Pinkbike Poll: Convertible Full-Face Helmets - Yea or Nay?
Over the course of the last few seasons we've seen the return of the convertible full-face helmet, a trend that had a brief moment of popularity in the late '90s / early 2000s before going into hibernation for nearly a decade. Thankfully, the latest crop of helmets are much more refined than those early offerings, making use of improved materials and construction techniques to increase the amount of protection while also looking a little less visually jarring.
Who are these helmets for? Well, enduro racers are the most obvious target, due to the fact that at most races a helmet must be worn at all times. Slogging up a fire road with a full-face on isn't anyone's idea of a good time, and carrying two helmets (a half shell and a full-face) just seems silly, which is where the convertible helmet comes into place.
![Giro Switchblade]()
![Leatt 2017 range]()
![Uvex Jakkyl Hde helmet 2016]()
![Lazer Revolution]()
Based on my entirely non-scientific observations, they also seem to be fairly popular with beginner or intermediate riders, the relative newcomers to the sport looking for a little extra protection while they figure out the basics and beyond.
Personally, I'm not entirely sold on the necessity of the concept – the whole fiddling around in the middle of a ride to attach and detach the chin bar throws me off a little – but I'd also never chastise someone for their choice of protective apparel. Want to wrap yourself up in bubble wrap before heading out? Feeling invincible and prefer to rock jean shorts, Vans slip-ons and not much else? I'm not going to stop you. But I am curious about how Pinkbike's readers feel about this topic, which brings us to this week's poll question:
Who are these helmets for? Well, enduro racers are the most obvious target, due to the fact that at most races a helmet must be worn at all times. Slogging up a fire road with a full-face on isn't anyone's idea of a good time, and carrying two helmets (a half shell and a full-face) just seems silly, which is where the convertible helmet comes into place.
Giro Switchblade
Leatt Enduro 3.0
Uvex Jakkyl Hde
Lazer Revolution
Based on my entirely non-scientific observations, they also seem to be fairly popular with beginner or intermediate riders, the relative newcomers to the sport looking for a little extra protection while they figure out the basics and beyond.
Personally, I'm not entirely sold on the necessity of the concept – the whole fiddling around in the middle of a ride to attach and detach the chin bar throws me off a little – but I'd also never chastise someone for their choice of protective apparel. Want to wrap yourself up in bubble wrap before heading out? Feeling invincible and prefer to rock jean shorts, Vans slip-ons and not much else? I'm not going to stop you. But I am curious about how Pinkbike's readers feel about this topic, which brings us to this week's poll question:
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I also have a Super 2R. It just adds more confidence to the descent. Willing to hit jumps a little faster, attempt to hop rock gardens a little more, try to pull a manual over some root sections. I also pack shin/knee guards in my pack and put them on at the top too. Probably makes my skill progression twice as fast, as compared to no protection.
If I had it on during my crash. Im sure I would have walked away with hardly any damage at all.
Bought a blue one and the chin guard isnt the same colour as the helmet #bummer
For "enduro" style or riding I think they are great as give you a little more protection and save you the big dental bill.
Maybe you should check again if the shell is damaged, kind of collapsed/compressed on the inside.
Not that I'm saying the 2R is a bad helmet, I'm thinking about getting the 3R.
Fly Freestone "Enduro" Helmet : $38
7 IDP M1 Fullface : $80
So it's much better to get a mips helmet then.
/s
The Uvex is ugly as hell and the off the shelf twist lock thing is stupid. Giro's looks the best hands down... when fully assembled.
My thing is this... what do you do with the chinbar if you're taking it off while you're riding? Most of those you will have to stop. Open your pack. Put it in. What if you don't have a pack? No dice.
At least with the bell you can hang it off your bars while you're climbing. And it's the easiest one to put back on while riding.
I think they can serve a purpose for certain people. For the others... having a good all purpose lid and a legit dh lid makes more sense... as in my opinion... if you're shuttling or riding resorts or what not... a legit DH lid is a must and a removable chin bar is pointless. But if you're riding enduro or doing trails that have climbing before descending... these lids make perfect sense.
trails involving at least one big down that I plan to attack
some enduro races, especially in mid summer
teaching lessons at the bike park
vacation/road trips where a park is not on the agenda.
I have another helmet for everything else
I'm in 100%.
Love the concept of always having full face protection, I have seen experienced riders face plant and knock out teeth on XC rides. I now where this for 90% of the riding I do now.
Great helmet also for us that have large Easter Island heads. The large says up to 62cm but probably fits up to 64cm.
Popping out the screen vents on the chin guard makes it even more vented/breathable. Take a hair dryer heat up the screens that melts the hot glue, and they will push right out.
Bottom line is that these are for riders who would never wear a full-face otherwise. You shouldn't buy a convertible as a replacement for a dedicated downhill helmet, but if you want more protection due to the speed and technical traits of your local "enduro" trails, then I can't find fault with that.
I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THINKING IT'S A REPLACEMENT FOR MY FULL FACE ON DH RIDES. (caps intentional)
Until then Ill be rocking the Super 2R.
1: Brain
2: Neck
3: Face
A friend of mine had a bad climbing accident and was told he was lucky to land on his face ( from 10 meters) as it saved his skull.
But you are right that breathing in full face helmets surely can be improoved.
Asasasaa I just love being the devils advocate...
I got my brother one right before a ride when a shop had a "trade in your old helmet for ~30% off type of deal" and I happened to have my janky old road helmet in the truck. It paid off about 45 seconds into the descent when he went face first into a tree. Perhaps not "DH Rated" but we are riding trails here and after a few knocks it appears to be sufficient for that. For a day at Northstar or some other park where we are going hard, I opt for a dedicated full face.
Overall, I think it's a good concept and I'm glad to see more options coming on to the market. I don't see any reason why my next helmet won't be a hybrid as well.
Also in a race situation in a warm country pedaling up a fire road in a long transition they become a useful tool - but no one is forcing you.
As long as they provide safe protection I see no harm. Besides, I find it amazing how many open lids I see on enduro races that actually look like DH courses and people using open lids because they don't want to 'look like beginners'.
PS: Having seen more than one person with mutilated faces after landing on rocks on open lids - I would always say - use a full face!
These helmets are a solution. So why not?
my hardtail and open helmet are fun for commuting and XC type stuff. doing one kind of thing with the other type of equipment kind of sucks...
My regular full face is a carbon D3 and it is awesome for lift service and shuttling, but I'd much rather haul up a helmet that is 300-400g+ lighter for the times you need to pedal up.
For those that rarely ride trails where they feel a full face is necessary, I think the convertible system makes a lot of sense. It's likely that if you only ride DH every once in a while, you won't be pushing your limits or the trail's limits, so giving up on some of the sturdiness/protection of a purpose-built DH helmet probably isn't the end of the world.
I say this assuming the convertibles are less burly...I've never actually used one or even seen one up close...certainly doesn't look like it has equal protection to my rampage or tld though
I will say, however, that I've taken my rampage pro carbon on the occasional AM rides where I choose to weave some burlier trails into the loop...it really isn't that heavy/hot (assuming it isn't scorching outside...but most burlier trail helmets aren't great when it's scorching either)
Many of us (myself included) are still silly enough to hit proper dh tracks on an AM rig with a trail helmet + no kneepads...so I doubt we'll be buying a convertible anytime soon for the "in between" days
Those of us that own a Parachute know this not to be the case.
It seemed to make sense for us when it comes to travelling as we can take one lid instead of two when space/weight is tight. It means we have options for long day rides, lift assisted days or the odd bike park day without having to stretch baggage allowances.
We were chatting at the top of Mills Peak in the summer having just done the 3000 ft climb to the top wearing trail lids. Whist we were really looking forward to the decent we did feel that a little bit of extra protection on the way down wouldn't go amiss. Neither of us would have wanted to do the climb in a full face though.
The Switchblade appears to be a good compromise for this type of riding but we'll see how we get on.
Somebody please make one where the chin bars pivots/swivels up to the forehead/visor area with push-button(s) release. It needn't be standard chin bar sized or DH strength. It can be as diminutive as a punter's chin bar. Must:
1) Protect teeth
2) Take 10 seconds or less to pivot into/out of position without removing helmet
3) Be breathable
All I ask in return is a free sample!
Sounds like the helmet did it's job. And you can replace the chin bar.
DH helmet... take a hit that hard you really should replace it whether it snapped or not. Guarantee you it would have shown some signs of the accident.
Last Sunday though I came down heavy and punched my mouth on a rock. I was coming down a pretty standard track that I have blasted down scores of times before. For a moment I thought I had lost or seriously damage my front teeth. All seems OK though. I am very fortunate. Still not quite sure how I fell as it happened in an instant, but I got a real shock. Has made me rethink whether the future is in these helmets.
The flip side is that I don't live in an area where there is enough gnar to warrant a chin guard that I can add to my helmet because the trail is going to get super rowdy after I climb uphill. I bought a Bell Super 2R since I needed a new helmet, not because I wanted to be able to run a chin guard. I might have bought the chin guard if I felt that the trails I ride warrant it, but they don't.
Anyway, the Leatt has been looking like the right choice since it came out.
But above all, for the idea of having one of these for enduro is ok. But rather than wear the same helmet all day and throw on the chin guard for the stages, I'd rather have my full face with me and a cheesy collapsible brain bucket for transitions. i.huffpost.com/gen/2856328/images/n-MORPHER-628x314.jpg
I still wear a "real" DH certified full-face for DH and some enduro stages.
The Giro covers too much of your head for hot weather climbing. Bell helmets don't work with my head shape.
Also, I can't actually try on the leatt anywhere around me. Giro and bell have beaten them To the punch.
Probably wisest to just ride within the "face smash " limit in the first place, I suppose.
As for protection there is very little data to guide what helmet will protect your brain. Lots of stories and even more opinions. But not much data. I like to think that a helmet that will get crushed and absorb the impact is better than my moto helmet which will transfer all the energy to my head in a crash. In general wear the most/ best protective gear that you will actually wear.
dh: real full face, brace, armor are fking great
trail: light convertible is fking great, and sometimes elbow/knee pads
xc: you'd like a convertible but its just still too damn hot when your HR is at 199 the whole fking time
too many commenters seems to see mtb as being mostly dh. i climb about 70% of the time, and +1kg makes a huge diff. i suspect im not alone.
Also, over the summer a friend of mine crashed on the first drop of a light DH run (same gravity XC trail) while wearing a Super 2R without the chin-bar. He ended up with a concussion and some face dirt rash. Now it's all chin-bar all the time!
“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right.” - Muhammad Ali
For my once a year DH day I use my old MX helmet.
I'd say I ride in half-shell mode most the time, but did use the chinbar for a BC Enduro race last year - the day before we all pre-rode in half shells, and then on race day I climbed with the bar around my neck and snapped it on prior to each stage.
a.) it gave me that extra bit of confidence to push for faster speeds and b.) it worked well with the clear moto-goggles I was rocking to keep the dust out.
I'm not expecting it to take massive high speed hits like a DH shell, but I figure it's better than bare skin and teeth if I go down, especially for glancing/sliding blows.
I can see how in rockier/burlier venues I may want to pull the trigger on a proper full face though.
The 2R is a great improvement and i've used in in about 20 enduro races in last couple years (we have bi-weekly ones on Vancouver's shore in the summer) and honestly don't understand why more people don't use them for enduro. The chinguard does not move and it locks to your head like a downhill helmet while offering maybe 60% of the protection of a full-on downhill lid. Nothing more dangerous that racing at full speed while exausted in an enduro stage late in the day and I can't believe the number of people that do this with a half-shell. You only have one set of adult teeth and one baby face..... I've never crashed on it but lots of testaments above that this helmet has saved people. It's a niche market for sure. They work in a crash too.
waiting for TLD to step in the game with a A1 helmet that converts into a D3. Only then I'll consider buying
You're either riding with a need for a full face or you're not.
Why, halfway through a ride would be like "Oh, don't really care about my face anymore; I'll take the chin guard off."
Inversely, why would get halfway through a day and suddenly realise you should have been wearing a fullface.
And the chin guard is hardly going to be compact enough to go in a bag with the rest of your ultra-expensive size and weight saving shite. So you'll have to store it in your car. Where you could just store your other helmet.
No.
if you don't need that then you absolutely don't need (or want) a convertible helmet.