[mykel]

My current POC Tectal (non-mips) needs replacement. It is about aged out and the rear adjustment dial straps are starting to strip. I tighten it up, pedal for a few minutes then have to re-adjust it.

Was thinking about a TLD A3 Mips, which I can get delivered with taxes for about 215 Canuckistani Pesos, which is much better than its normal 320.00 plus taxes price. I like the fit of my old carbon D3, so...

Talk me into or out of it...

Thoughts?

 

[boostindoubles]

When it comes to mtb helmets, I walk into the LBS and tell them to sell me whatever is on the shelf. Sorry if thats not helpful.

 

[konifere]

It's all a question of fit, so the LBS would be your best bet indeed.

I bought a TLD A2 and an A3 direct from them last spring. The A2 doesn't fit very well, I don't really like it, but I use it for commuting. The A3 was absolutely perfect (paid 125$ at the spring sale), but I didn't end up liking the color. I also have a Smith Engage which is the most comfortable half shell I've ever worn. Also a Leatt Trail 1.0 that isn't great with my head shape, but I wear it with a toque in the winter for commuting and it works.

So all in all, one that doesn't me well could fit you perfectly. Try a few.

 

[Jozz]

My noggin does not play well with all helmets.
Bell and Fox are good. TLD and POC are a no go for me. I'm tempted to try the Fox Dropframe.

 

[vivisectxi]

if poc fits & a bit more coverage is appealing, the kortal is worth checking out (i also had a tectal previously). some colors are currently half price (ie, $135 cad) on the poc site.

 

[canadmos]

Used TLD A1 for years, still use one for night riding.

But someone gave me a Giro Montaro a few years ago and it is much more comfortable. I've also washed the pads a few times and they haven't fallen apart like the TLD ones have.

I also don't get those weird looking forehead marks from the Giro, like I do with the A1.

Will be buying another Montaro for the summer.

 

[Jozz]

Used TLD A1 for years, still use one for night riding.

But someone gave me a Giro Montaro a few years ago and it is much more comfortable. I've also washed the pads a few times and they haven't fallen apart like the TLD ones have.

I also don't get those weird looking forehead marks from the Giro, like I do with the A1.

Will be buying another Montaro for the summer.

I should give this one a try.

 

[toodles]

My new TLD A1 fits ok but the pads don't seem to direct sweat away from my eyes like my Fox Speedframe does. The Fox Speedframe developed an annoying visor rattle though and doesn't have any way of tightening it up.

 

[6thElement]

Wife likes her POC Kortal Race MIPS. I like my Smith Forefront 2.

 

[OGRipper]

Another vote for Giro Montaro. It's one of those pieces of kit I never really need to think about.

Tried a Fox Speedframe and don't love it because the visor doesn't block enough sun, but I'm picky about that due to vision issues.

Anyway yeah head shape is key.

 

[Gary]

Whatever fits and looks more like an ordinary XC style helmet with a peak (instead of something that either looks like it came from a STARWARZ set, motorcycle trials or to be worn when fired out a cannon) comes in plain black and costs less than £35
No mips or any other fancy (shite) wobbly gimmicks.
Current helmet is a SCOTT. fuck knows the model. But it fit all of the above criteria.

 

[iRider]

Whatever fits and looks more like an ordinary XC style helmet with a peak (instead of something that either looks like it came from a STARWARZ set, motorcycle trials or to be worn when fired out a cannon) comes in plain black and costs less than £35
No mips or any other fancy (shite) wobbly gimmicks.
Current helmet is a SCOTT. fuck knows the model. But it fit all of the above criteria.

I thought you don't wear a helmet?

 

[iRider]

My current POC Tectal (non-mips) needs replacement. It is about aged out and the rear adjustment dial straps are starting to strip. I tighten it up, pedal for a few minutes then have to re-adjust it.

Was thinking about a TLD A3 Mips, which I can get delivered with taxes for about 215 Canuckistani Pesos, which is much better than its normal 320.00 plus taxes price. I like the fit of my old carbon D3, so...

Talk me into or out of it...

Thoughts?

Be careful, try it on first. For me all the D helmets from TLD fit like a glove, A1 perfect fit, A2 and A3, not at all. I am fully in between sizes.

 

[Redwood Mulch Chucker]

Just got a new one, on sale for $90 (looks like it's $130 now).

My go to for the last few years has been a Giro Source, great helmet and good fit.

TLD sizing does not work for my bean.

 

[Gary]

I thought you don't wear a helmet?

Not very often. No.
But what's that got to do with anything?
When I do I still want it to fit the same criteria

 

[bullcrew]

Tld d2 (retired,was great )
Now,, altec 100% (love this helmet)

 

[SylentK]

TLD A-whatever. They're all good. Fits me great. Very comfy.

IXS too.

I seem to sweat more in my old age. So if that's a thing, look into running a skull cap or sweat band thing (like from Pearl Izumi). Makes a huge difference. I can't really blame the helmet. I blame my suck ass ness.

 

[mykel]

TLD A-whatever. They're all good. Fits me great. Very comfy.

IXS too.

I seem to sweat more in my old age. So if that's a thing, look into running a skull cap or sweat band thing (like from Pearl Izumi). Makes a huge difference. I can't really blame the helmet. I blame my suck ass ness.

I hear ya. I just have to see a picture of the sun and I break out into a sweat.
Halo sweatbands have been saving my ass for a few years now.

 

[mykel]

The try before you buy must be nice for those who actually have a decently stocked LBS close by.
Looked online/called around anything local (which means the two places within 45-60 min one way) and nothing of anything anywhere near of interest in stock, and then the prices...

Think I may take a punt on the A3. I could sell it, if does not work out - the price I'm looking at is about 130 off, so it just may be a wash if it comes to moving it on. .

 

[HardtailHack]

Used TLD A1 for years, still use one for night riding.

But someone gave me a Giro Montaro a few years ago and it is much more comfortable. I've also washed the pads a few times and they haven't fallen apart like the TLD ones have.

I also don't get those weird looking forehead marks from the Giro, like I do with the A1.

Will be buying another Montaro for the summer.

Pretty sure I had a Montaro, it was hot as fuck and the MIPS thing cut my shiny head in multiple spots when I didn't spot an overhead tree on a night ride. It was one of the worst helmets I'd ever owned, if you caught some vines or something it would pull the outer shell off the MIPS liner, pretty sure I just ended up smashing it with a hammer.

Currently have some Bontrager Wave Cell thing, it's shit, heavy and the Wave Cell plastic started cracking after a year of minimal use.
The Kask helmet I have doesn't get my bald head sunburned but it has no MIPS and every time you put it on you have to adjust the location of the rear strap/cradle thing. But it's still my fav helmet since my Bell Nem Pro from like 20yrs back, it's also made by them in Italy.

Kask Caipi helmet review - MBR

This new Caipi is a more affordable MTB helmet from an Italian brand with a cult following on the road bike scene. Kask already offers a more angular, enduro-styled, Rex helmet and has added this slightly more streamlined and noticeably lighter model that clocks in at a featherweight 252g in...

www.mbr.co.uk

I'd try a TLD but I have a similar opinion as @jrewing about our TLD distro.
The A3 looks nice, the outer shape has no real sharp angles so it should slide rather than dig when you bin it plus MIPS will help more.
I hate angular supercar like helmets that look like they'd turn in to a shovel in a crash and fuck your neck/brain up.

 

[FlipSide]

Giro Montaro: Fit is OK, but not great for my head.
Fox Speedframe: Fits pretty good. I am at the limit of the adjustments however. Naturally, the front falls way too low and it blocks my vision. I managed to sort it out so that it works well, but I thought the fit was a bit weird.
Smith Forefront: Doesn't fit well for me, which is strange because my Smith Mainline is perfect.
TLD A3: I just bought one and it's the best fitting helmet I've ever tried. I still have not tried it on a ride.

 

[eric strt6]

I have a big round head The Bontrager WaveCell Rally fits me really well and it' not hot

 

[sunringlerider]

I've got a huge head. TLD seems to fit me best. I've had an A1, 2 and now 3. I love it. 10/10 would bang again.

 

[iRider]

I've got a huge head. TLD seems to fit me best. I've had an A1, 2 and now 3. I love it. 10/10 would bang again.

Weird that they all fit you. Like I wrote, big fan of the A1, but couldn't find a size of A2 or A3 that fit me.

 

[OGRipper]

In my experience fit often comes down to the shape of your head, not necessarily how big it is. Some people have round-ish heads, and some are more oval. You can get at least some adjustment with pads, but only so much.

Moto helmet makers figured out that people have different shaped heads a long time ago. Some offer different shapes of essentially the same helmet.

 

[Andeh]

I'd add that in my experience POC doesn't fit my head while TLD/Fox/Smith does. At least, their sizing breakpoints seems different even though they line up on the charts. So the opposite may also be true.

 

[HardtailHack]

I have a big round head The Bontrager WaveCell Rally fits me really well and it' not hot

I think that is what I have.
Out of curiosity, is your wave cell stuff breaking where it bunches up tightly near the side rear vent?

I also think these helmets would make terrible cut patterns on your head in a crash. There's not much between the plastic and the melon.
But I do find it comfortable and the Wave Cell stuff directs the air downwards which is nice.

Edit- And the weight is bonkers!

 

[bullcrew]

So the a2 holds sweat back and out of face really well. I press helmet against forehead and it just empties ..

The Altec 100% fits better just wish it had a sweat band plus coverage is better

 

[iRider]

In my experience fit often comes down to the shape of your head, not necessarily how big it is. Some people have round-ish heads, and some are more oval. You can get at least some adjustment with pads, but only so much.

Moto helmet makers figured out that people have different shaped heads a long time ago. Some offer different shapes of essentially the same helmet.

I thought I had figured out which brands fit my head shape. That is why I was so surprised when I bought my last helmet. Giro E2, Xen, pisspot, their original DH helmet (no idea of the name) all fit me well, TLD A1 and D2-4 all fit well, Fox Flux, Proframe also fit well. On the moto side, Shoei fits me really well.
When I tried on new half lids at the bike shop, I was in between sizes with the A2 and A3. Same for Giro and Fox. Bell did fit, so I bought it although it was basically the cheapest option. To make sure that my head did not experiences any growth, I tried on all the old helmets that I still had and yup, they all still fit.
My conclusion is that the manufacturers (or manufacturer, I assume they are all made in China by the same company) have changed their sizing for half lids, which made me end up in between sizes. D4 still fits awesome, but since the D3 I need to go a size up from the D2.

 

[slimshady]

Sorry to steal a thread (again), but isn't MIPS a head toaster for any of you? I've had two different MIPS helmets (Giro Montaro MIPS and Specialized Camber MIPS) and they both have much worse ventilation than any other helmets I've worn.

Given the amount of head smacking the Camber has seen in the past three months I'm considering replacing it with a Leatt or some other brand with non-MIPS rotational protection.

 

[eric strt6]

I think that is what I have.
Out of curiosity, is your wave cell stuff breaking where it bunches up tightly near the side rear vent?

I also think these helmets would make terrible cut patterns on your head in a crash. There's not much between the plastic and the melon.
But I do find it comfortable and the Wave Cell stuff directs the air downwards which is nice.

Edit- And the weight is bonkers!

this is what it looks like after a few years of riding

 

[eric strt6]

Sorry to steal a thread (again), but isn't MIPS a head toaster for any of you? I've had two different MIPS helmets (Giro Montaro MIPS and Specialized Camber MIPS) and they both have much worse ventilation than any other helmets I've worn.

Given the amount of head smacking the Camber has seen in the past three months I'm considering replacing it with a Leatt or some other brand with non-MIPS rotational protection.

try a wave cell, I don't find it hot at all

 

[HardtailHack]

this is what it looks like after a few years of riding
View attachment 223201

Okay that looks better than mine, where the Wavecell is bunched up near the rear of the barcode in your pic I have slivers of plastic coming off.

 

[Sandwich]

TLD A1 was perhaps the best fitting helmet i've ever tried. Couldn't fit a single pair of sunglasses, ever, of any kind on it. Worked OK with regular glasses.

Eventually the pads started falling apart (and it was getting old) so I replaced it with a Lazer impala. Good mix of ENDURO and XC, so a trail helmet for normal folks. It works great- disappears on the trail, ventillates well, but it's a little uncomfortable when I first put it on and the visor keeps sliding down, so I don't know if I would recommend it.

Specialized makes some of the best rated helmets, and last years styles are always 9000% off with them lately, so it could be a good way to go.

 

[Flo33]

so I replaced it with a Lazer impala. Good mix of ENDURO and XC, so a trail helmet for normal folks. It works great- disappears on the trail, ventillates well, but it's a little uncomfortable when I first put it on and the visor keeps sliding down, so I don't know if I would recommend it.

I got a Lazer Jackal and have exactly the same "problem" with it, visor coming down on rough tracks. Otherwise nice piece.

 

[mykel]

Anybody have an IXS Trigger AM MIPS? Nothing on Virginia State site for an IXS that I can see, so no idea on how it compares. Found one on blow-out for real cheap @ 73 bucks.

 

[toodles]

The new Mavic Deemax (bad name for open face but whatever) looks pretty cool.

Fucken expensive though

 

[Gary]

If you think those guys from (1977) STARWARZ still look "cool" I suppose that would qualify as "pretty cool" too


There's literally no reason any open face mtb helmet should cost more than about $50... But then the same could be said about sports footwear too. We're all mugs. And "they" know it

 

[toodles]

There's literally no reason any open face mtb helmet should cost more than about $50... But then the same could be said about sports footwear too. We're all mugs. And "they" know it

In Australia, manufacturers have to send in multiple helmets for testing - and pay for the privilege - to be certified for here. Apparently that affected our prices heaps for ages, but now I believe the race organisers and the police will accept helmets with the US Snell rating or whatever it is.

 

[Carraig042]

I am liking my Fox Speedframe pro. I previously had a TLD A3 and did not fit my head great.

Few things I looked for:
Fit
Good ventilation
Good VT rating (already have had too many concussions)
Not super expensive

I would probably get another one.