Bell’s Don Palermini (pictured) told us that Aaron Gwin has been racing in a Moto-9 motocross helmet for the past year, and that he’s working with the company to refine the design for an upcoming mountain bike versionMatt Pacocha
The Moto-9 – and all AMA-approved moto helmets – comes with provisions to install an eject system, which uses an inflatable airbag to gently remove the helmet in the event of a serious crash. The purpose is to allow paramedics to avoid causing secondary injuries when removing the helmetMatt Pacocha
The Moto-9 doesn’t come equipped with the eject system, but it can be added laterMatt Pacocha
As part of the eject system, the magnetically retained cheek pads pull out easily when the helmet is still in placeMatt Pacocha
For practical day-to-day use, Palermini says many riders pull the pads out and slap them onto their truck fenders to dry in the sunMatt Pacocha
Aaron Gwin (shown) is involved with Bell’s mountain bike development; right now, Bell and Gwin are using a medium-small Moto-9 shell with an upsized medium liner, which makes for a lower-volume, lighter package, as part of the mountain bike prototype projectMatt Pacocha
Bell’s new Gage was launched on the heads of the BMC team at the classicsMatt Pacocha
The helmet costs US$190 and will be available at the end of JuneMatt Pacocha
iXS’s new US$140 Metis helmet is ready for saleMatt Pacocha
Kali co-owner/designer Brad Waldron explains that they weren’t super happy with their current cross-country helmet, the Avita, for trail use and wanted something with a deeper drawMatt Pacocha
The result is the Avana, which they showed at Sea Otter; the new helmet has more protection down the back of the headMatt Pacocha
The new Avana, which offers greater coverage for trail useMatt Pacocha
Inside the AvanaMatt Pacocha
Waldron used his white board to explain Kali’s composite fusion and low-density foam design philosophies. Instead of using internal cages they use dual-density designs that put the softest foam possible next to a rider’s head to lower G-force on impact. The process takes more engineering, but Kali say it makes them saferMatt Pacocha
A new super-light cross-country/road helmet called Maraka (US$229) will be ready by Interbike; the new helmet lines the sharp areas around the vents with reinforcements and lower density foam. The idea is to spread impact force away from the initial impact zoneMatt Pacocha
MET’s US$140 Kaos is a high-coverage mountain helmet and one of four models MET will bring to the US in 2012Matt Pacocha
The MET Kaos comes with a removable visorMatt Pacocha
MET’s top-end road model, the Velano, also comes with a visorMatt Pacocha
The MET Velano in whiteMatt Pacocha
The Velano comes with all of MET’s bells and whistles: vented Kevlar straps, gel pads, and a radially and vertically adjustable retention systemMatt Pacocha
MET’s gel pad and vented strapMatt Pacocha
The rear dial-adjust retention systemMatt Pacocha
The US$89 MET Forte road helmetMatt Pacocha
Terra is MET’s $89 mountain helmetMatt Pacocha
MET’s budget helmets come with a radially adjustable retention system and non-allergenic foam paddingMatt Pacocha
Five Ten’s US$99 Freerider Pro, the ‘Green Zebra’Matt Pacocha
The Stealth rubber sole on the Freerider ProMatt Pacocha
Five Ten say the Blue Zebra model was so popular they’ve brought it back, but in greenMatt Pacocha
Diddie Schneider’s signature trail building shoe carries the iconic builder’s nameMatt Pacocha
The Stealth rubber sole is meant for off-bike traction but it’ll likely pedal well tooMatt Pacocha
The lace-up boot features a lace cover and plenty of rubberized reinforcement for the Nubuck leatherMatt Pacocha
Teva’s new Links-Mid will be available mid-MayMatt Pacocha
The $100 Links will come in black for 2012Matt Pacocha
Teva’s new Crank (available in low and mid top versions) is more of a lifestyle oriented flat-pedal shoe versus Links and Pinner’s performance focus; the Crank shoes will cost US$70 and $80 and be available in mid-MayMatt Pacocha
As we wrap up our coverage of the 2012 Sea Otter Classic, we look at gear for your heads and toes: helmets and shoes. Highlights from the Laguna Seca raceway include Aaron Gwin’s collaboration with Bell on a mountain bike version of their Moto-9 motocross helmet, Kali’s new Maraka road/cross-country prototype and MET Helmets’ launch in the US.
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We also came across new footgear for trailbuilding from Five Ten, plus a mid-top version of the Teva Links developed with help from freerider Cam McCaul and an all-new Crank shoe line, also from Teva. Click through our gallery for the latest and greatest from these helmet and shoe companies.
Five ten’s us$99 freerider pro, the ‘green zebra’: five ten’s us$99 freerider pro, the ‘green zebra’Matt Pacocha
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Five Ten say the ‘blue zebra’ Freerider Pro model was so popular they’ve brought it back, but in green
