With the regular high speeds and general downhill focus, this is often a highly debated decision among enduro riders. Ultimately, unless certain event rules dictate otherwise there is no right or wrong answer and the decision really comes down to personal preference. Full-face helmets, even the latest generation of lightweight options, are still inevitably heavier than most of the best half-shell helmets, run hotter and limit visibility at the trade-off of extra protection. Open-face helmets aimed at enduro tend to have more coverage than most trail lids, vent well and provide great trail visibility but do leave you feeling more vulnerable when the gnar levels ramp.
Luckily over the past few seasons, we have seen a new breed of convertible helmets come to the market which essentially offers the best of both worlds – unclip and remove the chain guard for climbing or long stage transitions and simply re-install when the trail begins to point down. These are a great solution but they’re not without their problems. If you’re also using it as a downhill helmet you need to make sure the chin-bar attachment meets the necessary certifications too, as some options are only rated for trail riding.