Mountain Bike Rider — March 2018

GROUP TEST

86 mbrMARCH 2018

SPECIALIZED AMBUSH COMP

£85

SPECIFICATIONWeight: 367g • Sizes: S, M, L, XL • Contact: specialized.com

TheAmbushCompisamorewallet-
friendlyversionofSpecialized’s
premiumtrailhelmet.Itsharesavery
similarlow-profileshapetothe£30
moreexpensiveAmbush,buthasaless
sophisticated hardshell construction
andmoreoftheEPSfoamlinerexposed
alongthebottomedgestosavecash.
Thispolystyrenefoamissingle
density, but reinforced by a Composite
Matrix (internal webbing) to manage
impact energy better in an accident.
Spesh’s360°wrap-aroundfitsystemis
uniqueinhowasmalldial,recessedinto
thehelmetitself,adjuststheretention
band.It’seffectiveatsqueezingthe
skullandhasafive-positionheight-
adjustable cradle that effectively
tunestiltandthepointatwhichthe
webbinglocksintothenapeoftheneck.
There’s minimal padding inside, but it’s
perfectlyplacedandcomfynexttothe
skin,aswellasbeingreallyabsorbent.
TheAmbushpeakmovesonaratchet
andisstableandquietwithplentyof
room for stashing goggles underneath.
TheAmbushCompsitsgreatonthe
head, with a really light feel and superb

ventilation. There’s a sense of

air literally blasting through the big

holesandit’sunobtrusivetothepoint

whereyouforgetsoonyou’re

wearingit.Onecomplaintfor

some,however,isintermsof

foreandaftstability.There’sa

senseitgripsthesidesofthe

head more than the front or

back, and on the roughest trails

or heaviest landings, it can

pitch forwards.

That exposed EPS rim

is prone to damage

too. Still, provided

it’sstable

enough on

your head

shape,this£85lidisoneofthebest-

ventilatedhelmetsontestandfeels

super-lightweight while riding.

TROY LEE A2 MIPS

£140

SPECIFICATIONWeight: 386g • Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL • Contact: saddleback.com

There’s general consensus that Troy Lee

makessomeofthebest-lookingtrail

lidsaround.ItsA1helmetwasabest

seller, and this A2 brings more

sophisticated construction and 25 per

cent more ventilation; something that’ll

be welcomed by anyone who loved the

A1’sfit but found it too hot.

Like all current Troy Lee

helmets,theA2usesaMIPS

low-friction liner inside. It isn’t

thatlight(ourM/Lwasalsoa

chunk heavier than advertised),

but one reason is the level

of detail in the integrated

protection. Dual-density

EPS and EPP foam

layers lie underneath

an outer shell that’s

also reinforced

with filaments

to better resist

penetration.

Each layer targets different impact

velocities,andtherearealsoextra

polystyreneridgesinthefrontsection

protruding upwards under the shell as

afirstlineofdefenceagainstheavyhits

—thesespinesaddtotheA2’ssculpted,

racy look too.

Allthis material doesn’t affect cooling

orairflowthough,andtheA2isreally

effectiveatfeedingabreezeoveryour

scalp and dumping more heat than

most. The internal pads are comfy next

to the skin and thicker at the forehead

for a properly cushioned connection.

Thesepadsabsorbsweatwell,but

candripdownwhensaturatedand

need squeezing out frequently. Fit and

stabilityisverygood,buttheA2rests

onmorespecificpointscomparedtothe

even spread of the classic A1.

The overlapping tensioning system is

effective and reliable and we’ve found

the well-finished helmet to be really

durable too, accepting the fact that the

decals scratch easily. There’s no room to

stashgogglesunderTroyLee’sstubby

peak, but in every other way, the A2

works as good as it looks, and is a fi rm

staff favourite here.