It's good to see someone serious about safety. Any helmet with a Snell or DOT rating should be adequate. I prefer a full face helmet, simply because I can wear the same helmet whether I'm riding my Rhino, race quad, or dirt bike. A good compromise helmet would be the "football style" helmet you describe. I know several recreational ATV riders that use that style and claim they are more comfortable than the full face style.

I haven't crashed in decades, but I had to replace my last helmet earlier this year when I high-sided my son's YZ 125 on a simple "jetting run" to test the carb settings we were working on. You never know when you are going to get bit, so I always wear a helmet. I hit the ground hard enough to break six ribs and get knocked unconscious for a few seconds. The helmet looked like someone had taken a cheese grater to it, but it saved me even worse injury. I'm glad I had it on, even though it was just a "jetting run".

My current helmet is a Z1R, and it is more comfortable than other brands I have used.

You are going to enjoy that new Ranger. RUVs are a lot of fun.

 

Thank you a bunch! I'll do a google for Z1R.....Hopefully, my RUV/ATV/Snowmobile/dealer has them.

I'll need two, 1 for him, and 1 for whomever is the passenger....long as they don't have too big a head! Haha

I know what you mean about unforseen incidents.....

An experianced guy like you,and just a routine run;it's when we let our guard down, the dangerous stuff happens.

 

I'm waiting for a Ranger:60" wide.I'm in Michigan,and there are trails that I won't be able to use if my machine's over 50" wide.

But:There are many trails open to larger vehicles,so once I get the ORV rulebook,I'll report back.

There's quite a few sand and trail buggies in this state,I'm hoping I'm not too restricted.