Should I get an open faced or closed helmet? I have been shopping for a SA2005 helmet and have searched the forums. There is a lot of good information but I have not found an answer for this question. The car has an airbag and stock 3-point seatbelts. I do not intend to add a harness anytime in the near future as it is a street car. Also, I wear glasses.

Conventional wisdom says that a closed face helmet offers the most protection, so why the confusion? Well, I have read this type is best used in a car with a harness and without a steering wheel airbag. The logic is that the airbag is designed to hit the face, not a large object such as a helmet and the resulting forces could cause cervical damage. For this reason, open faced helmets are most appropriate if the car has an airbag. Is this really the case? Feedback please!

 

I really like my open faced helmet due to the extra vision that it allows. That being said, I just bought a closed helmet and await delivery!
As I was told when I bought my first helmet, try them all and buy what is the most comfortable for you.
I have a nice one on ebay right now if you decide that you want an open faced. PM me for details

 

I say closed

 

open face, specially with an airbag, scca recommends open face as well, just my .02 cents,

 

how many of the prof. drivers do you see with open face helmets ?

 

How many professional drivers do you see with stock 3-point seatbelts and airbags? Please read post #1, paragraph 2.

 

ooops........

 

I went open face after the SCCA recomendation for using a helmet in a stock vehicle.

 

Open face helmets are ugly as sin. But doc has a point with the airbag situation although I dont think there is enough room for the hekmet to damage the head. However if your visor is up, it could break and hit you in the face.

 

The SCCA had reported cases of closed faced helmets causing injury in wrecks.

 

I use a closed face helmet and removed the clear plastic visor out of it for better visibility.

 

open for stock seat belts, closed with HANS for harnesses.

 

 

closed...I love my arai gp5w

 

Interesting point in regards to the airbag and a closed helmet. I personally think I would rather have my whole face covered. Vision sucks compared to open but protects the face from rubber and track debris as well.(yes even in a closed car) : )