The full-face helmet - a downhiller's best friend

Full-face Helmets

Wearing a full-face helmet when downhill mountain biking should be as natural as wearing a seatbelt in the car. And there's a good reason for this. If you've ever been in a bike park, you'll know why. Slippery roots, loose stones, massive braking ruts and demanding North shore elements require constant concentration from mountain bikers with a mostly unavoidable consequence in the case of failure: a fall. A full-face helmet ensures that there are no injuries to the head. Its design means that unlike traditional mountain bike helmets it protects not just the skull, but also part of the face. As well as downhill mountain biking, the full face helmet has a number of other recommended uses. Many freeriders for example swear by this complete head protection, from brands such as Bell.

Full-face Helmets

Complete protection with the full face helmet

A full-face helmet offers complete head protection on daredevil descents, guaranteed by the shock absorption tests which each helmet must survive to be approved onto the market. But there are other aspects of a full-face helmet which significantly influence its functionality. This includes a field of view in the bicycle helmet which allows you to quickly react to your environment. To protect against airborne dust, stones and more the full-face helmet should be worn with goggles. The visor of the mountain bike helmet offers protection against low branches and brushwood.

Fits like a glove - what should you consider when choosing a full face helmet?

As with any kind of protector a full-face helmet can only perform reliably if you choose the right one. The decisive factor is primarily the shape and size of the helmet. A helmet that's too loose risks slipping over the eyes or not offering enough protection in a fall. Full face helmets have an advantage as they are supplied in a wide range of sizes and with high quality inlay pads for individual adjustment. The outer shell of the bicycle helmet largely determines its weight and shock absorption level. These are made of composite materials or in luxury variants like POC from carbon. There's also differences in quality in the chin strap, which may be more or less easy to open depending on the design and will offer differing levels of protection in a fall. Air vents in the outer and inner shells largely determine the comfort of a full-face helmet. A large field of view rounds off the perfect full face helmet.

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