Bontrager Lithos helmet review

Hefty but comfy headgear

Our rating

4.0

150.00

100.00

Bontrager's Lithos helmet is a good performer, but is heavier than some of the competition

Robin Weaver

Published: January 19, 2016 at 10:00 am

Our review

A top performing trail lid with good ventilation and fit, but it's on the heavy side Buy if, You've got a sturdy neck and want a helmet that ticks most boxes very well

Pros:

Comfy, well-ventilated and very adjustable

Cons:

Weighty, especially if you're mounting anything on it

The first thing you notice when you plonk the latest version of Bontrager’s Lithos lid on your head is its weight.

At 440g it’s no featherweight (it’s roughly 100g heavier than a Troy Lee Designs A1), but it is very comfortable, and that makes a big difference, especially on longer rides. Plenty of vents and good internal channeling help to give things a lighter, airier feel, and we never had any issues with overheating during testing.

Getting the fit dialled is easy thanks to the ‘Headmaster’ retention cradle with its indexed adjuster wheel. This system also offers three tilt positions to help get things feeling just right.

We did find ourselves cranking things up a little tighter than normal to compensate for the extra weight though, because we found it could cause the Lithos to shift forwards when hitting big compressions or on really bumpy trails.

While Bontrager’s clip-in camera/light mount is a nice touch, adding even more weight to the helmet means you’ll need to add even more tension to the retention cradle, which you’ll really start to notice on big days in the saddle.

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Technical editor-in-chief

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.