Lewis Bradley has been putting the Ride 100% Aircraft MIPS Full Face Helmet through its paces to see how it stacks up against the competition.
Claiming the best ventilation of any downhill helmet out there, can the Ride 100% Aircraft MIPS Full Face helmet stack up against some very stiff competition? Lewis Bradley reckons so.
Photos by Dave Price.
Key features:
- Carbon/Kevlar composite shell
- MIPS-equipped
- 25 vents and channels
- Washable, antibacterial comfort liner, cheek pads and chin strap covers
- Emergency release cheek pads
- Titanium D-Ring buckle
- 2 shell sizes and 3 EPS sizes
- Adjustable visor
- XS, S, M, L, XL sizes.
- 1140g
- £349 RRP
- Ride100PerCent.com
The first impressions when receiving the Ride 100% Aircraft MIPS was the sleek and stylish look that’s incorporated the MIPS protection system makes it stand out from the rest. The carbon/Kevlar composite shell along with the 25 vents and channels makes it a contender against other full-face helmets in the market.
When fitting for the first time, the helmet felt snug and secure without feeling too squeezed onto my head. I also went for the XS rather than the small as they size up bigger than other helmets. The padding is placed well around the ears and cheekbones with the D-ring securing the helmet in place.
I decided to use it around a 40km look with has various climbs and trails to test the Aircraft to its limits.
The vents really work well and offers good ventilation. The weight also feels spread among the helmet, so it doesn’t feel too heavy for a long days riding or racing. It did get hot on the longer climbs, but I did expect it to be as the helmet is meant to be for downhill purposes, but it I feel it would handle enduro races very well.
Firstly, I was using the 100% Acuri goggles which I would recommend as they were created around the helmet for the best vision and fit. The snug fit along with the MIPS protection system brings confidence when riding over technical and challenging terrain.
The helmet didn’t feel heavy or move around allowing the rider to concentrate on the trail ahead with ease. The chin and visor didn’t reduce the vision but would clearly take most of the impact away from your face and chin of the rider if there was a crash. The vents also provided plenty of airflow which kept my head cool and helped the goggles remain clear.
What do we think?
For both downhill and enduro rider that want a helmet that is capable of handling all types of trails, the 100% Aircraft should seriously be considered. The comfortable padding along with MIPS and ventilation makes ideal.
To top it off, the variety of colours combined with its great style makes the helmet stand out from its competitors.
We love:
- Design and colour options
- Snug fit
- Low Weight
- Plenty of airflow
Could do better:
- No extra cheek pads
- D-ring can be a hassle over a normal chin strap
