Leatt Gravity 1.0 DH Helmet Long-Term Review

Currently being updated, so be aware of changes.

Picture taken by Samir Tawfiq from Smaalenene SK

This is not a pro or con, butt the chin bar is not as stiff as 2016 Fox RPC.

Not super great air flow. Nor extremely warm, but I still get warm. But I definitely got hot during the chilly April rides. Until the brutal wind and snow storm came then I put the hood on. With the Endura jacket I can actually do this comfortably. It’s so big it can go over a XC helmet too.

It does not want to fall down. I know Leatt helmets have a bad reputation in the motorsports for rusting steel parts, but I’ve not experienced these issues, but I wash my helmet.

Camera & light setup:

The final zip tie camera setup ?

The second setup I settled on for a while.

With this setup the camera does not hit the neck brace. I know mounts that use a clamp system exist, but I’ve not tried these yet, I needed something right away, so zip ties solved that. Also I did not find any 3d printed mounts for this helmet. maybe some universal mounts exist, or some for other helmets. but this helmet is not perfect, so I will try other helmets.

Some photos of me wearing the helmet:

Picture taken by Samir Tawfiq from Smaalenene SK

Picture taken by Samir Tawfiq from Smaalenene SK

I used a flat GoPro mounting plate mount to the light on the the top side of the helmet. Which worked well. But I can’t mount it in the middle at the top nor use a curved mounting plate.

Picture taken by Samir Tawfiq from Smaalenene SK

But eventually as the zip ties wore it got wobbly, I had to replace the zip ties, but I decided to file down the Go Pro mount more, to fit it between the bars on the chin guard, which means the camera lens won’t be centred any more, but it will have less movement, even it zip ties wear. I changed zip tie configuration. And used bigger zip ties. so it will be more secure, and definitely a lot easier to assemble. Less complicated contraption.

External pics:

A look inside:

Chin cam setup done wrong:

if you mount the camera like this it will hit the neck brace.

The initial camera setup seems to have twisted the plastic slightly, but I changed the camera setup.

I just set it up like this to test it, but as i suspected it would hit the neck brace.

Which you can clearly see in the pictures below.

Pros:

• light weight compared to my previous helmet.
• The liner is easy to remove for washing, and to put it back on.

The rear of the liner

• Easily removable main liner, no buttons or buttons.
• The inner shell is shinier, softer, seems more resistant to scratching than my previous helmets.
• unlike the cheek pads on the 2016 Fox RPC, the cheek pads did not permanently compress over time.
• Easy to put the goggles on.

here I was putting on the Leatt Velocity 6.5 goggle

• Good visibility

• The inner shell is more resistant to scratches and dents.
• Easier to put goggle backward and have strap under visor than 2016 Fox RPC.
• Double D buckle is secure and and never foes out of adjustment, and is easy to use for me, which is why I like it. The only way it can get tricky for me if it gets wet and strap and buckle freezes, but that’s easy to fix with some heat from your fingers, but this has never been an real issue for me and is not specific to this helm, but just a con of this system. I’ve not tried Fidlock magnetic buckle.

• you can put the goggle backwards but you can also put the goggles in the front too.

Cons:

• Visor is not low enough, not adjustable, I can’t see the visor, it does not block the sun, I know the visor can’t block sun completely if it’s low, but this visor is too high. So I often have to use my hand to block the sun, if I am riding flat terrain or am climbing. Butt this can probably be fixed with taping some folder plastic on top.
• The cheek pads are not secured properly, the original adhesive, wears fast, the cheek pads are secured by Velcro pads which are held in place with adhesive, it seems like the mid summer heat can loosen it, I am not sure, they can slide out of position, so the pad rotates and slides too, each pad has only one button, so after some months the cheek pads will rotate and taking the helmet off and putting it back on can get awkward. So I had to use 3M VHB to reattach the Velcro pads, it probably will last longer, as those tend to stick on for a really long time, months after months, but it will be interesting to see how it does on the inner shell of a helmet.

• When the you turn your head slightly or the wind as just the right angle you might hear the air flow trough the helmet, yes you can hear the wind blowing trough the helmet, the noise is quite loud especially if it’s a strong wind or you ride fast.
• after some months of use i noticed there was a knocking sound coming from the top rear of the helmet, but the shell is not loose, I am not sure what it is yet, might be slightly loose shell or the debris/insect mesh moving.

Verdict:

The helmet is a great package, apart from the Velcro pads that came loose, but if you buy 3m VHB pads, or tape you can cut it to size to reattach the Velcro pads, the helmet is a great value, it has all of the features I want, but the pads can rotate, due to Velcro pads coming loose from the helmet inner shell, so you need to fix that. so if you replace those, it’s not an issue.

Album

Updated Review: 2016 Fox Rampage Pro Carbon Full Face Mips helmet

Since the first version in of the review in 2017 I have had a lot more experience with this helmet, there are some flaws that should need to be addressed.

I have used the helmet since summer 2016 and now it’s spring.

This helmet is probably one of the most popular & reviewed helmets out there but here is my review. I was so satisfied with this helmet I ordered the exact model for the second time.

I will never do mountain biking without a full face helmet,even For just commutes I use this helmet.

Pros:

• Very comfortable & secure fit, This is the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn so far.
• Good air flow, the ears stay cool, and every thing else, but of course the motofoam in the front of the chin guard will, of course give less air flow, so on really hot days you might notice the extra heat, but it’s not huge difference for me.
• double D-ring
• doesn’t scratch easily.
• the carbon shell makes this a very durable helmet, unlike helmets with plastic shells, that dent just by hits from some small branches, the carbon shell won’t crack or dent even if the bike the back of it in a downhill fall.
• the inserts are easy to remove.

Cons:

• at 1100 grams the helmet is not light, but I got used to it quite fast, and it doesn’t effect me much, but a lighter helmet would be nice.
• The cheek pads/inserts wear out, they get compressed and get too thing, so the helmet will eventually wiggle, I noticed the chin guard  hitting my face. so after few months I have to swap them for new cheek pads/inserts. a better solution is needed.

• After few months of use I noticed the MIPS has cracked, I noticed this after taking the helmet off, this happen only on one of the two helmets I got.

The glue failed to rubber skirting, the adhesive is not strong enough to hold it, Fox helmets had problems with this in the past. when you hold the helmet on the chin guard & you will flex the skirting in many directions which loosen it up. but of course, you can glue it back, it’s an easy job

But fixing the chin guard skirting is quite easy:

the next step is to use tape to hold the strips in place.

2018 the  stitching on the strap sleeve tore

March 2018 the plastic visor bolt failed on both helmets, one time it was while riding on the a trail.

So I eventually secured the visor with Gorilla tape.

Some of the paint cracked near the visor mount.

I have not had any issues with this helmet apart for the chin guard skirting.

Here is me wearing the helmet with 100% RaceCraft Plus Goggle, with the old camera setup.

I eventually switched to chin cam, which I managed do do with zip ties and the male part of the GoPro mount.

I used a  2014 model, the shell got loose. and the strap sleeve had damaged button, but this must have been someone in a store that managed to damage it, but with the 2016 helmet I have not had any issues with the buttons, which I was not sure about would hold up, but so far they did, But magnets might be better. If there is anything else I will update you on it.

Flickr Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHskRdE8c9

2012 and/or 2013 MET Crossover long term review ( 3 helmets) awful

I strongly advise against buying this helmet.

having a safe helmet is important, this one is not that safe because the adjustment mechanism can fail anytime.

the way it is made it’s impossible for it to not fail.

 

Cons:

the plates that are snapped together 8 pins, fails, the adjustment wheel pops out because of the screw holding it in place fails.

 

 

• the adjustment strap is big,and poorly made feels and very flimsy

• the cushion on side are poorly made and they are glued together and not stitched, so you will get glue on your head
• sun guard is too short to be effective,
• the price is high compared to some other much better and comfortable helmets.

• the net on the front of the helmet does not stop flies or anything really,too big holes so pointless to have them
• the red rear light is weak but that is to expected from a so small light with this kind of battery
• the cost, you can get a much safer and better helmet for the same price or just little more.

pros:

• good ventilation
• red rear light
• the helmet will fit big heads (my  size 51-60 cm)

 

I have been unlucky with my helmets from met 2 out of 3 of them were faulty

the first one was a red version, the rear of the helmet had cracked so much that it almost fell off I just ripped it off with my fingers, this was just few months a with riding I never dropped the helmet(of course some in the store could have abused it)

i could not see any serial number,i did not have the place to store the broken helmet so i thrown it away, I cant proof I did not actually break the helmet anyway,but I of course did not.

this did only happen with one of the helmets.

in my opinion every single helmet must be tested before its shipped out and.

i forgot to contact Met about this issue, but I did it now in 2016 bit late I know.

helmet nr.1

the part in the yellow above is showing the part that fell off,

in my opinion the helmet should not have so many sharp edges and strange forms,it will reduce the protection.

helmet nr.3 the screw holding the adjustment knob jumped out,  it did not happen with the helmet nr 2

and can feel uncomfortable on some heads,

note that this is in no way an attack against the MET helmet company,just facts,info and my opinions

http://www.met-helmets.com/