Mountain Bike Helmets
A mountain bike helmet is chosen on coverage, rotational protection and certification: a half-shell for trail, a full-face where the ground bites back.
The buying advice on this page is retained from the original article. Its 2018 product picks have been removed — the links were dead and the models discontinued. Current model tables live on the brand pages.
What decides the choice
| Specification | What it changes | Options in use |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | How much of the head is enclosed | Half-shell · extended rear · full-face |
| Rotational protection | Reduces twisting forces in an angled impact | MIPS · WaveCel · SPIN · none |
| Certification | The standard it is legally tested against | CPSC (US) · EN 1078 (EU) · ASTM F1952 (downhill) |
| Ventilation | Vent count and channel depth; matters most climbing | 15–25 vents typical |
| Retention | How the fit is dialled in | Rear dial · cradle height adjust |
| Weight | Felt over a long ride and in a crash | 300–400 g half-shell · 600–1,100 g full-face |