Fox Dropframe Pro helmet review

The Fox Dropframe offers full-face helmet levels of back-of-the-head coverage, but without the chin bar on the front.

This helps bolster head protection over a regular open-face helmet, without the stuffy, confined feel of a full-face.

It’s fair to say the original Fox Dropframe divided opinion when it was launched in 2019, thanks to its angular styling and fixed visor.

This latest version, however, is packed with more features and is easier on the eye, too.

In use, it’s a comfortable helmet to wear for long days in the hills. This is thanks in part to the fit system, along with the weight and impressive ventilation on offer.

It doesn’t come cheap, though, and won’t work perfectly with every pair of MTB glasses.

Fox Dropframe Pro helmet details and specifications

Fox offers the Dropframe in three sizes (small, medium and large). A polycarbonate shell fully wraps the dual-density ‘Varizorb’ EPS foam, which itself has a MIPS liner inside, designed to better protect the brain during angular impacts.

As with the previous iteration, there’s loads of coverage across the back of the head, with the helmet extending down over the ears just as before.

However, the new design differs in that the ears are now covered up almost completely. The helmet also extends further around the head to protect the sides of the head (and upper jaw) a little more.

While the previous version relied on an accurate fit from the get-go, the new lid features a retention cradle to better secure it to your head.

This is adjusted using a Boa dial, which is fixed to the rear of the helmet rather than directly to the retention cradle.

Tightening the dial adds tension to the cradle that wraps the entire circumference of your head.

The dial pulls on thin wires, which run from the back of the cradle, above your ears and around the head. There’s a broad pad at the front of the helmet to keep things comfortable.

You can also choose between four cradle pitches, to ensure the Dropframe is hugging the right part of your head and sits at the correct angle for you.

To further perfect fit, Fox includes a set of thin and thick cheek pads, as well as headliner pads. These are quick and easy to remove and help to get the Dropframe feeling snug on your head.

Fox also includes an ‘under the visor’ GoPro mount in the box, which is useful to have.

The lengthy visor can now be moved up or down between its three positions and is designed, when in its highest setting, to provide enough space to stow your MTB goggles.

It’s one of the more stubborn visors to move up and down, but that’s no bad thing in my book.

In a bid to keep your head cool, the new Dropframe features 19 vents across the lid, including the 'Big Bore' ports at the front.

To keep the Dropframe secure on your head, there’s an adjustable chin strap and magnetic FidLock buckle.

At 654g for the size-medium, it’s a touch weightier than the Giro Tyrant, one of the Dropframe’s closest competitors.

Fox Dropframe Pro helmet performance

I opted for the medium Dropframe, which is designed to fit heads of 55-59cm in circumference.

Even with the retention dial backed right off, the Dropframe (with the thicker cheek pads fitted) felt reasonably secure on my head.

Ratcheting up the dial provides a solid fit that isn’t overly tight or uncomfortable.

I was initially concerned the skinny wires that tension the retention cradle would dig into my head with the lid cranked up tight. But with the helmet on, I didn't notice them.

What’s nice here, too, is that the retention cradle doesn’t interfere with putting the helmet on and can be left to your preferred tension all the time.

Even on lengthy rides, the Dropframe has proven to be impressively comfortable.

Although the cheek pads are deep and plush, the pad liner inside is far thinner, but still soft enough to provide enough cushioning that I never once felt the need to take the helmet off during long rides.

It also means they’ll soak up a reasonable amount of sweat, without becoming waterlogged.

Further down, the FidLock buckle can be snapped together easily and didn't interfere with my neck while riding.

It helps that the Dropframe manages to carry its weight well. That’s largely down to the well-balanced fit that feels as though it envelopes your head with a nice, friendly hug, rather than squeezing one specific part of your skull in a bid to stay on.

The venting also helps mask that weight. Even at steady speeds, the cut-outs on the underside of the brow and the massive gaping ports above it do a great job of drawing air in and over your head, making things feel far breezier than I expected.

Of course, big climbs on warmer days will have you sweating more than if you were wearing a smaller open-face helmet. However, the impressive levels of cooling that are noticeable as soon as you start picking up the pace mean things aren’t as stifling as you might expect.

That’s meant I’ve been more inclined to wear the Dropframe on longer rides with a lot of climbing, which is no bad thing because it offers more coverage than a regular trail helmet.

You also still get the added benefit of keeping your ears covered on cold, miserable days (more so than with the previous Dropframe), which only adds to the Dropframe's appeal.

Where this lid can come unstuck is when wearing it with glasses, but if you're happy wearing goggles, you won't be disappointed.

However, for the days when you want to slap a pair of specs on and leave them there, it’s not all plain sailing.

The Dropframe will work fine with some glasses, but if the arms are too long, they can get pushed forward and need readjusting every so often.

That’s certainly what I experienced with the Scott Shield glasses I tried it with. Smith Wildcats are a better fit, though.

Shifting the visor up and down takes a bit of force, but that’s not a negative. The last thing you want when bombing down a trail is a flaccid visor rattling around, or worse, drooping into view.

In the middle or upper position, the visor remains totally out of your field of view.

Fox Dropframe Pro helmet bottom line

The Dropframe is an expensive mountain bike helmet compared to rivals such as the Giro Tyrant, but it trumps the Giro for comfort and venting.

It’s a plus Fox includes additional pad sets to help tailor the fit, along with a nifty little GoPro mount.

While it might not be a match made in heaven with every pair of glasses, find the right ones and it’ll work well. There are no such issues with goggles.

Although it’s not as light as a regular trail helmet, the weight goes unnoticed thanks in part to the fit, comfort and impressive airflow over the top of your head as soon as you get moving.

And that’s the real plus here, because I’ve worn the Dropframe more than I originally expected, covering my head up more, improving protection and providing peace of mind.