Why It Still Makes Sense to Buy an SA2020 Helmet (Instead of Waiting for SA2025)

Every five years, racers everywhere start asking the same question: “Do I wait for the next Snell helmet certification, or do I just buy the current one?” With SA2025 helmets on the horizon, it’s a fair debate. But here’s the reality check: unless you’re the type who enjoys sitting on the sidelines while everyone else is strapping in, waiting usually doesn’t always make much sense.

Let’s talk about why an SA2020 helmet is still one of the smartest gear investments you can make today.

What’s Actually Changing with SA2025?

The Snell Foundation updates their standards every five years to keep up with evolving safety science. SA2025 helmets will bring tweaks, things like more refined impact absorption thresholds, visor penetration tests, and fire resistance adjustments.

These are meaningful improvements, but they’re not radical game-changers. Early production runs of SA2025 helmets will often look and feel almost identical to their SA2020 counterparts, just with a fresh certification decal on the inside. A lot of manufacturers usually take a full season (or two) to roll out newly engineered shells, so don’t expect revolutionary changes to suddenly show up across every price point.

Translation: you’re not missing out on a miracle helmet if you buy SA2020 today.

Legality and Longevity: The Fine Print

Here’s the part that gets overlooked: an SA2020 helmet will be legal through the 2030 season. That’s because most major sanctioning bodies honor helmets for two certification cycles. Buy now, and you’re covered for the rest of this decade.

If you’re still rocking an SA2015 helmet, or worse, something older, you’re not just flirting with the rules. You’re rolling the dice on gear that’s already past its prime. Sweat, UV rays, and weekend hauls in a trailer aren’t exactly gentle on materials designed to save your brain in a crash.

Why Every Five Years Makes More Sense

Yes, helmets are technically “good” for ten years under Snell rules. But let’s be real: ten years is an eternity in racing.

Liners break down: EPS foam loses resilience. A decade-old helmet simply won’t absorb impact like it did out of the box.

Padding wears out: Sweat, hair products, and skin oils eat away at interior padding and adhesives. What once fit like a glove now wobbles like a fishbowl.

Technology moves forward: Helmet design isn’t frozen in time. Even mid-certification, manufacturers roll out improvements in ventilation, weight reduction, and fit systems.

That’s why the practical rule of thumb in the professional paddocks is to replace your helmet every five years. By splitting the ten-year cycle in half, you stay ahead of safety, comfort, and performance. Think of it like changing your tires, you can stretch them to the cord, but you’re not doing yourself (or your lap times) any favors.

Myth vs. Reality

Myth #1: SA2025 helmets will be dramatically safer.
Reality: SA2025 brings refinements, not revolutions. The difference between SA2020 and SA2025 will be smaller than the difference between your fresh helmet and the beat-up one you’ve been sweating in for years.

Myth #2: New certification means new designs.
Reality: Many early SA2025 models will use the exact same shells and features as SA2020, just re-certified. Brand-new shells usually come later in the cycle, and by then? You’ll already be halfway to your next upgrade.

Myth #3: I should keep my helmet until the ten-year mark.
Reality: Materials wear out long before the sticker expires. Comfort, fit, and protection degrade year after year. Five years is the smart swap.

Fit, Comfort, and Confidence

Buying a helmet isn’t just about passing tech inspection. It’s about confidence. When your helmet fits properly and feels fresh, you focus more on the track and less on the pressure points digging into your temples.

And fit is critical; helmets are sized by shell molds that don’t stay on shelves forever. Waiting six months or a year for the SA2025 you want might mean your size and preferred model are backordered, forcing you to compromise. At OG Racing, we see it every certification change: drivers scrambling last-minute for inventory, only to settle for whatever is left.

Why gamble? The helmet that fits you best is the helmet you should own today.

The OG Racing Perspective

We’ve been around long enough to see these transitions play out cycle after cycle. The truth is simple: drivers who wait rarely end up happier. They either miss track time, overpay on a rushed purchase, or realize too late that the SA2020 helmet they passed on would have been perfect.

At OG, our shelves are stocked with SA2020 helmets from the brands you trust: Stilo, Schuberth, Arai, Bell, Sparco, Roux, and G-Force, and best yet, they are ready to ship. Each one still lasting the remainder of this decade in legality and all the comfort and safety you expect. 

The Bottom Line

Don’t overthink it. If your helmet is aging out or showing signs of wear, the best move is to replace it now. An SA2020 helmet from OG Racing gives you 5 years of legality, five years of fresh safety and fit, and zero excuses to miss a green flag.

Your head isn’t the place to cut corners. Protect it today—because every lap is better with confidence in your gear.

Explore OG Racing’s full lineup of SA2020 helmets [here] and get ready for your next session.