The South African company Leatt was primarily known for its neck braces in its early days, but has gradually developed into a leading manufacturer of protection and cycling clothing. In addition to the Leatt neck braces, there are now also various pads, protective jackets, gloves, clothing, and also helmets. We took a closer look at the super lightweight and extremely well-ventilated Leatt DBX 4.0 integral helmet for a test.
General information about the Leatt full-face helmet DBX 4.0
For just over a year, the DBX 4.0 from Leatt has been on the market and is aimed at all riders who want a lightweight yet extremely robust helmet on their heads. The helmet is certified for downhill use, but according to Leatt, it is also well suited for all types of mountain biking – whether downhill, uphill, Enduro or E-Bike.
The helmet is available in 5 different colours – black, blue, grey, red, and green. Inside the helmet, the removable, breathable, and washable Dri-Lex padding provides the necessary comfort during rides. To prevent overheating while riding, Leatt has equipped its DBX 4.0 with a total of 22 ventilation openings, so that no heat buildup can occur in the helmet even on hot days. For safety, Leatt has also come up with something and integrated the in-house 360° turbine system, where small rubber nubs inside the helmet help reduce rotational energy during an impact. To further increase the important factor of energy absorption, the helmet consists of an EPS/EPO impact foam that is hidden directly under the helmet's outer shell. Leatt has also thought about the helmet's visor, as it features a predetermined breaking point. Finally, Leatt ensured that the DBX 4.0 helmet harmonizes with a Neckbrace and that there are no movement restrictions to be feared. 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 & Seating
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 mounted the narrower pads included in the package. Overall, the helmet sits very comfortably on the head, and even after several hours, you feel no pressure points or similar discomfort. At that time, Leatt helmets were very tight at the head opening, but this no longer seems to be the case. The DBX 4.0 can be easily put on and taken 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 down a few hundred meters to start. On this way, it became clear to us – Leatt has not promised too much with its 22 ventilation holes. The cold air circulates around the entire head, ensuring that you won't overheat even on strenuous rides in summer. In combination with the low weight, it feels more like you have a half-shell helmet on your head, 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, thus reducing the oxygen supply for breathing. Not so with the Leatt DBX 4.0, as its large, deeply cut chin area also ensures a large airflow. 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 for yourself how you want to ride the helmet.
The magnetic Fidlock closure of the helmet is also particularly pleasant, which can be easily opened and closed with one hand.
Leatt has provided the visor with a predetermined breaking point. This contributes to safety, but also ensures that it only stands in a pre-set position and cannot be adjusted. The position of the visor looks good visually; in low sun or extreme conditions with rain and mud, we would have occasionally wished it was a bit lower.
The weight has also made a positive difference. We rarely took the helmet off during our Enduro rounds or when pushing on the home trail. Due to the low weight, the excellent ventilation, and the unrestricted oxygen supply, there is simply no reason to constantly put the DBX 4.0 on and take it off.
The helmet's field of vision is enormous, and the Leatt goggle we used fits perfectly inside. But various glasses from other manufacturers (O’Neal and 100% tested) could also be worn without problems, without the glasses pressing on the nose, for example.
Pro
● extremely light (size L / 970 grams, weighed by ourselves)
● very well ventilated (22 ventilation openings)
● 360° turbine system to reduce rotational forces (similar to MIPS)
● magnetic closure for one-handed operation
Cons
● non-adjustable visor
● the 22 ventilation openings increase the cleaning effort
Leatt Full Face Helmet DBX 4.0 – Conclusion
The Leatt DBX 4.0 impresses with a multitude 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 without problems even on Enduro tours. With the magnetic closure, the helmet can be taken off with one hand in seconds, and a large goggle fits easily into the large field of vision. With all these positive properties, you quickly forget that you cannot adjust the visor in height. The price of 249 euros RRP is not exaggerated in this case. We can unreservedly recommend the helmet!
❗Buy MTB helmets in the online shop❗
MTB helmets | Full face helmets | Leatt brand shop
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- Fox Racing Proframe Full Face Helmet in the test
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