How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and use, not by brand, and do not quote prices. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you.
Get trained
This page explains the principles. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified polo instructor or club, and it does not replace the rules of your governing body, club or tournament.
A polo helmet that fits well but carries a label your governing body does not list will not let you play. So the order is: rules first, then the label, then eye protection, then fit. Everything below is as of October 2026. We do not say that any particular helmet is approved; only the label inside it, read against your governing body's current list, can tell you that.
What the rules require
| Body and rulebook | Helmet | Eye protection |
|---|---|---|
| HPA (UK and Ireland), 2026 rules, Part 2 Rules 2.3a and 2.3d(iv) | Compulsory whenever mounted, chinstrap or harness fastened, of a type approved under the separate HPA Helmet Regulations. Rule 2.2j extends this to everyone riding at a polo ground, grooms included. | Required for all players: sports glasses, goggles or a face guard. |
| USPA (United States), 2024 Outdoor Rules, Rule 4a | A helmet with a chin strap, worn as its maker specifies. Since 1 May 2021, players' helmets in USPA Events and Club Events must be certified to NOCSAE ND050. The certified helmet is recommended, not required, for other mounted polo activity. | Mandatory for players under 18; strongly encouraged for everyone else. |
| Pony Club (UK junior polo), 2026 rulebook | A hat whenever mounted, chinstrap fastened, carrying one of the standards on its list (for example Snell E2016 or E2021, PAS 015:2011 or EN 1384:2023 with a Kitemark or Inspec IC mark, ASTM F1163 with SEI mark, or a NOCSAE certificate for polo only). | Required for all players: sports glasses, goggles or a face guard. |
| Australian Polo Federation, rule effective 1 March 2026 | Type approval plus a QC mark, to a listed standard. A general equestrian helmet meeting the standards is acceptable. | Not covered in our research. |
Two cautions. First, the HPA's 2026 rule points to Helmet Regulations on the HPA website that we did not read; the latest list we found is the March 2023 version restated by the German Polo Federation (DPV), which names PAS015:2011 with CE mark, VG1 01.040 2014-12, UTAC/CRITT 04/2015 or NOCSAE, plus newer versions such as EN1384:2017, and says Snell E2001 and PAS015:1998 are no longer accepted. Second, the USPA revises its rules each year and we read the 2024 book, so check the current edition. If you play under more than one body, the helmet has to satisfy each of them.
Our picks by category
Polo helmets
Choose by label, not by look. Find your governing body's current helmet list first, then read the label inside any helmet you consider against it. The DPV says the HPA asks for both type approval and a QC mark, and the APF asks for the same. Under the USPA's 2024 rules, look for NOCSAE ND050 certification. The APF says a general equestrian helmet meeting its standards is fine; other bodies' lists differ, so do not assume that holds where you play.
Best for: Every player, from first lesson to match play
Face guards and eye protection
The HPA, Pony Club and SUPA rules accept sports glasses, goggles or a face guard. For a helmet-mounted guard in the US, NOCSAE's ND055 standard requires the packaging to list the certified helmets the guard was tested on, and warns the guard is not compliant on any other helmet. Check that your helmet is on that list.
Best for: All HPA and Pony Club players, and USPA players under 18
Mouth guards
Gum shields are recommended, not required, under the HPA's 2026 rules and the Pony Club's 2026 rulebook. The Pony Club's safety section recommends having them fitted by a dentist.
Best for: Players who want the protection the rulebooks recommend
How to choose
Read the label, all of it
PoloPlus10 explains that a CE mark only indicates EU type approval for retail sale, while a QC mark, such as a BSI Kitemark, SEI, Inspec IC or Snell, typically involves regular testing and factory audits. The Pony Club says a hat carrying more than one standard counts as compliant if at least one of them is on its list. Labels get checked: HPA 2026 umpire guidance has umpires confirm helmets conform before play, the Pony Club tags hats (and says the tag confirms the internal label only, not fit or condition), and SUPA checks and tags every helmet before its tournaments.
Fit
The Pony Club's 2026 rulebook says the chinstrap must be fastened and adjusted so the hat cannot move in a fall, that the hat should not move when the head is tipped forward, and recommends fitting by a BETA-qualified fitter. Have your helmet fitted in person rather than guessing a size.
New, not second-hand
The Pony Club strongly recommends against buying second-hand hats. It says hats must be replaced after a severe impact and should be replaced after three to five years depending on use. Charles Owen, a helmet maker, says on its own FAQ that any helmet that has taken an impact should be replaced even if no damage shows, and gives a lifespan of 3 to 5 years; it also says to store helmets out of direct sun and never above 50 C or below -20 C. Those are the maker's statements.
No add-ons
The Pony Club bans hat cameras because they may affect how the hat performs in a fall, and SUPA bans helmet cameras on mounted players. The APF says cameras were not part of helmet testing, so their effect is unknown.
Before you ride
The DPV warns that insurers may refuse claims if a non-standard helmet was worn. Before you buy, and again each season, check the current helmet and eye-protection rules of your governing body, club and tournament, and read the label inside your helmet. Clubs can be stricter than their national body. The full standards history is on our helmets page, and the eye rules are on eye and face protection.
Sources
- Hurlingham Polo Association, Rules and Regulations for Polo 2026 (Polo South Africa copy, PDF)
- United States Polo Association, 2024 Outdoor Rules (PDF)
- The Pony Club, Polo Rulebook 2026 (PDF)
- German Polo Federation (DPV), helmet regulation March 2023 (PDF)
- Australian Polo Federation, October 2025 helmet rules
- NOCSAE, ND050 polo helmet standard page
- NOCSAE, ND055 polo eye protection standard (PDF)
- PoloPlus10, the HPA helmet rule (2018)
- SUPA, rules for universities
- Charles Owen, FAQ