Helmets are the most important piece of protective equipment so it's important to take a look at the best full face mountain bike helmets to ensure you get the best level of protection, right?
Right.
Full face helmets have lots of different features and some of that will depend on what type of riding you do and some will come down to personal preference.
We're here to guide you through what you need to know about full face mountain bike helmets and showcase some of the best ones out there.
Types Of Full Face MTB Helmets & Riding Styles
There are plenty of choices when it comes to finding the best full face mountain bike helmet out there but different variations are suited to different riding styles.
Enduro Helmets
Full face MTB helmets designed for enduro rides focus more on weight and keeping it low, with plenty of ventilation.
These types of helmets are still strong and will give you protection against small crashes but they shouldn't be used for downhill mountain biking.
Two-In-One Helmets
Otherwise known as convertible. These mountain bike helmets have a removable chin bar, taking them off will turn them from a full face helmet to a half shell.
These features make this style of helmet ideal for those riders who want a choice of helmet. In some cases convertible helmets aren't best suited to downhill riding but this is changing and increasingly they are becoming certified.
Downhill Helmets
Downhill helmets offer the best level of protection to protect you from the most amount of risk.
Ideally, you will wear these with goggles to provide greater protection and therefore they tend to be goggle-friendly.
Regular vs Convertible
So when you delve into the lightweight full face category, you will find that there is a sub-category, known as "convertible" helmets.
A convertible helmet means that the chin bar can be removed, which will essentially give you a half-shell helmet.
Sizing Guide & How to Fit for a Full Face MTB Helmet
A key reason why people's full face MTB helmets don't fit is that they don't truly know what size they should be looking for.
We highly recommend that you find out the measurement of your head before you go out and purchase a helmet. You can do this by wrapping a measuring tape or string around the lower forehead area. You don't want this to be too tight.
There are standard sizes of full face helmets and these are:
- Small: 20 - 21.75 inches in diameter
- Medium: 21.75 - 23.25 inches in diameter
- Large: 23.5 to 24.75 inches in diameter
There is the option to buy a "one size fits all" helmet but these aren't usually the best option as it can be difficult to get them to fit properly and can get uncomfortable.
Safety Standards of Full Face MTB Helmets
When looking for a full face mountain bike helmet you should look for a helmet that is ASTM F1952 DH certified.
Those mountain bike helmets are certified to be able to take an impact that is greater than what is needed to achieve a CPSC or EN-1078 certification. The reason for this is that riding downhill allows you to reach greater speeds and therefore the risk of injury is greater and so the need for protection is greater.
For a mountain bike helmet to become ASTM F1952 certified, it isn't allowed to transmit more than 300G's to the head when it's dropped from a height of 1.6 meters.
You can see how different this is compared to mountain bike helmets that meet CPSC standards, where the drop is 1.2 meters or EN-1078 standards which is 1.1 meters.
For a helmet to be DH certified it doesn't need a chin bar. However, if there is a chin bar on the helmet, then it too must pass the test.
A lot of full face helmets have rotational impact protection built-in (all the ones we look at below do). This is intended to reduce the rotational energy that gets to the brain on an impact, this can be through MIPS or a manufactures own version.
It should be noted that there isn't currently a standard for these tests so the efficiency of this technology isn't certified. In time it's expected that manufacturers will develop a single procedure in order to test and certify these features in mountain bike helmets.
How to Choose the Right Full Face MTB Helmet
Safety
It almost goes without saying that safety is a top concern when buying a mountain biking helmet.
At a basic level, you should ensure that the full face helmets you're looking at have passed the basic safety tests.
After that, you can start getting into things like MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) and other safety technology.
These do usually come at an additional cost - are they worth it? That's up to you but it is your head we're protecting here so a solid bit of investment seems worthwhile!
Comfort
Obviously getting the correct sized helmet is vital to the comfort for you, padding shouldn't be forgotten about.
Lots of the full face mountain bike helmets we looked at offer the ability to get a custom fit by adding additional pads in the box.
What you can find with full face helmets that aren't fantastic quality is that they don't give you that plush feel and over time can lead to irritation so spending a little more at the outset on a mountain bike helmet can be a wise investment.
Another thing to consider is that when the padding is of high quality, it will offer more in the way of sweat protection, which if you've had sweat running into your eyes when you're on a trail, you will know how valuable this can be!
It's also worth looking at how you will remove the liner so that you're able to clean it. Some mountain bike helmet manufacturers claim that you can pop them in the washing machine. Personally, we favor gently washing them by hand.
Breathability & Ventilation
Whatever type of mountain biking you do, you will want a bike helmet that has good ventilation as you're likely to build up a sweat at some point on the ride.
Looking for bike helmets that have the most vents may seem like a good tactic but it doesn't always equate to being the most breathable. It comes down to how those vents work.
Whilst you do want to have a good number of vents, you also want a good system in place, that moves the air from the front to the back.
Bike helmets have padding inside, which is great and essential but in some cases, this can lead to the airflow being interrupted by the padding. This is why it's important to consider the breathability and how the vents will work, not just the number of vents.
Visor
Large visors have several purposes when it comes to mountain biking. They keep the sun out of your eyes but they also give you extra protection from branches, rain, and general trail debris.
Shapes vary, some are quite wide but short, whilst others are long and narrow. Though it is becoming more common to find ones that are large and stick out quite a lot.
Another consideration is whether or not the visor is adjustable. If you opt for an adjustable visor, you have the ability to push it up when you don't want your views to be obstructed or you want to quickly place your goggles on your helmet.
It's worth noting that not all adjustable visors have the same amount of adjustability. Some won't leave room for goggles.
Weight
Lightweight is most certainly a good thing, especially on a long ride, but that does usually come at a larger expense.
Full face helmets tend to be heavier than other types of bike helmets due to their size but that doesn't mean they can't be lightweight...relatively anyway.
The thing is that a heavier helmet can actually feel quite light too. It does come down to the feeling of how it sits on your head and balances.
Materials & Quality
Different manufacturers will use different materials.
Polylite and polycarbonate are two popular options for some of the best full face helmets out there.
The reason for this is that they are strong and provide a good level of protection but they also offer some flexibility, which is what you want in an impact situation as this will help to remove some of the impact energy.
Eye-care Compatibility
Googles are a common accessory for mountain bike riders so it's important that full face helmets are compatible.
It doesn't take a lot to make them compatible, to be honest so it's rare it doesn't work.
However, there are features that can make it easier.
It's helpful if the visor on full face helmets is adjustable as you are able to move your goggles to forehead height easily.
There are some bike helmets out there that have a retainer strap in place at the back of the helmet. This works to keep the strap and therefore the goggles in place easily.
Durability
As long as you're buying a certified DH helmet, it will provide a decent amount of durability.
What you want to be sure of is that the chin bar isn't a weak spot, especially for those that are convertible.
However, helmets should be replaced after a crash. The padding inside is only designed to take a single impact and will be damaged after that.
The only exception to this is if the helmet is advertised as "multi-impact".
Our 5 Best Full Face MTB Helmets
1. Troy Lee Designs Stage
Key Facts
- Shell Material: Polylite with fiber reinforcement
- Rotational Impact Protection: MIPS
- Buckle: Fidlock magnetic
- Weight: 690 grams
As with anything Troy Lee Designs touches, they set out to design the best in the category, in this case, they wanted this helmet to be the lightest.
Whilst also balancing the need to make it a safe helmet - something which Troy Lee Designs also prides itself in - and to ensure the styling made a statement.
Quite a list of requirements, right?
We have to say that Troy Lee Designs nails it with the Stage.
This full face helmet weighs an impressive 690 grams.
It is MIPS rated so you get that extra bit of safety and getting in and out of this helmet is made easy thanks to the FidLock magnetic strap buckle.
Something which is apparent with this bike helmet is that it's clearly made by Troy Lee Designs, it has snippets of design that come from the D3 helmet. The thing that sets these helmets apart is the added vents on the Stage - the clear focus here is breathability.
Sizing-wise, the Troy Lee Design Stage is true to form and if you need to fine-tune to get the best fit, then there are extra pads included so you can be sure of a comfortable helmet.
One thing that shouldn't be underestimated is just how lightweight this mountain helmet is, it doesn't feel like you're wearing a full face helmet and it balances well, making it a very stable helmet indeed.
If you want the full enduro experience, the Troy Lee Designs Stage can accommodate pretty much any pair of MTB goggles.
So Troy Lee Designs set out to create a breathable full face helmet and when things start to warm up, the Stage rises to the challenge.
You won't have to feel yourself breathing due to the chin bar having an impressive number of large ports, these also help to create airflow when you're moving. We'd actually go as far as to say that the Stage gives you as much breathability as a half-shell does but with more coverage.
Pros
Cons
Key Facts
- Shell Material: Polycarbonate
- Rotational Impact Protection: MIPS
- Buckle: Three-point strap
- Weight: 986 grams
The Giro Switchblade has been around since 1998 - some would say that it has been well ahead of its time!
It has seen some redesigns in that time period (not unsurprisingly!) and in 2016, the Giro Switchblade had a major overhaul.
These days the Switchblade is a full face helmet, with a detachable chin bar. So in some ways, the design dates back 20 years but Giro has certainly moved with the times.
The Giro Switchblade uses a different technique to get the right fit, they called it "Roc Loc" and it's described as an internal harness. This allowed you to get the fit just right.
Keeping your full face mountain bike helmet in place is a three-point chin strap. This works well to keep things secure so you can relax knowing your helmet is going nowhere.
The removable chin bar section is quite small and when removed, you do have more coverage than what you'd expect from a half-shell helmet. It's actually a really easy system, potentially one the best.
The Giro Switchblade is very comfortable when out on the trails but it can get a little warm. Taking the chin bar off does help and due to the fact that it still covers the ears, you still get that bit of extra protection than what is found on a half-shell.
As for looks, the Giro Switchblade is either one which you'll be and fan of, or you won't. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground here and that's special in itself!
Pros
Cons
Key Facts
- Shell Material: Polycarbonate
- Rotational Impact Protection: MIPS Spherical
- Buckle: Fidlock magnetic
- Weight: 887 grams
Much of the development of the Bell Super DH comes from the evolution of the 3R helmet, and though some features are present, it brings about some good improvements.
The Bell Super DH is a convertible helmet and however, if you choose to use it, either full face or half shell, it looks purposeful and stylish.
Safety is taken care of by using MIPS technology. Although Bell has topped that up too by using additional liners which offers a good amount of protection against low and high energy impacts.
The stand-out feature of this Bell Super full face helmet is the ability to remove the chin bar and how that system works so well.
Basically, the full lower part of the Bell Super DH helmet is removed so you are left with the classic half shell helmet.
To make everything comfortable, this helmet features a soft liner and the internal harness is adjustable, this gives you three different sizes to find the right fit. Ensuring the job is done properly, there are cheek pads included in the box with the Bell Super DH and they are of different thicknesses.
Need a place to mount your POV camera? The Bell Super DH full face mountain bike helmet has a snap-on mount so it's there when you need it.
You do get a good level of breathability with these bike helmets though it's worth noting that the chin bar is relatively close to the face and that can lead to it getting hotter on warm days.
Having said that, removing the chin bar is simple so shouldn't present much of an issue.
You won't have to worry about sweat running into your eyes or even dripping down as the Bell Super DH mountain bike helmet has a liner extension that comes over the brow. So what you tend to find is that the sweat runs away from your face before it drips.
The Bell Super DH falls into our best budget full face MTB helmet. We won't say that it's the cheapest around but for those on a budget, it is one of the best.
Overall, this Bell Super DH full face helmet works really well for those riders who want a two-in-one solution that works brilliantly as both full face and half shell. Breathability could be a little better but otherwise, it's a top-notch helmet.
Pros
Cons
4. Fox ProFrame
Key Facts
- Shell Material: Polycarbonate
- Rotational Impact Protection: MIPS
- Buckle: Fidlock magnetic
- Weight: 758 grams
Fox introduced the ProFrame in 2017 - it was a game-changer in many respects. Fox brought about the lightweight full face helmet category. Ok, maybe not totally, but they were the first one that was actually a viable option - prior to this none were ASTM certified and generally clunky.
Looks-wise, the Fox ProFrame has an aggressive profile and there's no denying that it stands out.
It's not just a pretty face though, it works hard to keep your head cool by having plenty of vents and airflow.
The Fox ProFrame is lightweight, impressively so at 758 grams.
There are plenty of features on this bike endura full face helmet too, you get a large fixed visor, which works well on any mountain biking helmet.
In terms of comfort and fit, there are four different sizes to choose from and you also get extra cheek pads, 3 sets in fact, with varying thicknesses so you can hone in on the fit.
When on the trails, it's quite easy to forget that you're wearing the Fox ProFrame due to its weight and good fit.
The same can be said for when you're going uphill, these full face helmets are extremely breathable and generate a large amount of airflow as soon as you start moving.
Sometimes when full face helmets offer so much coverage and protection, they can feel a little claustrophobic but this isn't the case with the Fox ProFrame and it doesn't get any hotter than when you're wearing a half-shell helmet - which is quite a statement!
Pros
Cons
Key Facts
- Shell Material: Polycarbonate
- Rotational Impact Protection: 360 Degree Turbine Technology
- Buckle: Fidlock magnetic
- Weight: 852 grams
Leatts' background is in protection so it's no surprise that the DBX 4.0 has some safety technology.
Known as "360 Turbine Technology", it means that the helmet features rubber-like inserts all around the helmet.
The concept behind this is that this full face mountain bike helmet will provide protection against low-level impacts as well as rotational force transmission against the brain.
It doesn't stop there with protection. The Least DBX 4.0 bike helmet comes with a dual-density impact liner and this improves the helmet's capacity to take the impact energy from crashes.
With the Leatt DBX you also get a large visor, that is fixed but will break away in a crash situation.
The front grill can be removed if you wanted to increase the breathability and as you'd expect from the Leatt DBX, it's fully certified to DH standards.
As far as looks go, it does remind us of the Fox ProFrame slightly but less aggressive, which some riders will favor.
Fine-tuning the fit of this full face mountain bike helmet can be done so using the included pads and liners. The initial liners are quite thick too and offer more coverage than others we've looked at.
Airflow is good as there are several large vents to help this. There is even an intake duct that goes through the visor - allowing air to be pushed into the helmet as you're riding.
Whilst the Leatt DBX isn't the lightest mountain biking helmet in our line-up, that extra weight isn't felt except in certain situations, and even then, it's not problematic.
Build-quality isn't something that can be denied with the Leatt DBX bike helmet, no matter what style of riding you do, you never hear any creaking, nor does the visor interfere with the vision of the rider.
If you're looking for a downside with this full face bike helmet, it would be that it can get a bit warm. This is, of course, down to the fact that it comes with more comfort features than others and offers a fantastic amount of protection. There has to be a trade-off somewhere, right?
That isn't to say it's a huge trade-off because it certainly isn't. Something that the Leatt DBX 4.0 has that other full face helmets don't is the fact that they have ensured that the vents they've placed don't get covered up the second you put goggles on. Nice work and great thought!
Pros
Cons
Final Thoughts
For us, the Troy Lee Designs Stage nails it when we look at the best full face mountain bike helmets.
It's lightweight, it features MIPS for that extra bit of protection and it's extremely comfortable.