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Top 5 Open-Face Mountain Cycling Helmets in the USA for 2025 — Expert Picks to Ride Safer, Stay Cooler, and Fit Goggles Right

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Open-face mountain cycling helmets — often called half-shells — are built for trail and cross-country riding to balance protection with ventilation and visibility. They prioritize extended coverage around the temples and rear head, reliable retention systems to hold position on rough terrain, and visor and goggle compatibility so riders can adapt quickly between bright descents and technical, shaded sections. In USA, riders choose these helmets for their adaptability across varied conditions: from fast, dusty summer trails in British Columbia to wet, muddy singletrack in Ontario and Quebec. Consumers look for helmets that combine proven impact mitigation technologies, comfortable airflow for long efforts, and secure fit systems that stay locked in during aggressive maneuvers — all without compromising sightlines or goggle clearance.

Top Picks Summary

1. Best Enduro Protection

2. Best Stability & Durability

3. Best Ventilation & Lightweight

4. Best Value Trail Helmet

5. Best Race-Inspired Protection

Top Picks Summary

  1. Giro Manifest Spherical
  2. POC Tectal Race MIPS
  3. Smith Forefront 2 MIPS
  4. Fox Speedframe Pro MIPS
  5. Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS
1
BEST ENDURO PROTECTION

Giro Manifest Spherical

Giro Manifest Spherical
🏠 Local Product

Giro Manifest Spherical is a best-in-class open-face mountain cycling helmet that pairs Giro’s Spherical impact-management technology with high-coverage shaping and advanced ventilation for a balanced mix of protection, comfort and style. It holds its position by delivering premium fit and energy management that competes with POC’s safety-first approach while offering better all-day comfort than heavier race-oriented shells; released and available for purchase.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Spherical tech — smart bounce

  • Featherweight feel — floaty fun

  • Spherical tech — smart bounce

  • Featherweight feel — floaty fun

Review Summary

91%

"Users praise the Giro Manifest Spherical for its secure Spherical MIPS protection, comfortable fit and excellent ventilation on long trail and enduro rides; some buyers cite the high price and occasional visor flex as minor drawbacks."

  • Max vents — breeze-party

  • Spherical impact technology delivering multi-directional impact protection for aggressive trails

  • Max vents — breeze-party

  • Spherical impact technology delivering multi-directional impact protection for aggressive trails

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

Giro Manifest Spherical is a best-in-class open-face mountain cycling helmet that pairs Giro’s Spherical impact-management technology with high-coverage shaping and advanced ventilation for a balanced mix of protection, comfort and style. It holds its position by delivering premium fit and energy management that competes with POC’s safety-first approach while offering better all-day comfort than heavier race-oriented shells; released and available for purchase.

  • Spherical tech — smart bounce

  • Featherweight feel — floaty fun

  • Max vents — breeze-party

  • Spherical impact technology delivering multi-directional impact protection for aggressive trails

  • Extended open-face coverage with a robust shell and reinforced lower rim for downhill confidence

  • Spherical tech — smart bounce

  • Featherweight feel — floaty fun

  • Max vents — breeze-party

  • Spherical impact technology delivering multi-directional impact protection for aggressive trails

  • Extended open-face coverage with a robust shell and reinforced lower rim for downhill confidence

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$300-400 USD

2
BEST STABILITY & DURABILITY

POC Tectal Race MIPS

POC Tectal Race MIPS

The POC Tectal Race MIPS is a market leader among open-face mountain cycling helmets thanks to its long-cradle coverage, reinforced EPS structure and industry-leading energy-management focus that prioritizes rider safety. Although typically higher priced than Fox or Specialized, it provides top-tier protection and durability for aggressive trail riders and racers, making it the go-to choice when maximum impact mitigation is the priority; released and available for purchase.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Race-caliber shell — podium-ready

  • High coverage — skull-hug

  • Race-caliber shell — podium-ready

  • High coverage — skull-hug

Review Summary

88%

"Riders appreciate the POC Tectal Race MIPS for its robust coverage, stable fit and proven safety features with good airflow, though a number of reviewers find it a bit heavy and relatively expensive."

  • Optimized vents — cool sprint

  • Reinforced EPS construction with aramid bridge for improved structural stability in crashes

  • Optimized vents — cool sprint

  • Reinforced EPS construction with aramid bridge for improved structural stability in crashes

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

The POC Tectal Race MIPS is a market leader among open-face mountain cycling helmets thanks to its long-cradle coverage, reinforced EPS structure and industry-leading energy-management focus that prioritizes rider safety. Although typically higher priced than Fox or Specialized, it provides top-tier protection and durability for aggressive trail riders and racers, making it the go-to choice when maximum impact mitigation is the priority; released and available for purchase.

  • Race-caliber shell — podium-ready

  • High coverage — skull-hug

  • Optimized vents — cool sprint

  • Reinforced EPS construction with aramid bridge for improved structural stability in crashes

  • Deeper rear and temple coverage tailored for enduro and all-mountain riding

  • Race-caliber shell — podium-ready

  • High coverage — skull-hug

  • Optimized vents — cool sprint

  • Reinforced EPS construction with aramid bridge for improved structural stability in crashes

  • Deeper rear and temple coverage tailored for enduro and all-mountain riding

Order Now

$250-350 USD

3
BEST VENTILATION & LIGHTWEIGHT

Smith Forefront 2 MIPS

Smith Forefront 2 MIPS
🏠 Local Product

Smith Forefront 2 MIPS excels in ventilation and low weight for open-face mountain cycling helmets, using advanced channeling and energy-absorbing materials to keep riders cool on long climbs without sacrificing protection. Compared with Giro and POC it trades a little raw coverage for superior airflow and comfort, offering excellent technical value for riders who prioritize heat management and sustained performance; released and available for purchase.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Panoramic view — horizon-hug

  • Advanced vents — breeze-bliss

  • Panoramic view — horizon-hug

  • Advanced vents — breeze-bliss

Review Summary

93%

"The Smith Forefront 2 MIPS is widely lauded for outstanding ventilation, lightweight feel and comfortable, consistent fit thanks to Koroyd technology; critics are few, mainly noting price and limited color/trim options."

  • Comfort fit — cloud-hug

  • Koroyd energy-absorbing core for predictable impact performance

  • Comfort fit — cloud-hug

  • Koroyd energy-absorbing core for predictable impact performance

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Recreational Enjoyment

Smith Forefront 2 MIPS excels in ventilation and low weight for open-face mountain cycling helmets, using advanced channeling and energy-absorbing materials to keep riders cool on long climbs without sacrificing protection. Compared with Giro and POC it trades a little raw coverage for superior airflow and comfort, offering excellent technical value for riders who prioritize heat management and sustained performance; released and available for purchase.

  • Panoramic view — horizon-hug

  • Advanced vents — breeze-bliss

  • Comfort fit — cloud-hug

  • Koroyd energy-absorbing core for predictable impact performance

  • Exceptional channeling and vents that prioritize airflow on long climbs and hot days

  • Panoramic view — horizon-hug

  • Advanced vents — breeze-bliss

  • Comfort fit — cloud-hug

  • Koroyd energy-absorbing core for predictable impact performance

  • Exceptional channeling and vents that prioritize airflow on long climbs and hot days

Order Now

$300-400 USD

4
BEST VALUE TRAIL HELMET

Fox Speedframe Pro MIPS

Fox Racing
🏠 Local Product

Fox Speedframe Pro MIPS is a market-leading value-focused open-face mountain cycling helmet that blends a trail-oriented fit, integrated visor and MIPS protection into a package targeted at aggressive trail and enduro riders. It undercuts many premium competitors on price while retaining performance features—making it a strong financial and practical choice for riders wanting robust trail capability without POC-level cost; released and available for purchase.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Goggle-ready visor — fast-fit

  • High airflow — wind high-five

  • Goggle-ready visor — fast-fit

  • High airflow — wind high-five

Review Summary

86%

"Reviewers like the Fox Speedframe Pro MIPS for its solid all-around trail performance, good goggle integration and value, while some report it feels a bit heavier and less plush than top-tier competitors."

  • Robust protection — trail-proof

  • Balanced mix of protection and low weight optimized for trail riding

  • Robust protection — trail-proof

  • Balanced mix of protection and low weight optimized for trail riding

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

Fox Speedframe Pro MIPS is a market-leading value-focused open-face mountain cycling helmet that blends a trail-oriented fit, integrated visor and MIPS protection into a package targeted at aggressive trail and enduro riders. It undercuts many premium competitors on price while retaining performance features—making it a strong financial and practical choice for riders wanting robust trail capability without POC-level cost; released and available for purchase.

  • Goggle-ready visor — fast-fit

  • High airflow — wind high-five

  • Robust protection — trail-proof

  • Balanced mix of protection and low weight optimized for trail riding

  • Float Fit retention system with goggle-compatible visor and secure fit

  • Goggle-ready visor — fast-fit

  • High airflow — wind high-five

  • Robust protection — trail-proof

  • Balanced mix of protection and low weight optimized for trail riding

  • Float Fit retention system with goggle-compatible visor and secure fit

Order Now

$230-300 USD

5
BEST RACE-INSPIRED PROTECTION

Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS

Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS
🏠 Local Product

Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS brings smart-helmet functionality to open-face mountain cycling helmets by combining tuned ventilation and fit with an integrated ANGi crash sensor for on-bike incident detection and connected safety features. It doesn’t aim to outscore POC on pure impact coverage or Smith on maximum airflow, but it offers unique technological value through connectivity and post-crash services that appeal to tech-minded riders; released and available for purchase.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • ANGi sensor — SOS-smarts

  • Downcountry fit — pedal-hug

  • ANGi sensor — SOS-smarts

  • Downcountry fit — pedal-hug

Review Summary

90%

"Users commonly praise the Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS for its low-profile fit, excellent ventilation and integrated crash-sensor tech, with only minor complaints about visor adjustment and the premium price."

  • Vent-tuned shell — sweat escape

  • Dual-density EPS shell and extended coverage designed for aggressive, race-oriented riding

  • Vent-tuned shell — sweat escape

  • Dual-density EPS shell and extended coverage designed for aggressive, race-oriented riding

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Recreational Enjoyment

Time-Saving Convenience

Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS brings smart-helmet functionality to open-face mountain cycling helmets by combining tuned ventilation and fit with an integrated ANGi crash sensor for on-bike incident detection and connected safety features. It doesn’t aim to outscore POC on pure impact coverage or Smith on maximum airflow, but it offers unique technological value through connectivity and post-crash services that appeal to tech-minded riders; released and available for purchase.

  • ANGi sensor — SOS-smarts

  • Downcountry fit — pedal-hug

  • Vent-tuned shell — sweat escape

  • Dual-density EPS shell and extended coverage designed for aggressive, race-oriented riding

  • Compatible with ANGi crash sensor and includes MIPS for rotational-impact protection

  • ANGi sensor — SOS-smarts

  • Downcountry fit — pedal-hug

  • Vent-tuned shell — sweat escape

  • Dual-density EPS shell and extended coverage designed for aggressive, race-oriented riding

  • Compatible with ANGi crash sensor and includes MIPS for rotational-impact protection

Order Now

$250-350 USD

What science and testing say about open-face trail helmets

Decades of biomechanical and epidemiological research, plus standardized helmet testing protocols, support the main benefits of modern open-face mountain helmets: they reduce the risk of head injury in falls, improved rotational-impact technologies reduce forces tied to brain injury, well-designed ventilation helps thermoregulation and comfort, and reliable retention systems keep the helmet positioned for protection. Below are beginner-friendly takeaways from that body of evidence and how they apply when you shop.

Head injury reduction: Multiple epidemiological studies and safety reviews show that wearing a certified bicycle helmet substantially lowers the chance of head and facial injury in crashes compared to no helmet, making helmets a primary preventive measure for trail riders.

Rotational impact mitigation: Laboratory research on rotational acceleration indicates that technologies such as MIPS and spherical systems can reduce rotational forces transferred to the head during oblique impacts, which are linked to certain types of brain injury.

Fit and retention matter: Test data and field studies demonstrate that a helmet kept correctly positioned by an effective retention system performs much better in impact scenarios than a loose helmet; good adjustability reduces displacement and secondary impacts.

Ventilation and comfort influence safety: Studies on thermal load and exertion show that better airflow reduces rider overheating and discomfort, which can lower fatigue and improve concentration on technical sections, indirectly reducing crash risk.

Crash detection and response: Integrated sensors (for example ANGi-style systems) do not prevent injury but can speed up emergency response in remote areas by alerting contacts or services after a significant impact.

Standards and lab tests: Certified helmets meet impact attenuation criteria set by regional standards testing bodies; these tests are essential for baseline protection but do not replace choosing the right design and fit for your riding style.

In USA for 2025, open-face trail helmets remain the best choice for riders who want strong protection without sacrificing ventilation and goggle compatibility. The five helmets featured here — Giro Manifest Spherical, POC Tectal Race MIPS, Smith Forefront 2 MIPS, Fox Speedframe Pro MIPS, and Specialized Ambush 2 ANGi MIPS — each target slightly different priorities: Giro Manifest Spherical stands out as the best all-around pick for riders seeking an even balance of protection, ventilation, and trail-focused features. If you did not find exactly what you wanted, try refining or expanding your search by fit, venting, or impact technology using the site search. We hope you found what you were looking for and that this guide helps you choose the right open-face helmet for American trails.

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