As with any sport, the proper protective equipment can literally be the difference between life and death. While in earlier days, bobsledders would wear leather caps or outdated football helmets, modern athletes protect their heads with the best helmets available.

The fact is, bobsled athletes are required to wear helmets if they want to participate in the sport. While they can choose what brand or model of helmet they use, the helmets must be full-faced like a Formula 1 or motorcylce helmet. Drivers nowdays wear visors instead of ski goggles (older visors tended to fog up), but brakemen and pushers can opt not to wear them.

Prior to the race some athletes place their helmets next to heaters to keep the visor warm to prevent fogging, though most modern helmets are well ventelated to combat this problem. For safety reasons, bobsled helmets should match at least a minimum safety rating in order to protect the athlete from harm.