Full face lids are the pinnacle of head protection and offer the safety of a jaw-guard to protect your beautiful face. There are some superb values lid out there so don't just go for the prettiest - here's our essential guide to picking your next, or first, full-facer.
1. Safety - There's a wide range of safety standards and certificates helmets are tested against - it sounds obvious but the more it passes the better. We'd stick to cycling-specific lids as motorcycle numbers are designed for higher speed impacts.
2. Fit - Fits vary from head to head and lid to lid. The helmet should be snug without being overly tight and shouldn't be able to slide about on your loaf. We'd recommend looking for motorcycle D-ring closure too - they're a lot safer than plastic buckles or Velcro.
3. Venting - You lose 30 percent of body heat through your head - a good lid keeps a steady flow of hot and cold air going both ways. More vents aren't necessarily the answer - the better lids channel air through the helmet. Troy Lee Designs' D3 is a master at this.
4. Liners - The padding inside your helmet should be comfortable and, ideally, removable to allow you to watch it. Many brands offer replacement liners, which is better again. Check out Muc-Off's Foam Fresh for keeping your liner spring sweet.
5. Replacement - After your head has smashed off the ground, it's easy to marvel at how well your full-facer worked. Don't think it'll do it again though. Crashes, or even dropping, will weaken your lid and potentially cause it to fail next time you really need it.