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New helmet time, what would people recommend for gravity orientated trail use?
IXS Trail, Mavic Notch, POC Trabec, Giro Xar or something else.
Any bargains to be had out there?
Go to bike shop.
Try on.
Buy the one which fits best from the aforementioned shop.
Fit. Fit. Fit.
I get all that, I have a Giro Zen that has been superb and my Kask road helmet is the best fitting helmet I have ever worn, I don't know I have it on. I was just making conversation 😉
I use a bluegrass goldeneye, great helmet really good fitting and has plenty of ventilation as well, also has a go pro mount if thats your thing. I've used poc, uvex and Urge and prefer my current one.
My next will be a Troy Lee Designs A1.
on your head....really good fitting
I have a Giro Zen that has been superb
I regret moving from Giro E2s a few years back to the Xar. It's just not as good helmet as the old E2 for me. The fit is pretty similar, but not exactly the same. The Roc-Loc on the Xar is utter poo, however. Way too fragile.
Spesh Tactic, however, is as cheap as chips, well ventilated and super comfy. On my head.
😉
Not sure I get the (humour?) above Flash? Agree about the new roc-loc compared to older Giro models.
I'll have a look at the Bluegrass as I have not heard of them, hence opening this thread I guess.....
Get lots of opinions, find LBS with stock of helmets with good opinions, try them on, pick best fitting helmet in my price bracket.
For my head....
The IXS ones look nice up close. The PORC ones look a bit odd in my opinion.
I like the Giro Feature, the MIPS one will be the next one I'll buy to replace my current normal one.
A friends just bought a Bell Super 2R which looks ok, worth considering depending on how gravity orientated your gravity orientated trail use is. The normal Super looks good to.
I aspire to the Super R2 end of the trail use but I am not there just yet 😀
Giro Feature is a good price, think a few more vents would be good though as I sweat like a (insert comedy phrase).
Bluegrass looks a bit weird, I like it!
I took a punt on a new style Parachute after a mates' huge smash put the willies up me a bit.
I can confirm it's comfy, not sweaty and I can use a bladder to drink wearing it without stopping or removing it.
In fact, on the strength of yesterday's blast from Blakey Ridge to the coast via some playing in Guisborough on the singletrack it was a better all day helmet than my Feature which I love to bits. At the end of the day, it was still pleasant inside unlike the sweat soaked mess that was my riding mates' TLD A1...
Whatever fits.
CFH we are bons buddies.
Ah, right so what you are saying is that i need to find a helmet that fits me, awesome! When I started the thread I had not thought of that, thanks for the post!
Surely I can just pick the one with the prettiest colour?
I'll add Catlike Leaf to the list of go and try...really pleased with mine & picked mine up at a good price
Had a catlike before, fit was good.
Any good offers out there as I am tempted to ignore the fit completely and just go off the once that looks nice... 😛
Cynic does have a point in that different manufacturers have different ideas on what shape heads are etc, but that doesn't really help get the list down. Ultimately you will get a better helmet trying some on than buying on recommendation alone, but that's such old advice I'm only offering it for defusing purposes 🙂
Seriously, if you like the chin bar idea, the new Parachute is well worth a look. I had a bluegrass goldeneye and parabellum on my list before deciding that chainbar won. I've previously been very happy with a Feature and a couple of Hexes although I'm not sure I'd want a big trail smash in a Hex. The 661 Recon was a bit odd size wise for me. The TLD A1 floats many boats and theres a Fox I cam never remember the name of many swear by. The IXS looks good in a POC kinda way, and I guess there's the Trabec too. There's some options, whether you want to splurge on MIPS is a whole different question...
Loving my Troy Lee A1.
It's ridiculously comfy, by far the most comfortable lid I've owned & I've tried a lot.....
I use a met parachute most of the time and a 661 FF for uplift days. having fallen off recently and been protected by the face guard, I'm not going back to a half shell off road
When I started the thread I had not thought of that, thanks for the post!
Seriously, why start the thread?
"What helmet should I buy?"
"The best fitting one"
"I'm not stupid, I know that. What helmet should I buy?"
Been using my 661 EVO AM since Christmas and getting on with the BOA ratchet system which really seems to secure the the helmet evenly.
Very comfortable for me but as mentioned above, best go in and try some on first, then decide which color you like.
cynic-al - Member
When I started the thread I had not thought of that, thanks for the post!
Seriously, why start the thread?"What helmet should I buy?"
"The best fitting one"
"I'm not stupid, I know that. What helmet should I buy?"POSTED 7 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST
Some tits on here..
Go with troy Lee a1...look about the best and so comfy on most heads!
Had a bell super but makes you look like Lego man! 😆
Stay away from poc...look ridiculously huge when on!
Oh yeah and the ixs has a terrible design where it comes down slightly at the forehead for some reason, really can't understand why they did that but it's so annoying kinda restricts your View when all you focus on is the v shape of the helmet in front of you! Plus that helmet looks very mushroomy if you have to go with the bigger size
I'd rather have a £20 helmet that fits well than a £120 trendy 'enduro' specific thing that doesn't fit. Spending that much on a hat without trying it on its a mug's game.
I've done it before and it's just not worth it. Well-fitting helmets look better anyway...
New helmet time, what would people recommend for gravity orientated trail use?
For gravity orientated what about a light Full facer like the Kali or something similiar?
I went from an IXS trail to a TLD A1. I liked the IXS and fitted well when i tried it in the shop. However I found that it sits quite low on my forehead and pushes my riding glasses down my nose when I'm riding. TheTLD feels less bulky on and really secure. It's a bit warm though - alright for the winter but a bit sweaty for the occasional sunny day we get here.
I've a Bell Super. I chose it over the others as it had an integrated GoPro mount (only used the camera on it once mind you). Fit is good and it's not too hot. I'd like a touch more padding around the forehead as it digs in a little on long rides. Not tested it's protective qualities as yet. Not really a bargain either. Looks good on it's own but a bit stupid on my head.
Fox Flux sits upon my noggin. Not the fanciest or expensivest, but it fits my swede perectly.
Fit Fit Fit, that's what matters in my book.
Seriously, why start the thread?"What helmet should I buy?"
"The best fitting one"
"I'm not stupid, I know that. What helmet should I buy?"
Seriously? Troll your heart out fella but at what point (RE-READ AYE?) above did I say 'What helmet should I buy'????
I asked what people were using, what they RECOMMENDED, not what I should buy. COUGH - MALE HEN - COUGH
I've currently got an IXS Trail. Most comfortable helmet I've tried and seems to fit a lot of people well ime, good coverage, well vented enough. However mine is getting a bit haggard so I'm contemplating something different as the front of the helmet always seems to get into my peripheral vision (just a bit) when I'm wearing it where I want it. Same for the peak, had to detach the lower mount and tape it back.
Many thanks for the helpful posts on here with recommendations on what you use and like. Cheers to all those that have offered up potential lids for me to steer myself towards and not patronised me with the obvious.
WHY are some people not getting it and still going on about fit? Please just give me your recommendations not tell me to make sure it fits.
I get that it needs to fit, I have since the beginnings of time, I PROMISE (puts hand on heart) NOT to buy off the internet but to visit many local shops and try helmets on of varying manufacturers, models and even colour. I will try on, fasten, wiggle, bounce up and down with said variety of helmets and make sure that it does not fall over my eyes, that it is comfy, that the retention system does not dig in, the straps contour around my ears in a nice way, the buckle doesn't dig in and MOST of all that its a pretty colour and it makes me look better than I actually am....
Just one question though......
Should I make sure it fits me?
thorpey0 - MemberJust one question though......
Should I make sure it fits me?
only if you've first established that you like the colour and the brand is sufficiently rad for you.
Just one question though......
Should I make sure it fits me?
As long as your not expecting your headset to be adjusted for free & your bike isn't chained up outside a café
+1 for the points about the ixs , mine is comfy and fits well but does seem to come into my eye line on steeper trails . There is adjustment on it so you can minimise it
buy from CRC then send back for free if they don't fit, its what I do. All these helmets (half shell) do the same job but some have nicer colours than others which is the important bit.
Catlike and UVEX both make decent helmets, better IMO than the options from Giro/Bell.
scott ones are nice too, personally if theres a MIPS one vaailable for a bit more id go with that (shamne the bell doesnt ft my head)
im quite sweaty so being well vented is important, some trail lids get quite hot in the summer months
+1 to Troy Lee A1. I got it for my birthday 2 month ago, since then I've been using it almost everyday. It includes some 100k half-day cross-country adventures; very comfortable thing!
Seriously, why start the thread?
Because people can offer their opinions based on other factors such as ventilation and price, giving the OP a shortlist from which he can find the helmet that fits best.
Edit: Bell Stoker cost me £17, and works for me. The straps do seem to vibrate a bit when it's windy though.
Bell Stoker for most surely (including me...!)
I see to fit most helmets, all of the ones that I tried on last year that I was looking at were comfortable. I ended up with a Bell Super which is mega comfy but pretty warm. I was hoping that it would be cooler than my old Urge but it's not.
I've also ended up with a Bluegrass because it was so cheap from Sport Pursuit. It's comfy too and marginally cooler than the Super.
The TLD was the comfiest helmet that I tried on but the most expensive and worst looking.
What Kask OP due to you have?
You can fit a visor MTB style to certain models which is what I am thinking of doing so not to waste more money on another helmet, was then wondering if the Kask would be upto the protection I would need off road.
I want a TLD A1. Tried one on recently and it felt REALLY comfy.
I just can't get past the colours. It's like the graphics designers are 12 year old marvel comic fans.
I just can't get past the colours. It's like the graphics designers are 12 year old marvel comic fans.
What year models did you try?
2014 and 2015 come in nice colour schemes.
2014 and 2015 come in nice colour schemes.
Ah. I'll check again. Ta.
+1 on the IXS Trail. I find it sits low at the front if i don't adjust it properly though.
Had a met before (i forget the model) which i split getting cosy with a tree, my head was fine though so i guess thats a recommendation 🙂
Just got a Fox Flux as a birthday present to replace an old giro havoc. Although its heavier, i cant notice once on, fits me really well and is no hotter than the giro.
Bell super just didnt fit me at the sides, like they are made for narrow heads.
The Bluegrass Goldeneye is the basis of the new Met Parachute. They both have the rubber forehead grip thing instead of foam. Brilliant attempt at head gripping and sweat management but... Why put two 'slots' in the strip just above where most people's eyes are? Two rivers of sweat right in the lamps!
What helmet do you have at the minute?
I have just come from a Met Kaos and a Veleno, which I replaced a Giro with, back to a Giro Xar. The Met helmets I had gave me headaches. Now I'm back on the Xar I have none of that, and I'm really happy with it- it was about £50 in a sale, it's much better vented than a lot of the enduro style helmets like a Troy Lee and it's light. However, if you currently have a Met or a Bluegrass and it's comfy it probably won't suit you. Conversely if you currently have a Giro it'll be great, and Met/Bluegrass helmets will be uncomfortable- no one in my riding group gets on with them.
I had a flux and changed to a striker. Most of the coverage for noticeably less weight.
wrecker - Member
I want a TLD A1. Tried one on recently and it felt REALLY comfy.
I just can't get past the colours. It's like the graphics designers are 12 year old marvel comic fans.
Have a look at the 'drone' colours, I was in the same boat and ended up with the most boring grey one. So comfy though.
The IXS Trail RS is a cracking helmet for the money. It's comfortable and well ventilated and gives good coverage.
I really wanted a Troy Lee A1 Drone in red. Soon comfortable and secure-feeling, but I looked like this:
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