SPECIALIZED GAMBIT HELMET
£225 Weight: 631g (medium) • Sizes: S, M, L • Colours: Black, green, white, purple, red/black • Contact: specialized.com
If the extra weight, bulk, and feeling of confinement puts you off wearing a full-face helmet, then let me introduce you to the Specialized Gambit. Just a few hundred grams heavier than most open-face shells, and with copious ventilation, you don’t have to give up that feeling of freedom to gain a useful level of additional protection.
The first time I picked up the Gambit I was amazed by its low weight. At 631g, it’s around 100g lighter than the Troy Lee Designs Stage helmet, and 200g lighter than the latest Fox Proframe. Only the Dainese Linea 01 undercuts it on the scales. And it's noticeable, as your neck muscles get less fatigued keeping your head stable on long, rough descents.
Another massive advantage with the Gambit compared to numerous other lightweight full-face options is that it incorporates a 360° retention device, instead of simply using different-size pads to adjust the fit. Not only does this give more even pressure on your skull, it means you can easily release the tension, making it much easier to take on and off. Even better; the dial for the SBC Fit System is integrated into one of the rear helmet vents, so it’s sleek, unobtrusive and easy to access.
Inside, there’s thin padding and a waif-like MIPS SL liner to protect against rotational injuries. Differentsize cheek pads are included to help customise the fit at the jaw, and the chin strap uses a quick-release buckle, rather than a double-d loop, to further facilitate quick ingress and egress.
Punctuating the carbon shell, and energy-absorbing foam of varying densities, are a profusion of channels, holes and vents. According to Specialized, these are optimised using Computational Fluid Dynamics. There’s also a cavernous opening to the front, and gaping mouth and cheek holes. And all that work has paid off – airflow is excellent, and vision is unobstructed by either the jaw guard or the fixed peak. So the overall experience is akin to riding in an open-face helmet. Until, or course, the worst happens, and then you have the protection of a fully Dhcertified helmet.
Impressively light and airy compared to its rivals, the Specialized Gambit is easy to take on and off, comfortable for long days, good looking, and packed with tech. Better still, the black version, tested here, is currently on sale for £125.