Of course, we have seen far too many head injuries from longboarders who chose not to wear a helmet when riding. If you plan on doing downhill longboarding, it's critical that you choose to wear a mask. For downhill you should definitely wear a full-face helmet like the ones we recommend above. Also if you're a beginner and/or a kid, we really urge you to wear a longboard helmet. When you buy a kids longboard, please combine that purchase with a helmet for the child.