[Review] Vigor Sports Full Face Helmet

[emilydickinson]

For the last 22 months I've been using a Vigor Sports Full face helmet for ramp riding, the little dirt jumping that I get to do, and also when I commute in Manhattan on my track bike. This is not a BMX specific helmet, it's actually for downhillers, so the construction is quite different than what you find in most BMX helmets. The outer shell is constructed of a super, super tough ABS plastic that doesn't flex at all. Under that is a 1.5 inch thick layer of injection molded foam. Finally there is another 2 inch layer of soft foam padding. The visor and jaw piece are both replaceable, but more than that they are collapsible. What this means is if you wreck, the visor and jaw piece slide back on the mounting screws, and if necessary, shatter and collapse. This draws the impact of the crash away from your face and prevents neck injuries. This is a feature you don't see on too many BMX helmets, and it's a really smart idea. For example, I was riding the cement bowl at Owl's head in in Brooklyn, trying to ice pick the coping, I slipped a pedal and went straight down, wacking the jaw piece of the helmet on the lip of the bowl. Instead of the helmet jerking my head back, the jaw piece slid and cracked, saving me a nice case of whiplash and some teeth. Replaceing the visor and jawpiece is about $20 US. This is a multi impact helmet, so if you wreck you don't have to throw it away like most other helmets (you all DO throw away your Bell's after you wreck, right?). The chin piece consists of a Kevlar strap and a sturdy metal buckle that can be cranked down tight while you're wearing the helmet for a truly tight fit. This helmet and I have been through many crashes and several bad wrecks (one involving me skidding down the street on this helmet on Madison Avenue) and my brain is still intact. I LOVE this helmet. The only downsides are the price ($165.00 US) and the weight/lack of ventilation. It gets hot in there, and your pirepheral vision is a bit limited. That's the price you pay for being safe. 10/10 from EmilyD.

[redbone]

what's the reason to throw away the helmet after one bigger impact? I mean what happens to it after that?

[Smickus]

why do you have a linux suse sticker?

[emilydickinson]

Most bicycle helmet are made to absorb one impact then be thrown away. The foam inside breaks to take the shock off your head. Once it's broken it can't absorb anymore. I have a SuSe sticker because I am a secret Linux geek.

[Street Cowboy]

vegans should be eaten!

nice review. i cant do the full face helmits . they piss me off more then they protect (the overheating part).. and i prefer helmits that can take repeat hits.

[nutsgeezer]

no helmets can take repeated hard hits. Once you slam you should get a new one just in case.

Emily are you a hardcore vegan? one of those who wont even drive through a town with 'ham' in the name/

[emilydickinson]

I've been Vegan for 10 years, but I don't consider myself an 'activist'. Most of the loudmouth vegans are vegan for like a year then go back tobeing carnivores, I've seen it over and over again. I'm the mellow vegan- I eat with people eating meat, I've gone hunting with my friends (I won't shoot anything), my lady has milk in our fridge. I don't get along with other vegans because they're ridiculous loudmouths who just like to come down on other people. For me it's a personal choice, and personal means I eat what I want and others eat what they want. I just won't kiss anyone who's a carnivore.

[nutsgeezer]

good, I hate those vegans who roam the streets shouting about how vegan they are.

[Street Cowboy]

i believe strongly in the slow food movment . i personaly have big problems with vegans .. but i wont voice them unless pushed.. vegetarians are fin though.. he only meat i eat is almost strickly organic.

anyhow yea i have never hit my head realy hard so my good ol protech is standing up fine

[emilydickinson]

Met too. I guarntee they'll rockin McD's in 6 months. I've seen it happen over and over. I'm the only person who's been vegan this long because I have NEVER preached to anyone or criticized anyone.

[Jezie R.]

Nice review. Nice helmet.

By the way I'm wearing a pair of vegie shoes.

[Street Cowboy]

vegie shoes? are they made out of vegetarians??

and jezzie do you illustrate all thoes changing avitars?? or are they from a series?

[emilydickinson]

Sometimes I am bad vegan and wear my Prada's, I can't help it I'm a whore. Someone needs to make nice Veggie riding shoes. Saucon Courageous are pretty good though.

[Louis K]

Nice helmet! Awesome stickers haha!. Yeah I only usually wear full face helmets when i'm at the track. Street riding is hard when wearing the full face. But it is all good though I had some nasty spills at the track and my helmet has saved me.

[Korey]

i wear a mountian bike full face when im riding big trails or doing something stupid. they are just really annoying how big they are and just make your head feeling like it just grew. they help but i just wear my normal not full face.

[mshbiker31390]

yo me gusta ( i like) full face helmets, they feel really comfortable, i like feeling all the soft foam pads around my head, i don;t mind. except they do feel really heavy.