Best Mountain Bike Helmets 2022
You should always wear a helmet while you are mountain biking. The risks are far too high not to. So I thought I would update you with some of the best mountain bike helmets 2022 has to offer.
There are several different types of mountain bike helmets, so I will also briefly go into each one and some things to look out for.
In this article, I will go into:
- Mountain bike helmet features
- The different types of mountain bike helmets
- The best mountain bike helmets 2022 has to offer
Mountain Bike Helmet Features
Make Sure Your Mountain Bike Helmet Fits Properly And Is Comfortable
Helmets with more coverage protect you more. Therefore, you will find that a mountain bike helmet is slightly bulkier than a road bike helmet. But it will give you more protection around the sides and back of your head.
An excellent protection feature that some mountain bike helmets have is MIPS. This reduces any rotational forces that you can experience during a crash. MIPS Mountain bike helmets are more expensive, but you really want to be as safe as possible.
You may also come across some manufacturers with their own solution, with a similar system with a different name.
Make Sure You Have Sufficient Protection
If your mountain bike helmet doesn’t fit properly, it could be completely useless if you hit your head in a crash. So pay attention to the sizing guide and measure your head if you are buying online.
When you put your helmet on, you should feel comfortable and have no pressure points. If you have pressure points, you should try a different size or a different helmet.
Don’t put up with an uncomfortable or poorly fitting mountain bike helmet. It can be excruciating, and your protection can be compromised. So if you buy your mountain bike helmet online, send it back if it isn’t right for you.
Most mountain bike helmets can be adjusted to fine-tune the fit. Look for boa systems and replaceable pads of different sizes.
Consider The Weight
Look at the weight of the helmet before you buy one. You will find that lighter helmets are more comfortable. There will be less pressure on your neck, especially when you ride rougher terrain.
Look At How The Helmet Is Ventilated
If you ride in warm climates or work hard on the pedals, you need lots of air flowing through your helmet.
Good mountain bike helmets have strategically placed holes that let cool air in at the front and warm air out the back. However, just because a helmet has lots of ventilation holes doesn’t necessarily mean it has better ventilation.
A well-ventilated mountain bike helmet has well-thought-out ventilation hole positioning.
You will find that some mountain bike helmets have adjustable vents. These helmets allow you to open and close them to suit the temperature.
Different Types Of Mountain Bike Helmets
Half Shell
Half shell mountain bike helmets are very lightweight but don’t offer the most coverage or protection. Due to their lightness, half shell helmets are often worn by commuters and cross country riders.
They look a bit like road bike helmets, but they often have a peak to keep the sun and rain out of your eyes. These helmets also have more coverage around the back and sides of your head than road bike helmets.
Enduro
Enduro mountain bike helmets look a lot like half shell helmets. However, they have much more coverage, making them better for aggressive or technical mountain biking.
Enduro mountain bike helmets have fewer ventilation holes than a half shell. This is because there is less chance of pointy things going through the holes. You don’t really want a tree branch going in during a crash.
Full Face
You will come across three main types of full-face mountain bike helmets, lightweight, downhill, and convertible.
Lightweight full-face helmets give you lots of protection, but the idea is to prevent you from getting too hot. These were primarily designed for enduro racing, where riders pedal hard on the climbs but need lots of protection for the descents.
If you fancy one of these, make sure you get a downhill certified lightweight full-face mountain bike helmet.
Downhill mountain bike helmets look a bit like motocross helmets and give you maximum protection. These helmets are designed for steep and technical descents.
Downhill mountain bike helmets don’t have much ventilation, so they are not great if you do a lot of uphill climbs.
The last type of full-face mountain bike helmet is the convertible helmet. These have removable chin bars, so you get two helmets in one. You can ride uphill with the chin bar removed and re-attach it for your descent.
Some people don’t trust convertible helmets, but my Bell Super 3R is downhill rated, and I love it. Many people ride with convertible helmets here in the French Alps.
The Best mountain bike helmets 2022
1. Giro Fixture
The Giro Fixture is a fantastic half-shell mountain bike helmet, ideal for trail and cross country mountain biking. It is excellent value for money, especially as it provides lots of coverage and is lightweight.
If you are just getting into mountain biking or are on a budget, the Giro Fixture is an excellent choice for someone who isn’t riding techy stuff just yet.
2. Fox Dropframe Pro
The Fox Dropframe is one of the best mountain bike helmets 2022 has to offer. Most mountain bikers who wear one love it for its perfect fit and comfort.
The fit and comfort come from the replaceable foam pads that come in various sizes. You can swap them in and out until you get the perfect fit.
If you find that you are in-between sizes, you should opt for the larger size. You can use the larger pads to give you a snug fit.
You will love how well ventilated the Fox Dropframe Pro is. There is plenty of airflow, so you don’t cook your noggin.
The Fox Dropframe Pro is a MIPS helmet, too, so along with its excellent coverage, you will feel safe during your rides.
3. Bell Super 3R
As I mentioned before, the Bell Super 3R is my helmet of choice. I love being able to remove the chin bar for uphill struggles and putting it back on again for the downhill.
The other thing I like about it is that it is so light and airy. You forget you are wearing it pretty quickly. However, some people find that they get pressure points on the back of their heads.
If the Bell Super 3R doesn’t suit your head shape, you need to try something else. But, you will love it if it works for you.
Bell also do a downhill version of the Super 3R. This is more rugged and has less ventilation. However, it does give you lots of protection while being versatile.
Both versions of the Bell Super 3R are MIPS helmets, so you have a little more peace of mind and confidence in its protection.
4. Giro Switchblade
If you like the idea of a convertible mountain bike helmet, but the Bell Super 3R doesn’t float your boat, check out the Giro Switchblade.
This mountain bike helmet is just as good as the Bell, as it has lots of ventilation and is also a MIPS helmet. It also has a different style that you may prefer.
5. Fox Speedframe Pro
The Fox Speedframe Pro is an excellent choice for a great open-face trail riding helmet.
Riders who wear this helmet love its adjustability to get the perfect fit. It is super comfortable too, party due to its excellent ventilation, but also down to its padding.
You get good coverage with the Speedframe Pro, and MIPS enhances its safety, along with the dual-density EPS.
6. Oakley DRT 5
A great alternative to the Fox Dropframe Pro is the Oakley DRT 5. This mountain bike helmet looks great and has some interesting features.
Some people find it a bit weird when they first start wearing it. This is because it feels like it is hovering above your head, but you soon get used to it after a couple of rides.
The Oakley DRT 5 was developed with Greg Minnaar, who wanted loads of features, including somewhere to put his sunglasses. So one of the features is the eyewear landing zone.
The landing zone consists of two hooks on the rear of the helmet that hold your sunglasses in place. You may find this useful or a gimmick, but it is a feature you don’t see on many mountain bike helmets.
Other features of the DRT 5 include a silicone sweat guard, adjustable visor, 360 boa system and MIPS.
7. POC Tectal Race SPIN
POC make some excellent protection products, and the Tectal SPIN is no different. However, you may think that it is pretty pricy for an open-face enduro helmet, but you do get what you pay for.
Thanks to the deep channels that flow through it, this is a well-ventilated mountain bike helmet. The excellent airflow keeps your head nice and cool.
Many riders rave about how well the Tectal Race SPIN fits them. You can easily tweak the fit with the adjustable straps and rear dial.
The Tectal Race is not a MIPS helmet, but it has POC’s proprietary version. This is where the “SPIN” part of its name comes from, giving it internal pads that move around relative to your head during an impact.
8. Troy Lee Designs A1 MIPS Drone
Thanks to its superb helmets with bold styling, TLD is a big name in mountain biking. The A1 MIPS Drone is a great enduro mountain bike helmet, although it is a little heavy.
But, it has a high comfort level, which makes up for the extra weight for many riders. But, if you ride in warm climates, you may want to look at a helmet with better ventilation.
You can get the perfect fit with the A1 Drone’s adjustable 3 point system, making it comfortable and secure. Riders also like the large visor, removable lining, and race-inspired styling.
Now You Know About The Best Mountain Bike Helmets 2022 Has To Offer
You always need to keep your head protected when mountain biking. There will be one on this list that will suit your needs.
Check out other ways to protect yourself when mountain biking.
