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Leatt Gravity 2.0 Review

A functional and reasonably protective full-face at an outstanding price point
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Leatt Gravity 2.0 Review
Credit: Leatt
Price:  $170 List
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Manufacturer:   Leatt
By Pat Donahue ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 19, 2023
72
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#16 of 20
  • Comfort - 25% 8.0
  • Protection - 20% 8.0
  • Weight - 20% 7.0
  • Ventilation - 15% 5.0
  • Visor - 10% 6.0
  • Durability - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Leatt Gravity 2.0 offers a great bang for the buck. This highly functional full face may not have the flashy looks or all of the bells and whistles found on “premium” helmets. That being said, this workhorse helmet delivers solid protection and comfort levels. It has a consistent fit with a plush and well-padded feeling against the head and face. Sure, some helmets shave weight and offer superior ventilation, but if you want a simple and protective full-face at a very attractive price, the Gravity 2.0 is a no-brainer. Check out how it compares to the competition in our article on the top-rated downhill helmets.
REASONS TO BUY
Attractive price
Solid protection levels
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor ventilation
Not quite as burly as top downhill helmets

Compare to Similar Products

 
leatt gravity 2.0
This Product
Leatt Gravity 2.0
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Buy Downhill Helmet
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Full Face
Best Buy Award
Best Balance of Price and Performance Downhill Helmet
  
Price $170 List
$149.99 at Amazon
$269.95 at Amazon
Compare at 5 sellers
$149.95 at Evo
Compare at 3 sellers
$110 List
$69.99 at Amazon
$99.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
72
89
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66
Star Rating
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Bottom Line A comfortable helmet with solid protection levels at an excellent priceA killer enduro lid that works well for shuttle laps or the racecourseA park-worthy helmet at an attractive price that offers serious protectionA solid-performing downhill helmet at an outstanding priceA cost-effective full-face helmet with some important fit and coverage quirks
Rating Categories Leatt Gravity 2.0 Smith Mainline Mips Troy Lee Designs D3... 7Protection M1 7 Protection Projec...
Comfort (25%)
8.0
10.0
8.0
9.0
6.0
Protection (20%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Weight (20%)
7.0
9.0
5.0
7.0
8.0
Ventilation (15%)
5.0
9.0
7.0
5.0
7.0
Visor (10%)
6.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Durability (10%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Specs Leatt Gravity 2.0 Smith Mainline Mips Troy Lee Designs D3... 7Protection M1 7 Protection Projec...
Weight (grams, size medium) 1008 grams 765 grams 1219 grams 947 grams 891 grams
Weight (ounces, size medium) 35.5 oz 27.0 oz 43.0 oz 33.4 oz 31.4 oz
Number of Vents 11 21 20 17 23
Shell Material Polymer Aerocore Fiberglass Polycarbonate ABS
Rotational Impact Protection System 360 Turbine MIPS None None None
Sizes XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL S, M, L XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL Youth M, Youth L, S, S, M, L, XL XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
CPSC Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CE EN1077 No No Yes No No
CE EN1078 Yes No Yes No Yes
ASTM F1952 (DH) Yes Yes Yes No Yes
ASTM F2032 No No Yes No No
ASTM F2040 No No No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

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


leatt gravity 2.0 - the gravity 2.0 is a protective helmet with high levels of comfort...
The Gravity 2.0 is a protective helmet with high levels of comfort at an outstanding price.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - this downhill helmet is heavily padded and feels plush on the head.
This downhill helmet is heavily padded and feels plush on the head.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - it might not be a downhill race helmet, but this lid offers plenty...
It might not be a downhill race helmet, but this lid offers plenty of protection for most riders.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - this lid has a fixed-position visor. this is likely a cost-saving...
This lid has a fixed-position visor. This is likely a cost-saving technique. That said, it works very well.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - the leatt gravity 2.0 helmet is reasonably light, especially at this...
The Leatt Gravity 2.0 helmet is reasonably light, especially at this price.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.


leatt gravity 2.0 - this is a warm helmet with mediocre ventilation. there is no...
This is a warm helmet with mediocre ventilation. There is no sugar-coating that fact.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - this lid feels like it is built to last. one area worth watching is...
This lid feels like it is built to last. One area worth watching is the stiff visor that could be prone to cracking.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - there is a whole lot to like about this helmet. great price, subtle...
There is a whole lot to like about this helmet. Great price, subtle styling, and a high-level of functionality.
Credit: Pat Donahue

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.

leatt gravity 2.0 - the leatt gravity 2.0 is a highly-functional helmet at a stunning...
The Leatt Gravity 2.0 is a highly-functional helmet at a stunning value.
Credit: Pat Donahue

What Other Full Face Helmets Should You Consider?


The Leatt Gravity 2.0 offers solid protection levels and a comfortable fit at a very attractive price. However, if you're looking for a model with burly protection for high-speed descents, check out the Fox Rampage Pro Carbon Mips. If you can't stand hot helmets, we recommend the Bell Super DH Spherical, which has commendable full-face ventilation and a completely removable chin guard for mellower rides.

Pat Donahue