The new Leatt DBX 2.0 helmet brings their downhill proven safety technology to an amazingly affordable price point of $99.99. To help significantly reduce the risk of head or brain trauma it’s equipped with their highly innovative 360º Turbine Technology that helps reduce the risk of head impact at concussion level by up to 30% and rotational acceleration to your head and brain by up to 40%. Ten Armourgel Turbines are set inside the helmet and deform and harden upon impact to absorb both vertical and rotational forces. Combined with the classic EPS in-molded shell, their dual-density construction design dampens all kinds of impact; from low to high speed. The lightweight helmet is well-ventilated with large 20 vents and utilizes their Quattro Force Control retention system for easy custom-fitting with the turn of a dial, a washable Dri-Lex liner that is moisture wicking, and a breakaway visor for safety.
The helmet comes in Black/Granite, Granite/Lime (tested), Granite/Red and Granite/Teal color schemes and Small (51-55cm), Medium (55-59cm) and Large (59-63cm) sizes.
For additional information refer to leatt.com.
The DBX 2.0 has 20 oversized vents that combine with their MaxiFlow air channels to take ventilation to a new degree of coolness, and it’s quite capable of excellent air throughput even when you’re riding at a slower speed. The visor doesn’t have any movable positions but it does offer a breakaway function for safety during a crash, and it sticks out far enough to provide plenty of sun protection.
The helmet utilizes a 3D In-Molded impact foam for excellent energy absorption, and it’s molded directly to the outer Polycarbonate shell, and the shell nicely rolls all the way over and into the interior for improved longevity and durability. The interior padding uses the Dri-Lex Liner which is very comfortable, has excellent moisture wicking capabilities, is breathable, has anti-odor control functionality, and is machine washable. The padding resides only in the front half of the helmet, but it’s thick enough to offer tons of comfort without any hotspots or pinching areas. The frontmost six Turbines sit in cutouts of the liner and are about flush with the padding. The padded liner, ten Turbines, and retention system work in synergy with each other to provide the utmost in comfort.
The Turbines deform to absorb both vertical and rotational impact forces
The combination of 360º Turbine Technology and Armourgel cushioning material gives you premium protection to help you push your limits and keep you safe during an impact. Armourgel is an energy absorbing material that is flexible in its natural state and hardens upon impact, so the faster or harder you fall, the better it works.
360° Turbine Technology
- Reduces up to 30% of head impact at concussion level
- Reduces up to 40% of rotational acceleration to head and brain
- Improves multiple-impact protection
- Ten turbines made of 3D molded Armourgel are set inside the helmet to help absorb impact forces
Their Quattro Force Control retention adjustment system provides a functional custom-fitting and fine-tuning design that did a great job during use, and the wheel was simple to twist even when wearing gloves. It’s a fast and secure fit system that provided the most comfortable and efficient way to adjust the helmet to any size or shaped head.
At the back of the interior of the helmet, the retention system has a three position vertical height and position adjustment for the perfect fit.
The chin strap harness system was easy to adjust, and the semi-locked in position ear loops was simple and secure, and I didn’t have any issues with their design. Only the rear of the ear loop has some minor ability to be adjusted, either fore or aft. The chin strap closure utilizes a simple, quick release buckle system in-lieu of the pricier Fidlock magnetic closure system on its upscale brethren.
Impressions
The DBX 2.0 is an extremely comfortable helmet with excellent coverage over the ears and down the neck, though it doesn’t come down as deeply as the more gravity oriented DBX 3.0 and DBX 3.0 Enduro helmets. The combination of the thick liner padding, their retention system and ten Armourgel Turbines from their 360º Turbine Technology provided all day comfort without any hotspots.
I didn’t have any issues with the simple strap design around the ears and making the fore, and aft adjustment at the rear of the straps for fit was easy to accomplish and kept the helmet snug and flat against my head. The default chin strap system utilizes a simple quick-release design, and although I missed their more functional and easy to use Fidlock magnetic closure system, it worked just fine and helped keep the price point within reason. The rear adjustment fitting wheel of the retention system was easy to use on the fly and helped pull the helmet securely in place, yet it still provided plenty of capabilities to perform a micro fit to keep things somewhere between snug or looser.
The 20 ventilation ports provide ton’s of air movement, even during slow speed slogs on long climbs, so I never felt my head overheating, even on hot days. The significant flow of air is due to the oversized ports and channeling system working together to sweep the air through the helmet without things getting stagnated. Compared to other All Mountain helmets I have worn with this sort of coverage, the DBX 2.0 feels almost cross-country like with its maximized air throughput and cooling characteristics.
The Matte finish of the shell does make minor scratches standout just a tad, but the shell is tough and resistant enough that nothing has been overwhelming outlandish, even after many months of heavy use.
Bottom Line
The Leatt DBX 2.0 is an extremely comfortable helmet with excellent coverage over the ears and down the neck. The 20 oversized ventilation ports and their accompanying channeling system provide ton’s of air movement, even during slow speeds, and offers up one of the most well ventilated All Mountain helmets I’ve worn. The interior was nicely padded adding to the comfort level, and the rear adjustment fitting wheel was easy to use on the fly. Their 360º Turbine Technology is an incredible trick and innovative system, and it significantly adds to the comfort level of the helmet, and I am glad it’s there for my safety and protection whenever I happen to crash. Although it’s a simple helmet with just a few features, the excellent $99.99 price point and trickle down technology from its brethren is much appreciated.
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