Enduro21 puts Fox’s new generation V3 RS, high-specification carbon fibre off-road helmet – the one Mani Lettenbichler wears – to the real world test in enduro, trail and on adventure bikes.

Developed in MXGP and Supercross, used by Hard Enduro World Champion Mani Lettenbichler, the new generation of V3 RS claims to be the first pro-level off-road helmet to feature the Mips Integra Split Protection System as standard.

With a new design and an adjustment to the Fox Moto helmet range overall, the V3 RS sits alongside the standard V3 (mid-price point) and V1 (lower price point) siblings in a three-strong range. The V3 RS also arrived with a new shell design and an upgraded list of specs alongside those Mips claims.

Enduro21 has had an RS on long term test for almost one year, putting it through a wide range of enduro riding, weather and even spent a weekend on an adventure bike, on course at the 2024 Hard Enduro World Championship round in Wales. That weekend it came on and off the head about 1000 times (approx., give or take...)

They say:

Fox have, as you expect with a $600/€600 helmet, thrown everything at the new V3 RS. It’s long list of features designed to look after your skull and brain which are as attractive as the new shape is. The graphics and design quality place it firmly in a premium helmet bracket for those who value protection (it meets both DOT and ECE22.06 standards) and quality highly.

Fox say it has improved user experience compared to previous gen V3s too with neat design touches you just don’t see on lower spec (and price point) helmets. Features include a strong but lightweight carbon fibre shell with six exhaust vents to aid cooling, spare visors for different riding conditions, drink mouthpiece compatibility, moisture-wicking liner, different size cheek pads which are eject compatible (in emergency) and a helmet bag as standard.

The specification of safety features is as high as it gets with an Mips Integra Split impact protection system which is designed to reduce rotational forces in a crash. Two different density layers of EPS lining provide protection by spreading the forces of impact across a wider surface area and for different speed impacts.

(Full technical specification is below).

We say:

When you switch and change between different bikes and riding gear as often as we do it can be a little difficult to accuratately say how many hours you’ve spent with one product or other. That’s a little bit the case with this Fox V3 RS helmet but after a year, and a heap of weekends riding all-weathers and everything from adventure bikes, hard and traditional enduro, we figure this one has enough on the clock to let you know how it stood up to a real world test.

First impressions are good as you unleash the helmet from the bag to find a heap of extra parts in there: different thickness cheek pads, spare peaks or visors including a clip-on extension and extended one for mudder days, plus a foam sticker for mud and a mouth guard option which lets you insert a drinks tube.

The mouth guard (vent at the front) is inter-changeable and allows a hydration tube from your pack, through loops in the right side cheek pad and around the front, straight to your mouth. It’s a practical detail which really is used by Mani Lettenbichler in the Hard Enduro World Championship races.

New shape and size

The new shell design from Fox is different to older model V3s. Smoother and smaller in the hands is what marks out the new-gen Fox moto helmet range.

Start fiddling with the RS and you find quick removal cheek pads (in an emergency) with the finger loops for pulling them out and on the right side ones to hold a hydration drinks tube.

Behind the pads you also find a little foam inserts each side which you can remove to more comfortably wear a comms earpiece/earphone which riding.

The cheek pads and lining are all removeable and washable which is obviously important for off-road riding. Ours have been washed half a dozen times and still look and feel like new.

Crash protection – not crash tested

What’s attractive to us most of all about the V3 RS is the safety spec list which, we have to admit, runs high on our list of priorities when it comes to helmets.

Mips by now is well established and you should know what it is and does. Needless to say a helmet we’re going to wear on an adventure bike, so riding at speed on the road at times, needs this or we’re not going to put it on our heads.

The V3 RS has two EPS foam densities inside, one for low-speed and one for high-speed crashes. The Mips liner is actually in between the two EPS layers and they each operate independently with a deliberate few millimetres of movement between liner segments.

All of this aims to reduce impact and rotational forces in the event of a crash but, we admit, it’s not something we have tested other than the occasional blow to the head as we’ve brushed too close to a tree.

Ventilation

When you live and ride in mostly Europe, Northern Europe usually, the best helmets are somewhere in the middle for ventilation. You need it to have some air flow for the hot days but don’t want icy blasts in the cold ones. The V3 design is about right with a couple of air scoops under the peak channelling air in, around and out four vents on top and two at the rear.

On the hottest of days it felt hotter than some (partly because it fits so snug) but not the worst by any means. On the coldest of days it is not as drafty as some of the other helmets in the test kit cupboard and overall, it was about right for ventilation in our mixed climate.

Tight squeeze

You have five shell sizes to choose from which should give everyone down to kids a comfortable option, although we would say a feature of the V3 RS fitting well on the head is that you have to go through that ear-pulling process more than with other helmets.

By that we mean putting the helmet on and pulling it off definitely needs that widening thing with the straps to give your ears room to get through.

By the way, the double d-ring strap fastener is secure, as you’d expect, and looks cool also as carbon fibre part.

The exterior and shell also looks pretty cool in half n’ half design – carbon one side and flat gloss black the other brown detailing. It’s constructed form carbon fibre so is naturally strong and light – we measured ours on the scales at 1280g or 2.82lbs.

Fit is affected a little by choosing one of the three different cheek pads which you get with every V3 RS. We chose the pads which fit best (rather than the one which makes putting the helmet on more easy) and that has meant living with a tight squeeze to take the helmet on and off.

The flip side of that is a little bit less wind and noise coming up under your ears while you ride, especially at higher speeds. That’s a positive pay-off for that tightness although this might also account for it being a touch warmer in there on the hottest of days than some other, less enclosing helmets we wear.

Non-scientific testing

The V3 RS passes the side push test. Don’t know the side push test? It’s a little like the thumb nail pushed in the gummy tyre in as much as it’s not scientific at all but gives you a good idea of how good it is. With helmets, that test is basically how likely (or not) it is to flex inwards if you push the sides.

The V3 RS doesn’t budge, which builds confidence of its quality, confidence which is boosted by the two-layer EPS liner and MIPS impact protection system. The helmet meets DOT and ECE22.06 standards naturally but try that side push test on a cheap helmet and come back to us if you think its codswallop.

Peak performer

All the extra visors/peak options are a bit of a novelty with the new RS model and after years of not having such luxuries. It takes a conscious effort to actually use them when you’re not used to having them at all. That is until we did an early winter enduro just before writing this and the visor extension suddenly came in really handy in the low sun.

The extension, which clips on the standard visor, or the longer option are for mud and roost and it works there too but we have to admit prefer not to have the longer option on chiefly because you feel the weight of it more when the mud is stuck to it and it sits in view. We prefer to use the shorter one and wipe dirt away (or try to avoid roost!).

The visor is designed to break free in a crash, snapping the screws which you can replace and they also come as spares in the bag. We haven’t tested that aspect either, in truth having not crashed hard in this helmet, but must say the finish has stood up well with no obvious scratches or scuffs despite hitting a few branches and trees.

Verdict

Overall, the V3 RS feels snug on the head, not loose and there’s no movement of the helmet while you ride. Particularly when you hit something hard or land off a jump, some helmets can move on the head but there’s none of that here. It’s light too and that smaller overall shell size, plus lack of bulk is a virtue.

The build quality is worth noting because it has stood the test of time, weather and different muddy condition well to retain it’s ‘newness’ over the year testing. Similarly, the fit hasn’t seemingly changed much after the initial break-in period and the interior foam has stayed nice and firm despite the hours use.

Fit and feel of a helmet when on is a preference thing, we know, and different head shapes and sizes will find different results – which is why we would always urge you to try before you buy.

That said previous models and shell designs from Fox have had an issue with pressure points, making them uncomfortable to wear over long hours for more than one of us at Enduro21. The truth is we haven’t had any of that with the new V3 RS.

The helmet bag comes as standard and looks cool as a carry case with the silver Fox logos on it -although the little handle between the two zips actually pulled off pretty early on ours but it was fixable.

It’s been the only negative on an otherwise pretty flawless test of the V3 RS. The smaller dimensions compared to previous V3 Fox helmets, plus the lack of pressure points are the standout features.

Higher price point helmets might seem like a huge expense for some off-road riders, we know that not everyone can afford the best. But if you can and value the long list of specs, including all the safety features, you’ll be pretty happy with this expenditure.

Our V3 RS has tested really well, offered something different in terms of feel on the head and certainly has a tricky to pin-point ‘positive’ vibe about it when you are riding. It’s taken the hits and still looks more or less like it did the day we unpacked it.

Fox V3 RS technical highlights:

• Mips Integra Split impact protection system combines two layers of EPS and is designed to reduce rotational forces in a crash
• Carbon fibre shell provides increased impact resistance while reducing weight
• Four exhaust vents on the top of the helmet strategically placed to aid in cooling
• Three-position breakaway visor with custom anodised hardware
• MDEPS EPS liner is meant to provide protection by spreading the forces of impact across a wider surface area
• Proprietary Eject compatible cheek pad removal system
• Eject system compatible
• Ionic+ moisture-wicking liner and cheek pads with crushed jade Stone Cold® material for added cooling benefits
• Speaker recess compartments are compatible with most helmet communication systems
• Hydration routing system allows you to hydrate while on the move
• Carbon Fibre D-ring fastener
• Each helmet includes a spare visor, mud visor, mud visor foam, clip-on visor extension, spare visor hardware, hydration-compatible mouthpiece, and spare cheek pads in both thick and thin options for a customizable fit
• Meets DOT and ECE22.06 standards
• 60% carbon, 30% EPS, 10% EPP
• Size medium product weight is 1270g +/- 50g
• Available in adult sizes (XS – XXL)
• Five shell and five EPS sizes provide a precise fit

More information and pricing in your country: www.foxracing.com or www.foxracing.ie (Europe)