Full Face Helmets Vs. Bowl Helmets in BMX

BMX helmets help keep a rider safe.

Wearing a helmet is a must when riding any type of bike, but especially useful when doing freestyle BMX. There are few differences between a full-face and a bowl-shaped BMX helmet, but they are significant.

Bowl-shaped Helmet

Bowl-shaped helmets have many advantages over full-face helmets. They are much cheaper. A normal helmet generally costs $20 to $40 and will last a long time. These types of helmets are also more versatile and comfortable for the rider as they only cover the top of your head. They offer a larger field of vision and mobility of the head.

Full-face Helmet

The full-face helmet does have different advantages over the bowl-shaped helmets. Full-face helmets are used more for extreme stunts and bigger tricks, covering more of your head and face. They range in price from $60 to $220, but also offer more protection. They cover the jawline, mouth and cheeks, as well as thicker protection on the head. The disadvantage lies in the loss of field of vision and mobility of your head.

Right Choice

Deciding what helmet is best for you depends on your style of riding. If you're an amateur and do only small tricks or stay mostly at a skate park, the bowl-shaped helmet may be better because it is cheaper and much more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. The full-face may be a better fit if you're doing more dirt jumping and bigger stunts because you will need more protection.

References

• Bicycle Helmet Safety