Simpson Race Products has been at the forefront of motorsport safety innovation for nearly 70 years. What started in 1959 with founder Bill Simpson testing dragster parachute prototypes from the back of a Chevy wagon at speed has evolved into one of motorsport’s most recognizable safety brands, offering everything from fire suits and gloves to head and neck restraint systems.

And let’s not forget about the helmets. Simpson’s iconic helmet designs have become a fixture of motorsport aesthetics, and with the upcoming launch of two new helmets as well as a complete helmet care kit, it’s clear the brand isn’t easing off the throttle anytime soon. Let’s take a closer look at what each one has to offer.

SA2025 Bandit Helmet

SA2025 Bandit Helmet - While the Bandit’s legacy dates back to the late 1970s, the latest iteration is anything but old school. Designed for enthusiasts and grassroots racers who’re looking to get a versatile, heritage-inspired full-face without breaking the bank, this USA-made helmet is now Snell SA2025 certified as part of a larger design refresh.

“The main driver of these changes really goes back to Simpson’s commitment to safety above all else,” notes Kevin Albino, Holley Performance’s director of product management for safety equipment. “Every update to the Snell standards tightens the limits on the head impact forces that are transmitted through the helmet, and that’s done to make the helmets safer. But the Bandit has traditionally been a pretty small helmet, and that can make it tough to achieve the balance that we want between safety targets, fitting, comfort, and appearance. So, this time around we decided to give the Bandit a more comprehensive makeover.”

Alongside revised aerodynamics for reduced drag in open cockpit vehicles, the Bandit’s shell is now physically larger than previous models across all of its available sizes. Albino says that this dimensional increase allowed for additional internal padding and other features that have made the helmet more comfortable while also enhancing its crashworthiness. And with this switch to a larger shell size, Simpson made other tweaks to the Bandit’s design in order to keep the helmet’s proportions in check.

“You have this expanded field of view now thanks to the new Bandit’s larger eye port, which has primarily grown vertically. And that works in tandem with the revised chin bar design to maintain that classic look that racers love.” The latest iteration of the Simpson Bandit also boasts a top pad and cheek pads that are interchangeable to allow racers to get a more tailored fit. The helmet’s internal EPS liner is all-new as well.

Shop Simpson SA2025 Bandit helmet here.

“The EPS liner was a ground-up rework,” Albino tells us. “That included changing the lamination for the fiberglass components on the composite helmet as well as the layup of the carbon fiber version that will be introduced later in the year. With the change in size and impact severity requirements, we had to make sure we could strike a good balance between weight and safety. We wanted to comfortably exceed the latest Snell safety requirements, and as the shell and EPS liner got larger, we really had to focus on optimizing every element of the design to keep that weight in check while still meeting our design goals.”

As with previous Bandit iterations, the SA2025 version will come pre-drilled for head and neck restraints and is designed to be compatible will all HANS and Hybrid-style devices. In addition to the interchangeable cheek and top pads, the latest Bandit’s design allows for ear cups to be added for noise cancelation or a communications system. Racers will also have a wide range of replacement shields to choose from to dial the helmet in for different lighting conditions.

When the composite SA2025 Bandit launches this summer, it will be available in six different sizes ranging from extra-small to double extra-large. In addition to white, gloss black, and matte black color options for the composite model, a full carbon fiber version of the helmet will also be introduced toward the end of this year.

“I think one thing that’s important to keep in mind with the Bandit is that we wanted to make sure this helmet would be accessible to a wide range of racers, and it’s priced accordingly,” says Albino. “For many folks this helmet serves as the entry point into the larger Simpson safety ecosystem, and we don’t intend to abandon that.”

Shop Simpson Bandit Series helmets here.

Simpson also plans to roll out versions of the Bandit that are pre-configured for some of the most popular use-cases. “That means we can set these up for specific comms, anchors, visors, air accessories, and those sorts of things all right here in Texas before the helmet is shipped out to the customer. So, if you’re a drag racer buying an SA2025 Bandit, for example, we can outfit it with an SFI-rated neck skirt, an air inlet system, and other features that are specifically optimized for that type of racing. It takes the guesswork out of the process for the customer and ensures that the level of safety we’ve built into the helmet is maintained.”

SA2025 Kingsnake Helmet

SA2025 Kingsnake Helmet - This all-new helmet model takes inspiration from the Simpson Diamondback, another full-face design that has become known to racers and enthusiasts around the world as The Stig’s lid of choice. But with the introduction of the Kingsnake, Top Gear’s tame racing driver may need to update his gear.

Like the SA2025 Bandit, the Kingsnake will launch later this year in six different sizes ranging from extra-small to double extra-large, and it will be offered with either a composite or full carbon shell.

“From a technology standpoint, the Kingsnake is radically different from the Diamondback, so we wanted to give it its own identity,” Albino says. “The shell is made in Italy, and the helmet is assembled by hand in Texas. And while it does retain a lot of that Diamondback styling, particularly in the nose peak area, the Kingsnake kind of allowed us to explore a bolder and more aggressive aesthetic.” Developed with versatility in mind, the Kingsnake was built for racers who like to stand out – whether that’s at the drag strip, on road courses, or while competing in drift events.

“There’s some built-in attitude here,” Albino says. “But beyond the look, we’re taking the best technology from Italy and bringing it to folks who might’ve had a Bandit helmet in the past and are looking to step things up without ditching that aggressive design. With the Kingsnake you’re effectively getting Stilo quality and lightness with a Simpson look.”

Shop Simpson Kingsnake SA2025 helmet here.

The Kingsnake features interchangeable cheek pads to allow racers to a customized fit, and premium gel ear cups are included to help reduce ambient noise levels on track. The helmet’s inner EPS sections are also channeled to accept all of Simpson’s communication devices as well as FluidLogic’s hydration and forced air systems. A range of accessories is available now, and alongside the full carbon fiber variant, the composite version of this helmet will be offered in gloss white, gloss black, and matte black as well as a limited-run pearl white finish.

Simpson Helmet Care Kit

Simpson Helmet Care Kit - Developed in collaboration with the helmet maintenance experts at Molecule, the Simpson Helmet Care Kit offers a complete, hassle-free way to keep your helmet looking and feeling fresh without any concerns about inadvertently causing damage to sensitive helmet materials.

“I think there’s some lack of awareness when it comes to helmet care, and maybe some uncertainly about what brands folks can trust with our safety products,” Albino says. “You can’t just use any old cleaning products on helmets because you may adversely affect the paint finish or the characteristics of the interior fabrics, the latter of which is a particularly big concern for us because of the fire-resistant materials that are used in the construction of the helmet’s lining. So, the idea behind this care kit is to bring together everything you need in order to keep your Simpson helmet clean and fresh without any concerns about negatively impacting its safety and performance.”

The kit consists of three core products: Helmet Refresh, Rain Repel, and Matte Detailer, and each one is designed to be used to clean and maintain specific elements of the helmet.

“Racing environments tend to be hot, and when you sweat, dirt and bacteria can stick to the liner inside the helmet. And beyond concerns about cleanliness, the helmet may develop an odor as a result,” Albino explains. “So, the Helmet Refresh product is designed to address that without affecting the safety aspects of the helmet’s design.”

Meanwhile the Rain Repel treatment not only helps keep water off of the outside of the helmet shield, it also reduces fog buildup on the inside of the shield. This treatment is safe to use on all Simpson shields regardless of the shield’s color or coating.

Shop Helmet Care Kit by Simpson here.

Matte Detailer, the third component of the kit, is designed to clean the outer shell, and it’s compatible with all Simpson helmets regardless of paint treatment or outer coating. “It’s formulated for both matte and gloss finishes,” Albino points out. “The goal here is prevent the cleaner from bringing its own gloss to the equation, so the Matte Detailer is designed not to streak or distort the shine the helmet. The idea is to avoid that ‘Armor All effect,’ and simply keep the helmet looking new.”

Used together, the products in this kit help keep your helmet looking, feeling, and smelling new, protecting your investment, and ensuring it performs at its best for years to come.

If you have any questions about these products or other Simpson safety gear, you can contact Simpson’s knowledgeable support staff right here.