Is Fox’s newest Dropframe Professional the most secure mountain bike helmet ever made? The Dutch say sure

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The Dropframe Professional does greater than maintain your ears heat: The brand new model has larger protection and conforms to the newest e-bike helmet requirements from NEN, the Royal Netherlands Standardization Institute

Fox has a brand new model of its good Dropframe Professional helmet out, full with a couple of tweaks – like a moveable visor and extra venting – and one actually revolutionary change: it complies with NTA 8776.

What the heck are we on about? You’re not alone on questioning. NTA 8776 is a little-known Dutch certification particularly for e-bike helmets, focussing on safety at speeds as much as 45kph. Which means helmets which have it, like the brand new Dropframe Professional, may effectively supply probably the most safety of any open face lid.

It’ll price considerably greater than the earlier Dropframe Professional mannequin at £269.99 in comparison with £180, however there’s loads of new issues to get enthusiastic about. We beloved the earlier model a lot it’s in our information to the finest mountain bike helmets, however how does the successor to the authentic Dropframe Professional examine?

Fox Dropframe Pro

The brand new helmet makes use of a Boa dial closure system for a greater match

Fox Dropframe Professional have to know:

  • Maintains open-faced design to maintain these ears heat, however with elevated protection
  • Meets NTA-8776 E-bike helmet certification normal, demanding extra safety at pace
  • Accessible in three sizes: S, M and L, and a variety of snazzy colors. Prices £269.99
  • Vizor now strikes to create space to park your goggles, and there’s house to plant glasses too
  • New BOA match system to maintain the Dropframe Professional in place
Fox Dropframe Pro

You’ve obtained loads of colors to select from, together with this putting color combo

Fox Dropframe Professional

It’s in all probability one of the recognisable mountain bike helmets on the market, however the brand new Dropframe Professional has had a facelift and is full of new options. It nonetheless maintains its 3/4 open-faced enduro helmet fashion, however it’s now obtained much more protection over the ears, jaw and the again of your head to make it what Fox calls “probably the most full protection Fox supply in an open-face helmet.”

It options MIPS safety, which isn’t something new for MTB helmets, however what’s new is the actual fact it now meets the necessities to be classed as an ‘e-bike helmet’. That is, the NTA-8776 certification. Primarily, the regulation calls for extra protection than an everyday helmet. It additionally has to go a better drop-test, which means it’ll defend your noggin at larger speeds. Developed for street use and rising proliferation of high-speed e-bikes, NTA-8776 ought to actually be seen because the gold normal for helmets right now, which means those who affirm usually tend to maintain you protected in a crash.

Fox Dropframe Pro

Elevated air flow comes within the type of newly designed vents, with ones on the cheeks and tops of the helmet wanting barely longer than the earlier era

The brand new Dropframe Professional additionally makes use of a BOA dial closure system, and a Fidlock magnetic closure on the strap. Visually, it appears to be like prefer it’s a bit extra beefed up than the earlier model, and has prolonged ear safety. There’s additionally a rise in air flow, with barely altered vent designs – that is to enhance cooling, but in addition decreases floor contact. The vents on the entrance (known as Massive Bore entrance vents) are additionally ideally suited for storing your eyewear, whereas Fox says that the 3-position adjustable visor is goggle suitable. Win win.

Internally, Fox makes use of an Ionic+ anti-microbial liner in addition to cheek pads to optimise the general match of the helmet. And eventually, in case you’re somebody who likes to document their time on the path, then you’ll be able to benefit from the included (however detachable) GoPro mount beneath the visor.

The brand new Dropframe Professional is available in a selection of a number of colors, together with: Orange Flame, Olive Inexperienced, Oat and Purple, Matte Black, Black/White, Midnight Blue and Black Camo. There are three sizes to chooes from: small, which inserts 52-54cm heads, medium, which inserts 54-56cm, and huge, for 56-58cm. All of this can set you again £269.99 and is available for purchase now from Fox.

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