 This Product
Bell Super DH MIPS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Full Face |  Best For Enduro Racing |  Best Balance of Price and Performance Downhill Helmet | Best Buy Downhill Helmet | |
| Price | $299.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $278.98 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $359.95 at Evo Compare at 3 sellers | $149.95 at Evo Compare at 3 sellers | $150 List $149.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A full-face helmet with a removable chin bar that performs well in both settings | A killer enduro lid that works well for shuttle laps or the racecourse | A comfortable enduro-oriented lid that feels protective while being relatively light and very breathable | A park-worthy helmet at an attractive price that offers serious protection | A comfortable helmet with solid protection levels at an excellent price |
| Rating Categories | Bell Super DH MIPS | Smith Mainline MIPS | Fox Racing Proframe RS | Troy Lee Designs D3... | Leatt Gravity 2.0 |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Protection (20%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Ventilation (15%) | |||||
| Visor (10%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Bell Super DH MIPS | Smith Mainline MIPS | Fox Racing Proframe RS | Troy Lee Designs D3... | Leatt Gravity 2.0 |
| Weight (grams, size medium) | 870 grams | 765 grams | 836 grams | 1219 grams | 1008 grams |
| Weight (ounces, size medium) | 30.7 oz | 27.0 oz | 29.5 oz | 43.0 oz | 35.5 oz |
| Number of Vents | 19 helmet, 2 brow ports, 4 chin vents | 21 | 22 | 20 | 11 |
| Shell Material | Polycarbonate | Aerocore | Polycarbonate | Fiberglass | Polymer |
| Rotational Impact Protection System | MIPS Spherical | MIPS | MIPS Integra | None | 360 Turbine |
| Sizes | S, M, L | S, M, L | S, M, L | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL |
| CPSC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CE EN1077 | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| CE EN1078 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ASTM F1952 (DH) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ASTM F2032 | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| ASTM F2040 | No | No | No | No | No |
The Super DH helmet is very comfortable. There was one issue with the fit, but it was generally very comfortable in both half-shell and full-face mode.
In the trail mode, when you tighten the retention dial on the back of your helmet, it can create a pressure point. It is not a crippling issue, but when properly tightened down, it is noticeable, especially on longer rides. You can release a little bit of tension on the retention dial, but you shouldn't need to sacrifice fit in the name of tuning this problem out.
In full-face mode, this problem doesn't exist. The full face feels a whole lot more secure and doesn't require the retention dial to be tightened as much. Thus, the problem is bypassed entirely.
Aside from the pressure point issue, the helmet is quite comfortable. There are no squeeze points.
The Fox Proframe Moth and Troy Lee Designs Stage MIPS are also exceptionally comfortable enduro-focused full-face helmets. They do not have a removable chin bar.
The Super DH carries several safety certifications, including ASTM F-1952-15, ASTM F2032-15, CE EN1078, and CPSC Bicycle. The most notable is the ASTM F-1952-15 which certifies this helmet for downhill safety standards. This is very important on a convertible helmet.
The Super DH is equipped with MIPS technology but the lighter feel of this helmet is a little bit disconcerting. The protection is undoubtedly there, and it has all of the certifications. That said, if you are looking for a helmet to use exclusively for bike park laps, we recommend at looking at a bonafide downhill helmet that has a more substantial feel to it. The added weight can feel a little more reassuring.
We weighed our medium Super DH helmet. With the chin bar attached, the helmet hit the scales at 30.7-ounces. In the half shell mode, the helmet weighs 16.5-ounces
The Super DH is the middle of the three convertible helmets in terms of weight. It comes in approximately 4-ounces lighter than the Switchblade MIPS in full face mode. It is about 4-ounces heavier than the Leatt DBX 3.0.
There are some especially feathery non-convertible enduro-focused full face helmets. The Troy Lee Designs Stage MIPS is the lightest at 24.3-ounces. The Fox Proframe isn't far behind at 25.9-ounces.
The Super DH has a light and cool feel. The ventilation is adequate in both settings, and the low weight only contributes to the cool feel.
The 19 vents (when in half-shell mode) aren't large, but they do serve the purpose. This light helmet is pretty effective at letting the air out, but it doesn't promote airflow in the same way as the Giro Switchblade. We wouldn't call this a hot or clammy helmet; it still feels light on the head. We had no problem wearing this lid on four-hour trail rides. It breathes just as well as the average trail helmet.
In the full face setting, this helmet is light and breathable. The four vents on the chin bar allow a nice air flow when you are huffing and puffing down the trail. In full face mode, this helmet breathes better than many of the other full-face helmets.
The Super DH has as an infinitely adjustable visor. Simply loosen the two bolts near the temple and pivot the visor up and down. This simple system works pretty well, but it has somewhat of a cheap feel. Also, with only two points of contact with the rest of the helmet, it has a flimsy feel. Other helmets have the two pivot points near the temple in addition to a stabilizing point in the middle of the helmet. The extra contact point in the middle of the brow creates a far more substantial feel.
The visor length was perfect. In half-shell mode, it was big enough to seem a little goofy, but in full face mode, it was a nice length.
Throughout our test period, the Super DH didn't show any signs of wear. One thing that should be noted is that the chin strap is very long. Most users will need to shorten the strap substantially to get the proper fit. Be sure to use a very sharp pair of scissors and take a step to keep the cut strap from fraying. Burning the cut end of the strap may do the trick.
The Super DH uses a Fidlock closure system. Instead of a having to clip a buckle or snap a button to lock the strap into place, this helmet uses a magnetic closure. It was super easy to take this helmet on and off with gloves on.
This design certainly takes some getting used to if you are used to a D-clip system. It is likely just as secure as traditional methods, but it is a little disconcerting given the simplicity of the closure design.
The Super DH MIPS is a strong value. Yes, it is expensive, but you are getting a downhill certified full face helmet as well as a functional trail bike helmet. If you are looking for a single helmet solution for all of your mountain biking needs, the Super DH could be for you.
