Kali Avatar Helmet Review

The Kali Avatar helmet is lightweight, comfortable and strong.

What more could you want from a full face downhill mountain biking helmet?

Utilizing Kali Protectives’ patented “Composite Fusion” technology, the Avatar DH full face helmet has a perfect connection between shell and liner – no gaps here! Using an innovative mix of kevlar, carbon fiber and fiberglass in its shell materials, the helmet’s skeleton is perfectly formed, allowing the overall use of softer EPS foam. At 849 grams, it’s a damn light helmet that provides superior protection while being incredibly comfortable to wear.

Comfort

Of all the full face helmets that I have worn over the years, the Kali Avatar is without a doubt the most comfortable. After putting it on, I honestly don’t feel it’s presence while riding. I’ve worn helmets in the past that I would actually think about mid-downhill run due to them irritating me in some way – not the Avatar! It allows me to have full concentration on the trail ahead.

The Avatar uses the Kali “Integrated Airflow System”. I can’t tell you what it means other than that it just works. Venting on the helmet looks limited but I find it really does keep my head cool on the warmer days. Granted that this Summer in Canada is colder than an Australian Winter though.

It might not be a big deal to others, but being a MTB instructor up here for the Whistler Bike Park, I spend a lot of time talking and listening to people. Last year I spent far too much time taking my helmet off to talk and then putting it back on. Somehow while wearing the Avatar people can hear me and I can hear them with ease. No yelling required! I did notice during the first week or so of wearing the Kali that the chin strap can be a bit of a pain to get on and off – the strap itself really wants to stay in place. After a week or so of using the helmet however, the chin strap slides through the hoops much easier, and as a result is a lot easier to do up and take off.

Worth noting is that Kali include replacement “fit pads” that pack out the helmet that little bit more if you don’t quite fit their standard sizes. To keep the clean freaks happy, the fit pads are washable, adjustable and anti-microbial.

Safety

While I haven’t had a head impact while wearing the Avatar, one friend made full use of the “breakaway visor” when landing a jump front wheel first into a mud hole. His helmet did its job and his head was fine. Another friend dropped his from the chairlift, where is landed onto some shale and then rolled down the hill. We rode down to find it a bit later on and were amazed when we found the helmet in perfect condition. The helmet was neither cracked nor the paint job damaged!

UPDATE: I took a decent fall to the ground in my Kali Avatar helmet and suffered a mild concussion. I’m no doctor so I can’t tell you if it saved me from great injury or of it should have done more but regardless I’m ok now. I am now using an iXS Metis helmet for downhilling.

For more information on the Kali Protectives Avatar DH full face helmet or other Kali Protectives products, take a look at their website at: http://www.kaliprotectives.com.

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