There's a difference between a dual-sport helmet built for the dirt and an adventure touring helmet built for the long, mostly-paved rides most ADV owners actually do. This roundup is about the second kind: peaked, goggle-capable lids that behave on the highway, ranked — as everywhere on this site — by the certification on the shell first, then by the things that make a long day bearable: weight, quiet, and whether the peak sheds wind or fights you.
We haven't crash-tested these helmets. Certifications come from the standards bodies, specs from the manufacturers, and ride impressions are aggregated from owners. And because this is adventure, the US-versus-Europe certification trap is everywhere — several of these helmets' US versions are a different homologation than their European namesakes, and we tell you plainly which is which.
What makes a good adventure touring helmet
Four things. Certificationfirst — know whether the US box in front of you carries ECE 22.06, Snell, or both, because it frequently isn't the standard the European review you read was about. Then weight, which matters more on a long day than riders expect — every 200 g you save is neck fatigue you don't feel at hour six. Then the peak: a good one shades your eyes and sheds wind, a bad one acts like a sail and tugs your head at highway speed. And finally quiet and refinement, because a touring helmet you wear all day should be one you can stand to wear all day. Read the certification explainer before you shop so the marks below mean something.
Klim Krios Pro — the lightest way to hold ECE 22.06
Our top pick. The Krios Pro is a full-carbon convertible that carries genuine US DOT + ECE 22.06at around 1,450 g in size L — class-leading light for a helmet that goes from ADV to street to dirt. It's the rare lid that gives you the current rotational standard and the lowest weight andgenuine convertibility. The honest cons: it's flagship-priced, and it's quieter with the visor than in full peak-and-goggles ADV mode. But for a weight-conscious touring rider who wants 22.06, nothing here beats it — see the Krios Pro review.
AGV AX9 — the wide-view sporty flagship
The AX9 is the pick if you want a light carbon-blend lid with a huge field of view and the same genuine US DOT + ECE 22.06. At around 1,510 g it's nearly as light as the Krios Pro, and its racing-derived field of view is one of the widest in adventure. The honest cons: AGV's shell suits intermediate-oval heads and runs sporty and snug, so round-oval riders should try before buying, and like every peaked helmet it buffets at very high speed. For a fast, wide-view touring rider whose head fits AGV, it's a genuine flagship — full detail in the AX9 review.
Shoei Hornet X2 — the quiet, road-biased Snell pick
If your adventure is 80% pavement and quiet matters more than the ECE badge, the Hornet X2 is the most touring-friendly helmet here. It's a DOT + Snell M2025build with an aerodynamic peak and an excellent shield seal, and it behaves more like a Shoei touring helmet than a dirt lid. The honest cons: it's a US Snell build, not ECE 22.06, and at ~1,778 g it's not light, with a peak that generates more lift off-road than a dirt-focused lid. But for pavement-heavy touring where quiet leads, it's excellent — see the Hornet X2 review.
Scorpion EXO-AT960 — the value modular tourer
The AT960 is the value pick that still clears the bar that matters: genuine DOT + ECE 22.06, in a modular you can flip open, with a drop-down sun visor, for roughly a third of a carbon flagship's price. For a touring rider who wants the current certification, flip-up convenience and a sun visor without spending flagship money, it's the smart-money choice. The honest con is weight — polycarbonate and modular means ~1,860 g, the heaviest here, and the peak adds drag at speed. If long slab days wear you down, spend up for carbon; if value and features lead, this is your helmet — full detail in the AT960 review.
So which adventure touring helmet?
Want the lightest genuine ECE 22.06 lid and you'll pay for carbon? The Klim Krios Pro. Want the widest view and a sporty feel, and AGV fits your head? The AGV AX9. Want the quietest, most road-biased pick and a Snell build suits you? The Shoei Hornet X2. Want genuine 22.06, a sun visor and flip-up convenience without flagship money? The Scorpion EXO-AT960. And if the dirt is a bigger part of your plan than the highway, read our full adventure hub for the more off-road-leaning field. Get the fit right first with our head-measuring guide— it's what makes any certification real.
