Mountain biking is one of the most dangerous cycling activities hands down. And without the right protection from a full face mountain bike helmet, you are risking your life every time you go mountain biking. But most people find them a huge bother.
Astonishing, isn't it?
Why would someone want to brave rocks, sticks, cliffs, and trees with just their skull? Risking injury to their face and negatively impacting their quality of life instead of wearing a downhill helmet?
The issue with full face helmets that make it a turn off for most riders is how heavy they are to wear. And the fact that some of them offer very poor ventilation. As a result, mountain bikers have typically opted to wear the traditional helmets or wear none, especially during downhill events. This resulted in a common trend where mountain bikers prefer to go out without proper head protection in the form of a standard helmet.
The bike helmet industry has seen tremendous improvements over the years, with many new developments in full face helmets with removable chin guards geared towards making mountain biking much safer.
We've tested most of the full face helmet options and have reviewed the best ones. If you were one of those who hated these types of full-face MTB helmets or are now interested in getting one, you'll find this article helpful. The mountain bike helmets on this list are the Top options that feature the best build quality, ventilation, comfort, and overall safety.
You can rest assured that any of the mountain bike helmets you select will serve you well and might save your noggin one day!
So here they are:
Best Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet:
- Bell Super 3R MIPS Adult Mountain Bike Helmet
- DEMON UNITED Podium Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet
- Troy Lee Designs Full Face Mountain Bike Adult Helmet
- Giro Switchblade MIPS Cycling Helmet
- O'Neal Fury RL II Mountain Bike Helmet
- IXS Unisex Trigger Full Face All-Mountain Bike Helmet
Bell Super 3R MIPS Review
Weight: 784 Grams | Sizes: S, M, L | Color Options: 5
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If you've searched online for any helmet, you most likely would've seen ones from Bell. This brand is one of the best helmet makers around with a host of styles and models for cycling.
Their Super 3R MIPS is our favorite full face helmet for mountain biking with little contest from other brands. This helmet offers everything you could want in comfort, style, ventilation, and protection. It features a removable chin bar that will allow you to ride more comfortably when you don't need it. And it even has good X-static and XT-2 Padding internally for wraparound protection, making it one of the best MIPS mountain bike helmets around.
You can get them in four color options and three sizes that will allow you to find the right style and fit for your head. Moreover, if you want the highest protection possible, you could opt to buy the Super DH version, which is much better than the Super 3R. However, it does cost a bit more, but the protection offered is worth the extra dollars.
Wearing this helmet, we felt fully protected, and with the OverBrow ventilation, it makes it hard to remember you are wearing a full-face helmet. Overall, you won't find a much better full-face helmet for mountain biking than this.
What we liked:
Troy Lee Designs Full Face Mountain Bike Adult Helmet Review
Weight: 690 Grams | Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL,XXL | Color Options: 15
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Flawless protection and style are what you can expect from this one. We rated this one as the most stylish model of all the options listed as it offers 15 color designs! Moreover, this helmet has met and exceeded multiple safety certifications and has been ranked at the top of the MIPS helmet list.
Troy Lee Designs is no slouch when it comes to biking and Motorsports. They've produced some great gear that has never left one feeling like they have made a bad purchase. Furthermore, their Full Face Mountain Bike adult helmet is not the exception to this tradition.
You might also be interested in: XXL Bike Helmet: The Largest and Most Protective Bike Helmet Available
It offers perfect air ventilation thanks to the 11 High Flow air intakes and 14 open core exhausts. It might sound complicated, but all it means is that with this helmet, you'll feel like you're riding with your head out bare. Moreover, it uses X-static pure silver comfort liners that grants more than enough padding for max comfort.
If you go with this one, you'll have no regrets as it is one of the lightest full-face mtb helmets worth buying now.
What we liked:
DEMON UNITED Podium Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet Review
Weight: 2Lbs | Sizes: M, L, XLRG | Color Options: 5
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Demon United has been in the sports industry for quite some time now and has manufactured some of the best full face mountain bike helmets. And their Podium Full Face MTB helmet lives up to its name in both style and safety performance. This helmet isn't only durable but is also as lightweight as they come. Plus, it also offers insanely good ventilation that provides excellent comfort, so you'll have no reason to want to take it off.
The DEMON UNITED Podium features a tough polycarbonate shell that is well known to resist damage. It has met the required safety standards with CPSC certification. Moreover, it is more stylish than most other full face mtb helmets as it offers five color options.
Regarding ventilation, it comes with 13 airflow vents that allowed more than enough air in the helmet to keep your head cool. And the inner EPS foam liner will perfectly conform to your head shape.
We've had no complaints with this one, and the reviews from other experts and customers back up our findings. If you've been putting off getting a downhill mountain bike full-face helmet, this one should make you reconsider.
What we liked:
Giro Switchblade MIPS Cycling Helmet Review - Best Budget Full Face MTB Helmet
Sizes: M, L, XLRG | Color Options: 5
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Most persons know the brand GIRO and are aware that they stand for making very good products. As such, you can expect only to hear good things about their Switchblade MIPS helmet. This helmet is one of the best downhill full face mtb helmets with plenty of features that you'll fall in love with.
It comes with a POV visor that is adjustable in indexed steps so you can shade and protect your eyewear from water and sun. Moreover, it has a removable chin bar that will allow you to tackle treacherous downhills.
The Giro Switchblade features 20 air vents with internal channeling and cheek pad ventilation. This means you still get excellent ventilation on par with all the other mountain bike helmets we've listed before. And the X-static antimicrobial padding offers the really good comfort and hygiene benefits.
There are three sizes available and four color options, so you'll be able to find one that suits you.
What we liked:
O'Neal Fury RL II Mountain Bike Helmet Review
Weight: 950 grams | Sizes: M, L, | Color Options: 1
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The O'Neal Fury RL II is another excellent full face mountain bike helmet that you should consider. It is very lightweight and offers all the premium features expected of a good full face helmets. With this one, you'll be able to feel confident in taking on any mountain.
The Fury RL II features a stylish design with an adjustable visor and detachable go pro mount. This addition makes it great for those who want to record their runs without buying helmet mounts. Further, it even has a removable chin bar with magnetic buckles that make it easy to put on and take off the helmet.
For comfort, you get a sufficient amount of ventilation and padding that can easily be removed for washing. Plus, it exceeds the EN1078 helmet safety standards, so you won't have to worry about whether it will offer enough protection.
What we liked:
IXS Unisex Trigger Full Face All-Mountain Bike Helmet
Weight: +/- 600 Grams | Sizes: S, M | Color Options: 4
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This helmet offers class-leading adjustability that allows it to fit securely on your head, making it one of the most comfortable options. It is built with excellent materials that make it very comfortable internally and durable externally. Moreover, it comes in multiple sizes and color options.
The Unisex Trigger also offers really good ventilation through the large airflow holes in its design. It has an adjustable visor; however, it doesn't feature a removable chin bar. So we dropped it's rating a little lower.
With this helmet, both shell and internal materials are directly connected. This design makes it extremely durable and allows it to meet and exceed the required safety standards EN1078 and CPSC. So you'll have really good head protection.
What we liked:
What to Consider Before Choosing The Best Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet
If you opt to go with one of the best full face mountain bike helmets we've already shortlisted, you won't have to consider them. However, if you decide to look elsewhere at another full face mtb helmet, make sure you carefully review the following:
Build Quality
A helmet with a poor build quality is the same as not wearing a helmet at all. It would be best if you remembered that mountain biking trails aren't always flat and smooth. Furthermore, if you plan to tackle downhill trails, it makes it much more dangerous as you will be going faster than normal.
As such, using a helmet that is built with only the best materials to protect your head from hard impacts is critical. It would help if you always opted for MIPS full face helmets as those offer the best protection for mountain biking. he
Safety Certification
The safety certification is another crucial aspect that ties into the build quality of the helmet. If the helmet you are interested in doesn't meet or exceed the recommended helmet certification, we suggest looking elsewhere. Safety certifications are pretty strict, so long as the helmet meets them, you can be assured that you are buying a good quality item.
Ventilation
Your head sweats like the rest of your body during vigorous physical activities. A helmet without proper ventilation will quickly become uncomfortable. This can lead to you wanting to remove it and risking injury.
So whenever you look at a helmet, try to go for the ones with the most air ventilation possible. This will ensure comfort over long durations and help keep your head cool. However, keep in mind that air vents on a helmet must follow a safe structural design since having holes everywhere isn't always good.
Eye Protection Compatibility
While full face helmets make mountain biking much safer, they don't protect your eyes. So you will always need to get your own MTB goggles for eye protection. As such, you need to be aware that not all mountain bike helmets offer compatibility with biking goggles.
In most cases, a good helmet will feature either a grip pad or clip that will allow you to fasten your goggles to the helmet. So whenever you go looking for mtb helmets, make sure you check for this compatibility.
Warranty
This is self-explanatory but important nonetheless. Any warranty is better than no warranty as mountain bike helmets are subject to all kinds of mishaps. Having some assurance that will help you mitigate damage and costs to replace the helmet is always welcomed.
FAQ
What are the main differences between full face MTB helmets and half shell helmets?
Full face mountain bike helmets provide more protection for the entire head, including the chin and face, compared to half shell helmets which only protect the top and back of the head. Full face helmets are also more suitable for downhill and enduro racing, while half shell helmets are more commonly used for general mountain biking.
What safety features do full face mountain bike helmets offer compared to half shell helmets?
Full face mountain bike helmets typically offer more protection for the chin and face and also often come with a removable chin bar for added protection. They also may have more coverage on the back of the head and temples. They also often have certification for downhill riding, which half shell helmets do not have.
What are the benefits of a full face mountain bike helmet with a removable chin guard?
A full face mountain bike helmet with a removable chin guard offers versatility for the rider. The chin guard can be removed for less aggressive trail riding or when more ventilation is desired. It also allows for the helmet to be easily converted into a half shell helmet.
How does a full face helmet compare to a convertible mountain bike helmet in terms of protection?
A full face helmet offers more protection for the entire head, including the chin and face, compared to a convertible helmet which can be converted into a half shell helmet. A full face helmet is also more suitable for downhill and enduro racing, while a convertible helmet is more versatile for general mountain biking.
Is a Full face mountain bike helmet with a removable chin guard better than a traditional downhill helmet?
A full face mountain bike helmet with a removable chin guard offers more protection for the entire head, including the chin and face, compared to a traditional downhill helmet which can't be converted into a half shell helmet. Additionally, a full face helmet with a removable chin guard is more versatile for the rider, while a traditional downhill helmet is more suitable for downhill racing.
What are the best helmet manufacturers for Full Face MTB helmets?
Some of the best helmet manufacturers that offer lightweight full face mountain bike helmets with removable chin bars include Bell, Giro, Troy Lee Designs, O'Neal, and IXS.
Which is the most ventilated full face MTB helmet with a removable chin guard?
The most ventilated full face MTB helmet with a removable chin guard will vary from brand to brand. Therefore, it's important to check the helmet's ventilation system and number of vents. The Bell Super 3R MIPS and Giro Switchblade MIPS are known to have good ventilation systems.
How do the ventilation systems of full face mountain bike helmets compare to half shell helmets?
Full face mountain bike helmets often have more ventilation options compared to half shell helmets. They have larger vents and a more advanced ventilation system, which helps to keep the rider cool and comfortable during high-intensity rides. This is especially important for full face helmets as they tend to be hotter than half shell helmets.
How do the fit and comfort of full face mountain bike helmets compare to half shell helmets?
Full face mountain bike helmets tend to have a more snug and secure fit compared to half shell helmets. This is due to their design covering more of the head and face. They also often have more padding and adjustable features to ensure a comfortable fit.
Wrap Up
With that, you should've found the best full face mountain biking helmet to protect your head. The items we've listed have been tested by our experts and have received only positive ratings. So we feel comfortable knowing that you can go ahead and choose an option with zero regrets.
Let us know which one you liked best in the discussion below.
Last Updated on October 14, 2023 by Daniel White