The best full-face MTB helmets balance the coverage you want on descents with the fit, ventilation and weight you can live with throughout the ride. For a day of uplift laps that may mean a substantial gravity helmet; for a long enduro loop it may mean an airy design that stays comfortable on the climbs. An eMTB does not change the importance of fit, although the ability to repeat descents makes a helmet you are happy to wear particularly valuable.
The Smith Mainline Mips is our overall choice and Electric MTB UK’s Best full-face helmet award winner. The Giro Insurgent Spherical retains the Best bike-park helmet award. The other eight options cover useful differences in price, fit adjustment, weight and everyday convenience, rather than simply adding more versions of the same helmet. A recommendation is a starting point for trying helmets on: no model will suit every head shape.
If you are still deciding how much coverage you need, start with our wider MTB helmet guide. Riders who want to remove the chin bar for long climbs should also compare our convertible MTB helmets.
The best full-face MTB helmets shortlisted
Overall winner: Smith Mainline Mips — £184.99 (RRP £285)
Endura SingleTrack Full Face Mips — £110 (RRP £160)
Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips — £119.99 (RRP £169.99)
Giro Insurgent Spherical — £149.99 (RRP £349.99)
Fox Rampage Mips — £159.99 (RRP £224.99)
Leatt Gravity 4.0 — £188.99 (RRP £209.99)
POC Otocon Race Mips — £199.99 (RRP £320)
Fox Proframe RS Mips — £209.99 (RRP £329.99)
Troy Lee Designs Stage Mips — £250
Giro Coalition Spherical — £319.99
The best full-face MTB helmets in detail
Smith Mainline Mips
Best full-face helmet — Electric MTB UK award winner
£184.99 (RRP £285)
The Smith Mainline Mips is our Best full-face helmet award winner and the overall choice in this guide. Its appeal is the balance between full-face coverage and the comfort needed to keep a helmet on during normal trail rides. In our review, the broad eye port, useful chin-bar airflow and stable fit stood out, making it a convincing option for riders who climb, descend and link trails in the same outing.
Smith combines Koroyd impact-absorbing structure with Mips and supplies several pad options, including cheek pads, crown liners and neck rolls. That lets you tune the fit without relying on a rear dial. The claimed 770g medium weight and 21 vents help explain its enduro focus, while the D-ring strap is the main practical compromise: secure once adjusted, but slower to handle at repeated stops than a magnetic buckle. Among the best full-face MTB helmets, it is a strong starting point for mixed UK riding, provided the pad combinations give you a snug fit without pressure points.
Read our Smith Mainline full-face helmet review for the full trail verdict.
Pros
Electric MTB UK Best full-face helmet award winner
Breathable feel in our trail review
Wide eye port and good goggle integration
Several pad options to tune the fit
Cons
D-ring strap is slower at frequent stops
No retention dial
Specifications
Featured price: Matte Black, M (55–59cm)
Impact management: Koroyd and Mips
Fit: interchangeable cheek pads, crown liners and neck rolls
Ventilation: 21 fixed vents
Closure: D-ring
Claimed weight: 770g, M
Certification includes: CE EN1078, CPSC and ASTM F1952
Endura SingleTrack Full Face Mips
Value trail helmet with a dial-adjusted fit
£110 (RRP £160)
Endura’s SingleTrack Full Face Mips takes a different approach to budget protection. Its in-mould construction and large openings make it a more obvious candidate for pedalled trail rides, while the one-handed micro-adjust system lets you fine-tune the fit around the head. Riders who struggle to get a comfortable crown fit from padding alone may find that adjustment especially useful. A rear strap gripper helps keep goggles in place when the trail becomes rough.
The featured black L/XL costs £110; the smaller sizes are not available from this particular offer. That makes checking the 58–63cm size range essential rather than treating the price as an invitation to size up. The removable padding is useful for regular washing after damp, sweaty rides, and the ASTM F1952 downhill certification gives a clearer account of its intended use than appearance alone. It is a practical trail option if it fits, although riders seeking the lightest or most finely finished enduro helmet have more expensive alternatives here.
Pros
Micro-adjust retention system
Large vents for pedalled rides
Removable washable padding
ASTM F1952 downhill certified
Cons
Featured black offer is L/XL only
Fit still depends on the shell matching your head
Specifications
Featured price: Black, L/XL (58–63cm)
Construction: lightweight in-mould
Rotational system: Mips
Fit: one-handed micro-adjust retention
Padding: removable, quick-drying
Goggles: rear strap gripper
Certification: EN1078, CPSC and ASTM F1952
Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips
Affordable gravity riding with a magnetic buckle
£119.99 (RRP £169.99)
The Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips is an accessible starting point for riders who want a gravity helmet with a proper chin bar, a Mips liner and a magnetic buckle. Its ABS shell and padded fit suit pump-track sessions, jump lines and occasional uplift days. The DLX distinction matters: this is the Mips-equipped version with a Fidlock closure, not the less expensive standard Sanction 2. The featured Camo model is the matte-black version.
At a claimed 1,080g in medium, the Bell is substantially heavier than the pedal-focused Stage or Mainline. Fourteen vents help air move through it, but this remains a better choice for short climbs and repeated descents than for hours of uphill pedalling. The attraction is useful gravity equipment at a relatively approachable price. Try it with your goggles and check the cheek-pad pressure before buying; a discounted helmet is only good value if the shape works for your head.
Pros
Mips-equipped DLX model
Fidlock magnetic buckle
ASTM downhill and BMX certification
Approachable price for gravity use
Cons
Heavier than the pedal-focused options
Padding-based fit needs careful sizing
Specifications
Featured price: Camo Matte Black, M (55–57cm)
Shell: ABS with EPS impact liner
Rotational system: Mips Essential
Closure: Fidlock magnetic buckle
Ventilation: 14 vents
Claimed weight: 1,080g, M
Certification: CE EN1078, CPSC, ASTM F1952 DH and F2032 BMX
Giro Insurgent Spherical
Best bike-park helmet — Electric MTB UK award winner
£149.99 (RRP £349.99)
The Giro Insurgent Spherical retains Electric MTB UK’s Best bike-park helmet award. It is the gravity specialist in this shortlist, aimed at riders whose days revolve around rough descents, uplifts and repeated park laps. Giro’s Spherical system allows movement between separate EPP and EPS impact layers, while the substantial padding and shell package suit riders who prefer a downhill-style helmet to a minimal enduro design.
Fit is adjusted using the supplied pad options, including interchangeable cheek pads. There is no Roc Loc Air DH retention dial on this model. Directional snaps allow the cheek pads to be removed, and the D-ring strap keeps the fastening straightforward. Giro quotes 1,040g in M/L, so it carries more weight than the Mainline or Stage; that is a practical consideration on long climbs, not evidence of a universal safety advantage. The featured black XL/XXL costs £149.99, making it a much stronger-value proposition for riders who fit that size. The same offer is unavailable in M/L, so do not choose the larger shell simply to obtain the discount.
Pros
Electric MTB UK Best bike-park helmet award winner
Spherical system with EPP and EPS layers
Interchangeable cheek pads
ASTM downhill and BMX certification
Cons
Heavier than the lightweight enduro options
Featured offer does not cover M/L
Padding-based fit, without a retention dial
Specifications
Featured price: Matte Black, XL/XXL (59–63cm)
Impact liner: EPP and EPS Progressive Layering
Rotational system: Spherical Technology powered by Mips
Fit: interchangeable padding and cheek pads
Closure: D-ring
Claimed weight: 1,040g, M/L
Certification includes: CE EN1078, ASTM F1952 DH and F2032 BMX
Fox Rampage Mips
ABS-shell gravity helmet for uplift days
£159.99 (RRP £224.99)
The Fox Rampage Mips makes sense when most of the riding happens on the way down. Its injection-moulded ABS shell, conventional cheek-pad fit and double D-ring closure give it a straightforward gravity brief. It is a useful option for riders progressing into uplift days or bike-park riding who want a familiar downhill-style helmet without paying for carbon construction or an elaborate retention dial.
The adjustable visor leaves room for goggles, and the vent layout provides airflow around the shell. It still asks a different question from the lightweight Stage: are you happy carrying a more substantial helmet because long pedal transitions are a small part of your day? If so, the Rampage is an easy model to put on the try-on list. The Mips system is intended to help manage rotational motion in certain impacts, but neither that feature nor a thicker-feeling shell establishes a simple safety ranking against every other helmet.
Pros
Straightforward gravity-focused construction
Mips liner
Adjustable goggle-compatible visor
Double D-ring closure
Cons
Less appealing for long climbing days
No dial-based fit adjustment
Specifications
Featured price: Matte Black, M (57–58cm)
Shell: injection-moulded ABS
Rotational system: Mips
Closure: double D-ring
Visor: adjustable
Ventilation: openings around the shell
Additional certification: NTA 8776
Leatt Gravity 4.0
Trail and park riding with a removable mouthpiece cover
£188.99 (RRP £209.99)
The Leatt Gravity 4.0 occupies useful ground between a basic gravity helmet and the most expensive enduro options. The polymer-shell design uses Leatt’s 360° Turbine system, and its removable mouthpiece cover lets you change the balance between airflow and protection from trail debris. It is the cover that removes, not the chin bar: this remains a dedicated full-face helmet throughout the ride.
For riders mixing trail-centre laps with park days, the Fidlock buckle and washable liner are practical details worth having. Leatt quotes a starting weight of 850g and ASTM F1952 certification, but the fit and ventilation will matter more than a few grams when you are choosing between similarly priced helmets. The Stealth Black/Grey medium is £188.99. It is a sensible try-on alternative to the Rampage if you want more adjustability in the mouth vent, while the lighter Stage remains a distinct option for long, strenuous transitions.
Pros
Removable mouthpiece cover
Fidlock closure
Washable liner
ASTM F1952 downhill certification
Cons
Chin bar is fixed
Starting weight is not a weight for every size
Specifications
Featured price: Stealth Black/Grey, M (57–58cm)
Shell: polymer
Rotational system: Leatt 360° Turbine Technology
Closure: Fidlock
Mouthpiece cover: removable
Claimed weight: from 850g
Certification includes: EN1078, CPSC and ASTM F1952
POC Otocon Race Mips
Light enduro helmet with integrated emergency information
£199.99 (RRP £320)
The POC Otocon Race Mips is aimed at riders who want a ventilated enduro helmet with integrated emergency-information features. Its Race Lock adjustment, removable mouth grille and broad openings address everyday fit and cooling, while a Twiceme NFC medical ID and RECCO reflector add functions beyond the impact liner. Those systems require the relevant phone or rescue equipment; they are not a live tracker and do not summon help automatically.
POC combines EPP and EPS in the liner and adds Mips for rotational-impact management. The manufacturer quotes less than 750g for an EU-standard medium, so it is a useful candidate for riders who dislike carrying a heavy helmet through long transitions. The featured orange-and-black medium costs £209.99. Try it with your goggles, check that the Race Lock sits comfortably and use the helmet with its pads correctly fitted. The additional technology is useful only when the fundamentals of fit, fastening and condition are right.
Pros
Light, ventilated enduro design
Race Lock adjustment
Twiceme NFC information and RECCO reflector
Removable mouth grille
Cons
Emergency features do not automatically call for help
Premium fit and features still need a careful try-on
Specifications
Featured price: Fluorescent Orange AVIP/Uranium Black Matt, M (55–58cm)
Liner: EPP and EPS
Rotational system: Mips
Fit: Race Lock
Additional features: Twiceme NFC medical ID and RECCO reflector
Visor: breakaway peak
Claimed weight: under 750g, EU medium
Fox Proframe RS Mips
Frequent enduro use with BOA fit adjustment
£209.99 (RRP £329.99)
The Fox Proframe RS Mips stands out for riders who prefer a retention dial to a purely pad-based fit. Its BOA system lets you adjust the helmet around the head, while different cheek pads refine the contact at the jaw. That combination makes it particularly useful to try if you struggle to get an even fit from other lightweight full-face designs. The three-position visor gives room to work with goggles, and a magnetic buckle simplifies stops.
Inside, Mips Integra Split works with a dual-density foam construction. Fox quotes 820g in medium for this version, which keeps it firmly in the pedal-friendly enduro category without making it the lightest model here. At £209.99 for black medium, the Proframe RS competes directly with the Mainline and Otocon Race in this shortlist. Choose between them on fit, vision and the controls you prefer: BOA adjustment is useful, but it should not be tightened excessively to make an unsuitable shell feel secure.
Pros
BOA retention adjustment
Mips Integra Split
Fidlock buckle
Adjustable visor and interchangeable cheek pads
Cons
Fit dial adds another component to look after
Still warmer than an open-face helmet on slow climbs
Specifications
Featured price: Matt Black, M (55–59cm)
Impact system: dual-density foam with Mips Integra Split
Fit: BOA and interchangeable cheek pads
Closure: Fidlock
Visor: three positions
Claimed weight: 820g, M
Certification includes: ASTM F1952 DH, F2032 and EN1078
Troy Lee Designs Stage Mips
Lightweight full-face for long pedal transitions
£250
The Troy Lee Designs Stage Mips remains one of the most useful full-face designs for riders who spend as much time linking trails as descending them. Its large chin-bar openings, eleven intake ports and fourteen exhaust ports give it an unmistakably pedal-focused layout. A fibre-reinforced Polylite shell surrounds EPP and EPS impact foam, with Mips incorporated into the helmet. This is the full-face Stage, with a fixed chin bar; the Stage Stunt is a different helmet.
The fit is adjusted through the interior pads rather than a retention dial, so spend time getting the crown and cheeks right. The Fidlock buckle makes frequent stops easier, and washable lining helps after long days of climbing. At £250 for the Drone Black M/L, the Stage is no longer the bargain suggested by some older sale prices, but its low-weight design still gives it a distinct role. Choose it for lengthy enduro transitions and warm-weather trail rides, rather than because a brand name or a low weight alone guarantees the best fit.
Pros
Open chin bar and extensive ventilation
Low claimed weight for a full-face
Fidlock buckle
Washable lining and adjustable pad fit
Cons
No fit-adjustment dial
Current featured price is higher than older clearance offers
Specifications
Featured price: Drone Black, M/L
Shell: fibre-reinforced Polylite
Impact liner: EPS and EPP with Mips
Ventilation: 11 intake and 14 exhaust ports
Closure: Fidlock
Claimed weight: 690g, M/L
Certification includes: CE EN1078 and ASTM F1952
Giro Coalition Spherical
Ventilated enduro helmet with a Halo chin bar
£319.99
The Giro Coalition Spherical brings Giro’s layered impact system to a more pedal-friendly full-face format than the Insurgent. Its large intake openings, internal channels and rear exhaust vents are aimed at riders who want to keep the helmet on between descents. The Halo chin bar uses Pebax and elastomeric bushings integrated into the impact liner, giving this design a different construction from a conventional rigid chin-bar arrangement.
The claimed 800g weight in medium and replaceable cheek pads put it in the same broad enduro conversation as the Mainline and Proframe RS. A Fidlock buckle is useful at stops, while the DryCore brow pad is intended to manage sweat near the eyes. The current black medium offer is £319.99, so the Coalition needs to fit particularly well to justify the premium over cheaper options here. Try the goggles you actually ride with and check pressure around the jaw; an advanced list of materials does not remove the need for a comfortable, stable fit.
Pros
Open ventilation layout for pedalled riding
Halo chin-bar construction
Fidlock buckle
Replaceable cheek pads and brow sweat management
Cons
Expensive at the featured selling price
Padding-based fit will not suit every head shape
Specifications
Featured price: Matte Black, M
Impact liner: EPP and EPS Progressive Layering
Rotational system: Spherical Technology powered by Mips
Chin bar: Halo System with Pebax and elastomeric bushings
Closure: Fidlock
Claimed weight: 800g, medium
Fit: interchangeable cheek pads
How to choose the best full-face MTB helmets
Start with the shape and size of your head, then the riding you expect to do. Measure your head using the manufacturer’s instructions and try the helmet with the goggles you use on the bike. It should sit level, resist rolling forwards or backwards when correctly fastened, and hold the cheeks without creating painful pressure points. Spend several minutes wearing it: an uncomfortable spot rarely improves once the ride becomes hot and strenuous.
The best full-face MTB helmets for long trail rides are not necessarily the same choices as those for uplift days. A lighter design with a large eye port and open ventilation can be easier to wear through climbs and transitions. A gravity-focused helmet may have a more substantial shell and padding package, but weight and bulk alone do not establish which helmet will perform better in a particular crash.
Fit systems, pads and goggles
A retention dial can help tune the fit, but it does not compensate for the wrong shell shape. The Endura, Proframe RS and Otocon Race offer different adjustment systems; the Mainline, Stage and Giro models rely more heavily on pad choices. Check the manufacturer’s instructions before changing pads, and use the correct supplied parts rather than trimming foam or improvising spacers.
The best full-face MTB helmets should work with your goggles without pushing them onto your nose or leaving the frame perched awkwardly on the helmet. Look left, right and down in a riding position. Make sure the strap stays in place and that you can see the trail clearly without the eye port or visor becoming distracting.
Understanding helmet certification
CE EN1078 is a bicycle-helmet standard, while ASTM F1952 is associated with downhill mountain-bike use and includes requirements relevant to full-face designs. Check the label and documentation for the exact helmet you buy, particularly if a race organiser specifies a standard. A model name, a chin bar or the word “enduro” is not a substitute for that check.
Mips, Spherical and Leatt’s Turbine system are different approaches to managing aspects of impact energy. They do not make helmets injury-proof, and a feature list cannot predict every crash. Among the best full-face MTB helmets, fit, correct fastening, condition and appropriate certification remain essential alongside the technologies inside.
Weight, ventilation and UK riding
Compare weights only when the quoted size and certification version are clear. A small helmet may be substantially lighter than the largest size of the same model, and regional versions can differ. Published figures are useful for orientation, but how the helmet sits on your head matters just as much when you spend several hours riding.
For slow climbs, the position and size of the vents can matter more than the total number. The best full-face MTB helmets for pedalled riding need airflow through the chin bar and around the head, as well as space for moisture to escape near the goggles. In cold rain, removable liners and straightforward drying are also valuable.
Looking after a full-face helmet
Follow the cleaning instructions supplied with the helmet. Remove washable pads only as directed, use suitable mild cleaning products and let the helmet dry naturally away from strong heat. Avoid solvents, unapproved paints and modifications to the shell or impact foam. Keep the fastener, visor fittings and retention components clean enough to inspect.
After a significant impact, follow the manufacturer’s replacement guidance even if the outside looks intact. Impact foam can be damaged without an obvious crack in the shell. A second-hand helmet with an unknown history is a poor place to save money; the best full-face MTB helmets are only useful while they remain in sound condition.
Best full-face MTB helmets: common questions
Do I need a full-face helmet on an eMTB?
Not for every ride. Choose coverage according to the terrain, speed and consequences of a fall, alongside any event or venue requirements. A full-face is worth considering for technical descents and park riding, while an open-face helmet may suit less demanding routes. Our enduro MTB helmet guide covers higher-coverage alternatives without a fixed chin bar.
Can I pedal in a full-face helmet?
Yes. The Mainline, Stage, Proframe RS, Coalition and Otocon Race are designed with enduro riding in mind, where climbing and linking trails are part of the day. The best full-face MTB helmets for this job fit securely without needing to be loosened for comfort on every climb. If you cannot tolerate the fit for a normal ride, try a different shape.
Is a more expensive helmet always safer?
Price can buy lower weight, more refined ventilation, different impact-management technology or easier adjustment. It does not create a universal safety ranking. Choose a correctly fitting helmet with the appropriate certification and replace it when its condition or the manufacturer’s guidance requires it.
Should I choose a magnetic buckle or D-ring?
Both can work well when correctly fastened. A magnetic buckle is convenient at frequent stops, while a D-ring is simple and familiar to many gravity riders. Practise using the fastening before riding, check the strap adjustment and follow the helmet’s instructions rather than assuming the closure is secure from its appearance alone.
Which is the best budget full-face MTB helmet here?
The Endura SingleTrack Full Face Mips has the lowest featured price at £110, but that black offer is restricted to L/XL. The Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips at £119.99 is a useful gravity option with a magnetic buckle. Neither is a bargain if it does not fit; compare the actual size and colour available before choosing.
Verdict: the best full-face MTB helmets for your riding
The Smith Mainline Mips remains our overall recommendation for mixed trail and enduro riding, supported by its comfortable fit and useful airflow in our review. The Giro Insurgent Spherical retains the bike-park award, while the Stage suits long transitions and the Proframe RS adds BOA adjustment. The best full-face MTB helmets are those that match your head and your riding: use the shortlist to narrow the choice, then let a careful try-on decide.