KASK CAIPI HELMET

£135

SPECIFICATION Weight: 252g (Medium) • Sizes: S, M, L • Colours: seven options (Orange tested) • Contact: kask.com

This new Caipi is a more affordable mtb helmet from an Italian brand with a cult following on the road bike scene. Kask already offers a more angular, endurostyled, Rex helmet and has added this slightly more streamlined and noticeably lighter model that clocks in at a featherweight 252g in size Medium.

The curvy rear end is slightly extended down for extra coverage, but with a stubbier peak, the Caipi leans more to XC or gravel bike styling than many.

It’s £55 cheaper than the Rex, yet still packs a lot of the more expensive Kask helmet touches like a comfyagainst-skin, padded faux-leather chinstrap and

Octo fit retention system ( the only really omission is anti-bacterial, Coolmax padding in the liner). The Octo fit part refers to a floating inner cradle that wraps fully around the skull and can rotate on gel pads for a snug fit, which tightens on the rear with a quality rubberised retention wheel.

The polycarbonate shell has 22 vents for cooling, including huge rear exhaust ports to dump excess heat and, in keeping with the XC styling, the Caipi is rocking a low-profile volume and that sits close to the head.

There’s ample ventilation for high-intensity activities, and the low overall weight is also immediately noticeable when riding. It feels more like a road bike helmet than an enduro lid.

Comfort and fit are superb, with a perfect inner shape (for me) and three different shell sizes covering 50-62cm heads. The rear retention dial has loads of adjustability (in small increments) to tune the rear cradle height, so it’s easy to get a perfect fit at the back of the skull. Stability when riding hard is also excellent, so the Caipi doesn’t wobble or jiggle over really bumpy terrain.

The only negatives here are that the fixed visor was slightly visible in my line-of-sight looking ahead, and there’s no room to stash goggles under the peak. Kask’s finish is top quality, but reflected in a price that’s at the high end considering the lack of rotational impact technology.

Barely noticeable when worn, comfortable and well ventilated, there’s a lot to like here, but some other helmets claim more advanced safety features for similar cash and the more traditional rounded looks might not appeal to trail riders after a more aggressive, sharper silhouette.