Helmet types

bogmanfan

Came across a lad who had face planted up in Ticknock on Sunday. He was ok, but had a busted nose and lip.

I have a Bell Super 2 with removable chin bar. I tend to wear the chin part around my neck on climbs and then clip it on for descents. Its very well ventilated so often don't bother removing the chin part for climbs. I do like the feeling of having the extra protection when things do go wrong.

So which type of helmet do people on here wear?

prunudo

Wear a full face myself but do like the newer style mtb helmet which seems to come down further on the sides and the back of the head.
Coming from motorbikes the full face doesn't bother me although do take it off on climbs with the warmer weather this summer.
Having broken my front teeth years ago coming off a road bike I definitely prefer the protection a full face gives you. If you're just pottering along fire roads then open face is fine but personally think the full face is the way to go once you're on trails with features and trees and rocks either side. They're certainly cheaper than new teeth

ec18

I've a full face for bike park days and an open face 'full cut' for trails

Tenzor07

A good Enduro style helmet with extra back of the head protection is good..

Unless you're spending the day doing runs at the Gap then don't bother with the full face, overkill IMO, and will sweat the head off you going uphill, not to mention if someone's trying to pass you going uphill you won't be able to hear them!

steamsey

Wearing a decent IXS MTB lid - good protection including the back of the head bit which I think is really important. Have been thinking about getting a full face with removable chin bits for race days, the GAP etc but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. One thing I do look for is replaceable pads - was a key selling point for me with the IXS lid as I've found the pads go to **** long before the rest of the lid does.

After a really bad crash a few years ago where I smashed my head off a tree whilst upside down, I was glad I was wearing a decent lid with good back of the head protection. One thing I don't scrimp on.

gnarbarian

Luckily I have never had a bad enough crash but just because I haven't crashed hard yet doesn't mean I wont in the future.. I also use the Bell Super 2R and it is great for the removable chin strap.. I'm curious to see how the chin strap fares if I was to crash head on... Hopefully I never do!

Wanderer78

Not only do I have to get a proper lid, but I also need knee pads and goggles, and I'm only at this mountain biking stuff a few years

Tenzor07

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Not only do I have to get a proper lid, but I also need knee pads and goggles, and I'm only at this mountain biking stuff a few years

Always good to have that bit of extra piece of mind when you go cycling, I usually don't bother with anything like that, though a mate of mine ripped his forearm open on a tree branch... but then again, chicks dig scars!

Wanderer78

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Always good to have that bit of extra piece of mind when you go cycling, I usually don't bother with anything like that, though a mate of mine ripped his forearm open on a tree branch... but then again, chicks dig scars!

ah ta hell with it, im sick of injuries, and ta hell with the chicks, if they want scars, they can get their own. got something sharp in my eye last weekend, straight to the doc, have to get goggles now.

Tenzor07

Wanderer78 wrote: »

ah ta hell with it, im sick of injuries, and ta hell with the chicks, if they want scars, they can get their own. got something sharp in my eye last weekend, straight to the doc, have to get goggles now.

Ouch! Yea Goggles defo a great idea in that case and certainly if doing an Enduro race..

Wanderer78

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Ouch! Yea Goggles defo a great idea in that case and certainly if doing an Enduro race..

ive never actually raced, just mainly our own trails, but ive been taking too many chances, need the protective gear now

steamsey

Forgot my knee pads last week for the first time in about 5 years and naturally I immediately crashed and fell right on my bloody knee....

I wear body chest & back armour too now when racing - just in case. Not the most comfortable but does the job

In helmet news - this one has indicators and can text......
https://www.breakingnews.ie/tech/this-smart-bike-helmet-can-send-an-emergency-text-in-event-of-accident-862654.html

bogmanfan

My attitude to protection is I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. On a normal spin I wear helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and a back pack with protector built in. I don't always wear the chin guard on my helmet, but with the hot weather gone I'll go back to wearing it as a full-face all the time.

I've noticed far more people wearing protection in the last year or so. Once upon a time I would have been the only person with elbow pads on a club spin. Now there are several full face helmets, back protectors, and it's rare to see someone without knee pads. If you find a set that are comfortable to wear then you totally forget about them and there is no downside.

Icyseanfitz

Use a Giro switchblade myself, great level of protection with or without the chin piece attached. Can get a bit sweaty in it though. Id also neve head out on any real trails without my kneepads (POC vpd air, great yokes). Recently bought a body armour suit as well but i think it will be reserved for bike parks or more serious stuff

steamsey

Standard for me would be lid, knee pads and bag has built in back protector.

If I'm not wearing the bag and going with the bum bag, I'll wear old 661 armour which does a good job of protecting chest and plenty of coverage on the back

Have POC shorts with hip protector but rarely wear them. That POC stuff is so good.

Got some sunglasses last year and they are great for spins but my eyes were still watering during races. Finally got some goggles and was loving them at the last Enduro

QueenMTBee

I wear a full face helmet all the time but I mainly do enduro and DH type biking. I'm female and I like my face the way it is! I'd switch to a good quality enduro style helmet if I ever did XC though as the full face does get really hot in the summer. I sometimes take it off for fire road climbs but that's the only exception.

I also always wear knee and elbow pads.

For DH races and bike park type stuff I add body armour (back, chest & shoulders) and have recently looked into getting a neck brace after a nasty crash a few weeks ago which resulted in bad whiplash.

emeraldmtb

I ride mostly natural trails and wear a full face 99% of the time unless I know it's going to be a mellow ride and it's too warm for a full face.
But as I use the Fox Proframe, it has to be really warm before that happens as it's very well ventilated.

I always wear knee pads and add elbow pads if its a particularly rocky trail and a back protector if I'm heading to the bike park.