Review: 100% Aircraft Helmet Tested by Pinkbike

The 100% Aircraft helmet was first seen on the head of Loic Bruni on the World Cup downhill circuit, but it's now available to the public, even if you don't have rainbow stripes on your jersey.

Tested by Pinkbike.com

Although it is aimed primarily at the downhill crowd, its light weight makes it a good option for enduro racers as well, or anyone who doesn't feel like lugging a helmet that weighs the same as a bowling ball along on a ride.

Thanks to the use of a carbon fibre and Kevlar shell, along with clever gram-saving tricks like a titanium D-ring buckle, the Aircraft weighs in at only 1042 grams for a size medium, a very competitive figure for an ASTM-DH certified helmet. For comparison, Bell's Full 9 weighs 1154 grams, and a Troy Lee D3 Carbon is 1100 grams. 100% didn't forget about ventilation either, and the Aircraft has a total of 25 vents to help keep the air flowing, vents that are designed to work in conjunction with the internal channels that are moulded into the helmet's EPS liner. 

The helmet's cheek pads can be removed with the helmet still in place, a useful, and increasingly common feature that's intended to help medics remove a helmet without compromising spine stability. The Aircraft helmet is available in six different colours for $400, and if you're looking for something fancier, there are two chrome colour choices that go for $450. 

100% Aircraft Helmet Details

• Carbon / Kevlar composite shell
• 25 vents and channels
• Removable liner and cheek pads
• ASTM DH, CPSC, CE, AS/NZ certified
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
• 8 colour options (chrome adds $50)
• Weight: 1042 grams (size M)

Performance

No two skulls are shaped alike, and not all helmets fit the same, which is why it's always important to try a helmet on in person before throwing down hundreds of dollars on a shiny new lid. For my relatively oval-shaped head the Aircraft was a perfect fit – snug around the cheeks, ears, and brow, but without any uncomfortable pressure points. It's not quite as cushy as the Bell Full 9, my current benchmark when it comes to comfort, but it's still very comfortable, and it is lighter, with a more svelte outer shell profile than the Full 9. 

It hasn't been the warmest of summers so far, but temperatures have climbed into the 80s (≈28° C) a few times, and on those days the Aircraft managed quite well. It's still very much a full face – you're not going to find the level of airflow found on a half shell XC lid here – but it also never felt uncomfortably hot or stifling even when taking laps under a blazing sun. When worn with goggles, a couple of the rear vents are blocked by the strap, but that didn't make any noticeable temperature difference - it's those top two side vents where the majority of the ventilation is occurring. 

Overall - Light, well ventilated, and stylish, the Aircraft is an excellent option for riders looking for a new high-end full face helmet. 

Read the full review on Pinkbike.com here