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I was wondering if full face helmets are better or worse than half shell helmets?

Full face helmets offer better protection. Something like 30% of head impacts during MC accidents are to the lower front face area... the area a chin bar protects.

Some people think they look worse. That's personal opinion one way or the other though.

this is the stupidest question I've ever seen. Full face helmet protects your entire head, including the face, jaw, ears, etc. Half-helmet protects only the top of your head. What part of that did you not understand? Try looking at the tow types of helmets side by side if that helps.

here's an honest answer.

both helmets as long as they are rated the same (DoT, Snell) will protect the same for the areas they cover.

a full faced helmet is better in that it protects more area, but if the impact were to the same area (say the top of the head) then both helmets would protect the same (other factors involved include proper fit, wearing the chinstrap etc. but you get the point)...at least that's the theory,

bok wrote: both helmets as long as they are rated the same (DoT, Snell) will protect the same for the areas they cover.

there is no such thing as a SNELL-rated half-helmet.

ninja79 wrote:

bok wrote: both helmets as long as they are rated the same (DoT, Snell) will protect the same for the areas they cover.

there is no such thing as a SNELL-rated half-helmet.

and for good reason . Anyways you are more likely to hit your chin in an accident than you are the top of your head. you decide which is better but im thinking I want my chin when im done with the accident.

ninja79 wrote:

bok wrote: both helmets as long as they are rated the same (DoT, Snell) will protect the same for the areas they cover.

there is no such thing as a SNELL-rated half-helmet.

and my statement is no less true that as long as the helmet has been tested and rated the same as another they will protect (very closely at least) the same for the areas they cover

sure there are no snell rated beanie styles but there are open face and motocross helmets that are Snell and probably convertible/flipup ones as well.

weel it appears that i should stay with the full face helmet i have rather than getting half shell helmet!!!!!

Thanks and keep on ridin

I would be missing half of my face if I was only wearing a half helmet. I losided and went into gravel I know by the scratched in my helmet that it was hitting the ground. Those scratched are right ablong where my ear would be.

According to a moderator here, helmets are usless. So people who race Moto GP should just need a thin shell designed to keep out the wind, because helmets "Bounce on Impact"...obviously SNELL Standards reflect this, and all race helmets have no padding at all.

I learn all kinds of smart things on the internets!