Full face or open face helmets...

[slowautoxr]

The dark visor helps on the sunny days without having to squeeze sun glasses into your helmet.

Speaking of sunglasses, try some brown tinted sunglasses. The brown tint really makes the orange cones stand out.

[ZX3Focus]

OMG i have that same problem with my contacts!! i hate it when that happens!

Got it. The secret to being fast at autocross: don't blink.

[ExplosEvo]

I have full face cause it certainly looks cooler. However, and im sure more expensive models are better, but the visor always has to be up due to distortions in the lense. I always have to wear my sunglasses inside my helmet due to contact lenses as well. Lense closed also seems like you would suffocate in the hotter months.

My last run in Huntsville, coming around the horseshoe turn and coming into the back stretch, my contact starting messing up and I drove the last part of the course wide open, rubbing my eye and not being able to see out of it half the time. No cones though!

[rodhx]

for autocross purposes my helmet probably fits into the "more expensive" category, but I have had no problems with the clarity of either the original clear or new dark Bell visors. I need to ask the boys about theirs

[Cholewa]

I have full face cause it certainly looks cooler. However, and im sure more expensive models are better, but the visor always has to be up due to distortions in the lense. I always have to wear my sunglasses inside my helmet due to contact lenses as well. Lense closed also seems like you would suffocate in the hotter months.

My last run in Huntsville, coming around the horseshoe turn and coming into the back stretch, my contact starting messing up and I drove the last part of the course wide open, rubbing my eye and not being able to see out of it half the time. No cones though!

This is so weird, I wear contacts almost solely for autocross/rallyx events and have never had a problem...

Also, with the shield down, motorcycle helmets have vents you can open up to allow air in and they work surprisingly well considering theirs a windshield in front of you. But I rarely run with the screen down because it's covered in fingerprints...

[aufoxy]

My last run in Huntsville, coming around the horseshoe turn and coming into the back stretch, my contact starting messing up and I drove the last part of the course wide open, rubbing my eye and not being able to see out of it half the time. No cones though!

Wow, that is one of the exact places where it has happened to me (of quite a few). I've pondered switching contact brands before but I don't know if that will help. I also dont usually run with the visor down (tho i have before) because it does get hot.

[EWaugh]

I can't fit sunglasses inside my helmet, so i use a dark shield. It tries to fog sometimes so I just crack it open when it does.

[jimkana]

I vote 100% for FULL FACE helmet for Alan Branch.

Why? So we don't have to see his FULL FACE!!!

[zukitek]

OMG Eric...that is totally awesome... Alan..what have you to say about this sir ???

[ZX3Focus]

Open face for me. So far, 100% of my motorsports experience has occurred in closed-top airbag-equipped vehicles, so open is still the logical choice. I don't find adding shades to the open faced helmet to be too difficult.

[Flying Dutchman]

Open face; I wear prescription sunglasses and they won't work with a closed face helmet. Moreover when I first started watching all kinds of races, mainly oval dirt tracks featuring open wheel sprints, all the drivers wore Bell open face helemts, goggles and bandanas to keep from ingesting loads of dirt. I watched SCCA events too and the drivers had the same set up; the only difference was the dirt track guys wore red work type bandanas and the road race guys all wore white ones. (Look for a picture of Mark Donohue and you will be able to see what I'm talking about)

[greenish]

Open face, prescription sun glasses also..and I just dont want to look that cool...I know it is hard not to...but...oh and they are cheaper..saved enough to get a M&M ice cream thingy at Dairy Queen...