Mountain bike helmets for PG?

[Nikolai]

Am considering replacing my old helmet and have been looking at full face (i.e., w/chin guard) downhill mountain bike helmets, as the good ones are pretty light, nicely vented and somewhat less expensive than PG-dedicated helmets. Any thoughts as to why this might be a good/bad idea?

I'm thinking the Bell (Super 3R MIPS) here might be a good choice (yeah, I know Bell's parent is a gun manufacturer)(but if you eat Kraft Dinner, realize that RJR Reynolds owns them): https://www.bellhelmets.com/super-3r-mips-equipped-1

Or ... if you want to go polycarbonate and somewhat heavier, but much less money, MEC has this Urge Drift (at $99 CAD on sale): https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5047-466/ ... _text=urge

I guess one consideration would be thingies (such as visor) that could snag paragliding lines on takeoff (I'd be removing the visor from the MTB helmet, in any case). As for downhill MTB, my thinking is that the sport presents many of the same risks (boulders, stumps, etc.) that you'd encounter in PG takeoffs and landings.

As for dedicated PG helmets, am leaning toward the Charly Insider (nice and smooth, nothing to snag lines, price comparable to the Bell, 50% lighter than the Urge Drift MTB helmet): https://finsterwalder-charly.de/en/helmets/insider.html

Thoughts?

Bill Nikolai.

[tnankie]

I do have a question, why do you want a full face?

[Nikolai]

I have always flown with a full face, except when travelling light overseas, where I’ve used my snowboarding helmet – – somewhat nervously. I guess I just like the idea of protecting the nose, teeth, jaw, if or when I were to be dragged around. Not especially a fan of a full, clear visor… Prefer sunglasses.

[Nikolai]

I also currently have a push to talk radio system installed in my helmet, with the microphone in the chin guard. Works really well.

[Nikolai]

One of the concerns about chin guards that I've seen in discussions (on Paragliding Forum, for example see admittedly old thread here: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=11251) has to do with how much trouble first-responders would have getting a full-face helmet off your head if you have a neck injury. Well, some of the new MTB helmets (such as the Bell above) have removable chin bars. There's also a Uvex helmet (Jakkyl) with the same thing: https://www.uvex-sports.com/en/cycling/ ... black-mat/

[tnankie]

fair enough, I was just wondering.

[Deimos]

Hi Bill,

I have a good selection of Charly Insider helmets if you are interested.

Tom Clark
Deimospg.com
604 200-2029

[Nikolai]

Thanks Tom! Love to try one on ... will contact you in late April. Out of the country til then.