Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

3/4 shell helmets to look at?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 29 Posts

spinkleswexler

· Registered
Joined
·
96 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am currently looking for a 3/4 shell helmet as a replacement for my Lazer Jackal Kineticore. Lazer and TLD size medium helmets have fit me the best but neither of them make a 3/4 shell helmet. I rarely use the stage when there is no uplift and also have a more xc style helmet, so I want an option for the middle (most of my riding).

If you have experience with any 3/4 shell helmets let me know.

Should I just stick with a traditional half shell?
 
#3 ·
jeremy3220 said:
I feel like once you cover your ears and add cheek pads, why not just go full face? It seems you've got all the heat build up of a full face without the chin guard protection.
Click to expand...
Totally agree.

With full face, it is hard to drink from a bottle on the go, but that is a small thing compared to to the reduced teeth count.

To the OP, what do you think about Bell 2R or similar with removable chin bar that is 3/4 helmets in disguise?
 
#4 ·
Loll said:
To the OP, what do you think about Bell 2R or similar with removable chin bar that is 3/4 helmets in disguise?
Click to expand...
As goofy as that removable chin bar helmet seems, that helmet fit me the best (Yes, I looked like I was wearing a doppler radar dome on my head) Regardless. Didn't realize how much I loved the bell until I bought the Smith Payroll. The Smith looks cool, but it just does not fit me that great. To boot, I bought the Mag XL glasses that I thought were a system with the helmet, and the glasses DONT fit into the grooves which is really annoying, especially for the price!

Also the smith has a standard clasp style buckle chin strap whereas the Bell is that nifty magnetic chin strap. I really liked that. A lot. I would not buy another Smith helmet

The Lazer is a really good helmet!
 
#6 ·
I have a 3/4 Fox Dropframe and love it. I use that helmet for my usual trail rides. When I want to take it up a notch, I wear my Proframe.

If you poke around, you may find deals on the Dropframe.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#9 ·
I bought a Giro Switchblade when they first came out in 2016 but I recently gave it to my cousin. It was comfortable and felt very robust but it was heavy and the idea of removing the chin bar mid ride and reinstalling later was too much hassle. I pretty much never took the chin bar off after the first few rides and I used it as a full face. After I got a TLD Stage I never wore the Switchblade again. As others have said, if I am going to go more than a half shell, I'll go to the Stage, the only down side I can see compared to a 3/4 is its harder to drink from a bottle.
 
#11 ·
jeremy3220 said:
I feel like once you cover your ears and add cheek pads, why not just go full face? It seems you've got all the heat build up of a full face without the chin guard protection.
Click to expand...
There's a noticeable level of difference in heat buildup with a 3/4 versus full face.

A lot of this comes down to eyewear. I wear glasses with the 3/4, but full face always go goggles.

Faceplant type crashes are also fairly rare compared to the other sides of the head. Especially if you instinctively tuck and roll when you come off the bike.
 
#15 ·
LePigPen said:
But ya convertible makes way more sense for the average MTBer
Click to expand...
The issue with convertibles is it seems most don't bother converting. Certainly not mid ride. My partner has a Bell one and it was one or other. She almost never changed while riding.

I've just bought a Stage as I didn't want a convertible one for the reason above. I can't get over how pleasant it is to wear. I have a DH helmet which has to be removed the instant I'm in the shuttle line and normal xc/trail half shells.

My dilemma with the Stage is goggles, I can't stand the full face and glasses look 😂

Yes I'm shallow.
 
#16 ·
spinkleswexler said:
If you have experience with any 3/4 shell helmets let me know.
Click to expand...
I have the original Dropframe. Too hot for our humid summers but it is my favorite helmet for shoulder and winter seasons. It is the most comfortable of the many helmets I owned, by a large margin, and the extra protection isn't marginal IMO. I assume that people who say that 3/4 have the same coverage as half-shells or who say that full faces come with only a little extra penalty have never owned a 3/4 lid. But my helmet is getting old, and I started looking at alternatives. Too bad that some of the new 3/4s on the market are not available in the US - the Jetro and the Rascas both look great. The Giro Tyrant looks weird and hot, perhaps the new Dropframe is the ticket?
 
#18 ·
LePigPen said:
This is something I'm struggling with as well. Initially I thought I 'didnt like' FF helmets but after some experimenting I realized... I didn't like goggles. Which is a bummer because looks wise obviously its moto AF its cool. But I'm just not accustomed to riding in them so I feel very closed in, I feel more tense without my peripherals, I dunno.

So I'm looking to find the widest goggles possible I guess to get great FoV but... Ya shades might be the answer and I can't call it kooky (too much) cuz Metzger seems to rock the glasses and FF combo at Bear. And come to think of it I'm not 100% sure if he wore goggles during his FMX events. Would be interesting. But ya don't mind the FF but goggz are a faff on long days, hot days, or just really technical riding where I feel limited and timid from the FoV. Meh
Click to expand...
I rate Oakley Airbrakes as having really good FOV.

But even better view, is wearing glasses.

Aside from being a fashion faux pas, running glasses with a FF has its downsides.

Firstly you lose a lot of frontal impact protection for your eyes and nose, as glasses can cause injury when they get shoved into your eye sockets. If I'm going to the trouble of wearing a FF, I want as much protection as possible.

Secondly, goggles go a long way to supporting the helmet on your face and minimising the up/down jiggle from a heavier helmet. To support this point, when the heavens open up and rain so hard you cannot see properly with goggles, I remove the goggle lens and just run them without.
 
#20 ·
LePigPen said:
Ya I actually started with some Leatts, and they were... Ok. But I grabbed some Smiths cuz they 'looked cool' and ultimately when getting them in the mail they seemed quite small and tight.

Which is kinda weird/annoying because I threw on my Volcom snow goggles on just by comparison and loved them. But they were also suffocatingly hot as well as I'm maybe not trying to destroy a much more expensive pair of goggz/lenses. But... I'm wondering why the FoV is so small on MTB goggz, maybe in terms of universal sizing? I fit a large helmet so maybe I have much more real estate for oversized goggles. And mediums and smalls can't afford to run universal fit goggles if they're basically huge?

But yeah, would love any 'oversized' goggles reccs cuz as much as I'd love to just rock my snow goggz I don't think it's gonna work in the heat/durability wise.
Click to expand...
MTB goggles need to be made to generally fit within the opening of a FF helmet.

Snow goggles are often worn only with a half lid, or no helmet at all. So they can be designed to have a huge FOV.

you might be best just going to a moto shop with your helmet and just try different goggles to find the biggest ones that will fit.
 
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
About this Discussion
28 Replies
16 Participants
Last post:
LowEntropy
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion