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After a new lid with decent protection to replace my ageing Xen. Must have ability to take a Exposure Joystick head mount and not be like wearing pressure cooker on a a warm day.
Anyone care to comment on whether the Feature is a suitable replacement? Or have alternatives that you would rate and why?
I also have a road type Specialized lid so not after an XC offering especially.
Feature's a very nice helmet. I got one to replace my Hex and can't say it feels any warmer despite less vents. Better head coverage too.
Tasso,
I have both lids.
The Xen does have better ventilation, which you can guess just by counting the reduced vents on the Feature, however in use, I feel no hotter wearing the Feature over the Xen, the vents work well and the lid does exactly what its designed to do, offer a lot more coverage. I'd now be concerned going back to a Xen, given the protection isn't as all encompassing.
I have bought a POC Trebec lid this week and am about to sell a Feature lid thats had minimal use (I have 2 feature lids so I can leave the Exposure Diablo light bracket on one).
Its a medium, in excellent condition, probably only used 6-8 times tops. Its in Titanium icon colour - a sort of ti frame colour - is quite understated and makes the helmet look smaller in this colour.
Would accept £38 including postage if interested.
Please email me:
jamesparsons@halifax.co.uk
if you'd like it.
Feature is a great helmet but a few corners have been cut to meet the price it is not as luxe as a Xen. The chinstraps are thin and narrow and there are no under-ear adjusters. The interior is also a bit basic - like a rally car - and the retention system is crude but it works.
Otherwise it's standard Giro the fit is fabulous if you have a Giro-shaped head and ventilation is adequate/satisfactory rather than outstanding. The basic padding means there's not a lot of the interior in contact with the head and it works providing you keep moving. The extra coverage means that there is less reliance on the retention system to keep the helmet in place and in practice it feels very good much more secure than mushroom-type lids.
Not sure if it would accept anything too specific in terms of headmounts I use a simple velcro strap with my Magicshine torch IIRC there are only a couple of vents on the top of the helmet.
I actually prefer the thin straps and padding, doesn't absorb anywhere near as much sweat as my old Hex. Unless you've got massive/funny shaped ears I doubt you'll find the non adjustable straps a problem.
Feature is much hotter than Xen. I have both and only use Feature for winter commuting now.
A major issue with this decision that hasn't been raised, is that the Xen is no longer produced, so you'll need to search round a bit to find one. The touted replacement, the "xar" doesn't fit my head & have heard this from other ex-xen owners... though it may yours.
I've been looking to try on a feature but not found a large demo yet (and am skint again), though this thread is making me think I'll need to move away from Giro helmets when I do eventually replace mine.
have got a feature to replace my old hex, and I must say i prefer the feature - the hex never really sat well on my head where as the feature fits perfectly and it feels lighter (it probably isn't, and I am not of the mind set to weight it)
STW forum in really helpful response shocker! 😀
Cheers guys that helps quite a bit. Not interested in a second hand helmet thanks JP but interested to know why the POC purchase if you like the Feature?
Xen being discontinued means I could get a NOS one still but am erring towards more protection even if it is a bit warmer.
Due to sroglet it seems most of my MTB riding is midweek evening rides so knowing the joystick/diablo mount fits is good and it isn't usually warm enough to worry about the vents being inadequate at night. In fact less insect attracting vents could be a bonus with all this warm wet weather.