Open Face and Full Face Helmets

A mountain bike helmet is absolutely necessary because the risk of mountain biking injuries is much greater than in cycling or road racing. In mountain biking, open face helmets are considered only for cross country, single track, and recreational riding. These helmets are typically lightweight and well ventilated.

All helmets used for mountain biking should fulfill the safety conditions defined by the Consumer Products Safety Commission certification standard. Look for the CPSC certification sticker on the inside of the helmet. A full-face helmet for mountain biking should follow the ASTM F 1952 Downhill Mountain Bike Helmet Standard or the ASTM F 2032 BMX Helmet Standard. There are tougher standards, such as DOT or Snell, which take into account fit and shape standards of the helmet and how this affects the shape and size of the helmet buyer’s head.

The buyer should not depend upon the manual fit of the helmet with hit and trial. The better option is to buy a helmet which has adjustable fit systems built into the helmet. This system allows the buyer to rotate a dial and adjust the fit to the head. This feature helps a lot in fitting the helmet to the head properly. Since there are variations in the sizes and shapes of everyone’s head, an adjustable fit helmet makes it possible to get a proper fit.

ShopHelmets.com provides a wide selection of mountain bike helmets for both novice and experienced mountain & trail bikers in both adult and youth sizes.