iXS Xult full-face helmet review
Well-vented enduro/downhill protection
GBP £250.00 RRP | AUD $450.00 | USD $350.00 Skip to view deals
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The Xult is a lid that promises a lot. On the one hand, it meets all the required safety standards for a full-face downhill helmet, so it should be at home between the tape. On the other, the multiple mesh-covered vents, exhaust ports and internal channels mean that, in theory at least, you shouldn’t overheat when pedalling along lengthy enduro stages.
It’s certainly not cheap, but the reassuringly solid feel, snug fit and reasonable weight help take the edge off of the price. We’re big fans of the secure double D-ring closure too. We opted for the smallest of the three sizes, which weighed 1,166g – not at all bad, but still a couple of hundred grams heavier than the likes of Specialized’s carbon Dissident lid.
On the hill, we found ourselves leaving the Xult on that bit longer than normal thanks to the increased airflow. Leave it in place and grind along a flat section of trail and things do still warm up, but not as quickly as in some other full-face lids.
While we like the angled, distinctive looks, they’re not for everyone, and we also found some goggles with larger frames a bit of a squeeze to fit in the face opening.
Authors
Rob Weaver is BikeRadar's technical editor-in-chief. Rob manages all of the testing here at BikeRadar and across our magazines, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus. Rob first graced the pages of MBUK back in 2001 when working as a freelance writer and went on to start testing bikes for the title in 2007. In 2010 he joined the team full-time and has been keeping a close eye on all things test-related ever since. Rob’s expansive knowledge of bikes comes courtesy of his passion for racing. He cut his teeth racing cross-country mountain bikes in the early 90s before finding his feet in downhill. After many years competing on the UK national circuit (including a year attempting to race UCI DH World Cups), Rob realised his know-how and passion for bike setup, tech and writing clearly outweighed his racing ability. A degree in sports technology and decades of riding experience all help to give Rob a thorough understanding of what’s needed to create a great bike or product. While Rob’s a mountain biker at heart and never happier than when he’s sliding down a Welsh hillside, he’s more than happy to put the miles in on the road or gravel bike, too.
