Advice? Check the impact ratings! Don’t buy what random people on the internet say- get the test data! Otherwise you might end up with a Bern helmet that isn’t skate certified, or a snowboard helmet. As for vision, the chin bar only gets in my way when I’m looking down at my jacket, etc. Traffic audibility is about the same, because all sounds outside the helmet are reduced about the same.
The following skate and bicycle helmets are the only models that have additional impact certifications beyond the legal minimum to be sold in the United States as bicycle helmets (the CPSC test standard). There aren’t many: 64 helmets from 25 brands. These are from the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute’s lists from 2018 back through 2016. If a helmet is not listed here, to the best of my knowledge it does NOT have that certification.
Skate and Downhill Bicycle Certified - Full Face with Face Shield: Triple 8: Racer - the only helmet with skate and downhill certification
Downhill Bicycle Certified - Full Face with Face Shield: Zero Gravity: Vector M-5. (The Vector M-6 appears to be a newer model; certification unknown.) TSG: Pro Pass, Pass
Downhill Bicycle Certified - Full Face without Face Shield: 6D: ATB-1 2017 100%: Aircraft (MIPS) Bell: Super DH (MIPS and removable chin bar), Full 9, Transfer 9 Giro: Switchblade MIPS (removable chin bar), Disciple MIPS, Xult, Xact, Cypher (2016) Lazer: Revolution FF (removable chin bar) (not Revolution) Bluegrass Eagle: Brave, Intox Fly: Werx Ultra Kali: Savara Leatt: DBX 6.0 Composite MET: Parachute O’Neal: Warp POC: Coron Shred: Brain Box Specialized: Dissident THE Industries: T3 Shield, T3 Carbon (2016) Triple 8: Invader Troy Lee Designs: D2, D3, D3 Carbon MIPS TSG: Advance, Advance Carbon
Skate and CPSC Bicycle Certified - Full Face with Face Shield: S-One: Lifer Full Face
Skate and CPSC Bicycle Certification - Open Face: helmets.org/dualcert Triple 8: Gotham (also version with MIPS), Brainsaver Dual Certified, Lil 8 Bell: Local, Trans, Surge, Exodus, Shield, Maniac, Psycho, Injector, Bike Candy, Segment, Full Flex, Reflex, Ramble full face for kids POC: Receptor + Shred: Bumper Light Vigor Sports: Audio (speakers in helmet) American Safety: ASHP Safeguard 11 Top Gear Helmets R Us: Model 18, Model 38 S-One: Lifer, Kid Nutcase: Street, Little Nutty Punisher: Pro Series Neon Pro-Tec: Full Cut, Classic (NOT “Classic Skate” or “Classic Full Cut Skate”)
Leatt also publishes independent impact test results for their helmets.
Here’s a quick comparison chart of different test standards: https://helmets.org/stdcompsum.pdf
If you have more certified helmets to include, please share!
I hope consumers consider the impact performance data when deciding which helmet to wear.