TRAIL HELMETS
As the single most important bit of riding kit you own, it’s crucial that you have the best helmet for your needs and budget, because if you do end up having a crash, it could be the piece of equipment that saves your life. The potential for even seemingly minor blows to the head to cause injury has become clearer in recent years, especially as impacts add up over time, and we’re much more aware of the danger of concussions. So many brands have improved the protection offered by their helmets, making sure they don’t just comply with the European EN 1078 safety standard (as all the lids in this test do), but surpass it.
Several companies license MIPS technology (a low-friction layer designed to help reduce rotational forces on the brain in the event of a crash) for use in their lids. Others have created their own take on the system, such as Leatt with their 360° Turbine Technology. On some helmets, varying densities of foam are used to help absorb blows of different strengths. Many have peaks designed to break away upon impact. You can even get lids with an in-built crash sensor and GPS tracker to help medics get to you quickly (Specialized’s Ambush with ANGi) or with a scannable medical ID chip (POC’s Tectal Race Spin NFC; we weren’t able to review either of these here, because our testing was halted by the coronavirus lockdown).
A helmet may offer fantastic levels
