The Carve 1.0 is iXS’ new trail and all-mountain focused open-face helmet, featuring the brand’s new Head-Guard construction technology designed to better dissipate impact forces.
Paired with the latest MIPS liner and offering plenty of head coverage, the Carve 1.0 is built for rugged days and comes with a large adjustable peak.
Its £195 / $219 / €219 price pushes it towards the higher end of the market, but the helmet is backed up with plenty of protection, reasonably light weight and ample comfort.
iXS Carve 1.0 tech and performance
The most important thing with any helmet is that it fits – the most feature-rich helmet on the market won’t be any good if the fit is poor. As such, any helmet with a broad range of adjustments is more likely to fit your head properly and then make the best use of its safety technology.
I'd expect the highly articulated and nicely padded cradle to have vertical adjustment, and a finely adjustable tension wheel on the back of the head retention system on a helmet at this price. However, iXS includes a further adjustment to the 360° ErgoFit system’s circumference at the temple, with four points of adjustment.
The iXS Carve 1.0 comes in three sizes, and each size covers a broad range of head dimensions. While I would usually ride an ML or L-sized helmet, I sized down to an M with the Carve 1.0. While the L could be cinched down to fit well, the size-medium's head band and cradle could be expanded enough to fit my head in, so I benefitted from a smaller and lighter shell.
Alongside these adjustments are the relatively thin, but comfortable pads from the MIPS Air Node liner.
This is designed to keep the inner bulk down, further aiding an accurate fit, while still offering MIPS’ anti-rotational protection. The pads soak up a bit of sweat, and I haven’t found they drip excessively onto my glasses.
The straps exit the helmet from fixed positions, avoiding interference with the ears, and feature an easy-to-use one-handed Fidlock magnetic buckle.
iXS Carve 1.0 key stats
- Fidlock Snap buckle and MIPS Air Node liner
- 3 sizes, 4 colours, 448g (Medium)
- Head-Guard construction strengthens shell and dissipates forces
Protection and ventilation
The helmet's shell offers high levels of skull coverage, with a deep drop at the back and additional temple coverage in front of the ears. This comes a little at the expense of glasses compatibility, with large-framed and broad-armed glasses knocking or being squeezed on rough tracks. However, I found goggles fit pretty well at the front.
Another plus point is the excellent glasses storage – it’s easy to post the arms through the vents at the front on warm climbs, where they’re well protected from rain by the large visor.
The visor itself has three positions and should break away in a crash. However, the lowest position doesn’t offer noticeable sun protection – it’s more effective against rain.
With big-mountain riders its target audience, ventilation levels, as well as protection, should be high. The Carve 1.0 achieves reasonable airflow, with seven vents at the front of the helmet, as well as five on top and six at the rear. The internal channels aren’t the deepest, but internal airflow is still reasonable.
The two large top vents, covered with a honeycomb cover, are part of the patent-pending Head-Guard system. These exterior panels are joined to an internal skeleton, around which the EPS foam is formed. iXS claims this helps better dissipate crash forces through the helmet and strengthens the structure.
Finishing off the package is a full in-mould construction, with the multi-panel hard outer shell extending into the vents and around the helmet’s base to protect the EPS foam from knocks and scuffs. The shell’s lower portion is also textured to give it some scratch resistance, so it should keep looking fresh for a while.
Reinforced like rebar
iXS’ Head-Guard system is designed to better spread impact forces throughout the helmet, while also offering additional strength to the helmet’s construction.
The outer panels cover the larger-than-average vents to prevent sticks skewering your head, and these are linked to an internal skeleton that floats within the EPS foam. This skeleton gives additional structure to the EPS, strengthening it and spreading those impact forces.
How we tested
The iXS Carve 1.0 has been my go-to helmet for the past month. It’s been used on a range of rides, from big days on the hill where all-day comfort and glasses stowage was key, through to shorter, more intense blasts, where the ventilation kept me cool. There’s been plenty of rain to test the visor’s effectiveness, and the odd glimpse of sun too.
iXS Carve 1.0 bottom line
With useful adjustability, a comfortable liner and ample ventilation, the Carve 1.0 has impressed me on long rides, where I’ve almost forgotten I’m wearing the helmet.
In practical terms, the adjustable fit has ensured I feel protected, and the glasses storage is excellent. However, the helmet isn’t compatible with some bigger-frame MTB glasses, which might prove frustrating.
As ever with helmets, you should try before you buy to ensure you pick the correct size.
