The Safety of Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets: 4 Key Factors to Consider

For any motorcyclist, it’s incredibly important to be fully aware of the safety features of the gear and apparel you wear while you ride. One of the most important (and perhaps the most important) pieces of motorcycle apparel to get right is the helmet—and no helmet is safer for motorcyclists than a full coverage Helmet.  The safety of full-face motorcycle helmets, also known as full coverage or integral helmet, is well documented.

Today, I’m going to take a deep dive into how full-face helmets stack up with different aspects of motorcycle helmet safety and standards so that every motorcyclist can stay informed and make sure they enjoy the rider’s high both in style and safety.

What Are the Safety Benefits of Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets?

A full-face helmet is a type of motorcycle helmet that has a 360-degree design around your head, covering you from the top of your head all the way to your chin and neck. This is the ideal type of helmet to wear for motorcyclists, both for safety and convenience.

Full-face helmets offer unique safety benefits compared to other types of motorcycle helmets—such as open-face, modular, and half-helmets—that either leave parts of the face and head entirely exposed or do not cover enough of your head to fully protect you in an accident.

The safety of full-face motorcycle helmets includes the following benefits:

• Covers more of your head than any other type of helmet
• Offers protection from external factors such as bugs, inclement weather, wind, and more
• Built-in face shield
• Heavyweight for shock protection

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The motorcycle helmets I recommend provide a perfect balance of affordability and unwavering quality, ensuring the utmost value for your investment. These are items I've become well-acquainted with during my more than 50 years of motorcycling experience, where I've led and consulted for reputable companies in over 25 countries, in addition to being an avid rider. They are the very same helmets that have earned my trust and served me exceptionally well during countless adventures.

Testing The Safety of Full-Face Motorcycle Helmets

Scientific research tests determine motorcycle helmet standards, and these tests differ depending on the organization responsible for them. There are three main organizations for motorcycle standards:

• DOT (Department of Transportation, United States): Responsible for regulating motorcycle helmets sold in the United States of America for on-road purposes.
• ECE (Economic Commission for Europe, Europe): Responsible for regulating and certifying motorcycle helmets in 47 countries in Europe.
• Snell (Snell Memorial Foundation, Private): Provides additional certifications that go beyond your average government testing procedures for safety.

These organizations will do tests on different parts of the helmet to determine whether it passes their safety standard.

• Drop tests allow researchers to see how effective a motorcycle is against impact.
• The width of view is also tested researchers make sure it’s over a specific degree for visibility purposes.
• Chin straps, too, are tested for slipperiness—and so on.

Therefore, depending on where you come from, you’ll want to make sure your helmet has an official certification from one or more of these organizations. Double-checking is important, as some sellers do try to bypass standards by using counterfeit certifications.

What Makes Full Face Helmets Safe?

As mentioned above, there are different ways a motorcycle helmet can be measured for safety, depending on the organization responsible for the tests and coming up with standards. Let’s look at some of the things they test for and how full-face helmets stack up. The safety of full-face motorcycle helmets is affected by all of the following factors.

• Area of Coverage

In the world of motorcycling, the amount of coverage your helmet provides is one of the most important factors in determining the safety of your helmet—especially because motorcyclists with helmets are three times more likely to survive in a crash than those who ride without any type of coverage.

To be considered full face, the helmet must cover the entire head, including the base of the skull and chin, to ensure there’s nothing left unprotected. That said, a full-face helmet provides the most coverage out of any type of motorcycle helmet out there. Therefore, full-face helmets are the most effective of all helmets in covering your head for protection.

• Weight

Full-face helmets are, not surprisingly, the heaviest of motorcycle helmets, as they are the biggest and use the most material.

While this indeed means they are safer than other types of helmets that can be quite light (like half helmets), this can be a deterrent for some motorcyclists, who prefer a lighter feel with increased airflow for comfort while riding.

However, there’s good news—you can choose your shell material to affect the weight of your full-face helmet. You’ll want to choose a material that is both lightweight and strong in the face of adversity—carbon fiber and fiberglass are the best choices in this regard, unlike some plastics, which can be low-cost (but will still fit the required standard).

• Face Shield

The face shield—or the visor—is an important part of any motorcycle helmet, as it protects you from particles in the air, wind, bugs, and rocks, and can be an important part of face protection in the event of an accident.

Almost all full-face motorcycle helmets come with a built-in face shield that covers your face all the way down to your chin. It will be fully attached to the helmet on all sides, offering superior protection compared to other types of helmets—some of which don’t include a face shield at all.

• Overall Protection of a Full-Face Motorcycle Helmet

Many novice motorcyclists believe that it’s only important to cover the skull part of your head with your helmet to prevent concussion or injury to the brain in case of an accident, the smartest choice is to cover it all the way down to your chin and back of your skull to protect every part of your head.

Overall, full-face helmets that pass the criteria listed above can offer this kind of protection to motorcyclists more than other traditional motorcycle helmets. The safety of full-face motorcycle helmets is widely recognized worldwide.

Michael’s Summary and Conclusion

Full-face helmets are largely regarded as the safest type of motorcycle helmet one can purchase. They cover most of the area of a rider’s head (making sure to include the chin and back of the skull), weigh the most, and include a built-in face shield to protect against rocks, bugs, wind, and more. The superior safety of full-face motorcycle helmets is recognized by all industry and safety professionals.

Given the importance of helmets in motorcycle safety, every motorcyclist should consider purchasing a full-face helmet to ensure their safety while they ride. Ensure the helmet has an official certification from one of the organizations mentioned above (DOT, ECE, or Snell) to ensure it passes all the necessary safety tests.

Recommended Gear: Helmets | Gloves | Leather Jackets | Textile Jackets | Jeans | Suits | Body Armor

I've diligently categorized my motorcycle gear recommendations into all available categories, with the aim of providing you with a comprehensive analysis that showcases the absolute best options for all your needs. These items are the culmination of in-depth research, extensive testing, and personal use throughout my vast experience of 50+ years in the world of motorcycling. Besides being a passionate rider, I've held leadership positions and offered consultancy services to reputable companies in over 25 countries. To See Top Picks and the Best Prices & Places to Buy: Click Here!

Information for this article was partially sourced and researched from the following authoritative government, educational and non-profit organizations:

• NSW Government
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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