Do you know what remains to be the most crucial factor in mountain biking besides biking itself? The safety while biking, indeed.
A biker may own a mountain bike, but he can only hit the trails with it once he has the perfect safety gear, a right-sized mountain bike helmet.
In mountain biking, it is a strict law always to wear a mountain bike helmet while riding. Even it is a fundamental social measure to carry enough and appropriate safety gear while performing an intense activity like biking.
A mountain bike helmet must be purchased extremely carefully.
It must be tried nicely in the case of offline purchases from the local city markets, and in the case of online purchases, always refer to the fitting guides allocated with the specific models of your choice.
Hence, understanding the importance of a helmet in mountain biking and knowing how should a mountain bike helmet fit is crucial.
The mountain biking helmets are generally available in two types, viz. open-face mountain biking helmets and full-face mountain biking helmets.
Both of these serve the similar purpose of ensuring the rider’s safety on the challenging trails and terrains while riding but slightly differ in the design and, adjustment, and fit.
The open-face helmets give coverage to only the forehead and the rear head, whereas the full face mountain bike helmets cover the entire face, including the forehead, mouth, and jaw.
Hence, the full face ones are more protective than the open-face MTB helmets.
If you are looking out for information regarding the exact and perfect fit of the mountain bike helmet, then you are in the right place.
This guide is all about how should a mountain bike helmet fit and the factors to be considered while ensuring to achieve the perfect fit.
A similar content regarding the full face mountain biking helmet is also included underneath.
Factors To Consider While Choosing The Best Fitted Mountain Bike Helmet
Similar to mountain bikes, certain factors are needed to be considered and valued while purchasing the best-fitted mountain bike helmets for yourself. They are discussed thoroughly underneath.
1. The Mountain Bike Helmet Must Be According To The Rider’s Choice Of Terrain
Based on the rider’s choice of various terrains, generally, bike helmets are categorized into three types, viz., road bike helmets, mountain bike helmets, and recreational helmets.
This categorization makes it easy and comfortable for the bikers to choose the best-fitted mountain bike helmets for themselves.
The Road bike helmets are aerodynamically designed and light in weight.
They are nicely ventilated and are preferred by road riders who do not look forward to exploring mountains with their road bikes.
The Mountain bike helmets are extremely carefully designed in a way that they have an extended rear head coverage that is suitable to provide safety while aggressive biking and falling backward over challenging terrains.
These MTB helmets are well ventilated and are also available with full face coverage.
Recreational bike helmets are preferred during casual riding and the most economical ones.
2. The Mountain Bike Helmet Must Fit Perfectly
If something that matters in terms of safety above anything is the precautions to be taken to maintain it.
Hence, in the case of choosing the best mountain bike helmet, always consider the one that fits you accurately.
Never compromise and opt for a loosely fitted helmet, as that may cause you much while biking over the terrains.
It is important that you get the right-sized mountain bike helmet that must fit you properly and accurately.
3. The Additional Features Of The Mountain Bike Helmet
The latest mountain bike helmets are available with various advanced and high-tech features like the extra strong and durable material, aerodynamic design, light in weight, proper ventilation to prevent excessive sweating, and much more.
Besides, there are some additional features to the helmet, like in-built mountains for light or go-pro camera colors and other accessories.
These may seem fancy and attractive to many riders, but they would eventually increase the unnecessary weight and price of the mountain bike helmets.
How Should A Mountain Bike Helmet Fit?
At the time of buying a mountain bike helmet, it is mandatory to choose the one with a perfect or an accurate fit. A loosely fitted helmet may result in serious safety hazards on the terrains.
Hence, to stay protected from the damage caused over the trails due to crashes and falls, it is important that your helmet is perfectly fitted and is comfortable over longer rides.
Generally, mountain bike helmets are available in XS, Small, Medium, Large, XL, and one size fits all, as per the circumference of the rider’s head.
The helmet sizes are measured in inches and centimeters as well. In case you want to be sure about your head circumference, use a measuring tape to wrap it around your forehead.
The tape must not be too tight and should be placed a little above your eyebrows. That way, you would get to know the perfect fit of your mountain bike helmet.
The most important steps to get a mountain bike helmet fit perfectly are explained below. Give it a good read to get clear regarding the utmost important safety measures while biking.
1. Adjust The Tightness Of The Mountain Bike Helmet
Place the mountain bike helmet on your head and adjust its tightness with the adjustment wheel or the sizing dial at the rear of the helmet.
Adjust it nicely to get a snug fit and so the helmet does not slip off the head while biking over the rocky and bumpy trails.
2. Set The Position Of The Helmet Properly
The mountain bike helmet must be placed and positioned on the right level of your head. That means the helmet should neither be tilted towards the back nor falling over your eyes.
It must be placed suitably straight on your forehead in a way that your vision must be clear well as your forehead is protected nicely.
3. Buckle It Up Forming A V And Adjust The Chinstrap
Secure the straps nicely under your ears in a way that they form a stiff V.
This would ensure that they are buckled well. You may check the position of the straps over your chin by placing a finger between the strap and your chin.
The strap must not be too tight nor too loose in order to assure your 100% safety.
4. Make Sure You Are Comfortable Wearing The Helmet
Once you secure the strap over your chin and under your ears nicely, open your mouth wide and analyze the tightness on your face. That should not be harsh and uncomfortable to you.
Also, while doing so, the top of the helmet must press on the top of your head. Adjust the strap accordingly, if needed.
How Should A Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet Fit?
The purpose of the full face mountain bike helmet remains the same, but they apparently differ from the standard open-face mountain bike helmets.
They offer more safety than the open-face helmets but are a little tricky in fit and adjustment.
A full-face mountain bike helmet must be perfectly fit in a way that it should remain stable on your head even if you are constantly moving.
You must also notice that they must neither be oversized nor undersized as per your head’s circumference.
The full-face mountain bike helmets do not have a proper rear retention system that holds the helmet in place and is usually one size smaller than the standard mountain bike helmet size.
They have soft pads inside that hold the helmet stable while riding.
The steps to get the full face mountain bike helmet fit you accurately, consider and follow the below-mentioned steps.
Choose the perfect size mountain bike for your 12-year-old kids.
1. Measure The Full face Mountain Bike Helmet Extra Carefully
Grab a measuring tape or a string and wrap it around your forehead. The tape must be placed not too tight, not too loose, and approx two fingers width above your eyebrows.
Accordingly, select the full face mountain bike helmet that fits you the best. But consider choosing one size bigger than your usual size if it shows somewhere between the standard sizes.
2. Have A Trial Before You Hit Off The Trail With It
The fastening straps of the full face helmets are quite different from the usual open-face helmets.
These helmets have standard D buckles that are secured tightly over your face. These straps would be on your face assuring that the helmet would not move anyway while riding.
This way, you would get complete coverage on your face and strap buckled at the chin. Check from the chin itself whether it moves comfortably and the strap is not overtight.
3. Position The Full Face MTB Helmet Properly
Simply make sure that the helmet covers your face well across your jawline.
The full-face helmet must be in front of your mouth nicely and must not be hanging downwards or upwards.
Try to adjust the helmet according to your head’s shape and comfort zone, and checking on the neck rolls and cheek pads. Remember, all you are doing is for your own safety. Hence, do it religiously and calmly.
Conclusion
The mountain biking helmet is majorly used to maintain overall safety from severe head injuries that may be caused during falls or crashes during intense biking over the trails and terrains.
Hence, that becomes extremely important to check the quality, durability, efficiency, and many such essential factors related to the mountain biking helmet before buying them.
The mountain biking helmet is a perfect example of an intelligent and high-engineered design.
These highly robust safety helmets are available with a wide range of features.
They are made aerodynamically, decently ventilated, and comes with a sun-shielding visor. But equally, they demand special and extra care to be taken to enhance their durability and efficiency.
You must keep your mountain bike helmet only for your personal use and avoid lending it to others. Besides, always clean it gently with mild soapy water and store it in an area away from heat.
With this, I hope I could help you achieve your ultimate goal of knowing all about the factors, including how should a mountain biking helmet fit. Good luck with the safest biking expedition of yours.