REASONS TO BUY
Attractive price
Moderate comfort
Adjustable visor
REASONS TO AVOID
Lower scores in impact testing
Sub-par ventilation
Demon United Podium Review
If you want to wade into the waters of downhill biking, this full-face helmet is worth a look
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 8, 2025
Our Verdict
The Demon United Podium is among the least expensive, certified options on the market. If the price of a full-face helmet has held you back from making a purchase, consider this option. The Podium doesn't boast the highest impact test scores, and it's not as breathable as some of the competition. Still, this cost-effective helmet gives you baseline protection and functionality without the extravagant cost of most.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Demon Podium carries your dollar very far, with a price point that's several times less than the competition. While there are some performance setbacks, this is still a worthwhile option for bikers who don't want to invest in a top-end model.
These slow-motion videos help us understand the bevy of data recorded from all of the sensors in this test.
Credit: ACT Lab
Impact Test
The Podium wasn't the top-scoring helmet in our impact testing, but it got surprisingly close to some of the competition, some of which were quite a bit more expensive. This helmet has the standard CPSC certification required to be sold in the US, but it does not have the optional certification for downhill bike helmets.
Despite the budget price tag, the Demon Podium landed dead center in the middle of the pack in our slow impact test. In the faster test, our test data showed that it performed in the bottom 20% of our test group. We can't say with any certainty if the lack of multi-directional protection, such as MIPS, influenced that score, but this helmet does not use a liner that breaks free to absorb rotational impacts.
When considering its price, we were pleasantly surprised by the impact test results of the Podium
Comfort
The Podium offers decent padding and a fairly secure fit, with minimal adjustability, making it more crucial to get the sizing right. While other models offer the option to fine-tune the sizing, the Podium is more straightforward: what you see is what you get. Still, testers found this helmet comfortable enough for full days of chasing elevation.
The EPS foam liner of the Podium molded to our testers' specific head shapes over time, greatly improving comfort, particularly for riders who felt the helmet was too snug. As we ripped chunky descents and rock gardens, the generally snug fit kept the Podium from jarring with a variety of goggle brands. Some of our testers experienced minor pressure points in the temple area, which became less noticeable as the foam packed out. If you can get the sizing right, this helmet from Demon has enough comfort to keep you out on the trail for extended rides.
though its basic, the Podium's padding and chin straps kept our team fairly comfy.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Ventilation
The Podium features 13 vents strategically placed across the main helmet and chin bar, which promote airflow. We found this helmet to be comfortable in cooler temperatures, but during longer pedal sessions in the heat of the day, we were tempted to tilt it up over our ears.
The Podium includes mesh over its vents, which reduces airflow but keeps the bugs out. We rode some enduro trails in the Demon that involved some up/down, and felt like the price-to-performance ratio was impressive. If you're prioritizing ventilation in a helmet, we might suggest shopping around, but you'll have to pay more.
While some of the pedals were hot, we made the Podium work.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Usability
We were pleasantly surprised by our weeks using the Podium. The helmet feels fairly durable and we found ourselves wanting to wear it more than others. While not the lightest, Demon's construction materials made for a tougher helmet than some of the pricier enduro models.
The Podium offers an adjustable visor and an easy, no-frills traditional chin strap. The relatively small visor did an adequate job of blocking some light while riding toward the sun. The Podium includes a simple storage/transport bag. The helmet is pretty simple and, as such, has limited adjustability, which affects how you might use it.
the Podium's visor mgiht not be the largest, but it's easy to adjust.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Weight
The Demon Podium weighs 32.8 ounces, which is roughly average in this category and shouldn't be a deal breaker for riders looking for a budget lid. It doesn't feel especially light on your head and certainly feels good to remove at the end of a long ride or on the chairlift.
Some of our top models ended up weighing similar to the Podium, and the downhill-specific models weighed even more. The weight of this helmet likely contributed to its durability, which seemed like a reasonable trade-off to our review team.
This budget model out-performed its dollar amount throughout our testing process.
Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Demon United Podium?
Quality full-face helmets rarely come this cheap, but if you're shopping on a tight budget, this may be worth your consideration. This helmet is suitable for enduro and downhill days. However, if ventilation is a must-have, it might be worth the extra money for a model with better airflow, especially in hot conditions.
What Other Full Face Helmets Should You Consider?
The 7 Protection M1 is a similarly inexpensive model to the Podium. While it didn't score as well in impact testing, it is much more breathable. If you're willing to go for a more expensive helmet in the name of performance, the Fox Proframe RS can handle park laps and enduro pedals well.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Demon United Podium versus top competing products:
—Zach Lovell
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