The Xult is a lid that promises a lot. On the one hand, it meets all the required safety standards for a full-face downhill helmet, so it should be at home between the tape. On the other, the multiple mesh-covered vents, exhaust ports and internal channels mean that, in theory at least, you shouldn’t overheat when pedalling along lengthy enduro stages.
It’s certainly not cheap, but the reassuringly solid feel, snug fit and reasonable weight help take the edge off of the price. We’re big fans of the secure double D-ring closure too. We opted for the smallest of the three sizes, which weighed 1,166g – not at all bad, but still a couple of hundred grams heavier than the likes of Specialized’s carbon Dissident lid.
On the hill, we found ourselves leaving the Xult on that bit longer than normal thanks to the increased airflow. Leave it in place and grind along a flat section of trail and things do still warm up, but not as quickly as in some other full-face lids.
While we like the angled, distinctive looks, they’re not for everyone, and we also found some goggles with larger frames a bit of a squeeze to fit in the face opening.
