Australian Mountain Bike – August 01, 2019

http://www.ambmag.com.au - 87

WORDS AND PHOTOS:
COLIN LEVITCH

Helmets are progressively getting more
complicated with newfangled retention systems,
sliding liners, non-newtonian padding, and
protection systems which may or may not
substantially reduce the risk of concussion.
However, with the US$75 Lazer Cyclone MIPS
(not available in Australia) currently topping
Virginia Tech’s safety rankings with the highest
Star Score, it makes the point that high tech and
expensive may not necessarily be better (from a
safety standpoint).
The Coyote is a bit more expensive
($AUD149) than the Cyclone, but it is the perfect
example of a brain bucket that doesn’t need to
lean on a heap of bells and whistles, it’s just a
solid helmet.
Now, I haven’t crash tested the Coyote, and
cannot speak to its overall safety; however, it
does offer deep rear and side coverage, encasing
a large portion of your melon in EPS foam—
there is a MIPS version on offer for $189. Even
with extended shell, the Coyote played nice with
sunnies from Oakley, Smith, and Poc.
There’s hardly any foam visible from the
exterior of the helmet, with the polycarbonate
shell coming all the down around the bottom
edge. When looking to hit low price points, this
is an area where brands often choose to scrimp,
leaving the foam susceptible to gashes, gouges
and dings, not the case on the Coyote.
It comes in three sizes, and the Turnfit Plus
retention system offers plenty of adjustability
combining a ratchet dial at the back at and eight
clicks (by my count) of vertical adjustment.
Rather than squashing your forehead up against
the brow of the helmet as you turn the dial,
instead, the retention system uses a nylon band
that runs the entire circumference of your head
which it reels in as you crank things down.
Tipping the scales at 361g in a size medium,
it’s far from the lightest trail lid out there,
but I can’t say that once it was on my head, I
noticed it, nor did it cause me a sore neck on
big days out.
With 21 sizeable vents, and plenty of internal
channelling to boot, the Coyote breathes pretty
well at speed, and on those slow slogs up fire
roads. Even with no vents under the brow like
those found on the more expensive Impala, I still
didn’t suffer from sweat dripping into the top of
my glasses—it’s also worth noting my test period
has consisted of mostly cooler temps. With the
retention system surrounding your head, it helps
to retain a small gap between your forehead and
the shell for a bit of airflow.
With the Coyote falling in the middle of

the pricing bell curve, Lazer had to cut costs

somewhere; the most noticeable are in the

visor and strap. At the fixed angle the peak

completes a clean line from the front to the

back of the helmet, the trouble is it creeps into

your field of view trying to look down the trail,

especially descending and I wish Lazer had

fixed it a touch higher.

The straps are also made from a thicker

gauge webbing, but remain pliable and don’t

make too much noise at speed, but getting the

sliding strap dividers in the right spot does

take a bit of extra fiddling. The straps are only

anchored to the shell at the front, so if you pick

your helmet up by the straps, you’ll have to coax

them back through the retention system before

you’re ready to roll.

The pads don’t receive any special wicking

technology or treatments, and they are just

stock standard foam pads which suck up sweat

straight away and don’t dry all that quickly.

Overall for $149, the Coyote is a solid helmet

for the price and checks most of my boxes. Most

importantly, it fits my head well, and it ventilates

well. Even though the Coyote gets Lazer’s

second tier retention system, it’s miles better

than the top end head squishers that some

brands use.

Lazer

Coyote

FROM: SHIMANO AUSTRALIA

HITS

Greatretentionsystem

Niceventingandcomfort

Fullshellcoverage

MISSES

Fixedvisormounting

Pads stay moist

TESTED