There is nothing more exhilarating than tearing down a hill at high speed on a mountain bike!  Of course, with all of that fun comes some risk.  If you fall off your bike while traveling at high speed you might sustain a serious head injury or break some bones — downhill riding is not for the faint-hearted!

Using the correct safety gear is crucial.  For downhill riding, your safety gear should include a full face mountain bike helmet, shin guards, goggles, knee pads, gloves and a long sleeved shirt.  Wearing the appropriate safety gear will help you stay safe and spend more time on the trails — instead of in a hospital bed!

The most important piece of safety gear for downhill riding is your helmet.  After all, a full face Helmet will preserve your good looks should you hit a tree face first!  It can also reduce the risk of having a serious brain injury after a collision on the trail.  This guide will help you choose the best full face Mountain Bike Helmet for your budget and riding style!

What to look for in a full face mountain bike helmet:

Here are some of the considerations you should keep in mind before buying a full Face Mountain Bike helmet:

Helmet certifications

Because downhill mountain biking often involves very fast speeds, jumps, difficult terrain and steep inclines, it is important to use a helmet that complies with the relevant safety standards.  In the case of mountain bike helmets, they should meet the standards established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  These standards ensure that your helmet is well-built and capable of protecting your head if you fall off your bike.

There is also a standard specifically designed for downhill mountain bike helmets, called ASTM-F1952.  If you are going to be performing aggressive downhill riding, you should choose a helmet that complies with this more restrictive safety standard.

You may also wish to use the helmet in conjunction with a neck brace.  Neck braces can greatly reduce the risk of a spinal injury occurring during a crash.  They should only be worn with compliant full face helmets (not half shell helmets).  If you intend to wear a neck brace, make sure your helmet is designed to work with one.

Helmet fit

It is absolutely crucial that you choose a helmet that fits your head well.  A correctly fitted helmet will be more comfortable and will reduce the risk of injury if a crash occurs.   A full face mountain bike helmet should fit your head snugly while remaining comfortable.

A good quality full face helmet will have a tightening mechanism around the back of the head to help fit the helmet correctly.  It should also have a well-made chin strap that keeps the helmet secure without it feeling like it is choking you!

To get a full face mountain bike helmet that is the right size, place a measuring tape around your head at eyebrow height.  That will give you your head’s diameter.  The other consideration is the shape of your head.  People come in all shapes and sizes — some people have round heads others are more oval in shape.  You will find that helmets from different manufacturers are more accomodating for different head shapes.

Helmet price

Downhill mountain biking can be an expensive hobby!  Apart from the cost of your bike, you have to purchase a lot of safety gear.  You might be tempted to look for savings here and  there, but whatever you do — don’t skimp on the helmet!  Purchase one that is high quality, comfortable and fits well.  Don’t forget that the most expensive helmet is cheaper than a visit to the emergency department…

Five of the best full face mountain bike helmets:

Manufacturer: Demon

Weight: 2lbs 2oz

Certifications: CPSC Certification

The Demon Podium Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet is a highly durable CPSC-certified helmet that offers great value-for-money.  This helmet is an excellent choice for someone who is just getting into downhill riding and not tackling extreme trails.  It has been designed specifically for downhill riding, BMX riding and dirt jumping.

The design looks great and features Demon Dirt Team graphics.  This helmet is comfortable to wear thanks to the thick EPS foam liner that conforms to your head.  It is also quite cool thanks to 13 air flow vents.

The helmet shell is a polycarbonate shell made from injection folded thermal alloy resin.  It comes with an adjustable aluminum visor.  A great helmet at an affordable price.

Manufacturer: Demon

Weight: 2lbs 4oz

Certifications: CPSC 1203, ASTM f1952, astm63:2008, en078:1997 approved

Demon has established a reputation for building high-quality full face mountain bike helmets.  The Fox Head Rampage is a great helmet for hardcore downhill riders seeking more protection for fast downhill runs.  The outer shell is made from thick fiberglass that can survive serious impacts and keep you safe from injury.  This shell is comfortable to wear thanks to 11 venting ports and comfortable interior cheek pads.  The interior pads do a great job of removing moisture and are machine washable.  This helmet is a great choice for anyone looking for more quality without a steep price tag.

Manufacturer: Bell

Weight: 1lbs 11oz

Certifications: CPSC, CE EN1078

If you are tackling some extreme trails or you want to buy a helmet of exceptional quality, the Bell Super 3R MIPS is a great choice.  Weighing just 784 grams, this helmet is packed with features including 23 helmet vents, 4 brow ports, 6 chin bar vents and overbrow ventilation.  It has a fusion in-mold polycarbonate shell that is super tough and lightweight.

This helmet was deigned with versatility in mind.  It has a removable chin bar which allows riders to use it for downhill riding, cross country riding, enduro riding and many other styles of mountain bike riding.  It really is two helmets for the price of one.  The chin bar simply clips into the face of the helmet, without any tools being required.  This is an excellent choice for a rider who wants a professional quality helmet that can be used for many different types of riding.

Manufacturer: Bell

Weight: 2lbs 2oz

Certifications: CPSC, CE and ASTM certified

This is another great helmet for Bell, but it is targeted at more casual riders tackling their first downhill trails.  It is made from a plastic composite material that is highly durable and long-lasting.  It has overbrow vents to help keep you cool and XT-2 helmet pads to help the helmet fit snugly.  It’s hard to believe that a helmet at this price point is has ASTM certifications — but it does!  On top of the long list of features this helmet has, it is available in many different stylish designs and colors

Price: $106.20 – $243.34
Manufacturer: THE Industries

Weight: 2lbs 2oz

Certifications: CPSC Certification, ASTM 1952

This helmet is perfect for riders looking for better performance on the trails.  It is a super-light helmet with a carbon fibre shell and 15 vent cooling system.  The liner and cheek pads are removable, which makes it easy to wash and the helmet is extremely comfortable to wear.  It meets both the ASTM 1952 Downhill standards and CPSC bicycle standards.  We were impressed by the pro-level construction and attention to detail of this helmet. It is a great choice for experienced riders who only want to use the best equipment available.

There you have it, the 5 best full face mountain bike helmets. Make sure you check out the best mountain biking backpacks as well.