Wearing a mountain bike helmet is a must for every cycler, regardless of skill level with the sports. These are necessary accessories, from beginners to pros, to give you the best protection against accidents. Mountain bike helmets can even be considered the most important protective gear for cyclists as they are the only thing that can come between your skull and the hard concrete. They can make a difference if you will walk away unharmed or if you will go directly to the ICU.

Every year, recorded head injuries related to biking reaches over 15,000. With this amount of head injuries, the type of injury incurred is either a mild headache or a more serious injury depending on the type of helmet the cycler is wearing during the accident. As such, experts agree that severe head traumas and injuries can be prevented, or reduced, if bikers are to wear the right kind of mountain bike helmets. Hence, it is a must that every biker selects the most appropriate type of helmet for their biking needs, so as to minimize injuries related to cycling.

Careful scrutiny and keen observation of the various factors that differentiate helmets from one another is a must for every biker. A very important consideration when selecting a bike helmet is the type of mountain biking a cycler practices. Cross-country, single track, and recreational biking requires an open face mountain bike helmet. These helmets can either be Cross-country MTB helmets that feature a streamlined, technical, and classic bike helmet look, or Skate-style MTB helmets that have a classic but cool bucket shaped look. Open face helmets are manufactured with impact absorbing EPS liner and tough ABS fiber glass composite that help protect the head during accidents. These helmets come in various shell sizes and adjustable dials to fit properly on the head.

Bikers doing downhill, dirt jumping, high speed riding, and other higher rick mountain biking stunts should wear full face mountain biking helmets. These helmets provide full face protection for the head, chin, jaw, cheeks, and other parts of the face. These helmets are also a bit heavier than open face helmets. Regardless of the type of helmet, on the other hand, each helmet a biker selects must also have met the requirements set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

Other factors that should be selected after choosing the type of mountain bike helmet are the gears’ fit and weight. The helmet should fit properly in the head to offer the best protection. The helmet’s fit is affected by the size of the helmet, the strap, and the interior ring and paddings; hence, the rider should put the helmet on to test it for fit before buying the gear. Bikers should also look for helmets with weight that would allow them to be light and streamlined while racing. Other factors to be considered in the selection of a mountain bike helmet are the ventilation-more vents mean better ventilation-and the helmet’s lining-should be able to effectively soak up sweat and can be removed and replaced for easy cleaning.

Lastly, always remember that mountain bike helmets are one of the most important things that can save your life when you’re biking. They can make the difference between life and death, thus, it is important to select the helmet that will be able to provide you the right amount of protection.

Liam McFerry is a mountain bike enthusiast from Switzerland. Being constantly on the go with his mountain bike, McFerry makes certain that he always wear his helmet to safeguard himself from hazards that can possibly occur during his bike sessions.