Recently got a mountain bike and am wondering about helmets. I’m a road rider/triathlete and have a nice road helmet. I’m told “mountain bikeâ€
Helmets are safer for trails but I haven’t found anything to substantiate this. Are they just aesthetically different than road helmets or is there something trail specific about them?
There’s really not much difference unless the people you are talking to mean a full face helmet (more like a motorcycle helmet with face protection). Maybe a little more coverage protection on the MTB helmet
For just trail riding, a road helmet is fine and the differences are mostly just shape. I used a road helmet for years until I finally got a MTB helmet as I started riding more
There’s really not much difference unless the people you are talking to mean a full face helmet (more like a motorcycle helmet with face protection). Maybe a little more coverage protection on the MTB helmet
For just trail riding, a road helmet is fine and the differences are mostly just shape. I used a road helmet for years until I finally got a MTB helmet as I started riding more
Yea definitely not talking about a full face. I’m not sure I’m convinced MTB helmets provide more coverage than road, but I’m new to MTB so I could certainly be wrong. I just don’t want to get another helmet unless there’s a safety reason to. Thanks for the info.
Most new era mtb helmets have more coverage of the head, particularly the rear and some more around the temples / above the ear, than a road helmet.
(the peak is mainly fashion).
Not sure (doubt in some cases) the impact resistance is much different. But could be.
I’ve a Met Manta as a compromise road aero helmet when doing some Tri (I overheat too much for a full aero lid and I accept the time penalty) but it seems rather lightweight (flimsy ?) compared to say my Troy Lee mtb lid or Mrs’s newly acquired Lazer Jackal Kineticore mtb lid.
Most new era mtb helmets have more coverage of the head, particularly the rear and some more around the temples / above the ear, than a road helmet.
(the peak is mainly fashion).
Not sure (doubt in some cases) the impact resistance is much different. But could be.
I’ve a Met Manta as a compromise road aero helmet when doing some Tri (I overheat too much for a full aero lid and I accept the time penalty) but it seems rather lightweight (flimsy ?) compared to say my Troy Lee mtb lid or Mrs’s newly acquired Lazer Jackal Kineticore mtb lid.
I should add, I have zero problem buying a new helmet 😂. I just don’t want another helmet in my garage unless there’s a good reason. If so, I’m all for it thanks.
The visor can offer some protection against stray branches and spider webs.
A true MTB helmet will cover a lot more of the rear of your noggin. Smith and POC have a lot with that coverage.
I literally just held up my road bike helmet next to my regular MTB helmet, and the MTB helmet has more coverage. There’s a little more area covering the temple, but the main difference is that the back of the MTB helmet covers much more of the back of your head.
If you ever start doing some rowdy or aggressive riding, I would seriously consider a full face helmet. The nice ones are very light weight and have great breathability, so they aren’t that much hotter than a regular helmet. And knee and elbow pads as well for tough terrain or aggressive riding.
Recently got a mountain bike and am wondering about helmets. I’m a road rider/triathlete and have a nice road helmet. I’m told “mountain bikeâ€
Helmets are safer for trails but I haven’t found anything to substantiate this. Are they just aesthetically different than road helmets or is there something trail specific about them?
I don’t know if there’s any actual data to support this, but a few years ago I was told by one of our helmet vendors that mtb helmets generally had rounder backs with more coverage due to a greater possibility of hitting the back of your head…
Lol by what?
Probably fashion, the low and weight back look matches mtb clothes and bikes more than light agile forward stance look of road
Visors can be handy where forest is too dark for sunglasses and keeping branches rain and sun off eyes
Its bit euro but I prefer road bibs and shirt for mtb (no baggy mtb shorts or baggy enduro shirts)…just way more comfortable cos nothing catches the wind descending or on the seat when moving around … And a light road helmet with clear glasses works with that
This is my experience:
When you fall on the road you normally hit your head on the road, bike, another rider or a stray object on or near the road.
On the mountain bike, in addition to what you may have on the road, you may have trees and rocks as well and it’s easy to get turned around when falling because you usually aren’t going in a straight line for long.
With that said, I use my regular road helmet on the mountain bike all the time.
It depends on the helmet. Some MTB helmets are basically road helmets with visors slapped on them, others are a bit more MTB-specific. For example, I use a Poc Tectal Race Spin for trail riding. It definitely goes lower on the back of the head and has better temple coverage. Also, the poly-carbonate shell seems to be a bit thicker than on Poc’s road helmets. The visor is of questionable usefulness to me and seems to be an MTB fashion thing.
Which reminds me, it always cracks me up when MTBers poke fun at roadies for being “fashion victims” with weird appearance “rules”, when they themselves have (if anything) even more stringent appearance, gear and apparel “rules”.
Yes, you are right. I had a Bell Sweep XC which was their road helmet with a visor added.
The only need I had for a visor was to keep the sun out of my eyes while riding through spotty tree cover.
… it always cracks me up when MTBers poke fun at roadies for being “fashion victims” with weird appearance “rules”, when they themselves have (if anything) even more stringent appearance, gear and apparel “rules”.
Have you* seen* the Urban/Commuter helmet options? They look like 1970s skateboard helmet/polo helmet mashups
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/best-commuter-helmets/
https://www.thegeekycyclist.com/best-things/commuter-bike-helmets/
https://discerningcyclist.com/best-stylish-commuter-bike-helmet/
And yes, the fact that there’s a blog titled “Discerning Cyclist: Ride In Style,” is almost horrifying
when they themselves have (if anything) even more stringent appearance, gear and apparel “rules”.
Go baggy when suspension travel >=120mm.
For the OP, I got a dedicated MTB helmet for the better light mounts for night riding. Helmet-mounted lights are key for going full send in the dark.
when they themselves have (if anything) even more stringent appearance, gear and apparel “rules”.
Go baggy when suspension travel >=120mm.
For the OP, I got a dedicated MTB helmet for the better light mounts for night riding. Helmet-mounted lights are key for going full send in the dark.
Phew. I’m on a 140mm travel full susser. So continued use of my baggie shorts are ok 👠.
Digressing, but the 2nd layer helps reduce friction burns and rash when crashing (and crashing is part and parcel of mtb).
The helmet light attachment is a good point. I use my mtb helmet when commuting for that reason- I have an Exposure Joystick light on the helmet - and purposely look at / into cars approaching junctions to have a better chance they can’t choose not to see me.
The helmet light attachment is a good point. I use my mtb helmet when commuting for that reason- I have an Exposure Joystick light on the helmet - and purposely look at / into cars approaching junctions to have a better chance they can’t choose not to see me.
Yeah, once you’ve experienced helmet-mounted lights it’s hard to go back to bar-mounted for any purpose - even commuting.
The helmet light attachment is a good point. I use my mtb helmet when commuting for that reason- I have an Exposure Joystick light on the helmet - and purposely look at / into cars approaching junctions to have a better chance they can’t choose not to see me.
Yeah, once you’ve experienced helmet-mounted lights it’s hard to go back to bar-mounted for any purpose - even commuting.
Most of the night MTBers around here use both. Smaller one on the helmet and a bigger one on the bars.
Most of the night MTBers around here use both. Smaller one on the helmet and a bigger one on the bars.
Yeah, that’s what I do when night racing. Except big on the helmet, bars more of a backup.
X2 On the full face helmet. Anytime I am riding fast enough That I might go over the bars I’m wearing my full face and I’ve hit it twice. Someone told me they are expensive but cheaper than dental surgery! There is a helmet called the bell super air three where you can remove the chin bar and it feels like a normal mountain bike helmet. I have one called the Giro switchblade which has a removable chin bar But it still feels super heavy and does not feel much different so I usually just leave the chin bar on.
The helmet I wear when I’m gonging easy and not wearing my other protective gear does seem to have more coverage and it does have more of a relaxed look that matches the shorts and loose longsleeve that I wear so probably im too vain but I feel like it looks more of the style.
Giro Montaro with MIPS. I have had three of them now.