The Fox Rampage Pro Carbon Given Helmet from Fox Head is a new addition to their line-up, and Fox have been pushing it hard. They claim it’s the most comfortable downhill mountain bike helmet on the market. Are they right?
If you’re going to test claims like that, you want to give the product a proper test. So this helmet has crashed on a downhill track at Morzine, ridden through hot summer trails in La Thuile, and for the ultimate test taken on a rain sodden Megavalanche in Alpe D’Huez.
And yes. This is the most comfortable full-face helmet I’ve ever worn. Here’s why.
The shell is made from carbon, which is both lighter and stronger than the plastic or fiberglass you get in most helmets. It does up the cost significantly, but the pay-off is that you have a much lighter lid. If you are doing long downhill runs, say in the Alps, or enduro riding, then believe me those few grams of weight saving make all the difference to your aching neck.
The carbon shell is then lined with shock-absorbing EPS foam. Having taken a good few knocks and crashes on rocky terrain, I can say with confidence that the Fox Rampage Pro Carbon protects you noggin perfectly. I didn’t even feel the impact.
Now, another factor that affects how comfortable full-face helmets are is the ventilation. I’m usually a sweaty mess after a 7-minute descent when wearing them, so it was a bit of a revelation to find that the claims made by the designers of the Fox Rampage helmet hold water. It’s designed with 17 mesh-covered vents both front and back, with channels built into the helmet to allow cooling air to flow through, and it works. Despite riding in 30-degree heat for several hours, I didn’t feel particularly toasty.
Inside, the lining is soft, comfy and effectively wicks sweat away any sweat you do generate from your skin using Dri-Lex™ fabric.
The fit of a full-face helmet is also usually a problem for me, as the padding at the sides ends up squeezing my cheeks so I look like a hamster. In the Fox Rampage Pro Carbon Given, it sat just right. The moulded padding is supportive and firm, with details like a little extra space around the ears.
Fox have achieved this through having two shell sizes, and three EPS foam liner sizes. This, coupled with options with the liner padding, mean they can produce a good range of helmet sizes. I usually wear a small size trail helmet, and opted for a size small in the Fox Rampage helmet which was just right.
The long peak up top gives you protection from low flying branches, mud and stones, plus shades your eyes if riding on a sunny day. It integrates well with goggles, with just the right amount of room.
With an RRP of £320 it’s an expensive helmet, but this is the price you pay for a high-end carbon full-face with the kind of technical features this helmet has and is comparable in price to other similar helmets out there. However, if you look around it’s possible to find some offers (hint hint) and if you do ride a lot of downhill or enduro, the comfort the Fox Rampage Pro Carbon gives you is hard to beat, and will last you a good while. This is an investment piece of kit.
PROS
– Good range of sizes available
– Great ventilation
– Lightweight
– Comfortable fit
CONS
– At the high end of the price spectrum
Price: RRP £320 (Currently retailing at Fox Head UK for £224)
Colours: White/Black (Pictured) Other versions include Black/Yellow, White Black
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
More info: FoxHead UK, Stif
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