May I suggest that you browse the helmet market in a little more depth. I am sure if your current lid is giving you issues, you can find another. Breathing in your own air must be preferable to breathing in dust and all that in terms of comfort and oxygen yield.

What do I know, anyway, I wear a pisspot...

Interesting thread though.

azonic fury 

Yeah, that was very entertaining Alex... 

Let's get a few things straight about what I'm proposing here.

I'm an engineer.  I'm always looking to see how things can be designed better.

As downhillers, we have to wear full face helmets to protect us.  Open face is not an option.

Downhill is getting to a point at the world cup level that the smallest details, like the fabric of your skinsuit, is becoming important.  As an engineer, it's pretty exciting, because downhill is moving towards the technology of say F1, world cup skiing, etc.

If this were F1 or world cup skiing, we'd have downhillers in 35 mph wind tunnels analyzing air flow, including breathing, so it could be optimized.  This is a World Cup sport after all, with World Cup level athletes and it's very competitive.  Like I said, more oxygen in the blood is a good thing.

Also, as an engineer, those saying that a more open design would sacrifice strength...well, I have no doubt that with todays modern materials, there would be no problem designing a more open chin guard that is stronger than the current carbon / fiberglass shell type.

Come on boys, stop thinking inside the box and making compromises...




Right.  Got that off my chest. 




So I've got a big schnoz (nose) and wear a relatively cheap 661...perhaps I just need to get a D2... 

I think the point your missing is that, It isn't a problem, Even when sitting around, I easily get enough ventilation. I went and tried some helmets on today though, The chin guards were rediculously close to your mouth, Like the Bell Belistic, I could understand the breathing problem with helmets that have chin guards touching your chin... .

So the answer is, There is already helmets on the market that allow you to breath easily!

Well, at least road cyclists don't seem to have a problem with progressing technology...





I appreciate that most people don't think it's a problem. 

But that doesn't mean that the current design is optimum...   

Hmm, If you had like a filter in the front, to stop dust and mud getting up, That would be pretty cool design.


Peak needs work doing to it I wreckon.

integrated lens, pain in the ass for people who wear glasses

nitpicking here.

Of course progress is the way to go.

try playing paintball those masks are way close to your face.. you dont have speed to add to the ventilation, yet people do fine.

the oxygen thing you mention i would make an educated guess is a mental state.
you breathe in may be partially your own exhaust fumes     but trust me, the oxygen level is nowhere near being low enough for it to affect your performance.