This isn’t exactly a review of the Abus Youdrop FF kids helmet. The helmet itself is great. Just go buy it if that’s what you’re looking for.
Really, this post is more about the thought process behind choosing a full face helmet for my son, why we picked this one specifically, and how that decision looks after a year of use.
I’ll start by admitting that most of the time, I cycle without a helmet. I’ve been lucky so far and haven’t paid the price for being careless.
When it comes to my son, though, a helmet is non-negotiable. If we’re cycling together, I put mine on every time, no exceptions. I won’t ask him to follow a rule that I ignore myself… At least when he’s around.
Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of crashes, including some serious injuries kids have had even with the usual top-of-the-head helmets. When picking a helmet for my son, I was sure of one thing. If he’s going to wear a helmet, it should be a full face.
The photos really don’t do it justice. It’s honestly scary to imagine what my son’s face would look like now if the damage his helmet took had happened to his head.
We cycle a lot. Long distance, pump tracks, forest trails, and all the spots around Riga we can get to.
My son has smashed his head against trees, asphalt, rocks, you name it.
It’s hard to get an exact statistic, but at least a third of these close calls would have looked a lot worse if he was wearing one of those little helmets that only cover the top of the head.
Plenty of adults ride with those minimal helmets. I just don’t get it. If you’re going to bother wearing a helmet, why not protect your whole head instead of just thirty percent?
Maybe it’s the cost. When we bought this helmet, my wife really questioned the price. The full face models in this lineup ran about twice the cost of the usual ones. She thought it was absurd.
Before this, my son had a fifteen euro child’s helmet he’d outgrown. She just wanted the same thing, but bigger.
For some reason, she sees full face helmets as geeky, or cyborg-looking. Personally, I think cyborgs are cool. I’ve had a photo of my kid wearing this helmet as my phone wallpaper for two years.
If you’re reading this, just know that I never regretted buying the full face model. At the shop, this was the only option. Other stores had alternatives, but those were cheaper and bulkier.
With bikes and gear, price isn’t always a guarantee of quality. I do know that if I want my child to actually use a helmet and enjoy cycling, I should get the best one I can afford.
He’s never once complained about wearing this helmet. In fact, whenever we can, he asks to cycle if our destination is close enough.
After a full year living with the decision, I can honestly say the peace of mind is worth every cent. Seeing my son ride confidently, knowing he’s well protected, makes all the difference. If you have doubts about getting a full face helmet for your child, consider how many more adventures you’ll have together with one less thing to worry about. Sometimes, choosing the safer option makes the best memories.
