Head protection for wingfoiling and windsurfing: The perfect helmet for water sports enthusiasts - 16 models tested
Manuel Vogel
· 08.07.2025
These days, almost everyone wears a helmet on the world's ski slopes. What used to be considered uncool is now completely normal - perhaps also because there is nothing more uncool than a trip to hospital because of an accident. You also see more and more surfers wearing helmets on the water, especially since the advent of foils, many wingers and windsurfers feel safer with them. The risk of injuring yourself on the foil is not just great when handling it on land, the material also moves differently in the event of a fall.
There is another reason why more and more windsurfers and wingfoilers are turning to helmets: With accurate wind forecasts and the proliferation of social media, water sports enthusiasts often focus on just a few spots. As a result, it can sometimes be like a sale on the water - the battle is fierce and the danger of overlooking a competitor is ever-present.
Balz Müller, the helmet pioneer
The fact that helmets are becoming increasingly popular is also due to the fact that more and more professionals are setting an example; helmets are mandatory in foil racing at the PWA. For Swiss wing and windsurfing pro Balz Müller, helmets are now part of the basic equipment: "When my two brothers and I were ten and practising windsurfing on the front loop, our dad had to pull us out of the water a few times in a daze because we hit the equipment. The message back then: helmet on or no surfing until you're 18! I found it humiliating at the time, but I've kept mine on ever since. My self-confidence has benefited and I can take more risks," explains Balz.
The right helmet size for windsurfing and wingfoiling
First things first: modern helmets no longer have anything to do with the fully barred metal buckets of old. There are now numerous models that not only offer good protection, but are also lightweight and hardly absorb any water. As always, the right size is crucial: as every helmet has a certain adjustment range, we recommend choosing the size so that it still sits firmly on your head when adjusted to a small size. Then you have the option of wearing the helmet over the bonnet of the Neo when it is adjusted to a larger size during the cold season.
Below you will find detailed descriptions of numerous helmet models on the market.
Test helmets: Click here for the results
