A note to anyone who has previously tried or owned a Gringo: there was a major running change made in 2019 to get these helmets to pass the European ECE certification, which they now exceed, along with the baseline DOT certification required in the US.

The new helmets look the same as the original Gringo helmets (circa 2013) but the fit, finish and features all have gotten an upgrade.

What’s that mean? In short, it’s safer, with added EPS foam (the stuff that squishes and absorbs the forces of an impact, so that your head doesn’t) now found throughout the chin bar and cheek areas of the helmet. This redesigned EPS layout improves the helmets lower-speed impact performance and earns the ECE certification that makes these legal for our friends across the pond.

The pads have been upgraded from the original as well, now featuring more terry moisture-wicking material. 

The standard model shown here comes 5 snaps positioned around the eyeport for fastening on a tinted shield, a moto visor, or a medieval blast shield. (Shop accessories here).

For an extra $45 we highly recommend upgrading to the "Gringo S" model which comes with an integrated hinged clear shield the locks securely into position with a snap. For summertime city riding the entire shield can be easily removed, just make sure to wear proper eye protection lest you get pinched by the fuzz, or worse: take a bug or a rock to the eye. 

The Gringo line is a great around town option, but it's still a retro design with some retro functionality to be aware of. It's got no vents. No gasket at the shield to keep out wind and rain. No chin curtain to keep wind noise down. But it does now feature recesses in the EPS liner to house bluetooth speakers...so there's that.

Is it as safe as a Japanese full-face helmet, or a modern Bell full-face? Not a chance. It uses a polycarbonate shell and only comes in two shell sizes that cover XS-2XL.

But it is 100% better than an open face helmet in the safety department, and as long as you know what you're getting and are comfortable with the feature/function tradeoffs, the Gringo line is a fun alternative as a knock-around helmet that won't break the bank.

Features:

• Injection-molded ABS outer shell is rugged yet lightweight—the best combination of features for a motorcycle helmet
• 3-piece Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) liner
• Molded urethane chin bar pad to help dissipate energy from frontal impacts
• Removable/replaceable comfort liner and cheek pads
• Chin strap features brushed fleece Lycra touch points for comfort
• CE-certified polycarbonate shield
• Metal shield hinge hardware with detents for venting at slower speeds
• Molded recesses inside EPS designed to accept Bluetooth speakers