Mavic Deemax MIPS helmet review

Most famous for its wheels, Mavic also produces a healthy range of accessories, clothing and lids, and this Deemax MIPS helmet is designed for trail riding.

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Mavic Deemax MIPS helmet details

The liner of the Deemax MIPS is made from Mavic’s EPS-4D, which is claimed to increase shock absorption by up to 30 per cent compared to standard EPS helmets. That’s because the liner is made up of individual blocks of EPS that can deform independently from one another.

The lid also features MIPS technology, which works to help reduce the rotational forces that can occur during a crash being transferred to the brain.

The helmet's padding is made from a moisture-wicking material that’s claimed to be breathable and there are 19 vents in total, but no internal channelling to help with cooling.

The retention system is adjustable thanks to an indexed thumb wheel on the rear of the lid and three points of vertical cradle adjustment. The visor is fixed in place but is made from deformable plastic.

The chin strap is fastened using a standard quick-release clip but the splitters aren’t vertically adjustable. The strap also changes shape from flat to cylindrical between the anchor points and the splitter.

The Deemax MIPS wasn’t included in Virginia Tech’s helmet safety impact tests.

Mavic Deemax MIPS helmet performance

The Deemax MIPS sat very deep on my head and it had a solid, wobble-free fit. It felt well-shaped with no abnormal pressure points or discomfort from any internal protrusions.

When tightened, the retention system applied even pressure across my head and the thumb wheel was easy to operate on the move.

The padding was soft, but its ability to wick sweat was limited due to the blocky construction of the helmet, and sweat dripped down from its thinnest sections.

Frustratingly, the peak remained in my field of vision when riding downhill or uphill due to its fixed-position, although I learnt to ignore it. The fixed position also meant it wasn’t possible to store a set of goggles on the front of the lid on the climbs – something that’s become popular with winch and plummet style riders.

The lid’s impressively-well vented and let a good amount of air pass over my head, which was perfect on long, sweaty climbs, but not enough for slow-speed slogs.

Mavic has chosen to weld the fabric into a cylindrical shape where the chin strap passes either side of the ears before the splitter. I found that on longer rides the strap put more pressure on the sides of my face than I was used to. Like the peak, this wasn’t disastrously off-putting and didn't cause particular discomfort, but I can’t fathom why Mavic has chosen to do this. The traditional strap shape works perfectly.

When worn with a pair of glasses, it was important to feed the arms over the top of the retention cradle. If they were beneath it, hot spots were created. Luckily there’s enough room between the cradle and the shell to comfortably place glasses over the top.

I found the majority of modern, oversized goggles I wore with the lid tried to push it upwards off my head, though. So I can't recommend wearing larger goggles with the Deemax MIPS. Smaller goggles were less of an issue, but the problem was still apparent.

Mavic Deemax MIPS helmet bottom line

Overall, the Deemax MIPS felt comfortable and light; closer in performance to an XC lid than a trail or enduro helmet. That’s no bad thing, though, because it has all of the modern safety tech we’ve come to expect.

It is a bit pricey and the fixed-position peak is a deal breaker for me.