket helmets usually cost more and are made with aluminium grille and less dense materials. There may have more premium features like more sweat absorption towelling or an air cooling system.

As with buying anything online, there are always discounts to be had. You just need to know where to look.

So, my advice? Buy a cricket helmet that fits well and is from a trusted retailer. It will last for years.

Image credit: Photo by John Oswald

Best Cricket Helmets

As I mentioned earlier, the best cricket helmet is one you like, you wear all of the time and it’s doing its primary job of keeping you safe.

How much you pay is up to you but here are a couple of suggestions below. Major brands all have extensive ranges so choice and price point shouldn’t be a problem.

🏏 Shop Cricket Helmets at Serious Cricket

Masuri E Line Titanium Cricket Helmet

This is a popular offering from Masuri, a leading brand in cricket helmets.

It’s lightweight with their Eye-Line Grille made from titanium. The grille is essentially a second bar that reduces the gap a ball can get through without compromising vision.

Safety is their watchword so the single shell is made from materials used in spacecraft and armour plating. Durability and protection.

An air-flow cooling system completes this design for those who want the ultimate peace of mind.

Masuri has T-Line (titanium & steel), C-Line Plus & C-Line models at various price points too.

For the 2024 season and beyond, Masuri unveiled the TrueFit 3D with its pre-shaped 3D printed lattice pads to offer “unrivalled comfort and helmet stability for every player – off the shelf.” (Their words, not mine 😁).

The revolutionary new TrueFit 3D and TrueFit 3D-PRO are Masuri’s most advanced helmets to date.

Gray-Nicolls Ultimate Cricket Helmet

The Gray-Nicolls Ultimate Cricket Helmet works with the detachable ‘Test Neckguard’ for 360º protection. It has a reinforced contoured peak which deflects ball strikes whilst maximising the wearer’s field of vision.

Other features include a robust ABS outer shell, with EPS inner and soft fill foam liner for protection and comfort, a ventilation system and a contoured, factory-fitted steel grille.

Just watch out for very similar-sounding models. Gray-Nicolls have an Ultimate, Ultimate 360, Ultimate Pro and an Ultimate 360 Pro. What could possibly go wrong?!

It’s the nature of a global company with lots of choice but I might have been tempted to call them something very distinctive like NOGGIN, BONCE, MELON and CRANIUM.

The defining feature of the 360 range is its 360-degree protection without the need for a separate attachable device at the back as Shrey and Masuri have. The Gray-Nics faceguard continues right around to the back.

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Buy cricket helmets

To shop for a new cricket helmet then have a click around Cricket Helmets at Serious Cricket which include Masuri, Kookaburra Cricket, Gunn & Moore and Gray-Nicolls.

I hope this guide has been useful and we’ll keep it updated throughout the year.