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The Lazer Impala KinetiCore is designed to tick every box on a modern trail rider's wishlist. Alongside the integrated KinetiCore impact protection and DualCore EPS construction, it packs in a premium feature list that includes a magnetic buckle, eyewear storage, a breakaway camera mount and a highly adjustable fit system.
At £199.99, it's more expensive than the three rival helmets I tested it alongside, so expectations are understandably high.
After months of riding it back-to-back with the Giro Montaro Mips III, Specialized Ambush 3 and Canyon Deflectr, it delivered the best balance of comfort, stability, ventilation and everyday usability.
Built-in impact protection
The Lazer Impala KinetiCore isn’t the cheapest, the lightest or the deepest-fitting, but it delivers the best blend of comfort, stability, ventilation and day-to-day usability.
If all four helmets I tested were lined up before a ride, this is the one I’d reach for first.
Its safety package is strong, too. The Impala uses Lazer’s KinetiCore system, where shaped EPS crumple zones are built into the helmet rather than relying on a separate slip liner.
It also gets the brand’s DualCore construction, using two EPS densities to help manage different impact forces.
Other details include Advanced TurnSys adjustment, a three-position breakaway visor, breakaway camera mount, RECCO reflector, magnetic buckle, eyewear docking, goggle grip, Polygiene-treated pads and LED light compatibility.
Weighing 380g for my size-small sample, it sits between the lightweight Specialized and the heavier Canyon and Giro helmets.
The best fit in the test
The fit is the best of the helmets I tested. The shell shape felt right straightaway and the Advanced TurnSys retention dial was easier to use than the systems on the Giro, Canyon and Specialized helmets.
It’s easy to reach, simple to adjust even when wearing gloves and has a positive, tactile feel. The 15-position cradle-height adjustment gives far more tuning range than the others, making it easy to get the helmet sitting exactly where you want it.
Once adjusted, the Impala is exceptionally comfortable. There were no pressure points, no need to back off the tension mid-ride and no hot spots on longer days out.
The padding isn’t the plushest in isolation, but it’s well-placed, supportive and effective. The straps route neatly around the ears without irritation, giving a cleaner and more natural feel than the Canyon.
Stable and confidence-inspiring
On rough descents, stability was very good. It doesn’t sit quite as deep as the Giro, but it still feels secure and protective, with good rear and temple coverage. It gives away a little of the Giro’s locked-in, deep-shell confidence, but gains superior comfort, airflow and easier adjustment.
Excellent cooling without compromise
Ventilation was the second best in the test, behind the Canyon helmet, but the Lazer’s advantage is it combines strong airflow with a much better fit and strap setup. It feels cooler than the Giro and Specialized, yet more natural than the Canyon.
Trail features done properly
The features are also well executed – the visor is easy to adjust, the Fidlock-style magnetic buckle works cleanly and the glasses storage proved secure.
I needed to take slightly more care to position my glasses because the straps sit close behind the ears, but once in place, they remained stable.
The high price and slightly fussier glasses fit are the main drawbacks, but neither prevents the Impala being the most complete helmet here.
How we tested
We tested these mountain bike helmets on a mix of enduro and trail bike rides across multiple locations in the Quantocks and the Forest of Dean.
Each lid was used for all-day rides as well as shorter test loops, giving us time to assess long-term comfort, fit, security, ventilation and how easy each helmet was to live with.
Conditions ranged from warm, sweaty climbs to cooler, wetter rides, so we could judge how well the pads, straps, retention systems and vents performed in typical UK trail conditions.
We also checked each helmet's stability on rough descents, visor adjustment, eyewear and goggle compatibility, buckle ease and general usability on the trail.
Helmets tested
Lazer Impala KinetiCore bottom line
The Impala KinetiCore is a superb all-rounder. Rather than chasing the lightest weight, deepest coverage or biggest vent openings, it delivers an outstanding balance of comfort, stability, ventilation and usability that none of its rivals can match.
Of the group I tested, the Giro feels a touch more protective, the Canyon runs marginally cooler and the Specialized saves a few grams, but each comes with compromises that became more obvious over weeks of testing.
The Lazer simply gets on with the job, ride after ride, making it the trail helmet I'd spend my own money on.
Lazer Impala KinetiCore specs
- Price: £199.99
- Weight: 380g, size S, measured
- Sizes: S (52-56cm), M (55-59cm), L (58-61cm)
- Safety rating/certification: CE EN1078
- Other details: KinetiCore, DualCore two-density EPS construction, Advanced TurnSys fit system, three-position breakaway visor, breakaway camera mount, RECCO reflector, magnetic buckle, eyewear docking, goggle grip, Polygiene-treated pads
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