The South African company Leatt was initially known for its neck braces but has gradually developed into a leading manufacturer of protection and cycling apparel. In addition to the Leatt neck braces, there are now various protectors, protective jackets, gloves, clothing, and helmets. We took a closer look at the super lightweight and extremely well-ventilated Leatt DBX 4.0 full-face helmet for a test.
General Information about the Leatt Fullface Helmet DBX 4.0
The DBX 4.0 from Leatt has been on the market for a little over a year and is aimed at all riders who want a lightweight yet extremely robust helmet on their head. Although the helmet is certified for downhill use, according to Leatt, it is also perfectly suitable for all types of mountain biking – whether downhill, uphill, enduro, or e-bike.
The helmet is available in 5 different colors with us – black, blue, gray, red, and green. Inside the helmet, the removable, breathable, and washable Dri-Lex pads provide the necessary comfort during the ride. To prevent overheating while riding, Leatt has equipped its DBX 4.0 with a total of 22 ventilation openings, so that no heat build-up can occur in the helmet even on hot days. For safety, Leatt has also come up with something and integrated its in-house 360° Turbine System, where small rubber knobs inside the helmet reduce rotational energy in the event of an impact. To further increase the important factor of energy absorption, the helmet is made of EPS/EPO impact foam, which lies directly beneath the helmet's outer shell. Leatt also put some thought into the helmet's visor, as it features a predetermined breaking point. Finally, Leatt ensured that the DBX 4.0 helmet harmonizes with a neck brace and that there are no restrictions on movement to worry about. The helmet closure is equipped with a magnetic Fidlock system and can be easily opened and closed with one hand.
Leatt DBX Enduro & Downhill Helmet: Fit & Comfort
We rode the helmet in size L, which fit perfectly with a head circumference of 59 cm. The original cheek pads were a bit too tight, so we installed the narrower pads included in the delivery. Overall, the helmet sits very comfortably on the head, and even after several hours, you don't feel any pressure points or anything similar. At one time, Leatt helmets were very tight at the head opening, but this no longer seems to be the case. The DBX 4.0 is easy to put on and take off.
On the trail ... does the full-face helmet work in practice?
The first test of the DBX-4.0 helmet took place on one of our home trails, where you have to roll downhill a few hundred meters to start. On this path, one thing became immediately clear to us – Leatt did not overpromise with its 22 ventilation holes. The cold air circulates around the entire head, ensuring that you won't overheat even on strenuous summer rides. Combined with the low weight, it feels more like wearing a half-shell helmet, which is, of course, very pleasant.
Some full-face helmets have the problem of being very closed in the chin area and fitting tightly against the face, reducing oxygen intake for breathing. Not so with the Leatt DBX 4.0, as its large, widely spaced chin area also ensures a large air supply. For muddy conditions or trails where stones can fly around, Leatt has designed a suitable plastic grid that can be clipped into the opening. This way, you can decide how you want to wear the helmet.
Particularly pleasant is the magnetic Fidlock closure of the helmet, which can be effortlessly opened and closed with one hand.
Leatt has provided the visor with a predetermined breaking point. This naturally contributes to safety but also ensures that it only stands in a preset position and cannot be adjusted. The position of the visor looks visually good, but in low sun or extreme conditions with rain and mud, we occasionally wished it was a bit lower.
The weight has also been positively noticeable. We rarely took off the helmet on our enduro rounds or while pushing on the home trail. Due to the low weight, superb ventilation, and unrestricted oxygen supply, there is simply no reason to constantly put on and take off the DBX 4.0.
The field of view of the helmet is enormous, and the Leatt goggles we used fit perfectly inside. But also various glasses from other manufacturers (tried O’Neal and 100%) could be worn without problems, without the glasses, for example, pressing on the nose.
Pro
● extremely light (size L / 970 grams, self-weighed)
● very well ventilated (22 ventilation openings)
● 360° Turbine System to reduce rotational forces (similar to MIPS)
● magnetic closure for one-handed operation
Contra
● non-adjustable visor
● the 22 ventilation openings increase the cleaning effort
Leatt Fullface Helmet DBX 4.0 – Conclusion
The Leatt DBX 4.0 impresses with a variety of features, is very comfortable, super safe thanks to the 360° Turbine System, and above all, extremely well-ventilated. The low weight contributes to the fact that it can be worn effortlessly even on enduro tours. With the magnetic closure, the helmet can be removed single-handedly within seconds, and a large goggle fits easily into the large field of view. With all these positive attributes, you quickly forget that the visor cannot be adjusted in height. Also, the price of 249 euros RRP is not exaggerated in this case. We can recommend the helmet without reservation!
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