iXS developed the new Trail RS helmet in conjunction with freeride legend Richie Schley, with the aim of striking a balance between protection and breathability. It certainly packs in plenty of features considering its reasonable price.
The dual in-mould design means the outer shell neatly wraps around the bottom of the lid, helping to protect the EPS liner from those inevitable knocks and scrapes.
We were impressed with the fit and comfort, including the fleece lined chin strap pad, and like the fact that the retention cradle can be switched easily between three different positions to change the tilt of the helmet on your head.
Getting the fit dialled is easy enough thanks to the generously sized adjuster dial. That said, we found ourselves tipping the lid back as far as possible to get the low, pointy front of the helmet out of our eye line, and that meant the adjuster dial ended up too close to the shell, where it was tricky to use. Even then, the adjustable peak still tended to creep into view, especially on steeper trails.
Coverage is good though, and the 22 vents and internal channelling do a decent job of keeping your head cool.
