[Closed] What full face

I can understand the desire not to spend a fortune for a helmet that gets used one or two weeks a year, but you're buying it for a reason so surely it's worth getting one that's going to do a good job should you end up actually needing it?

Any full face helmet is going to be hot when used in the summer; I've used three different types and TBH there's not much to choose in terms of venting. The best way to keep cool is to wear sun glasses rather than goggles as this helps heat dissipation.

Best bet to save money is to buy a last years model Troy Lee.

This is what I'd buy if I were being very price sensitive:

[url= http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30294 ]Bell Drop Helmet[/url]

IIRC this is what Cedric Gracia was using a few seasons ago. It's a name you can trust and a price that seems pretty reasonable.

Specialized Deviant. Light and cool. Much cooler than other helmets I have used and the only one I haven't had to rip off at the end of each run. Just smashed mine and so getting another with their crash replacement policy.
However probably not 'cool'.

I always have two rules with full face crash helmets

1) Always purchase one with a D buckle
2) [b]Never[/b] buy a polycarbonate one.

I have used this theory for motorbikes, karting for 15 years, and now MTB bikes

I got one of last years TLD composite ones, (fibreglass, not necessarily carbon, that will only give lower weight not improved impact resistance)

Very comfortable.

I agree with GeeTee1972

Troy Lee D3, they're great

i got the deviant, seems good, dont like the xc lid type adjuster, gets in the way, but got it for £50 from evans on a price match. so its good value for mone

Troy Lee D3, they're great

They are lovely, but they are also £370!

Chucky the D-Buckle is an interesting comment. I just bought a POC Cortex Flow because I was sold on their marketing of trying to make the helmet genuinely offer greater protection, but on receiving it I notice they use a clip rather than a D-Buckle. Should I be worried?

Fit is most important. Personally I use the bell drop, on my second one infact. I almost always prefer D ring as I'm used to that on motorbikes but I like the fact it's well vented AND has passed the new DH crash helmet standard so the chin guard area will actually work.

I'm happy to spend several hundred on motorbike lids, and if a quality product existed for MTB use that offered something better I would. IMHO something like the Bell offers everything the more expensive lids on the market offer. Having seen Troy Lee's fail (inner/outer shell separate) I don't think they offer anything above cheaper lids, arguably worse.

I don't have any scientific evidence to back my reasoning up, they just seem better and have less of a chance of coming undone.

which is a key part of the helmet working.

I'm sure the clip ones are OK.

I know, was a typical STW type answer which ignored most of the criteria given by the OP.

I would definitely look at the Bell, the Giro or a 661 for reasonable money and find the one that fits best. You can find 661 Carbon Evo helmets for £90 at the moment which are a bargain if they fit.

which bit of

Need a full face helmet for the alps, anyone got any recommendations

did I not understand?

Chucky, I think you might have misunderstood my reply. I was replying to GeeTee who commented on my D3 suggestion

oops sorry 😳

It's ok, my reply got swallowed up by some quicker replies

Matthew I think it was a fine suggestion; certainly wasn't criticising it. What's interesting is just how much more expensive the D3s are now. I'd really like to see some information that says they offer more protection. At the moment, it does just look like a styling exercise, but that's only because I haven't seen anything to the contrary, whereas I have with the POC.

My first full facer was a 61 Pro Carbon, I spent about £150 on it thinking it would be the business and it was ok but not great.

A mate then sorted me a deal on a THE composite one and it is supoerb, light and fits me perfectly. They aren't super cheap but not a bad price if you shop around.

Don't expect to find on with massive venting though.

The D3 is designed in a couple of ways that make it a lot safer than the D2 etc. They're designed to work well with a neck brace where a lot of helmets are actually really poor in that regard (not that I think neck braces are actually that great at all) and the chin guard has been reshaped to make it a lot less likely to dig in to the ground and rotate the head. It's also stiffened up with some good ribbing in the shell.

The main reason I got one is that they are absolutely the best fit for my big massive head. I've tried all the other brands and they just don't go on and my D2 is now 6 years old so needed replacing. I do feel a bit conspicuous being the slowest D3 by far down the hill though.