Giro’s Switchblade MIPS feels more like a regular full-face compared to other convertible helmets, and is one of the comfiest.

Leatt helmets are engineered to provide unparalleled protection without sacrificing comfort. With their innovative design and construction, these helmets offer maximum impact resistance, shielding your head from any potential harm. So you can push your limits and ride with confidence, knowing that you're protected by the best. Enhanced Ventilation On the trail, we found the Enduro 4.0 very comfortable and stable in action – especially with the chin bar on. The chin bar sits very far from the face, which makes the helmet very breathable even in full-face mode. Despite the goggle strap partially covering a number of vents when placed in the most natural position, the overall level of ventilation is still very high – certainly one to consider for warmer climates or if you want a helmet that you can use in full face mode most of the time. Like the Leatt, it does without a ratchet and relies solely on padding to provide a secure fit. Largley, the fit is good without any noted discomfort save for the cheek pads. They're shaped like a Z, and while it's not a massive issue, I did find that they weren't cut low enough to fit underneath my ear. It wasn't a big issue, but on big climbs that would take several hours into the alpine I would often just unclip them at their lower point and rotate them down. It should be said that I haven't tried on the extra large, but the helmet does fit in all other regards and I don't necessarily want anything bigger. When it comes to enduro-style full faces or pedal friendly full-face helmets, it seems there is a split in the products offered. Some brands seem to be taking their lightweight, well ventilated trail lids and add a chin bar while others work from a DH helmet starting point and remove material and increase ventilation. We believe that both styles of helmets have a space in the market depending on the type of rider and terrain. The Mainline is an excellent example of how the enduro racing discipline has helped develop the modern mountain bike helmet. Sure, full-face lids of yore always paid lip service to lower weight and decent ventilation, but in practice we’d always take them off when not descending.A lightweight full-face helmet with ASTM Downhill certification. The Leatt 1.0 DH is a full-face helmet with superior ventilation. The focus of this helmet is premium safety and great value. Every cyclist is unique, and Leatt understands that. That's why their helmets come with adjustable fit systems, allowing you to customize the fit according to your preferences. Whether you have a small or large head, you can easily find the perfect fit with these helmets, ensuring a secure and comfortable ride every time. Style and Durability For racing true-enduro, where the stages are gnarly and you're a mixture of both scared and excited, I would lean towards the Abus or Leatt. Although I have no intention of proving it, they do just feel so much more reassuring in your hands. Without the creaking and fit issues of the Abus it would be a clear leader, but for long days riding the sheer comfort of the Leatt offsets its slightly hotter running, and I would tie them for first. The Bluegrass isn't too far behind. I personally wouldn't be that excited about racing in either the IXS or the Lazer, whatever the certifications say. With the chin bar fastened, the 4.0 is fully DH certified so you know it is up to the job of DH racing and laps of the lifts. It certainly feels like a very solid piece of kit, unlike some earlier helmets from other brands with removable chin bars that felt pretty flimsy. He interface between the chin bar and main helmet is very secure and there is minimal flex. I certainly felt confident in the strength of this area as this is an area that worries some rider when considering a helmet like this.

There are no major flaws present in the Enduro 4.0, but a few minor issues are worth pointing out: The goggle strap will end up at least partially covering a certain number of vents, always a pet peeve of ours. The chin strap is very long, absurdly so it seems to us. It does not really create an actual problem but you do end up with a lot of excess strap to manage. There are also no adjustable splitters on the chin strap, which means that you can’t tune it to sit perfectly around your ears if the standard position is problematic for your particular head shape. All told these are very minor issues though. Long Term Durability The only way in which an F1952 certified helmet will provide better protection for downhill riding is if it utilises a dual-density EPS liner. One with a high density for high-speed crashes and one with a lower density for slower-speeds. Obviously the addition of any impact tech (Turbine etc) will help for lower speed too.Whether you need a mountain bike helmet, road bike helmet or the additional protection of a full-face bike helmet, we are here to help and have a range of adult cycle helmets to protect you when you are out and about. Over the last few years, lightweight full face helmets have gone in the right direction. They still offer better ventilation and a lighter weight than a dedicated downhill full face, but they've actually become a little heavier, which I'd say is for the best. The pursuit of the lowest weight possible was probably taken to the extreme with some of the earlier versions of the style that became more commonplace around 2014 or 15. I was also never a particular fan of the removeable chinguard. For me, if I'm riding something that's enough to warrant a full face, I don't want a chinguard that's attached by a magnet.

Bell was one of the first to market with a convertible helmet, so it’s appropriate that the evolution of that model delivers even greater protection and earned a perfect 10 rating. The helmet in question is the Super DH MIPS, now certified to ASTM 1952 DH full-face standards. One of the lightest fully DH-certified full-face helmets we’ve ever tested, the IXS Trigger FF makes a great choice if you prioritise freedom of movement and breathability. Only the Dainese Linea 01 made less of an impression on our scales. We were (literally) blown away by the ventilation on offer from the Trigger. In fact we’d say that it actually runs cooler than some open-face helmets, thanks to well-designed channels over the scalp. We even found it a bit chilly on winter bike park laps! With a vast array of bike helmet brands available including Giro, Fox Racing, Endura and more, our selection of bike helmets ensures there is something for everyone. This downhill-certified helmet uses a polymer shell construction. Within the shell, there is a generous amount of "impact foam" lining the shell. While higher-end helmets often use EPP foam or EPS foam, it is unclear what exactly "impact foam" is. That said, it bears a very strong resemblance to EPS/EPP foam found in most downhill helmets. The foam layer is hidden by the padded, removable inner liner.

What Other Full Face Helmets Should You Consider?

Reasons to buy: Downhill-certified, adjustable visor, new MIPS Integra Split system, excellent ventilation

In open-face mode, the Bell helmet offers a head-hugging fit, with a brim that drops low around the ears and covers your temples. You can see an exaggerated version of this with balance bike racing, like at The Malverns Bike Festival this summer. Quite a few 2-4 year old kids have full faces on as their parents want to keep them safe; understandably. When they crash, their little heads whip forwards with the weight of the helmet and they hit the floor every single time when they probably wouldn't in a 250 gram open face kids helmet.

Smith Mainline

We’ve worn just about every helmet Leatt has made in the last few years from their trail bike helmets to dirt bike helmets and the DBX 4.0 is one of our favorites and most comfortable yet. Leatt has done a good job with the DBX 4.0 and we’d say it’s one of our top recommended options for truly aggressive riders who put protection over ventilation or want something geared slightly more towards DH than XC. The DBX 4.0 is sturdy enough to where we’d feel comfortable hitting the occasional bike park day on a big bike but is light and breathable enough for some burly ebike days. At 850grams it’s definitely not going to compete with the Bell Super or Kali Invader, but in our opinion, it’s not really supposed to. Those are helmets we’d suggest for timid trail riders looking to protect their teeth or aggressive trail riders who ride in hot climates and want a little peace of mind without a major penalty in the weight and ventilation department. If you live your mountain bike life in a blur and the speed and exhilaration of downhill riding is your passion, the MTB Gravity 2.0 Helmet is made for you. MET was one of the first brands to bring out a convertible helmet, with the original Parachute, but the new MCR (Magnetic Chin bar Release system) is a big departure from its previous lids. Reasons to buy: Incredibly light weight, high protection rating, plenty of ventilation, flexible adjustable visor, RECCO