Level on the head, with the front edge one to two finger-widths above your eyebrows. It should feel evenly snug all the way round with no pressure points, and it shouldn’t move when you lower your head or shake it gently.

Samshield 2.0 shells come in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large, and the liner sets your exact size within each shell. Every helmet from Espayo comes with a free liner: email us or use live chat and we’ll help you choose the right one.

Measure around your head 1–2cm above your eyebrows and just above the tops of your ears. Small takes liners 52–56, Medium 55–58, Large 57–61 and Extra Large 61–64.

Full measuring instructions and liner options are in our Samshield helmet size guide.

Samshield is naturally a more oval fit. If your head is rounder, the Round V2 liner adjusts the fit, and we’ll advise which liner to choose. KEP and Kask are rounder by design, so riders who have struggled to get those to fit often find Samshield is the answer.

The peak. The Samshield Shadowmatt 2.0 has a standard peak; the Samshield Miss Shield 2.0 has a wider peak, designed with women in mind but worn by anyone who prefers the look. The Miss Shield also has a front band you can customise; the Shadowmatt has no front band. Both take the same liners, tops, trims and blazons.

Shadowmatt and Shadowglossy are the same helmet in different paint finishes: matt or gloss. Neither affects fit or protection, so it’s purely a matter of taste.

To clean either finish, wipe with a wet cloth or a non-harmful glass spray, then buff with a clean, dry cloth.

2.0 is the current generation: a rounder, deeper shell with more ventilation, a new liner system that works with any hairstyle including a bun, and an Extra Large shell. 1.0 liners don’t fit 2.0 shells, and XC/XJ liners are separate again.

Any fall where your head touches the ground can damage the inner shell without leaving a mark, so the helmet should not simply go back into use. The good news is that a Samshield doesn’t have to be thrown away. Under Samshield’s ReStart service, a helmet up to five years old (with proof of purchase) goes back to the Samshield Workshop in France for a full inspection; if the outer shell passes, they replace the entire inner shell along with the standard blazon, trim and top (custom decoration is kept), and return it to you as a safe helmet ready to wear again. Contact us and we’ll arrange it.

Samshield helmets are certified to the European EN and American ASTM standards, carrying the SEI mark (see Samshield’s safety page). The SEI-marked ASTM F1163 standard is accepted by British Showjumping, British Eventing, British Dressage, The Pony Club, British Riding Clubs and Endurance GB.

Hat rules are updated periodically, so check your discipline’s current list before you compete.

Made to order, currently around five weeks for Samshield to build it and ship it to us. We hold the UK’s largest live Samshield range, so many configurations are in stock for same-day dispatch: email or live chat before you order and we’ll check. You can also design your own Samshield and send us the design.