Full-Face vs. Open-Face Motorcycle Helmet

When purchasing a motorcycle, it's crucially important to your safety that you have either an open-face motorcycle helmet or a full-face helmet. As the names suggest, these two helmet designs differ in the amount of your face that they leave exposed to the air. Both are better than wearing no protective headgear at all, and it's required by law throughout most of the world that you wear at least one type of helmet. When it comes to choosing between these two, however, it can be a bit difficult. Read on for a comparison of open face and full face motorcycle helmets.

Open-Face Helmets

Open-face helmets are generally less stifling than full-face ones. They allow you for plenty of room to breathe and leave your face open, making them a good choice for anyone who feels that he or she is suffocated by a full face helmet. Additionally, they provide a greater degree of vision capability, as your eyes are not limited to looking out of small windows in the full face helmet. This helps to contribute to the overall safety of the open-face helmet as well.

It's important to keep in mind, however, that open face helmets are generally considered to be the less effective option of the two listed here. This is because open-face helmets still do leave your face exposed to the atmosphere, leaving you subject to additional injuries from crashes. Open-face helmets contribute to more deaths than full face ones do, in motorcycle accidents. Additionally, you'll need to purchase goggles or other protective eyewear if you have an open-face helmet.

Full-Face Helmets

The biggest advantage to choosing a full-face helmet is the safety one. Full-face helmets provide you with a greater degree of safety and protective covering than open-face ones do. Additionally, many people find that their faces become too cold with open face helmets, and full face ones provide an additional level of comfort. With a full-face helmet, you will not need to purchase additional goggles or protective eyewear.

Full-face helmets have a few disadvantages as well. They are heavier than open face helmets, meaning that it can be more of a strain on your back or neck to wear them for extended periods of time. They are also more closed in than open-face helmets, and some people complain of having problems breathing while wearing these fully closed protective headgear pieces. Finally, your vision is somewhat limited in a full-face helmet, as you do not have as great a range of vision as you would in an open-face helmet.

For more information about these 2 types of motorcycle helmets, visit your motorcycle store. The cost of the 2 types of helmets tends to not vary significantly, although you'll find a range of quality in terms of helmets for both types. Ask a professional for additional advice in selecting the right one for you.