Pinnacle MTB Helmet review

Evans Cycles' latest mountain bike helmet is the simply named Pinnacle MTB, leaving no doubt as to its intended use.

If you weren’t paying attention, you could be forgiven for mistaking this helmet from Evans’ in-house brand for the visually similar 100% Altis open-face lid.

Often available for the bargain price of £34.99, the Pinnacle MTB has features that more expensive mountain bike helmets lack, contemporary looks and a good number of vents.

Pinnacle MTB Helmet details and specifications

Featuring a moderately dropped rear portion of its shell, vents in the forward brim and large side vents, you could be forgiven for thinking this is a much more expensive helmet.

The 20 vents are well placed, but small, while the strap has a huge amount of adjustment.

The retention system has a wide range in both tension and height position, enabling a range of head sizes and shapes to fit comfortably.

Two sizes are offered, this S/M with 55-58cm of adjustment and the L/XL from 59-61cm. The S/M weighs 341g. You can choose any colour you fancy, as long as it’s grey.

The indexed, three-position peak is a feature usually seen only on the most expensive helmets, but there’s no added rotational impact protection built in.

Pinnacle MTB Helmet performance

Wearing the helmet primarily in the late-summer heat showed where it isn’t ideal; on high-intensity uphill efforts.

The 20 vents are well placed but too small to prevent overheating in performance-focused XC situations.

For less intense trail riding and even enduro, it’d be more than adequate, although realistically, the entry-level market is where this helmet is targeted.

That said, this has been the helmet of choice for a number of rides where climbs have been sociable and the descents hectic.

There’s a definite indent around the rear of the helmet, which suggests intended use with mountain bike goggles, although the strap covers two of the vents in that scenario.

The shaped brow helps goggle frames stay in place relative to the helmet, and the vents placed low in the brow help air flow around them.

While most MTB glasses fit well with its shape, some of the latest super-wide offerings may not work as well.

A three-position indexed visor is secure enough to mount an action camera under, and is a welcome addition.

Many helmets at this price point have no peak adjustment, let alone multiple solid options.

The point where built-in rotational impact protection starts to become an expected feature is more than double the price of the Pinnacle, so it’s no surprise there isn’t any.

However, despite the budget price, the Pinnacle MTB helmet is well built and good quality.

Pinnacle MTB Helmet bottom line

With great looks, some good features and feeling far more solid than the price would have you expect, this is a great option for almost any rider.

It doesn’t offer full-face protection for the gnarliest riding, or the ventilation for frequent all-out efforts, but for everyone else it’s wallet-friendly brilliance.