Leatt Gravity 2.0 Review

If you're looking to save a few bucks, the Gravity 2.0 is our top recommendation. It performed admirably in most performance metrics, including the very important comfort and protection metrics. It didn't fare as well in ventilation, as this lid is sure to get soggy quickly on warm days. Still, the Gravity 2.0 works well in the bike park setting and is a great choice for the gravity rider on a very tight budget.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

This wallet-friendly helmet delivers reasonable comfort levels thanks to its consistent fit paired with the heavily padded innards. This is a true downhill helmet that prioritizes protection and has a pretty traditional approach compared to some of the enduro-focused helmets in our test class. As a result, it feels extremely well-cushioned upon your head. Our medium helmet fits true to size and is absent of any pressure points or hot spots. Even after some very long shuttle laps, the helmet felt pleasant.

One particularly impressive area is the spacious ear pockets. There is a well-crafted cavern where your ears are located. Some helmets feel like they are smothering your ears, and the Leatt is spacious and comfortable. This allows for significantly improved hearing.

Pulling this helmet on and removing it is simple and straightforward. Downhill-focused helmets are typically easier to put on and remove due to the lack of a cradle system that can be found in many super-light or enduro-style helmets. The long, D-ring straps provide excellent handles for pulling the helmet into position. The portion of these straps that contact your face are well-padded and extremely pleasant on the underside of your chin. The Gravity 2.0 integrates well with goggles, and our goggles sat flat against our faces without any awkward gaps.

Protection

The Leatt Gravity 2.0 feels protective and sturdy. It might be easy to associate the lower price tag with reduced levels of protection, but this is not the case. This wallet-friendly helmet feels robust and confidence-inducing and is suited for bike park laps, jump lines, or burly shuttles.

This downhill-certified helmet uses a polymer shell construction. Within the shell, there is a generous amount of “impact foam” lining the shell. While higher-end helmets often use EPP foam or EPS foam, it is unclear what exactly “impact foam” is. That said, it bears a very strong resemblance to EPS/EPP foam found in most downhill helmets. The foam layer is hidden by the padded, removable inner liner.

The most notable safety feature is Leatt's 360 Turbine Technology. If you pull back the removable liner, you will see several round, blue, rubberized circles set into the foam. You can wiggle these little, nickel-sized turbines with your thumb and feel the movement. This Turbine Technology is a similar system to the popular MIPS layer, which is designed to reduce the rotational forces that reach your brain in the event of an angled impact. Essentially, in the event of an angled impact, these turbines move slightly and absorb some of the forces of the crash so your brain doesn't have to. We have seen this 360 Turbine System on other Leatt helmets we have tested over the years. While we can't measure how well it works in a brutal crash, it is a nice feature on a helmet at this price point.

The Gravity 2.0 uses a traditional D-ring style closure system. Even though the rings on our test helmet are more rectangular, as opposed to “d-shaped,” they function the same way. Pass the snap-on end of the strap through both D-rings, then double the strap back and through one D-ring. This cinches the strap and keeps the helmet in place. After that, simply snap the buckle closed. This tried-and-true design is tougher to use than new magnetic FidLock systems, especially while wearing gloves. Still, it works fine and provides a very secure hold.

Visor

The Gravity 2.0 has a functional visor that went more or less unnoticed. It is a fixed-position visor meaning there is no way of adjusting it up and down. While many folks prefer an adjustable visor, some sacrifices need to be made on a helmet at this price point. The end of the visor is wider than some of the competition, but the length is definitely shorter than average.

The visor material is on the firmer side of the spectrum. This makes us wonder if it would crack more easily than some of the more flexible/pliable visors in our test. It would be a shame to have your visor crack or snap in a relatively minor crash.

Weight

At 1008 grams (measured, size medium), the Gravity 2.0 is an interesting case. It is lighter than most of the pure-downhill helmets in our review. To be sure, many top-of-the-line downhill helmets have larger shells and more padding than this Leatt lid. The trimmer, more slender design helps explain the lower weight.

Ventilation

The Leatt Gravity 2.0 doesn't breathe very well. In fact, it is probably the least breathable helmet we have tested to date. That being said, many interested buyers will likely be attracted to this helmet's price tag rather than its airflow.

The Gravity 2.0 has a total of 11 vents. Five are located on the chin bar, two above the brow, two at the top of the head, and two exit vents in the rear. Almost all of these vents are covered with a thick steel mesh that resembles the screen of a window. These vents are all relatively small, and they don't feel like they do all that much to keep you cool.

On the trail, the Leatt helmet's lack of ventilation was noticeable. Even on cool days, our heads got quite warm when wearing this lid. It is best suited for gravity-fed trails absent of any significant pedaling. If you stand up to smash the pedals on a flatter section of trail, the chin bar doesn't allow much air to pass through to your mouth.

Durability

Throughout testing, we observed no signs of premature wear or breakdown of materials.

The D-ring closure system is pretty bombproof, and we expect it to withstand the test of time. The traditional, heavily-padded interior is absent of any complex cradle or retention systems that could fail. We expect this helmet to have a long, healthy life. Our only area of concern is the ultra-firm visor which might be susceptible to breaking or cracking.

Should You Buy the Leatt Gravity 2.0?

The Gravity 2.0 is an excellent choice for riders who want an affordable helmet for riding bike parks and aggressive terrain. This helmet may not be a top choice for downhill and enduro racers looking for premium protection and features. It is an excellent choice for casual riders who simply need a protective and functional full face for periodic trips to the bike park. Simply put, it offers nice levels of comfort and protection at an unrivaled price.

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