Simpson Shorty OTW Review

by Alex Meyer

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The Simpson Shorty OTW is a helmet based on the idea that less is more. With minimalistic stylings, the Shorty OTW gives you exactly what you need in a basic helmet without adding on any of thee extra features you don’t. This moderately-priced helmet sports a sleek design that keeps you safe while looking cool at the same time.

Simpson Helmets 1430022 OTW Shorty Helmet

Ratings

Comfort:

80%
Comfort

Visibility:

95%
Visibility

Ventilation:

85%
Ventilation

Quietness:

75%
Quietness

Specifications

Outer shell material : Lightweight outer shell with SAT features T-38

Shell size : XS to 2XL

Liner : Nomex fire-resistant lining

Weight : 3.12 pounds

Pinlock

Strap System : 4-way adjustable strap system to accommodate headset use and provide a secure fit

Safety Ratings

DOT : Yes

ECE : No

SNELL : No

SHARP : Not tested


Shape and materials

The Shorty OTW is built for safety and comfort; it’s strong and durable outer shell comes in sizes from XS to 2XL, and is rated safe by the DOT.


Overall comfort

The Shorty OTW is designed to split right down the middle between more oval and round shapes. This means that most heads should fit no problem and feel comfortable doing it. If your head is more on the oval or round side, then this helmet might not fit right. However, the Nomex fire-resistant lining helps to pad your head and give you an overall comfortable fit.


Visibility

The Shorty OTW has no face shield, which means that your visibility is not hampered at all. Of course, this sort of helmet only works under certain conditions; this is not the helmet for off-roading!

To help reduce glare, the Shorty OTW comes with a 3-hole visor that helps to block out the sun and keep your vision open and free.


Things I liked

  • Affordable Price
  • Cook, sleek design
  • Comes in white or black
  • Top and front vents for additional cooling as needed.

Things I don’t like

  • Basic helmet provides little in the way of creature comforts

Quietness

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a quiet helmet, this is not the one for you. It’s open-faced design does nothing to keep out road or bike noises -- it doesn’t even cover your ears!

However, the good news is that its sleek and aerodynamic design does a good job of cutting through the air so that wind noise is kept to a minimum.


Ventilation

The open-faced design of this helmet means that most of your face is naturally ventilated. To aid with the rest of your head, the Shorty OTW also contains adjustable front and top vents to help move air through the top of the helmet.


Safety

The Shorty OTW is DOT-approved, and is rated safe for high impact or penetration hazards. It has not been tested or rated from ECE, SHARP or SNELL.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a minimal helmet at a minimal price, the Simpson SHORTY OTW might be the one for you. This no-frills, no-nonsense helmet keeps you safe, but does little more. And for many, that’s perfectly fine. If you want a helmet that comes with all the bells and whistles, then keep looking. However, if you just want to keep safe as you ride from Point A to Point B, then you should give the Shorty OTW another look.

When we look at all of this, we give this helmet an average rating of 83.75/100, which works out to 4.18/5 stars.

Where to buy this helmet :