Finding a youth biking helmet that checks all the boxes of safety, comfort, and durability – was tougher than we thought. So if your little one is ready for the trails and you are knee-deep in searches trying to find what Youth MTB helmet will both keep your kids safe on the trails while also comfortable enough that they willingly wear it each ride – then this post is for you!
Before we dive into what we looked for when narrowing down the best mountain bike helmets for kids. Let’s take a look at what a full-face mountain biking helmet is and what the key difference is from a regular biking helmet.
What is a Full Face MTB helmet?
A Full Face Mountain Biking (MTB) helmet is a specialized piece of safety gear designed to offer maximum protection. The helmet fully encompasses the head and includes a chin bar, leading to the term “full face.” The extensive coverage ensures protection not just for the top and sides of the head, which is what traditional bicycle helmets usually cater to, but also for the face and jaw. Designed with rugged environments in mind, full-face MTB helmets are typically sturdier and heavier than their counterparts, featuring key safety technologies to manage impacts better. Despite their robust build, they prioritize ventilation and comfort, making them ideal for high-intensity mountain biking. If you decide to start racing, there are certain disciplines that require full-face helmets as a required safety equipment, such as BMX, downhill, and enduro.
What is the difference between a full-face helmet and a regular helmet?
A regular helmet, often referred to as a ‘half shell’ helmet, primarily covers the top portion of the head. Its design is lightweight and ventilated, focusing on comfort and minimal interference during casual biking. The coverage of a regular helmet generally extends only up to the forehead, temples, and back of the head. On the other hand, a full-face helmet offers a full shield, wrapping around the entire head, including the face and jawline. This design offers better coverage and protection in the event of a crash. We have our boys wear their full-face helmets anytime they are mountain biking, dirt jumping, and park riding or whenever they are practicing new skills around the neighborhood.
Our youngest has avoided many injuries from wearing his full-face helmet vs. his half-shell on more casual rides around the neighborhood as he has been getting the hang of riding.
Looking for a half-shell helmet? Check out this post to learn more about our favorite half-shell helmet for kids.
Want to read our Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Youth MTB Helmet? Head here.
Why we ultimately chose the Smith Mainline MIPS Full Face Helmet:
It is designed with safety and comfort in mind, making it an ideal choice for parents. The helmet features Smith’s unique MIPS liner, which reduces rotational forces in the event of a crash. Additionally, the Mainline is lightweight, comfortable pads and has strategically placed ventilation holes to keep your riders cool, so no discomfort will be experienced by the child while wearing it. Yes, it is definitely more expensive than most youth helmets on the market however, if you do choose to save money on a helmet and then your kid refuses to wear it and it just sits in the garage, is it really cheaper? We have purchased our Smith Mainlnies from both evo.com and Moosejaw on sales prices during black Friday or end-of-the-year sales.
1. Protection
Full-face helmets offer the most comprehensive protection for youth mountain bikers. They are designed to shield the entire head, including the face, chin, and jawline, in an impact. This level of protection greatly reduces the likelihood of serious head injury. Make sure you choose a helmet that is approved by CPSC or ASTM to ensure maximum protection. We also looked for a helmet that included
MIPs certification – you can learn more about that here. The Smith Mainline carries downhill mtb-rated protection standards.
2. Lightweight
Finding a full-face helmet that is not too heavy for their little necks for a day or riding will ensure they stay fresh and hold their energy levels for longer periods of time. The Smith Mainline was designed for their prffensonl enduro race teams where the riders are on their bikes for an entire day of racing and need to stay fresh and focused and reduce fatigue. Even so, we take their helmets off during our regular water and snack breaks to give them a bit of are rest and cool down.
3. Longevity
With anything for kids, finding quality pieces that can stand up to – well, kids – is crucial. That being said -kids are also constantly growing, and as a young family ourselves, it was important to find something that can grow with your rider as they grow – cue interchangeable pads. Be sure to take your child’s measurements based on the company’s sizing guide, as each company’s sizing will vary. We explored a few different helmets that had integrated BOA systems but found that the interchangeable pads helped the set it and forgot to make getting the helmet on and off much easier. The Smith Mainline is a downhill-rated helmet which is the highest level of protection test. However, with any helmet, if you take a bad crash, the helmet is designed to crack and break apart to dissipate the energy to the helmet instead of your head. In this case, you will want to replace any helmet to maintain protection. The interchangeable pads are anti-microbial, removable, and washable.
4. Ventilation + Durability
While full-face youth MTB helmets do cover the face, they also need to provide proper ventilation to keep your child’s head cool on hot summer days. Ensure your helmet has vent holes and channels that allow air to flow through and cool the head, while still providing full face protection. If your child is an avid downhill racer, you may want to look at a helmet with less ventilation and more protection since there’s not much pedaling downhill. However, at this time, neither of our kids races, and we are mostly doing trail rides, dirt jumping, and green and blue trails at bike parks.
We found that the Adult S fit perfectly for our 4 + 6-year-olds, and they typically will choose this helmet over their half-shell even when casually riding.
When it comes to choosing a youth MTB helmet full face for your child, you need something that is safe, comfortable and fits the bill. The Smith Mainline MIPS helmet ticks all these boxes and more. It is designed to meet all your child’s needs, providing maximum protection, optimal ventilation, and a comfortable fit. When you have peace of mind knowing your child is safe, it makes for a much better experience for both you and your family. So, get your child equipped with the Smith Mainline MIPS full-face helmet and hit the trails!
Come ride with us over at @kidsridemtb, and let us know what helmet you chose for your little shredder.
