Fiberglass was the wonder material of its time. It was first developed in the 1930s and then it was its carbon fiber moment. It’s a cheap, lightweight, strong, and mouldable material that is very suited to making motorcycle crash helmets.

Of all the different types of helmets in use today, whether they’re made out of steel, polycarbonate, or other materials, there are some that are just plain cool. And for this list, we focused on the top-of-the-line helmets that are either fiberglass-only or use fiberglass for some of their construction. There are plenty of other really good choices available, and some of them use a lot of fancy composite materials.

Usually, these include other materials like carbon fiber and kevlar, in the mix. The manufacturer uses high-grade fiberglass to create the ‘straw hat’ (the layer that forms the shell of the helmet), and then they will layer in other materials, like carbon fiber and kevlar, to complete the helmet.

Carbon fiber weave is considered to be one of the strongest, most durable materials available today. It is one of the most popular options for high-end race cars and trucks. You can buy fiberglass mats that look like carbon fiber weaves. But, you also can purchase fiberglass mats that are specifically designed to be laid out in a choppy strand pattern. This gives them a much more complex strength pattern, one that is ideal for the choppy terrain of mountain bikes.

It’s not the only helmet you need to worry about – there are lots of other head protection items out there to suit your needs. Whether you’re riding or walking, there are plenty of helmets available to keep your head safe from injury.

And as you can see from our helmet materials table, fiberglass helmets are only a smidge heavier on average, and a tiny bit poorer SHARP safety performance, than composite helmets. 

Fiberglass, sometimes also known as glass-reinforced plastic or GRP, is the popular construction material for motorcycle crash helmets.

Glass fibers are woven into a strong and durable mat, which is then made from a polymer like epoxy or thermoplastic. It’s relatively cheap and easy to produce but requires a lot of machinery to make.

An impact-absorbing fiberglass composite is the most common material used for bicycle helmets, and they’re light, durable, and strong. 

Differences in Carbon Fiber & Fiberglass Helmets

The best choice of safety helmet for motorcycle riding depends on a few different factors, including the type of riding you’re doing and what type of riding experience you have. Carbon fiber and fiberglass helmets are two of the most popular types of motorcycle helmets.

There are different physical properties and different strengths and weaknesses in each kind of wood.

Construction

A helmet manufacturer makes fiberglass and carbon fiber helmets in a similar way. The only real difference is the chemical composition of the solution used to build the shell.

After several layers of yarn are woven together, the fabric is dipped into a hot bath that melts the binder holding each new layer to the previous layer, allowing them to slide together and creating a single unit

Tension is the key to the superior strength and durability of natural grass. By layering fibers at different angles, natural grass has increased strength and durability over artificial turf.

The process of making a fiberglass helmet starts with fiberglass strands being sprayed into a mold. The mold is then removed from the fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass shell is heated until it becomes soft enough to be shaped. Once the mold is removed, the fiberglass is then reinforced with resin before being cut into pieces. Finally, the pieces are painted and assembled to create the finished helmet.

Weight

Fiberglass is significantly lighter than carbon fiber. It’s commonly used in aircraft, sports cars, and military equipment for this reason. Lightweight helmets improve rider safety by reducing fatigue.

In designing helmets, engineers often have to make a trade-off between the different properties of the materials they are using.

Carbon fiber is a synthetic fiber made from carbon, which makes it lighter than other materials. It’s often used in applications where weight is important, like in airplanes and cars. It’s also used in sports equipment to make it lighter.

Helmets are one of the most important safety equipment for cyclists. A helmet should be made out of a material that is as light as possible but also provides good protection.

Resilience

When it comes to protecting your brain from an impact, fiberglass is the strongest option. However, because it’s brittle compared to carbon fiber, it tends to dissipate impact energy by shattering.

Most bike crashes aren’t a problem, and helmets usually protect the head well. But if a rider experiences two impacts in one crash, say a fall and a hit on the ground, the helmet could be compromised, letting the second impact harm the rider.

Carbon fiber helmets offer significant protection from an impact of this kind, and it’s why carbon fiber is used to make many different helmets. 

A helmet made from carbon fiber is very strong and has been shown to be safer than a fiberglass-based design in some situations because it reduces the dispersion of the impact energy.

In crashes, a rider wearing a full-face helmet will often sustain a hit from another rider, which means the rider could take a tumble off the bike and injure himself in the process. But when a rider is hit from behind, the rider may be better protected, as the helmet will shield the head and neck from the impact.

The reason why fiberglass is brittle is that it has a lower density than carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is denser and therefore has a higher impact energy absorption rate. This makes it better at absorbing impact energy and dissipating it into a less damaging form.

A carbon fiber helmet can withstand more impact than an aluminum helmet.

Price

While Carbon fiber can be more expensive than Fiberglass, it is worth every penny. It not only looks cooler, but it’s more protective as well.

If you’re planning to ride a bike to work or school, this is a smart helmet. It’s lightweight and comfortable, and it comes with a range of features that keep you and others safe on the road.

Fiberglass helmets are ideal for riders on slow or less aggressive bikes. They’re more suitable for riding in traffic and won’t fall off as easily as fiberglass and carbon fiber helmets.

Carbon fiber helmets have always been more expensive, and have not been as popular with the general public as fiberglass helmets. In recent years, the trend has been to produce carbon fiber helmets that are less expensive than their fiberglass counterparts. This is a good thing because it makes them more affordable for all riders.

Thermoplastic vs Fiberglass

Many people believe that thermoplastic material is the best choice for making fire helmets, but that is not true. Fiberglass is a better material because it is much lighter than thermoplastic and it can be used to make a much stronger helmet. Fiberglass is also more durable and it will last longer than thermoplastic.

Final Words 

Fiberglass is a versatile material. It was originally developed in the 1930s as a cheap, light weight, strong and mouldable material. It’s been used in lots of applications over the last 100+ years but has enjoyed a revival in motorcycle helmets.

The best-looking and safest motorcycle helmet in the world is definitely the Arai M1 Carbon Fiber helmet. It has a sleek design, it’s light, and it’s very comfortable. For a more affordable option, check out the Arai M1.

Fiberglass is mostly used to make parts for composite fiber helmets. They usually contain carbon fiber and Kevlar as well.

Fiberglass matting is available in several different densities, which means the density or the thickness of the finished mat. It’s also available in “ordered” and “chopped strand” styles. In fact, fiberglass is used in the chopped strand method for a variety of applications like automotive and aerospace flooring, industrial flooring, boat decks and marine applications.

Fiberglass can be an excellent material. It is light weight, strong, and highly tunable with great stability and multi-directional strength. Don’t let the fiberglass put you off, because you will find many other benefits of fiberglass helmets and a variety of styles and shapes to choose from.