Sport And Biking Talk: Bolle One MTB helmet review

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Bolle One MTB helmet review

The One is Bolle’s first cycling specific helmet.

What is it?

The One is Bolle’s first cycling specific helmet. It ships with a number of accessories, including a tail light and thermal liner. These bits allow the helmet to be easily converted for use on the trail, road, or even commuting. It’s essentially three helmets in one, hence the name.

Pros

Highly modular
Integrated tail light
Convenient sunglass storage
Includes a dizzying array of aftermarket accessories
Comfortable fit works with a range of head sizes

Cons

Jack of all trades, master of none
Runs hot due to lack of internal channeling
Poor quality padding
Clunky retention system
Integrated tail light is difficult to operate
Accessories are easy to lose

Mtbr’s Take

If you look at the traditional helmet market, you’ll notice it’s rather fragmented. Each helmet is designed for a specific application, whether that’s enduro racing or road cycling. The One is designed to do it all.

Features like the integrated tail light add a ton of value.

For mountain biking, you run the included visor. Want to go for a road ride? Remove the visor and fill the empty holes with the included plugs. And when the weather turns cold, you can toss in the thermal liner. There’s even an integrated tail light for sprinting home from the bar. We’ve worn this helmet on the trail, in the snow, and on the road to test these various configurations, and for the most part they work well.

While the helmet does have generous venting, a lack of internal channeling keeps it from running cool.

However, there are some minor details that keep The One from being a home run. It starts with the venting. While the helmet features 31 vents, it runs hot due to the lack of internal channeling. Then there’s the cheap feeling retention system and fabric liner. Both worth adequately, but feel clunky compared to others at this price point.

The Bolle helmet offers exceptional value, but it’s not perfect. Items like the padded liner and retention system still need refining.

Despite our complaints regarding the fit and finish, The One is an exceptional value. The ability to easily span different genres makes it an excellent choice for recreational cyclists.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Flamin’ Chili Peppers 3 Flamin' Chili Peppers
Price: $ 129.99
More info: www.bolle.com