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MTB Helmets

Mountain bike helmets provide enhanced protection with features like extended rear coverage, sturdy or adjustable visors, and increased ventilation. MTB Helmets come in open faced and full faced options, and also in-mould and hard-shell constructions.

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The types.

There are 2 types of mountain bike helmets; open-face and full-face.

Open-face MTB helmets deliver more protection than recreational helmets.

On mountain bike trails, you're travelling fast through smooth or technical off-road sections.

This is what makes and open-face MTB helmet different:

  • MTB helmets have deeper coverage. The coverage extends down further;. past the ears and around the cranium.
     
  • The foam volume is very different too. MTB helmets have thicker sections - especially at the back of the head.

  • MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) that's a rotational liner inside the helmet that helps protect the brain against concussion.

Note:

More recreational bike helmets are being available with MIPS. But far more MTB helmets come with MIPS than without.

Even though these helmets are designed for mountain biking, you don't need to be a mountain biker to consider purchasing one.

For recreational riders who want above average head protection, MTB helmets are going to be perfectly fine.

Open-face MTB helmets.

These helmets come in a variety of price points and styles.

Let's start with the Fox Mainframe.

It's one of our affordable MTB helmets. It retains the same excellent coverage, foam volume and MIPS that the more expensive helmets do.

As the price point pushes north, you'll notice helmets like the Fox Speedframe.

What you get for the extra dollars:

  • A helmet that's visually sleeker.
  • More air intake vents and larger exhaust vents to channel lots of cool air in and expel hot air.
  • The MIPS layer tends to be a bit lighter and more ventilated too.

If you're the sort of rider that wants an open-face with most protection then consider the Fox Dropframe.

Rider with a Full-Face MTB Helmet

Full-face MTB helmets.

Riders should consider a full-face MTB helmet if you're racing BMX, getting shuttled to the top of the trails, Bike Park use (such as Bright) or you're riding high-speed technical trails consistently.

The differences in the full-face helmets at various price points is more discernible.

And the focus now becomes weight and ventilation.

Simply, the more dollars you spend, the weight goes down and the ventilation improves.

Our full-face MTB helmet range starts at the Bell Sanction and the Fox Rampage. Protection is not an issue but if you're concerned about weight, then the Sanction (at approx. 850g) is going to be much lighter than the Fox Rampage (approx. 1,270g).

Enduro full-face MTB helmets.

The Fox Proframe is one of the best enduro full-face helmets on the market.

The reasons are:

  • These are super well ventilated. Meaning you can pedal in these helmets without overheating.
  • The Proframe RS has a BOA adjustment dial that delivers a very precise fit.

So, riders get the protection of a full-face helmet at close to the weight of an open face (approx. 750g).

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