A protective helmet comprising a head mountable shell (10) and a transparent visor (24), the head mountable shell defining a rear portion and an opposing front portion (12) when oriented for use, the front portion being recessed, the helmet further comprising a cover portion (16) mountable over the recessed front portion so as to define a cavity, the transparent visor being pivotally mounted across the recessed front portion by means of a pair of pivot mechanisms (28), the pivot mechanisms being located at opposing sides of the recessed front portion and substantially wholly within the cavity, and configured to enable the transparent visor to be pivoted from a first position substantially within the cavity to a second, operable position generally perpendicular to a user's eyeline.