A cooler head. The same helmet.
In short: helmet cooling comes in three types. A helmet fan moves air. An evaporative liner or cooling cap is one you wet. And a helmet can have built-in vents. Fans and wet liners both rely on evaporation, so they do less in humid air. The bigger question is the helmet itself: add-ons can affect its certification. Fit only what the helmet manufacturer provides or approves. Never drill or glue.
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Gløde does not sell helmet fans or other helmet cooling (yet). This article compares types on how they work and on what institutes and standards bodies state. It is not a test and we did not try the products. We name no brands, and we cannot approve an add-on for your helmet: check with the helmet manufacturer.
New to the subject? Start with our guide to cooling clothing →
The types compared
| Type | How it cools | Where it stops | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet fan, as an add-on | Moves air over your head or face, so sweat evaporates faster | Very humid air; air hotter than your skin | Is it provided or approved by the maker of your helmet? |
| Evaporative liner, pad or cooling cap | Wet fabric; the water evaporates and takes heat away | Humid air; little airflow under the shell | Does the helmet still fit securely? Does the maker allow anything under it? |
| Helmet with built-in vents | Lets air flow through the shell | Standing still; very hot air | Nothing: it is certified as sold |
First the helmet, then the cooling
A helmet is certified as it is sold. Change it, and you may change how it protects.
For work helmets the rule of the German accident insurers is clear. Proper use rules out any structural change, such as drilling or gluing. Only accessories that the helmet manufacturer provides or approves may be fitted. The same goes for paint, adhesives and stickers.
EN 397 is the European standard for industrial safety helmets. A new edition, EN 397:2025, has been published. Under it, accessories that may affect conformity must be mounted during testing and certified as compatible. So ask whether a fan was certified together with your helmet. If you cannot tell, check with the helmet manufacturer.
Hard hat cooling on site
Hard hat fan
A hard hat fan is a small battery fan on or in the helmet. It does not cool the air; it helps your sweat evaporate. Before you buy, ask whether the maker of your helmet provides or approves it, and whether it fits without drilling or glue.
Cooling liner, pad or cap
You wet it, wring it out and wear it under the helmet. The water evaporates and takes heat away. Under a shell there is little airflow, so the effect is milder than in open air. The German accident insurers' rule notes that some manufacturers state nothing should be worn under the helmet, and that a thick cap can prevent a secure fit. Check the helmet's instructions.
Neck shade
A wrap around your neck does not touch the helmet. A neck shade that attaches to the helmet is an accessory again. More small items are in our cooling caps and towels comparison.
A vented helmet
The simplest route is a helmet built with vents. It is certified as sold. Ask your safety officer whether a vented model suits your work.
A fan jacket airs your torso and neck; see our fan jacket comparison. For employers: cooling vests for work.
Motorcycle helmet cooling
A motorcycle helmet cools through its own vents and the airflow of riding. Open the vents. At a standstill there is little airflow, whatever you add.
A thin evaporative liner under the helmet is one option, if the helmet still fits as snugly as before. The rule quoted above is for work helmets, but the sensible course is the same here: leave the shell and lining as they are, and check with the helmet manufacturer before you add anything.
Bicycle helmet cooling
Most bicycle helmets have large vents, and riding gives you airflow. A thin, wet cooling cap works with that airflow, at least in dry air. Check that the helmet still sits firmly. For fans or covers on the helmet, ask the manufacturer.
The limits of every type
Fans and wet fabric both cool through evaporation, so both do less in humid air. And when the air is hotter than your skin, about 35 °C, moving air also brings heat to your body. UK public health guidance says to use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35 °C. The World Health Organization says to use them only below 40 °C; above that, fans will heat the body. We state both and do not pick one.
In extreme heat, cooling clothing does not replace shade, water and breaks.
How to choose
- Keeping your helmet: ask its maker which cooling accessories are approved.
- Dry heat and some wind: a thin evaporative liner, if the fit stays secure.
- Little wind: an approved helmet fan adds the airflow you miss.
- Humid heat: expect little from fans and wet liners. A PCM vest on your torso does not depend on humidity.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding a helmet fan. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
What Gløde offers today
We do not make helmet fans. What we do have is power. If your helmet fan or fan jacket runs on 5 V USB, a power bank keeps it going. Ours supply 5 V USB. Check the stated input of your device first; we make no promise for products from other brands.
Both are in our power banks collection. Not sure which size you need? Read our power bank guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best helmet cooling in 2027?
Start with the helmet: a model with built-in vents needs no add-on. For a helmet you already own, a thin evaporative liner or a fan can help, if the helmet manufacturer provides or approves it and the helmet still fits securely.
Does a helmet fan affect the certification of a hard hat?
It can. Under the new edition of the European standard for industrial safety helmets, EN 397:2025, accessories that may affect conformity must be mounted during testing and certified as compatible. Check with the helmet manufacturer.
Can you wear a cooling cap under a helmet?
That depends on the helmet. The German accident insurers' rule notes that some manufacturers state nothing should be worn under the helmet, and that a thick cap can prevent a secure fit. Check the instructions for your helmet.
Does helmet cooling work in humid weather?
Less well. Helmet fans and wet liners both cool through evaporation, and in humid air less evaporates.
Can you drill extra ventilation holes in a helmet?
No. Drilling is a structural change, which the rule for work helmets rules out. If you want more ventilation, choose a helmet that is built and certified with vents.
Does Gløde sell helmet fans?
No, not at the moment. Leave your email in the form on this page and we will send you one message if we launch one.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding a helmet fan. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
All our heated clothing comparisons →
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