Review: iXS Trail RS helmet

iXS calls this an “enduro/trail helmet.” What makes it so, exactly? The fact that it’s endorsed by freerider Ritchie Schley? As a matter of fact, this helmet offers extra protection for getting rad while still keeping you comfortable enough to enjoy it, so it’s a good match for enduro-type riding.

Don’t get iXS mixed up with any ‘80s Australian pop bands. It’s a Swiss company that also offers protective wear and clothing for the rest of the body, besides helmets. The $135 Trail RS is its top-level open-face helmet; it covers slightly more of the back of your skull than the typical XC helmet, and sports an adjustable, breakaway visor out front. The underside has a bit of extra in-molded shell to protect the foam from damage.

But this helmet’s best features are about comfort. The retention system offers both height and circumference adjustments, and its rubberized coating and extra pad in the back made it snug but soft. The one-piece, removable padding is among the best-wicking I’ve tried. The generous 22 vents plus channels kept it feeling cool even on hot and sticky days. There’s also a soft pad around the bottom of the strap where it would otherwise rub my chin.

I’m going to go ahead and call this the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever worn. So much so, that I used it for everyday commuting as well as trail riding. Now, a lot of what makes a helmet comfortable is simply whether that brand happens to fit the shape of your head, and this one may not fit you as well as it does me. But the extra comfort measures work. ixs-sportsdivision.com