Best Downhill Mountain Bike Helmets

In my opinion, downhill riding is one of the most thrilling sports ever created, providing a thrilling mix of uncertainty, adrenaline, and a complete surrender to your natural instincts – all amidst the freedom of the wilderness. However, while seeking this thrill, it’s essential to ensure your safety, and avoiding the risk of catastrophic injury should be a top priority.

As such, it’s crucial to invest in the best downhill mountain bike helmet available on the market. And it’s not that hard to find the right downhill helmet that suits your head structure; you only need a little knowledge and experience to be a good judge of DH certified helmets. However, this article is for those who have zero knowledge about downhill MTB helmets and are looking for guidance on this matter.

Best Downhill Mountain Bike Helmets Overview

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS
Best Overall	Best Overall	Troy Lee Designs D3 Downhill Helmet	Dimensions: ‎16 x 12 x 12 inches Weight: 0.7 lbs. Outer Material: Fiberglass, Carbon	Check On Amazon
Premium Pick	Premium Pick	TLD Stage Downhill MTB Helmet	Dimensions: ‎14.75 x 10.5 x 12 inches Weight: 3.1 lbs. Outer Material: EPS	Check On Amazon
Top Pick	Top Pick	PTSOC DH MTB Helmet	Dimensions: ‎10.63 x 8.27 x 5.91 inches Weight: 1.5 lbs. Outer Material: Expanded Polystyrene	Check On Amazon
Editor’s Choice	Editor’s Choice	Smith Session MIPS Downhill Helmet	Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 8 inches Weight: 2 lbs. Outer Material: Polycarbonate	Check On Amazon
Heavy Duty	Heavy Duty	POC Mountain Bike Helmet	Dimensions: ‎11.81 x 11.81 x 11.81 inches Weight: 2.2 lbs. Outer Material: Fiberglass	Check On Amazon

5 Best Downhill MTB Helmets Review

The following article contains detailed review of 5 best downhill certified helmets that I have personally used for downhill rides, tested and loved. In fact, I still have three of the following helmets in my bikes testing lab and use them alternatively whenever I go for MTB rides. So, if the prospect of finding a good downhill helmet sounds appealing to you then keep on reading to find out more!

1. Troy Lee Designs D3 Helmet – Best Downhill Mountain Bike Helmet

The Troy Lee Downhill Mountain Bike helmet is hands down as one of the best MTB helmet for all. It has a net weight of 325 grams and measures 16 x 12 x 12 inches in L x W x H. The outer shell of this helmet is made up of premium-quality Fiberglass and carbon. Besides, it comes in various vibrant colors and sizes to suit both genders and fit any age group.

Furthermore, this helmet has the most beautiful design with ingeniously placed ventilation vents to provide you with excellent air ventilation while you ride your bike. It takes the hot air out and lets in cool dry air inside the helmet thus keeping your head temperature under constant check.

Apart from that, you will love the sublime quality of this helmet. The visor screen protects your eyes from air and pollutants while also allowing you to enjoy your view. Plus, it has Aluminum screws which are highly durable and keep the visor in place while you ride downhill.

Why I Recommended Troy Lee Bike Full Face Helmet

So, if you are looking for a good helmet that you can comfortably wear on your downhill mountain ride then the Troy Lee Downhill Mountain Bike Helmet is the perfect option for you. It is the lightest helmet I have ever used and provides excellent air ventilation. However, the liner keeps slipping out from the back so you will have to use double-sided duct tape to fix the liner in place.

If you often for enduro bike rides then you should also read about best enduro helmets

2. Troy Lee Designs Stage Downhill MTB Helmet

The Troy Lee Stage Mountain Bike Helmet is yet another fabulous alternative for all of you looking for a perfect helmet for downhill mountain biking. It has a net weight of 3.1 pounds and measures 15.5 x 12 x 10 inches in L x W x H. It comes in beautiful colors and different sizes to suit all and fit all.

Apart from that, this helmet has a highly breathable mesh liner that allows for excellent ventilation and prevents profuse sweating. In addition to that, the air vents are ingeniously placed in places that allow for cool dry air to rush in and hot air to move out. Hence, by wearing this helmet you will not feel lightheaded or too hot in the head region of your body.

Moreover, this helmet has a solid Polylite shell that does not break or dent upon impact. In fact, the inside mesh liner is super thick and acts as a shock absorber. Hence, if you ever take a fall during downhill racing, your head will be cradled safely inside the protection of this helmet. You can also read a guide about cleaning a helmet liner.

Why I Recommended TLD Stage Downhill MTB Helmet

So, if you are looking for a perfect helmet that you can wear for downhill racing then the Troy Lee Stage Mountain Bike Helmet is a perfect alternative for you. This helmet is lightweight and tough. Hence, it will protect your skull while putting the least bit of pressure on your neck and shoulders.

You may also want to read about best downhill MTB tires

3. PTSOC DH MTB Helmet with Removable Visor

PTSOC Mountain Bike Helmet is the perfect safety helmet for you if you like downhill riding. This helmet is super lightweight and fits all head shapes and sizes. It has a net weight of 0.67 kilograms and measures 11.3 x 9.06 x 6.54 inches in L x W x H. And the best part is that it is super affordable.

Furthermore, this helmet has a high-quality sun visor that protects your eyes from harmful sunlight and lets you see clearly on a bright sunny day. At the same time, it will also protect your eyes from wind effects, rain, dust particles, and tiny bugs that might get into your eyes while riding. Besides, you can also remove this visor easily while cleaning the helmet.

However, that is not the most distinguishing feature of this helmet. The adjustable rear light would give this helmet a more refined and professional look. It makes this helmet safe for night riders as they can turn on the light and let everyone at their back be aware of their presence at the front.

Why I Recommended PTSOC DH MTB Helmet

So, it is safe to conclude that the PTSOC Mountain Bike Helmet is hands down one of the best and most affordable helmets you can get your hands on. It has a backlight that makes it safer to wear at night. However, you must be very careful with the sizing of this helmet and must try one out on your head to see if it fits you properly before you make the purchase.

If you’re a giro helmets lover, you can also my review about best Giro helmets

4. Smith Optics Session MIPS Downhill Helmet

Smith Session MIPS Downhill Helmet is yet another spectacular alternative for all those looking for the best downhill MTB helmet. It measures 12.52 x 10 x 7.48 inches in L x W x H and weighs only 1.96 pounds. Plus, it comes in three different sizes and sixteen brilliant colors.

Furthermore, this MIPS Technology helmet only covers the top of your head which means no visor or chin safety. However, this is also the reason why it is so lightweight and comfortable to wear. This helmet is so lightweight that you won’t even feel the slightest bit of pressure on your head and shoulders. Hence, it is my go-to helmet for short rides.

Despite the small size of this helmet, it still houses fifteen ventilation vents in total. Which means that it is not only lightweight but also super airy. The cool air will immediately dry out the sweat as soon as it perspires on your skin hence, making it a perfect choice for riding on hot sunny days and humid environments.

Why I Recommended Smith Session Downhill Helmet

So, I highly recommend you all try the Smith Session MIPS Downhill Helmet. It is everything an MTB rider wants, especially the ones who like to ride downhill. However, it does not provide full-face safety, so if you are about to ride in a treacherous area, I recommend using a full-face helmet.

5. POC Coron Air Spin Helmet

The POC Mountain Bike Helmet is the final item on my list of the best MTB helmets for downhill riding. This helmet weighs 1 kilogram and measures 11.81 x 11.81 x 11.81 inches in L x W x H. The outer shell is made up of premium-quality Fiberglass. However, this helmet only comes in two sizes and four colors.

The best part about this helmet is that it is super safe with an extra barrier to safety. It has uniquely designed and patented POC SPIN pads fitted inside of this helmet in between the liners. These pads act as shock absorbers and help keep your head in place while you ride bumpy rides. Hence, you won’t feel your head rattling inside the helmet as you try to focus on the road underneath you.

Apart from that, this helmet’s most distinguishing feature is its improved design at the ear and chin region. The ear vent is specifically designed to allow you to be able to hear everything clearly. It means that you won’t have to pull off your helmet to hear someone talking to you. The chin vent is to allow easy breathing.

Why I Recommended POC Downhill MTB Helmet

So, if you have an average-sized head and are looking for a full-face protection helmet, you must try out the POC Mountain Bike Helmet. It is everything that you can expect a downhill helmet to be. It has an excellent ventilation system and allows you to breathe and hear what people around you say. I would definitely recommend you try out this helmet.

FAQs about Downhill Helmets

What is a downhill-certified helmet?

A downhill-certified helmet is one that has been tested and approved as per the standards. These helmets are relatively safer to use for downhill riding as compared to the ones that are not downhill-certified. These helmets have improved ventilation, are much lighter, generally provide full face protection, and always come with extra safety features to protect your skull and neck from any serious injuries in case you ever take a fall.

Do you need a full-face helmet for downhill mountain biking?

Yes, it is highly recommended by safety experts that you must use a full-face helmet if you want to go downhill riding. Since downhill riding is all about racing down the hill at teeth-jarring speed, you may as well make use of all the protection you can get. Because at the end of the day, you want to sleep in your head rather than in a coffin, right?

Final Thoughts about DH MTB Helmets Review

So, this was all from my side. I hope you all enjoyed reading through these reviews and were able to find the one that particularly stands out for your needs. However, there is a huge possibility that you are confused about which one to buy for yourself.

It is natural that you want to get the best one but can’t decide which one it is. So, why don’t I share my own personal favorite downhill MTB helmets that I own and love to use alternatively whenever I go riding? Sounds fun, yeah? So, let’s get started!

• POC Mountain Bike Helmet is my number one priority whenever I go riding on unknown terrain. The added protection is enough to give me peace of mind as I recklessly ride my mountain bike downhill.
• PTSOC Mountain Bike Helmet is perfect for night riders as it features a rear LED light. This LED light lets people at your back know that you are there; hence, they don’t accidentally mow you down.
• Troy Lee Downhill Mountain Bike Helmet is my favorite for its excellent ventilation system. It is ingeniously designed to let cool, dry air inside the helmet and simultaneously push out hot, humid air. Hence, all that sweat will simply dry out rather than drip on your face.