To go full face or not that’s the question?

[Gary]

I'd be surprised if the reviewer at MBR even wore it.

 

[MrSimmo]

I've come off only a few times but in each instance it was on very easy ground. I once fell over and down a slope because the ground I put my foot on whilst inspecting the drop ahead was not ground at all but branches, gorse and moss and off I went down the slope leaving the bike on the trail.

I'm going to FOD tomorrow geared up a little more for winter than summer so I think I'll go FF as I can put the helmet on my pack and ride up the push up sans helmet. I have a Bell Super DH but I struggle to put the chin guard on with the helmet already on my head. Perhaps I need to practice this. Does anyone else have the same problem with this particular helmet?

I have the same issue, I find I have to take the helmet off to fit the chin guard so I end up just riding with it on most of the time. I did FoD a few months ago, ended up hanging the lid on the bars during the climb, not ideal but it was hot...

 

[highpeakrider]

Ive had my first ride nearly dressing like @Zimmerframe

Knee and shin guards were fine, could just tell I had something on my leg, they didn't move or impact my riding.

https://uk.foxracing.com/launch-d3o®-knee%2Fshin-guard/26432.html?dwvar_26432_color=001&dwvar_26432_size=S&cgid=mtb-mens-guards#start=1

Elbows were the same, other than feeling slightly warmer didn't impact the ride.

https://uk.foxracing.com/launch-d3o®-elbow-guard/26431.html?dwvar_26431_color=001&dwvar_26431_size=S&cgid=mtb-mens-guards#start=1

Overall they just gave me a more secure feeling that if my feet slipped I would wreck my shins without feeling like an invincible super man

Helmet

Bell Helmets® UK - Official Website | Moto and Bike Helmets

Bell Helmets was born from auto racing in 1954 and exists today to inspire and enable the next generation of boundary breakers in motorcycle and bicycle culture.

www.bellbikehelmets.co.uk

Better than I expected, does not feel heavy, but I could tell I had more protection, the cheek guards just touched my face and kept the wind off me.
Visibility I can just see the end of the visor, I was aware slightly of the chin guard but non of the helmet impaired my view.
The only slight pain was you can't just put a bottle to your lips and drink, not a major issue.

Fit wise I have about a 58/59cm head and went with the large, perfect fit.
One of the reasons for going with the Bell was I wanted a MIPS helmet that you can adjust to your head using an adjustment wheel rather than sticking bits of foam in the get the right fit. It work really well.
Overall very pleased with it, easy enough to get the chin bar off and the fit seems very secure.
Early days and its a coldish day and no signs of over heating, will have to see what summer brings.

I quite fancy some padded shorts now.......

At this point its a 10/10 and I wish i'd done it sooner.

 

[Slowroller]

Ditto. Unless it is very warm i've found it suprisingly comfortable to wear and personally i feel a lot safer with it on. The added benefit being since buying it i have been to some parks that require a full face.

Initially i was put off by the cost but the wife made a very compelling argument in terms of the cost which it is potentially avoiding.

I've had a couple, and I'm speaking of the enduro style FF, not a true DH helmet, but yeah, the only reason they are hotter is that the cheek pads stop airflow over your cheeks. Otherwise, they are the same as a half lid. I figure they are 5-10% hotter, and mostly that is at a slow pace, once you get up to speed it feels the same. It's like knee pads. Hotter? Yes. Are you happy you have them on when you get up from a crash with knees intact? Yes.

 

[schleprx7]

After a few close calls where I just nicked my face during a fall. Thought that it was a good warning that Full Face makes sense for trail riding! I've been using a Kali Invader for the last few months and the only time I really notice that I have Full Face is trying to take a drink from my bottle. Cool enough to ride in 90 degree weather, especially with the higher speeds on an

eeb.

Invader

The Invader will be seeing more miles, because in addition to its chiseled good looks, understated finish & solid trail performance, front teeth are always in style. -The Loam Wolf [TECH] A Breath of Fresh Air If you occasionally find yourself in over your head, no pun intended, on your regular...

kaliprotectives.com

 

[leftside]

the only time I really notice that I have Full Face is trying to take a drink from my bottle.

Or when you have to spit

 

[Bumpy]

I use a Bell Super R which has a detachable chin bar. If its fairly tame I leave the chin bar in my bag, if I'm on my own and doing something gnarly then I just attach the chin bar for peace of mind.

 

[Pdoz]

After a few close calls where I just nicked my face during a fall. Thought that it was a good warning that Full Face makes sense for trail riding! I've been using a Kali Invader for the last few months and the only time I really notice that I have Full Face is trying to take a drink from my bottle. Cool enough to ride in 90 degree weather, especially with the higher speeds on an View attachment 42095 eeb.

Invader

The Invader will be seeing more miles, because in addition to its chiseled good looks, understated finish & solid trail performance, front teeth are always in style. -The Loam Wolf [TECH] A Breath of Fresh Air If you occasionally find yourself in over your head, no pun intended, on your regular...

kaliprotectives.com

That's an impressive looking lid. Is there any chance of you posting a pic of the inside? I'd like to see where the blue bubble wrap stuff is located ( sprogette 1 has a leatt with their own blue bubble stuff but it does nasty things to my scabby old man sun spots)

 

[Zimmerframe]

That's an impressive looking lid. Is there any chance of you posting a pic of the inside? I'd like to see where the blue bubble wrap stuff is located ( sprogette 1 has a leatt with their own blue bubble stuff but it does nasty things to my scabby old man sun spots)

I looked at it at one point - there's a picture of the inside here ... fits some people great, others - it's uncomfortable. Great warranty though !

Which Enduro Full face ? Fox ProFrame or Endura MT500 Full - Other ?

Did you take it out the box first before trying it on. should have gone for the Fox. Heres what you could have won. ?

www.emtbforums.com

 

[Pdoz]

I looked at it at one point - there's a picture of the inside here ... fits some people great, others - it's uncomfortable. Great warranty though !

Which Enduro Full face ? Fox ProFrame or Endura MT500 Full - Other ?

Did you take it out the box first before trying it on. should have gone for the Fox. Heres what you could have won. ?

www.emtbforums.com

OUCH ....as much as I'd love to rest my head on the total recall comfort zone, those blue bugs scream S+M to me.

But thanks for the mental image, zim

 

[Jeff H]

Heard too many horror stories so bought a TLD Stage last year. Now I rarely wear my open face, even for the easy stuff and in hot weather. IMHO the latest gen of lightweight breathable ff helmets is the way to go. Perfect match for an ebike since you can keep your speed up when climbing for better air cooling.

 

[MitchF]

I'm sorry to say that you sir sound like a complete idiot! Take some responsibility for your own safety !!

No need! Read that first line back to yourself ??

 

[Al Boneta]

Full Face for anything other than DH makes the wearer look like a douche nozzle.
Regular trail/XC helmets make the wearer look like a douche nozzle.
Not wearing a helmet makes the rider look like a douche nozzle.
Riding bikes makes the rider look like a douche nozzle.
Bike riding is for douche nozzles
The End

 

[Al Boneta]

 

[Al Boneta]

View attachment 42233

On the trails out here, they call them Fuck Faces

 

[lumpy]

I've been thinking of a Bell Super Air R MIPS. The faster I ride, the greater the consequences I feel

 

[Velociraptor]

I started eMTB riding seriously at age 63 this year. I have progressively added more protection after crashes. I finally switched to a Troy Lee full face helmet and have been real happy with it and it has already saved my face once. Also using knee guards and the POC mesh armor shirt that has elbow, shoulder, back, and chest guards-that was after I bruised my sternum. Usually I am a just-in-case type, but this time I am more like a I-don't-want-to-feel-that-pain-again person.

 

[Mikerb]

I have been reading reviews with interest. Understandably most comment relate to comfort and airflow but very few in terms of their ability to withstand impact. Some of the Enduro FF Helmets have more air vents than helmet material! I wonder just how strong they are/can be. I know there are various standards and tests but likewise there are YT videos of top ranking helmets practically split in two after fairly mild hits. I like the idea of more protection but it seems to me a half face with a more substantial build could be better protection from concussion, skull ,fractures etc, which are, after all, more life threatening than facial injury. When you look at the weight and construction of DH helmets they inspire more confidence that they can withstand a decent hit. Maybe the reduced airflow is a price worth paying?? For me the jury is still out on the "Enduro" FF helmets.

 

[Jeff H]

I have been reading reviews with interest. Understandably most comment relate to comfort and airflow but very few in terms of their ability to withstand impact. Some of the Enduro FF Helmets have more air vents than helmet material! I wonder just how strong they are/can be. I know there are various standards and tests but likewise there are YT videos of top ranking helmets practically split in two after fairly mild hits. I like the idea of more protection but it seems to me a half face with a more substantial build could be better protection from concussion, skull ,fractures etc, which are, after all, more life threatening than facial injury. When you look at the weight and construction of DH helmets they inspire more confidence that they can withstand a decent hit. Maybe the reduced airflow is a price worth paying?? For me the jury is still out on the "Enduro" FF helmets.

Looks can be deceiving with lots going on under the shell. TLD Stage meets a stringent downhill standard. Possibly other lightweight ff models do too. ASTM's Downhill Mountain Bike Racing helmet standard

 

[Pdoz]

I have been reading reviews with interest. Understandably most comment relate to comfort and airflow but very few in terms of their ability to withstand impact. Some of the Enduro FF Helmets have more air vents than helmet material! I wonder just how strong they are/can be. I know there are various standards and tests but likewise there are YT videos of top ranking helmets practically split in two after fairly mild hits. I like the idea of more protection but it seems to me a half face with a more substantial build could be better protection from concussion, skull ,fractures etc, which are, after all, more life threatening than facial injury. When you look at the weight and construction of DH helmets they inspire more confidence that they can withstand a decent hit. Maybe the reduced airflow is a price worth paying?? For me the jury is still out on the "Enduro" FF helmets.

Think of a helmet like the crumple zones in a car - if it absorbs energy and splits on impact, is that really a problem? Only if you expect to bounce down the trail with multiple impacts.....

The full face lids have to meet the same basic safety standards as the open face. The only difference is the VOLUNTARY down hill racing certification , which measures deflection of the chin bar IF FITTED - so ironically you can have an identical open face dh certified lid that isn't down hill certified with the added protection of a chin crumple zone!!! When someone can show me scientific data indicating the dh certification has any relevance to safety I'll shut up on this, but in the meantime I'm happy to hope that the helmet designers at reputable companies like bell / leatt are building non dh certified full faces for a rational reason - lighter, flexible chin bars with potentially less risk of neck injury, perhaps?

Now, add in primary protection. I suspect a lighter, cooler helmet is less likely to impair my concentration so I'm less likely to crash.

For me, the jury is out on old fashioned heavy motorbike style lids for use when mountain bike riding. Meanwhile, I'm wearing a bell air Rather than bell dh - lighter, cooler, but no sticker for racing

 

[steve_sordy]

I started eMTB riding seriously at age 63 this year. I have progressively added more protection after crashes. I finally switched to a Troy Lee full face helmet and have been real happy with it and it has already saved my face once. Also using knee guards and the POC mesh armor shirt that has elbow, shoulder, back, and chest guards-that was after I bruised my sternum. Usually I am a just-in-case type, but this time I am more like a I-don't-want-to-feel-that-pain-again person.

That is a very sensible approach! When I started riding mtb in 2008, I took the view that as a complete newbie I would look like I had a severe case of "all the gear and no idea" if I wore loads of protective kit other than a basic helmet. But pain and scars are a good teacher. I wonder why I cared what others thought? But for sure I wouldn't have known what to buy.

 

[Mikerb]

Think of a helmet like the crumple zones in a car - if it absorbs energy and splits on impact, is that really a problem? Only if you expect to bounce down the trail with multiple impacts.....

The full face lids have to meet the same basic safety standards as the open face. The only difference is the VOLUNTARY down hill racing certification , which measures deflection of the chin bar IF FITTED - so ironically you can have an identical open face dh certified lid that isn't down hill certified with the added protection of a chin crumple zone!!! When someone can show me scientific data indicating the dh certification has any relevance to safety I'll shut up on this, but in the meantime I'm happy to hope that the helmet designers at reputable companies like bell / leatt are building non dh certified full faces for a rational reason - lighter, flexible chin bars with potentially less risk of neck injury, perhaps?

Now, add in primary protection. I suspect a lighter, cooler helmet is less likely to impair my concentration so I'm less likely to crash.

For me, the jury is out on old fashioned heavy motorbike style lids for use when mountain bike riding. Meanwhile, I'm wearing a bell air Rather than bell dh - lighter, cooler, but no sticker for racing

your point a bout the flexibility in an impact of the chin bar is a good one.....I have seen video of the impact testing. I am happy with the chin bar aspect but certainly not happy with the outer shell splitting. Most of the helmets still mostly just consist of a plastic outer shell ( fibreglass or carbon/kevlar on the most expensive) and a EPS inner shell. EPS does nothing to spread a point impact however. I recently suffered a crash on rocks and my helmet took an impact on the temple. The outer skin split slightly...fair enough it was only about 25mm and from the leading edge of the helmet. Even so my head was cut directly under the impact zone. I binned the helmet which pained me because I really liked it ( Giro). I bought the Endura MT500 with Koroyd to replace it thinking the Koroyd would do a better job of spreading an impact than EPS.............fortunately yet to be tested!!

 

[smtkelly]

One of my favourite wood workers has a saying "past experience is not reliable predictor of future events". You may never need a helmet or ever crash till you do

My biggest accident was on a flat shared pavement cycle path we rode it every time to and from the park. I was wearing my full face (Met Attila) for no other reason then I had bad acne as a teen and it hid my pizza face. It was Slightly damp, knobbly tyres I was bunny hopping the white line (as I always did) and swoosh rear wheel washes out deflecting me head first into a wall where kinda dragged my head/shoulder along it till I hit the floor. The Side of the helmet ground down and hair line vertical fracture in the neck vertebrae. I doubt the mushroom bell-end style from back then would have offered much protection and I was really glad to be wearing that helmet.

If I was in the position too I want a full face helmet like the bell air or the Fox proframe. Simply because I dont know when they are going to crash and dentists are expensive.

 

[Pdoz]

your point a bout the flexibility in an impact of the chin bar is a good one.....I have seen video of the impact testing. I am happy with the chin bar aspect but certainly not happy with the outer shell splitting. Most of the helmets still mostly just consist of a plastic outer shell ( fibreglass or carbon/kevlar on the most expensive) and a EPS inner shell. EPS does nothing to spread a point impact however. I recently suffered a crash on rocks and my helmet took an impact on the temple. The outer skin split slightly...fair enough it was only about 25mm and from the leading edge of the helmet. Even so my head was cut directly under the impact zone. I binned the helmet which pained me because I really liked it ( Giro). I bought the Endura MT500 with Koroyd to replace it thinking the Koroyd would do a better job of spreading an impact than EPS.............fortunately yet to be tested!!

I read this differently - temple impacts are potentially fatal. There are multiple bones meeting at the temple with the middle meningeal artery running below that junction. Crack there, bleed into your brain - life changing or even ending.

The helmet cracking is the best possible outcome - you are forced to throw out a lid that if it hadn't cracked would now be dangerous I've knocked myself out in a near new $900 motorbike helmet and looked at the unscathed shell - it's HARD to throw that out!!!!

 

[volksman]

Funny that this thread is trending this week. I spent Wednesday night at the hospital getting my face stitched back together after a nasty but simple and otherwise unexceptional fall, the only thing I can attribute the damage to was the speed I was possibly doing thanks to the assist. I have to replace my helmet and will be getting a full face for sure. I can take aches and pains like my knee and shoulder right now but having stitches in my lip is not something I wish to repeat. Will be going through this thread looking at suggestions for helmets. Ride safe boys and girls, the assist adds a new dimension to riding but also falling.

 

[fenwick458]

When I started riding, a friend talked me into getting one with a removable chin bar, for when we went away for bike parks. I was reluctant as they looked stuffy and drinking/spitting would be harder, but I bought one anyway...
I bought a Bell super 3R, and that winter when I got it I just used to wear the chin bar all the time, mainly to keep my face warm as it was really cold. I then used to use it most of the time, I prefer how it fit's my head with the chin bar on to be honest, it stays put better without having to ratchet the back dial onto my head so tightly then it digs in. I used to take it off on hot, long rides where I didn't intend on going for any strava times.
that was until summer 2018 when I went to a trail centre in about July, without the chin bar, as it was so dry I lost the front wheel on some loose stuff and was catapulted over the bars face first into a big slab of stone, had a black eye, small cut on my cheek and eyebrow. it wasn't the worst crash but if the chin bar was on my face would have been unmarked. after that, I decided i'll just wear it all the time!!
and yes I have had several low speed impacts face first since then, one into a tree which cracked the chin bar and I had to replace it.
I suppose mine isn't a proper certified full face either, it's very light, and very open you hardly know it's on

 

[maker]

My riding is often up 2,500-3,000 feet, then back down. Removable chin guard off on way up to save weight and if hot whole helmet off. Always full face on way down. Only had one crash, through carelessness and though face did not smash into ground it was close, and glad I had rest of body armour on too.

 

[volksman]

I'm currently trying to source a Bell Super Air R Spherical in Canada. Sounds like the best of both worlds and instead of spending a min of $200 on a traditional and then $3 - 400 on a full face it seems pricing is about 350CDN which is totally reasonable. Wouldn't be sitting here nursing a busted face instead of riding on one of the last nice days of the season if I had had one...lol...

 

[nosuchuser]

I normally wear Giro Chronicle, IXS Carve vest and POC VPD knees - for Bedgebury or Peaslake, that combo felt about right.

But I had a fairly high speed crash at Danbury a couple of weeks ago, made a mess of one knee, an ankle (ebikes are heavy when they land on you!) and the Purion. Felt the ground on my cheek when I came to a stop. Bit of a wake up call.

So tomorrow Matthew, I'll be replacing the open face with a TLD Stage and adding some elbows. There's enough speed and airtime there for some fairly serious hurt.

I bought the Stage in expectation of getting to FOD or BPW but that's not going to happen this year Might as well use it

 

[cheater]

I use a full face full time. Same for knee pads btw. I may look a bit dorky at local trails but who cares, I know I’m more protected when (not if) going down.

Currently using a Troy Lee full face helmet (plenty light and ventilated for me) and a fox lightweight knee pads I also use a Fox jersey on most rides with some extra elbow protection. For downhill a somewhat lightweight armor from fox and also switch to a better knee pad and goggles.

My advice is just ride safer, no matter what gear you are using. Be respectful of your limits and other people around you.

Cheers