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View Full Version : Air-flow in mx helmets? Gimmick?



jimmy 2006
29th February 2008, 21:15
Hey,

i have been doing a lot of research into what helmet creates the best airflow.
and have come up with nothing.

few q's someone might be able to answer.

does every helmet actually have a complete poly shell inside? ie no holes at all to let air actually into the head??

what do the vents therefore do if air can not make it to the head?

i have a one industries kombat helmet, and when trying to trace the ducts into the helmet area i can find no actual purpose for them apart from the aesthetics.

i suffer from recurrent heat stroke, which is ruining my summer riding. so any way in which i can get rid of heat is a massive bonus.

vr4king
29th February 2008, 21:23
Well I bought a new helmet a few months ago and forgot to open the vents on a ride and sweated like a paedifile on the frst day of school then got home and found now the with the vents open its much better...........Boring story but ah well

Rupe
29th February 2008, 21:34
would any of these help?

mattwood
29th February 2008, 21:42
i dunno man, mine are still full of clay from my last face plant/ slide down a hill on my head.. they dont seem to make any difference when they arent full of crap.

maybe try riding faster, more air flow? ;)

Motu
29th February 2008, 21:45
I have a cheap as Fly,nothing fancy - and when I'm stopped and sweating,then get moving again I can feel a real strong airflow right over the top of my head.Not much hair up there,so maybe I feel the flow more than a young guy with a thick thatch.

B0000M
29th February 2008, 23:14
my old oneal had holes directly lined up with the vents, cant see them doing bugger all tho, dunno about my newer helm, havnt bothered looking

Danger
1st March 2008, 07:00
Well I have noticed some helmets definatley run hotter without vents. The last two that have had vents have been a lot cooler. Its not like you feel the air flow or anything and I think any vented helmet of which most of them are now does help. My hair is pretty thick right now but often in the summer I shave it all off to help but I have not felt the need to this year.

dammad1
1st March 2008, 08:15
Well I have noticed some helmets definatley run hotter without vents. The last two that have had vents have been a lot cooler. Its not like you feel the air flow or anything and I think any vented helmet of which most of them are now does help. My hair is pretty thick right now but often in the summer I shave it all off to help but I have not felt the need to this year.

Thats the answer james, chop all that hair off.

scott411
1st March 2008, 08:58
they do do some work, i have played around with a few of the vents on different helmets, the ones that seem to work better are the ones that also haev a exit hole in the back of the helmets,

CRF119
1st March 2008, 11:09
They do work i have a Oneal 909 searies helmet and after a dusty ride you can see where the air flows inside the helmet as there are orange clay lines flowing toward the back of the helmet. I woulnt by a helmet with out them

Reckless
1st March 2008, 11:14
yes I had a cheap Fly with no venting and sweated like a bastard every time I rode. My head was wet when I got off the bike, of coarse fitness had nothing to do with it (yeah Right!!).
Than nabbed a really good Oneil RC4 Pilot of T/me for a $100 bucks. Stripped the linings out and washed everything (although it looked like new).

Made the word of difference the venting and the suede?? type lining to take sweat away is bloody great. Best 100 I ever spent!

I know from my road riding a good helmet makes a huge difference with weight and wind noise etc

So to answer your questiuon no not a gimmick in my view.

barty5
1st March 2008, 14:44
my new kbc has three sets of vents top middle and rear and they work real well even to the point the when ridin in the heavy rain i can get a rather wet head ( must remember to close them next time) but wouldnt go with out in the summer.

FlangMasterJ
1st March 2008, 14:59
i suffer from recurrent heat stroke, which is ruining my summer riding. so any way in which i can get rid of heat is a massive bonus.

Are you staying hydrated?

On a side note I tried on an Arai MX helmet the other day. One of the $1000 jobs and man was it comfy. I almost fell asleep when I put it on.

scott411
1st March 2008, 15:22
On a side note I tried on an Arai MX helmet the other day. One of the $1000 jobs and man was it comfy. I almost fell asleep when I put it on.


thats why i wear them , worth the money

jimmy 2006
2nd March 2008, 17:49
yea, really hydrated. about 3 liters of water get downed before each ride, and i can finish a 2 liter camel back in about an hour of riding.

looked at a whole heap of helmets at the shops on saturday. it really looks like the arai and the troy lee are the best for air flow, with the one industries helmet i have being the worst!!!

cheese
2nd March 2008, 19:55
Chop your long hair! LOL

jimmy 2006
2nd March 2008, 19:58
i did.... way shorter, no difference.

dammad1
2nd March 2008, 20:41
Hey James I have the exact same helmet as you and I have no issues with heat at all.

jimmy 2006
3rd March 2008, 06:37
good for you Dan !

na but seriously, remove the liner and tell me if your poly shell actually has holes in it for air flow?

dammad1
3rd March 2008, 18:38
good for you Dan !

na but seriously, remove the liner and tell me if your poly shell actually has holes in it for air flow?

Cant say I have ever bothered to look.

jimmy 2006
3rd March 2008, 18:55
look:confused:

green machine
5th March 2008, 12:21
I have a One Industries Trooper helmet and it has 8 holes in the shell............even blew on the outside of the helmet and could feel the air by the holes....by the way it's a 2008 helmet if that makes any difference

jimmy 2006
5th March 2008, 12:40
maybe my helmet is just a dud.