I only wear hard shell skate-type helmets because they cover and protect the back of my head much better than any microshell helmet I've seen. My TSG Evolution comes down the back of my head almost as much as a motorbike helmet, but the helmet as a whole feels as though it would be more protective than a microshell simply because it's heavier and more substantial, so I think hard shell helmets are more protective than microshells. I've never seen it proved, but I reckon they are.