New LeMieux Riding Hats: Meet the Verv and Vexa

LeMieux is a name most riders already know very well. Their saddle pads, riding clothes, boots, rugs and more recently tack have all become familiar sights around British yards. Now the brand has moved into one of the most important areas of rider kit with its first collection of LeMieux riding helmets.

There are currently two models to choose from: the LeMieux Vexa Skull Helmet and the LeMieux Verv Competition Helmet.

At first glance the choice seems fairly simple. One is a traditional skull-style helmet and the other is a smart peaked competition hat. Look a little closer though and there are some interesting features shared across both, particularly when it comes to fit, ventilation and the way LeMieux has approached safety.

So which one would actually make sense for your riding?

What safety standards do LeMieux helmets meet?

With any riding hat, this is where we would start.

A helmet can be beautifully finished and incredibly comfortable but its main job is still to protect your head if things don't quite go to plan. Horses have a knack for reminding us of that when we least expect it.

Both the LeMieux Verv and Vexa are tested to EN 1384:2023 and ASTM F1163-23. They also carry the BSI Kitemark and SEI certification. LeMieux states that batches are independently tested as part of its BSI certification process.

LeMieux Vexa Skull Helmet: the practical all-rounder

The LeMieux Vexa Skull Helmet is the simpler of the two designs and will probably appeal immediately to riders who already prefer a skull cap.

The Vexa is available at Country & Stable in black, navy and silver, starting at £109.95. It comes in three size ranges: 52–55cm, 56–58cm and 59–61cm

Underneath the clean exterior is a corrugated ABS twin-shell construction with a reinforced polycarbonate rim. LeMieux has designed the helmet to resist impact, penetration and crushing forces, while the interior uses its adjustable 360° wrap system to help create a secure fit around the head.

Why riders might choose the Vexa

The obvious advantage of a skull helmet is versatility.

If you event, ride cross-country or simply prefer the close, uncomplicated feel of a skull cap, the Vexa makes sense. You can also change the look with different hat silks, which is handy if you compete in team colours or, like many of us, have somehow accumulated enough LeMieux colours to coordinate an entire yard.

LeMieux has even added a grip surface to help keep the silk in place. It's a small detail but exactly the sort of thing you appreciate when you've spent half a cross-country warm-up pulling a sliding hat silk back into position.

Shop LeMieux Hat Silks

The Vexa also uses a Coanda effect airflow system, designed to draw heat away from the head. That becomes particularly relevant during summer schooling sessions, cross-country or long competition days when a poorly ventilated hat can feel very warm very quickly. And after the summer we've just had, this is something every rider will appreciate! 

Who is the Vexa likely to suit?

We'd look at the Vexa if you:

• prefer a traditional skull cap
• event or ride across several disciplines
• like wearing interchangeable hat silks
• want the more affordable helmet in the new LeMieux range
• want adjustable sizing rather than a fixed-size helmet

Its styling is deliberately fairly understated. If what excites you about the new collection is the customisation and polished competition look, however, the Verv is probably going to catch your eye first.

LeMieux Verv Competition Helmet: the customisable option

The LeMieux Verv Competition Helmet is where LeMieux has had a little more fun with the design.

At Country & Stable, the Verv is currently available in matte black, matte navy, gloss black and gloss navy starting at £159.95, again covering sizes from 52cm through to 61cm across three size ranges.

It has the same core approach to protection, with an ABS shell and reinforced polycarbonate rim, plus the 360° wrap adjustment system and washable internal headband.

What sets the Verv apart is its customisation.

Interchangeable panels and peaks

The Verv has magnetic interchangeable top panels plus magnetic peak options, allowing riders to change the appearance of the hat without replacing the helmet itself. The removable peak gives the Verv added versatility for riders who enjoy different disciplines. However, competition and tagging rules vary, so check that the helmet is permitted in the configuration you intend to wear before competing.

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There are classic matte and gloss options as well as seasonal colours and the more decorative Brilliance panels. Country & Stable currently stocks replacement and interchangeable Verv panels alongside the helmets.

For anyone who competes regularly, it's a clever idea. You can keep a fairly understated black or navy helmet for everyday use then change the detailing if you fancy something different for a show.

Importantly, the customisable element hasn't simply been stuck onto the helmet afterwards. LeMieux states that the Verv meets its BSI and SEI impact-testing requirements both with and without the removable top panel. The panel should still always be correctly secured before riding.

If the helmet suffers an impact, LeMieux advises replacing both the helmet and the panel rather than assuming the removable part can simply be clipped back on.

Is the Verv just a competition hat?

Not necessarily.

The polished styling certainly makes it an obvious choice for show jumping and dressage riders but there is nothing stopping it becoming your everyday schooling or hacking hat too, provided the style is appropriate for what you're doing.

In fact, that is where the interchangeable design becomes quite useful. A simple matte finish can look perfectly at home during everyday riding while a different panel or peak gives the same helmet a smarter competition feel.

The Verv has also picked up both a 2026 Red Dot and iF Design Award, which says something about how much thought has gone into the design rather than it simply being another peaked riding hat with a LeMieux badge added to the front.

Verv vs Vexa: what's actually different?

The decision is much more about how you ride and which style fits your head properly.

How does the LeMieux 360° fit system work?

Both the Verv and Vexa use LeMieux’s 360° Wrap Fit System to help create a secure, comfortable fit.

A dial at the back of the helmet allows you to adjust the fit around your head, rather than relying on a fixed helmet size alone. This lets you fine-tune the fit so the helmet feels snug and secure without uncomfortable pressure points.

The dial is there to make small adjustments, though, not to make an incorrectly sized helmet fit. Your riding hat should still sit level on your head, feel evenly secure and stay in place when you move.

As with any riding helmet, head shape matters as much as head measurement, so we’d always recommend having your hat professionally fitted where possible.

Check out our guide on how to fit a dial fit riding hat for more information. 

Should you have a LeMieux helmet professionally fitted?

Where possible, yes.

We'd give the same advice whether you were buying LeMieux, Charles Owen, Champion, Gatehouse or any other helmet brand.

The best riding hat isn't necessarily the most expensive one or the one you liked most when you saw it on Instagram. It's the one that meets the standards you need and fits your individual head correctly.

Country & Stable's Olney store offers professional riding hat fitting with a trained team, which is particularly useful if you're unsure whether the Verv or Vexa shape works for you.

And don't be surprised if the fitter puts you into a different size or model from the one you walked in expecting. That happens far more often than riders think.

Visit the shop to get your hat fitted by a trained member of the team.

What about helmet care?

A riding hat tends to get treated rather badly considering how important it is.

It gets thrown in the lorry, left beside muddy boots, cooked in the car during summer and occasionally dropped while we're carrying half the tack room at once.

Try to treat yours a little better.

LeMieux recommends protecting the helmet from knocks and scratches during storage. The removable central padding can be washed at 30°C, which is particularly welcome after a hot summer or a full competition season.

More importantly, LeMieux says a helmet should be replaced after an impact or drop even where no damage is visible. Its guidance also gives a service life of around three to five years with careful use, or sooner if the helmet no longer fits correctly. 

It's worth remembering with any riding hat that the outer shell can look perfectly fine while the protective structure underneath has been compromised.

Keep your riding hat protected with a LeMieux Hat Bag. 

Which LeMieux helmet would we choose?

There isn't really a winner between the two because they have been designed for slightly different riders.

For a rider who events, loves a hat silk or wants one straightforward skull cap for everyday riding, we'd start with the Vexa.

For someone mainly schooling, dressaging or show jumping who loves a smart peaked helmet and likes the idea of changing panels or peaks, the Verv has more going for it.

What we particularly like about the range is that LeMieux hasn't tried to launch ten different helmets at once. There are two clear options, both use the same core fit philosophy and both meet current recognised safety standards.

The final decision should come down to fit first, then discipline and style.

Because however good the matching panel looks with your saddle pad, your riding hat is one piece of kit where safety still gets the final say.

Explore the full LeMieux helmet collection at Country & Stable.

FAQs About LeMieux Riding Helmets

Are LeMieux riding helmets competition legal in the UK?

The Verv and Vexa meet EN 1384:2023 and ASTM F1163-23 and carry the relevant BSI and SEI certification. British Showjumping currently accepts these standards within its 2026 rules. Other organisations can have different requirements, so always check the latest rules for your discipline before competing.

What sizes do LeMieux helmets come in?

Both the Verv and Vexa are currently available in 52-55cm, 56-58cm and 59-61cm size ranges. The 360° adjustment system lets you fine-tune the fit within the appropriate shell size.

That said, don't choose purely from the number on a tape measure. Head shape matters too and a professional fitting is always worthwhile with safety equipment.

Can you change the panels on the LeMieux Verv?

Yes. The Verv has interchangeable magnetic top panels and compatible magnetic peak options. Always check that any removable parts are properly secured before riding.

When should I replace a LeMieux riding helmet?

LeMieux advises replacing its helmets after any impact or drop, even if you can't see obvious damage. With careful use, its guidance gives a normal service life of approximately three to five years. Replace it earlier if it no longer fits correctly.

Can children wear the LeMieux Verv or Vexa?

Potentially, provided the available sizing fits them correctly. Never buy a riding helmet deliberately too large for a child to "grow into" because the helmet needs to be securely fitted to offer the intended protection. Always ensure your riding hat is fitted by a trained professional.

Explore the full range of riding hats and safety wear at Country & Stable, or visit our Olney store for professional riding hat fitting and advice from our experienced team.