The fast-paced world of enduro racing is evolving, with bigger tracks, faster riders and more rules and regulations. Mirroring the rise of enduro racing is the growth in the numbers of riders hitting their local trails on more and more capable bikes.
For those looking for more protection, full-face lids make a lot of sense, but if you pedal all day, how do you balance protection and breathability? MET and Bell are two lid manufacturers looking for that answer. We’ve taken them head to head to find out which should receive your well-earned cash.
Bell Super 2R
- Price: £150 / US$200 / AU$299 (standard); £175 / US$220 / AU$329 (MIPS)
- Removable, ventilated chin guard
- Secures via three clasps offering plenty of rigidity
- Same upper as the well-regarded Bell Super
- MIPs anti-rotation protection
- Adjustable visor, cheek pads and GoPro mounting options
MET Parachute
- £170 / US$N/A / AU$279
- Lightweight, well ventilated full face construction
- Meets full ASTM safety standard for full-face lids
- Double-D buckle chin strap
- Adjustable cheek pads and goggle clip
On the (full) face of it, both helmets offer the same level of protection, but each has distinct features. The MET Parachute complies with the ASTM safety standard that’s required of full-face helmets – this is the same benchmark that your Troy Lee D3 Carbon complies to. While the removable chin guard of the Bell Super 2R will undoubtedly offer some extra protection in the event of a faceplant, it doesn’t meet this standard.
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Turning to the upper, there are two versions of the Bell – standard and MIPS. The standard option has the usual EPS in-moulded construction we’re used to seeing on the majority of helmets. The addition of MIPS gives the brain protection against rotational forces found when the helmet suffers an angled impact, and Bell has also added the ICEdot emergency identification tag to its lids. MET, meanwhile, has gone with the standard EPS/in-moulded construction, with the addition of a 'Homothetic Embedded Skeleton', purportedly to help spread impact force.
Winner: draw
Bell and MET each have well established and developed retention systems for their helmets. Bell’s TAG fit system offers a decent level of adjustment that’s easy to use with gloves on thanks to the rubber finish of the adjustment wheel. The Parachute has a more exposed, but smaller wheel, but the Safe-T Advanced adjustment system feels like it encloses the head better, with changes in tightness being more noticeable all around the head.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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