What Happens Inside the Shell During a Crash
The outer shell is only half the story. Underneath it, most full face MTB helmets use either an injection moulded ABS shell or a lighter in-mould polycarbonate construction, paired with EPS foam that's designed to crush and absorb energy on impact.
That EPS foam only works once. It's built to sacrifice itself in a single hit, compressing to absorb the force rather than bouncing back, which is exactly why a helmet needs to be replaced after any serious crash even if the outer shell looks fine. Most current full face helmets, across the brands we stock, also include MIPS, a low friction layer that lets the shell shift slightly against your head on an angled impact to redirect rotational force away from your brain rather than transferring it straight through.
Removable Chinbar Helmets: The Best of Both Worlds
Some riders want full face protection on the way down and a lighter, more open helmet on the way up, without owning two separate lids. That's where a convertible helmet like the Bell Super 3R comes in. The chinbar clips on and off in seconds using a tool-free locking mechanism, so you can pedal up in open face mode and click the chinbar on before a technical descent.
It's a genuine compromise rather than a free upgrade. A convertible helmet won't offer quite the same protection as a dedicated full face shell, but for riders who are mostly on trail and enduro terrain with the occasional steeper, faster section, it's a sensible middle ground.
Getting Goggles and Fit Right
A wide eyeport matters more than it sounds. Too narrow, and wide strap racing goggles end up pinching the bridge of your nose or leaving a gap where dust and grit get in. Most of the full face MTB helmets we stock are shaped with a wide field of view specifically for this, and include a moulded channel around the rear of the shell to keep your goggle strap sitting in place rather than sliding around under a helmet.
Inside, cheek pads are removable on essentially every model we sell, and most brands offer replacement pad kits in a couple of different thicknesses so you can fine tune the fit as the foam packs down over time, or if you've bought a helmet slightly loose and want to firm it up.
Keeping Your Full Face MTB Helmet Fresh
Sweat builds up fast inside a full face shell, especially through summer, so it's worth pulling the crown liner and cheek pads out for a proper wash reasonably often rather than just after the smell becomes obvious. Hand wash them in cool water to clear out salt buildup, and skip the tumble dryer entirely, since high heat causes the synthetic lining to shrink and can affect how the pads sit once they're back in the helmet.
Complete Your MTB Setup Today
Pair your new helmet with a set of MTB gloves and check out our MTB protection range for knee and elbow guards to match. Sort your MTB shorts while you're at it, and if you're after the Fox side of the range specifically, our Fox MTB helmets collection covers their full lineup including open face options.
