Helmet

Mountain bike helmet

An open-face helmet made for trails: deeper at the back and sides than a road helmet, with a visor and plenty of vents. The one piece of gear no ride goes without.

Also known as: MTB helmet, trail helmet, half-shell helmet, open-face helmet

Key facts

Protection
Medium
Safety standard
EN 1078 (EU), CPSC 1203 (US)
Weight
380 g

What makes it an MTB helmet

  • More coverage at the back of the head and the temples, where trail crashes land.
  • A visor against sun, rain and branches — with room to push goggles up under it.
  • Big vents for slow, hot climbs.

Fit

  1. Level on your head, about two fingers above the eyebrows.
  2. Snug before you close the strap: shake your head and it should not move.
  3. Side straps meet in a V just under each ear; one finger fits under the chin strap.

When to replace it

After any crash where it hit the ground, even without visible damage: the foam crushes once. Otherwise every few years, as the manufacturer advises. Many helmets also have a slip layer such as MIPS, meant to reduce rotation of the head in an angled impact.

For bike parks, downhill and big jumps, wear a full-face helmet instead.

Related articles

  • Cross-country (XC) — Mountain biking as an endurance sport: as much up as down, on light and efficient bikes, where fitness wins races. The only mountain-bike discipline at the Olympic Games.
  • Trail riding — The most common way to ride a mountain bike: loops that climb under your own power and descend the good stuff, on one bike that does a bit of everything.
  • Full-face helmet — A helmet with a chin bar that protects the face and jaw as well as the head. Standard for downhill, bike parks and big jumps, and more and more common in enduro.
  • Knee pads — Pads that take the hit when you fall on a knee — the most common crash injury on a mountain bike. Modern pads are soft enough to pedal in all day and harden only on impact.
  • Goggles — Sealed eyewear worn with a full-face helmet that keeps dust, mud, roost and branches out of your eyes at speed. The foam seal is what glasses do not have.
  • Gloves — Full-finger gloves give grip on the bars when your hands sweat or it rains, and save your palms and knuckles when you fall. Thin enough to feel the brakes, tough enough to slide.