10 Best Mountain Bike Full-Face Helmets

  /  GearReviews  /  10 Best Mountain Bike Full-Face Helmets

OLIVER L. Author

Published: September 20, 2021

Oliver has been mountain biking for over 20 years, raced downhill nationally and is part of several mountain biking clubs and communities. He currently owns five bikes... and they all get used (as he reminds his girlfriend regularly) Read More

Mountain bike full-face helmets are absolutely a necessity if you plan to try some new stunts. Even if you are very skilled at what you do and have years of experience, you will still need protection. And that protection only comes from these full-face mountain bike helmets.

Of course, you don’t need these for all mountain biking. A full-face helmet for mountain biking offers great head protection and will keep you safe in case of a crash.

But which full-face helmet to go for as the market is flooded with them. We recommend going for the quality ones because this is a matter of your safety. So, scroll down to find our best mountain bike full-face helmet list.

Best Mountain Bike Full Face Helmets Reviewed

We have listed some of the most reliable and highest rated full face helmets for your convenience. When it comes to full face mountain bike helmets you want the best to give you ultimate protection.

1.    Best Budget Helmet: Demon Podium


Our Rating: ★★★★

You can choose the Demon full-face bike helmets from different sizes, designs, and colors. It features a fully adjustable visor and is screwed into the helmet frame with the help of aluminum screws.

This helmet is made of tough quality injection molded polycarbonate alloy resin shell. It means the helmet will be lightweight, but you won’t have to compromise on its overall durability.

On the inside, there is an EPS foam liner that will conform to the shape of your head. You can remove the liners and wash them to prevent any odors. Apart from that, there are thirteen different vents to ensure maximum airflow.

There are adjustable steps that allow you to conveniently fit a helmet on your head and prevent it from any unwanted movements and readjustments. And the best part is that this helmet is CPSC certified.

Pros

  • Available in different designs and colors.
  • Features a fully adjustable visor.
  • EPS line for maximum conformity.
  • Robust design.
  • 13 different vents for airflow.

Cons

  • Visors need to be adjusted out of the box.

2.    Most Versatile: O’Neal 2 Series


Our Rating: ★★★★★

This helmet is pretty versatile, and if you are a fan of riding, you don’t need anything else with it. You can use it for cycles as well as motorcycles. Additionally, you can use it for ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles as well.

Your purchase will include a spare visor, and you can put it in your gear bag in case you need it. But this helmet is a tight fit. So, it’s better to go one size up. Also, there is thick padding on the cheeks.

The helmet is of high quality and robust materials, and it is going to last for a long time to come. It is truly made for hardcore riding. There is an adjustable strap that will hold its place and keep the helmet in place. In addition, there are different vents in this helmet that will keep the airflow inside the helmet during the ride.

Pros

  • Durable helmet.
  • Has different vents in it.
  • Comes with a spare visor.
  • An adjustable strap holds the helmet in position.

Cons

  • Tight-fitting, must go from one size up.

3.    Best Looking: Troy Lee PolyLite


Our Rating: ★★★★★

This quality full-face helmet for mountain biking is made of PolyLite shell and has fiber reinforcement. Therefore, this helmet is extremely lightweight and pretty durable. You will notice that this helmet will not lose its shape for a long time to come.

There are 11 different vents in this helmet to manage airflow and keep you comfortable during your ride. In addition, there are 14 other open core ports for the exhaust to ensure even better airflow with inward channeling.

The strap of this helmet features a FidLock buckling system, and it snaps on really quick. No need to wait and put the strap of your helmet on like you normally do. There is a drawstring bag in it, and it has breathable mesh paneling as well.

Your head will be very comfortable and quite safe in this helmet. But you need to keep in mind that this helmet is not rated for motorized use, and you can only use it for mountain biking.

Pros

  • Lightweight but robust.
  • 11 different airflow vents.
  • 14 open-core ports for exhaust.
  • FidLocking mechanism.
  • Breathable mesh paneling.

Cons

  • It doesn’t come with a visor.

4.    Best Protection: Bell Servo


Our Rating: ★★★★

You can use this classic mountain biking full-face helmet for mountain biking and BMX riding. This helmet also fits a bit tight, so make sure you can go for one upsize. But we highly recommend going for a helmet that fits well because it will keep your head safe.

This helmet is not all about hardcore. There is plush interior padding with full coverage to make sure your head is cushioned correctly inside. Also, you can remove and ash those cheek pads to keep any odors at bay.

Apart from that, there is a comfortable neck roll that increases more protection with padding. This helmet is also CPSC certified and comes with an adjustable visor. It also features a pinch guard to buckle the strap without the pinch.

Thanks to their true fit system, the helmet doesn’t need any readjustments. You can easily fit it in one go and focus on your riding.

Pros

  • Easy and straightforward fitting.
  • Optimized for neck comfort.
  • Lightweight design but very durable.
  • Features a patented inch guard.
  • Cheek pads are washable.

Cons

  • Go for the one size up because it feels too small.

5.    Best to Remove Chin Guard: Giro Switchblade


Our Rating: ★★★★★

The Switchblade by Giro is a tough MTB helmet, and it can take a toll. The outer shell is of polycarbonate and ensures market-leading protection. All Giro helmets are lab tested under robust conditions to check their performance and reliability. Therefore, these helmets are one of the best in the market in terms of their performance.

You can conveniently remove the chin bar and use it as a regular helmet if you want. It means your helmet can conveniently adapt according to your riding style. Giro is well known for its multi-directional impact protection system.

It means this design guarantees to redirect energy in case of a crash. In addition, there are different vents inside the helmet to make sure sir flows through in abundance and keeps you nice and relaxed. It also comes with an in-mold construction that meets and exceeds the bike standards whether you use the chin-bar or not.

Pros

  • Features an adaptable design with removable chin guard.
  • Tested and certified in the lab for its reliability.
  • Proper ventilation throughout.
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Different size options are available.

Cons

  • Chin bar attachment gets loose over time.

6.    Best Brand: Giro Disciple


Our Rating: ★★★★

Here’s another one by Giro, and it comes with the same reliability and performance features as we have discussed above. However, this one comes with more color options than the previous one, while size options are similar.

The materials used in the construction of this helmet are expanded polystyrene. This is a durable but extremely lightweight material. It will not make your head heavy while riding, but it will keep your head safe during your ride.

This helmet also goes through the strict testing mechanism that Giro has set for all its helmets. It means this helmet comes with multi-directional crash protection.

There is an EPS liner on the inside, and it is blended with vinyl nitrile to make sure that your head remains comfortable and safe in case of an impact. And the best part is that this helmet also comes with visors. There is a D-ring buckle on it, so you will have to strap it properly before you start riding.

Pros

  • Channel ventilation.
  • Fiberglass shell.
  • EPS liner with vinyl nitrile.
  • You can buy fit kit padding separately.
  • Features different vents to keep the airflow at max.

Cons

  • Takes a bit of time to break-in.

7.    Lightest: Fox ProFrame


Our Rating: ★★★★★

The ProFrame is the lightest and most durable full-face helmet that Fox has produced. They have used quality material in the development of this helmet. But at these prices, you should expect to have visors to come with your helmet as well. But this one doesn’t come with visors at all.

This helmet does come in different size options, but it doesn’t come in various color options. So, you are quite a bit stuck with the black one if you don’t need it. Also, these bike helmets have different vents to ensure maximum airflow to keep you cool and focused on the trail ahead.

There is a conventional buckle system on this helmet, so nothing quite extraordinary there. All in all, it’s a pretty standard-looking mountain bike helmet that does come with durability. However, this bike helmet is specifically designed for riding cycles and not for motorcycles, so you need to keep that in mind as well.

Pros

  • Quite a conventional design and construction.
  • Features a simple buckle strap.
  • Made of pretty lightweight materials.
  • Features different vents to maximize airflow.
  • Comfortable liner to keep your head safe.

Cons

  • Doesn’t come with a visor.

8.    Best Chin Strap: Leatt 4.0


Our Rating: ★★★★★

Leatt is not a very recognized brand, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have good products. But the first thing you will notice as soon as you hold this helmet in your hands is that it doesn’t come with some weight on it.

The weight is not that much, but this helmet is slightly heavier than the ones we have just talked about above. Leatt has used lightweight polymer to construct this helmet, and it does make light but not relative to the other helmets that we have reviewed. Still, this helmet is lightweight.

This helmet also features the 360 Turbie technology to make sure your head is adequately ventilated. There are 22 different vents present in this helmet, and you can also remove the mouse piece ventilation cover. This helmet also comes with the FidLock magnetic system, so you won’t have to spend much time strapping your helmet.

Pros

  • The mouthpiece is removable.
  • There are 22 airflow vents in this helmet.
  • FidLock magnetic system for closure.
  • Lightweight polymer material shell.

Cons

  • Doesn’t come in color or size options.
  • Slightly heavy.

9.    Best for Downhill: Smith Mainline


Our Rating: ★★★★★

This premium quality helmet comes with three different extended warranties. It is an ideal option for downhill and enduro biking, and it is ASTM certified for downhill mountain biking.

There are 21 different vents present in this. And they are there to make sure the airflow remains at an optimal level for your head. It is one of the reasons why this helmet is a good choice for hot weather conditions as well.

There is a Koroyd layer present on the inside of this helmet, and it will protect you from any direct impact by absorbing it. This helmet also comes with multi-directional crash protection, and for the proper fit, it comes with different pad sizing.

There is a D-ring fastener on this helmet, and you can remove and wash the pads. Only two-color options and two sizes are available, which is a bit of a disappointment at such a price.

Pros

  • Durable designs.
  • Features different vents.
  • ASTM certified.
  • The Koroyd layer protects your head from any impacts.
  • Multiple pad sizes are available for a proper fit.

Cons

  • No color or size options
  • Doesn’t come with a visor.

10.  Best Quality: 7 Protection Project .23


Our Rating: ★★★★★

This premium quality helmet also comes in one color and size option. But it also comes with a warrant that you can extend. The helmet is lightweight carbon, and it’s a top choice for enduro and gravity mountain biking.

There are 23 different big-size vents in this helmet that will keep the airflow at its best, making it one of the best choices to wear in hot weather. In addition, the strong carbon shell has lab layering to ensure its durability.

This shell comes with a SET system that can be angled, rotations, and low-speed impacts pretty well. This helmet is also ASTM certified for downhill riding. There are injection molded trims that keep the carbon finish safe, while the AGION liner with anti-odor keeps the helmet feeling fresh all the time.

This helmet comes with a padded pro bag and a quick-release liner as well. It’s a pretty robot helmet that will continue to perform year after year even if it goes through some crashes.

Pros

  • Lightweight carbon construction.
  • 23 different events.
  • SERT system to fend off any impacts from any directions.
  • Comes with an AGION liner with anti-odor.
  • Injection molding time keep the carbon finish safely.

Cons

  • Pretty expensive.
  • No color or size option.

FAQs

Are full-face helmets good for mountain biking?

If you are not going to do any stunts or zip along at high speeds, then a full-face helmet might be overkill. But for safety and protection, this is the best-recommended option.

How do I choose a full-face MTB helmet?

Make sure you look at its fitting and consider the materials of the outer shell and the inner lining. Consider its overall weight and what cushioning it comes with. Checks to see if it is CPSC or ASTM certified or not. Also, check the strap and visor adjustability and locking mechanisms.

Do full-face helmets have MIPS?

Some of them do while others don’t. However, brands like Giro and 7 Protections do come with multi-directional crash protection properties.

Are full-face bike helmets safer?

Yes, Mountain bike full-face helmets are safer because they cover your entire face and your head. In other helmets, your chin and face are exposed.

Conclusion

Depending on your riding style and budget, any of these mountain bike full-face helmets will be a great choice. Most are extremely lightweight and offer ample protection. The options to remove the chin protection is a great feature for all types of riding but the best one is the one you like.

Mountain biking is fun, but you need to wear a full-face helmet to integrate safety with fun. And this is important for both new and experienced riders. So, no one is expended here. After all, you need to keep that face if you’re as beautiful as ever. And you can only do that by protecting it.

Below is a Pinterest friendly photo… so you can pin it to your Mountain Bike Board!


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