Beyond The Helmet: Building A Complete Riding Kit

The liner deserves the same care. A removable, washable liner keeps the inside fresh, and following the maker's washing instructions protects both the padding and the stitching around it.

Daily wear also plays a part. Sweat, sunscreen and regular use all shorten a helmet's working life, so riders who use a helmet every day should expect to replace it sooner than someone who rides occasionally.

This is slower than fully automated manufacturing, and that is the point. A handcrafted shell trades speed for a level of finish and individual attention that a purely machine made helmet does not offer.

Once the shell is formed and cured, it moves through finishing: sanding, painting or leather trimming, and fitting the internal padding and retention system. Every stage is checked before the next begins, HedonHelmets since a fault caught early is far cheaper to fix than one found at the end.

A jacket built for riding, rather than a fashion jacket that merely looks the part, adds abrasion resistance across the shoulders and elbows, and many include pockets for armour inserts. Boots that cover the ankle protect a joint that takes real force in an off, and trousers or riding jeans extend that same protection down the leg.

A helmet is the most visible piece of riding gear, but it works as part of a wider kit rather than on its own. Gloves protect hands in a low speed drop, which is one of the most common types of fall, and a good pair balances grip and feel with real abrasion resistance.