The 6 Best Full Face Mountain Bike Helmets of 2022
By: Jon Kennedy: Bike Buyer | May 4, 2022
Mountain bikers looking for a little extra protection have long reached for full face helmets. Originally, we just used repurposed dirt bike helmets, with the chinbar and extra padding helping keep your head safe at higher speeds, and in gnarlier terrain. But since those early days, full face mountain bike helmets have evolved a lot. They’ve gotten lighter, new safety technologies have been developed, and companies have worked to create helmets that serve our specific needs, as opposed to rebranding motorcycle helmets.
New This Year:
But, with those developments, we’ve got more options as well. The market is awash with helmets, but every model is designed with different design parameters to help it excel in specific areas. So we’ve put together this guide to a range of the best full face mountain bike helmets we’ve used, and broken down what we considered when choosing the bike helmet, as well as what sort of riders will like about each helmet. So, whether you’re an enduro rider looking for something that offers a little more protection on the down, but is still light and vented enough to pedal long days in, or you’re a dedicated downhiller looking for maximum protection as you bash bike park laps, we’ve got a helmet that will keep you safe and happy on every ride.
This Year's Best Full Face MTB Helmets:
Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS Bike Helmet
Today's trail bikes are more capable than last year's DH sleds, able to tame the heaviest terrain. The consequences for making a mistake out there haven't changed though, making the Sweet Protection Arbitrator MIPS Bike Helmet a smart solution for riders who find themselves getting gnarlier than most. A carbon fiber DH helmet with MIPS, solid safety certifications, and smooth styling make this a top convertible helmet to consider, with the removable chin bar adding a huge bump in confidence and safety. Protect your grill!
| Weight | Special Features | Original Price |
| 980 g | Removable chin bar | $349.95 |
Leatt MTB Enduro 4.0 V21 Bike Helmet
From the uphill pedal to the downhill death grip, the Leatt MTB Enduro 4.0 V21 Bike Helmet is packed with unique features that set it apart from other full face helmets. From the removable mouthpiece that integrates into the chin bar to improve ventilation, to the adjustable visor that flips up to position your goggles underneath so you don't have to fully remove them, the MTB Enduro 4.0 V21 Bike Helmet gives you all the benefits of a full face with none of the drawbacks. Finished with Leatt's safety enhancing 360° Turbine Technology which reduces both rotational acceleration and concussion level impact energy, this helmet is poised to help you take your riding to the next level.
| Weight | Special Features | Original Price |
| 810 g | Removable Chin Bar | $299.99 |
Troy Lee Designs D4 Carbon Bike Helmet
At only 1000 grams, the Troy Lee Designs D4 Carbon Bike Helmet is a featherweight dream. It barely registers as any extra weight on your head, remarkable when you consider its superior protection. Whether you're a BMX racer obsessing over grams or a jeans-wearing park rat who wears a helmet all weekend, you'll appreciate the protection-to-mass ratio of the D4. Not to mention how sick this thing looks!
| Weight | Special Features | Original Price |
| 1000 g | TeXtreme® Spread Tow Carbon Fiber Shell | $550 |
Smith Mainline MIPS Bike Helmet
The Smith Mainline MIPS Bike Helmet takes the brand headfirst into a highly contested scene, and their first full-face is a winner. As lightweight and as comfortable as their half shells, the Mainline will shock you with its airy feel. If you're challenging yourself with bigger terrain and higher speeds, the confidence you'll get from this full-face is a welcome addition. You charge, but so do dentists: rock a full-face and only see them at your six month checkups!
| Weight | Special Features | Original Price |
| 770 g | Lightweight & Breathable Koroyd Construction | $300 |
Troy Lee Designs Stage MIPS Bike Helmet
The ultimate enduro lid has arrived - the Troy Lee Designs Stage MIPS Bike Helmet. This lightweight and versatile helmet boasts MIPS technology wrapped into a dual density EPP+EPS foam with a full face chinbar for complete protection. All this versatility and capability does not have to come without comfort. The Troy Lee Designs Stage MIPS Bike Helmet features a full padding kit and tons of channel venting to keep you cool and comfy during your runs.
| Weight | Special Features | Original Price |
| 690 g | 25 vents for maximum airflow | $299 |
Fox Proframe Bike Helmet
The lightweight Fox Proframe Bike Helmet is back for another season of burly DH-capable protection with enduro functionality. A patent pending integrated chinbar design with the latest MIPS system makes this helmet extremely versatile and top notch in the event of a crash. Safety isn't the only thing the Fox Proframe Bike Helmet is about - this bad-boy skid lid packs big vents molded into the EPS/ABS construction to keep you cool while its Fidlock® SNAP keeps everything nice and secure, and it's incredibly easy to pull on and off to boot.
| Weight | Special Features | Original Price |
| 750 g | MIPS™ Impact Protection System | $269.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose
- Mountain Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
- Mountain Bikes - How to Get Started Mountain Biking
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Wheel Size
- Mountain Bikes - Suspension Basics
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Mountian Bike Dropper Post
- Mountain Bikes - How to Choose MTB Pedals
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
- Mountain Bikes - How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
- Mountain Bikes - How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
- Mountain Bikes - How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
- Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed a RockShox Reverb Seatpost
- Mountain Bikes - How to Service Fox and RockShox Fork Lowers
- Mountain Biking - What to Bring Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking - What to Wear Mountain Biking
- Mountain Biking - How to Choose Knee Pads
- Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
- eBikes - Classes, Features & More
- eBikes - Where to Ride eBikes
- Bike Accessories - Helmet Size & Fit Guide
- Bike Accessories - How to Choose Bike Shoes
- Bikes - How to Choose Bike Tires
- Bikes - How to Repair & Replace a Bike Chain
- Bikes - How to Choose Accessories
- Bikes - Urban Riding Tips
- Travel & Destination Guides - Where to Mountain Bike
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The Best Enduro Bikes
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The Best Mountain Bike Helmets
The Best Full Face MTB Helmets
The Best Mountain Bike Knee Pads
The Best Mountain Bike Elbow Pads
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The Selection Process:
Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jon Kennedy
Jon is a Bike Buyer and joined evo in 2015 to help launch the category. He has a long tenure in the bike industry bringing over 20 years of experience.
Jon was formerly the Marketing Manager for Diamondback bikes and was the Executive Director for the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance prior to that. His broad experience in the bike industry from the brand, advocacy and retail side has contributed to a well-rounded understanding of trends, needs and opportunities.
Jon grew up in the Seattle area and currently resides there with his wife Ilana, kids Erez and Lilah, and his Boston Terrier Marley. He is a daily rider packing countless miles in every year, loves all disciplines, and simply considers himself a cyclist… a title he embraces with great passion.