How to choose a full face MTB helmet
A full face helmet wraps protection around your jaw and chin as well as the top and back of your head — the coverage you want when the consequences of a crash go up. If you ride bike park, downhill, jumps or fast, technical enduro, a full face is the standard. The right one for you comes down to how you ride and how much you're willing to carry on your head.
Downhill-certified vs lightweight trail full face. Traditional DH helmets use a rigid composite or carbon shell built to shrug off the biggest hits, and weigh around 900g–1,100g. Lightweight trail full face helmets shed weight and add ventilation so you can pedal to the top in comfort — many come in under 800g — while still meeting downhill safety standards. If you climb to your descents, a lightweight trail full face is usually the smarter buy.
Certification — read this if you ride anywhere public. In Australia, a helmet worn on a road or path must meet AS/NZS 2063. Many gravity-focused full face helmets are certified only to overseas standards (ASTM F1952 for downhill, or CE EN 1078), which are excellent for bike-park use but aren't the Australian on-road/path standard. If you'll ride your local trails or ride to the trailhead, check the helmet carries AS/NZS 2063.
Rotational protection
Look for MIPS or an equivalent system (POC's SPIN-derived tech, etc.). It's designed to reduce rotational forces in an angled impact and is worth prioritising.
Ventilation and weight
These trade off against each other and against price. More (and larger) vents plus a lighter shell mean more comfort on long, hot Australian rides — but usually cost more.
Fit is everything
A full face should be snug with no pressure points, the cheek pads firmly cupping your face, and no movement when you shake your head. Measure the circumference of your head just above your eyebrows and match it to the brand's size chart — sizing varies between brands. Removable, washable cheek pads and liners are a big plus for fit tuning and hygiene.
Goggles, not glasses
Full face helmets are designed around goggles. Check the eye-port shape works with your goggles and that there's no gap between the goggle top and the helmet brow.
Replace after a big impact
The protective foam is single-use. If the helmet takes a hard hit, replace it even if it looks fine, and replace any helmet roughly every 3–5 years as materials age.
Not sure you need full coverage all the time? A convertible helmet with a removable chin bar gives you a full face for the descents and a half-shell for the climbs, and our open face MTB helmets cover trail and XC. Learn more about rotational protection in our guide on what a MIPS helmet is and how it works.