Specialized Ambush 2 Review

Specialized knows how to make a darn good mountain bike helmet, so our expectations were high when we ordered up the Ambush 2 for testing. Rather than make a few small tweaks and improvements here and there, it appears that the designers at the big S decided to boldly tear the whole thing down and redesign from the ground up. As a result, the new model hardly resembles its predecessor with a burly single-position visor, 15 yawning air vents, and one of the best takes on eyewear integration that we've seen yet. It doesn't come without its downsides, but on the whole, this is among the best helmets we've tested.

Impact Test

After tabulating impact test results, the Ambush 2 was one of the top helmets in our review. However, it's important to note that every helmet we tested meets or exceeds industry standards, which is a requirement in the U.S for a helmet to be sold.

Slow Impact Test Results

The graph below illustrates the slow impact data collected from lab tests comparing the Ambush 2 to the top-performing model. A higher curve indicates poorer protection for the dummy head in this evaluation. The Ambush performed well, but not quite as well as the best.

Fast Impact Test Results

The Ambush scored the highest in our fast impact test, which was defined as dropping a dummy head, with the helmet attached, from a set height for every helmet.

As Specialized's flagship half-shell mountain bike helmet, the Ambush 2 receives the best of the best in terms of protective features. The extended-coverage shell shape drops low on the sides and rear of the head to provide extra protection from rocks, trees, and anything else that might catch you off guard out on the trails.

All of the interior padding is attached to the helmet with small elastomers (fancy rubber bands) that allow the padding to move slightly in relation to the protective foam shell in the event of a crash.

Comfort

You would be hard-pressed to call the Ambush 2 uncomfortable with a straight face, but the fit is one area where we were left wanting a little bit in comparison with the other flagship helmets we tested. Our hope when donning a new helmet is to have an immediate sense of security and confidence. We were able to get there eventually by using the highly adjustable harness system and adjustable strap splitters, but even after fiddling, we didn't feel completely at home. In the stock setting, the rear of the harness sits fairly high on the back of the head, giving a disconcerting feeling of instability. We ended up maxing out the Occipital Base Adjustment to lower the harness as much as possible before feeling a bit more secure. Otherwise, the harness system works great. The control dial is embedded in the protective foam layer, and it provides plenty of fit adjustment and fine-tuning while pulling tension evenly around your head. Adjusting the splitters to keep the straps clear of your ears isn't the easiest thing in the world, but once you have it set up for your head shape, you shouldn't have to deal with it again.

Fit and comfort were the only real areas where we found ourselves slightly wistful for the original Ambush as testers. When testing the original version, we immediately found the sense of comfort and confidence that we hope for.

Ventilation

The original Ambush was no slouch when it came to breathability and sweat management, but this is one area where we found the Ambush 2 clearly outperforms its predecessor. We've tested some well-ventilated helmets in our time, but this one might be the best of all. As soon as you start moving, no matter the speed, you can feel air moving across the top of your head. The relatively light weight and awesome breathability mean that this helmet tends to disappear on your head while climbing, and it quickly became our helmet of choice for hot, exposed days out on the bike. Specialized used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling to optimize the airflow from the front vents, through the helmet's interior, and out the back, and we are very impressed with the results.

The Mips SL rotational impact protection system plays a large role in this helmet's breathability. Unlike most Mips-equipped helmets, the Ambush 2 doesn't require a hard plastic interior sheet to sit between the protective foam layer and the padding. This allows the interior airflow channels to do their job and minimizes sweat buildup.

Along with the great ventilation, the Ambush 2 continues a fine tradition of thoughtful sweat management. When the going gets sweaty, the interior padding does a great job of channeling sweat away from your brow and keeping it from dripping down into your eyes or onto your eyewear.

Usability

We scored this metric by investigating each option's features and ease of use. As you would expect from a top-shelf model, the Ambush 2 is loaded down with a long list of features, including the already-discussed Mips SL, breakaway visor, and adjustable harness/ear splitters. Our one issue with these features is the lack of visor adjustability. While it wasn't an issue in testing, we know that visor position is a rider preference that can vary quite a bit from person to person. Also, even if we ride with a high visor position most of the time, it's nice to be able to drop it down for maximum sun protection every once in a while. Despite the lack of adjustability, we appreciated the large visor for providing a bit of added face protection when riding overgrown trails.

The updated Ambush's standout feature, in our opinion, is the eyewear integration. A set of vent ports with hidden rubber flaps on either side of the helmet's brow allows you to stow your sunglasses securely beneath the visor without any fuss. We found it surprisingly straightforward to pop our glasses off and stow them on the helmet with one hand while riding, and once they're up there, they stay planted with no rattle or fear of them working their way out over time. To test this feature out, we rode some chunky, fast descents with our glasses stowed away and never had any issues. This is the best-executed eyewear integration we've tested to date.

Weight

The Ambush 2 is among the lighter helmets we tested, weighing in at 378 grams.

For most bikers, the weight difference of a few grams will be hard to discern, but the Ambush 2 does offer an excellent weight for long days.

Should You Buy the Specialized Ambush 2?

On the whole, Specialized managed to follow up one of the best helmets of all time with another home run. Its performance in our testing, combined with the reasonable price, means that we think this helmet is a great value for anyone on the hunt for a new lid.

What Other Mountain Bike Helmets Should You Consider?

If you're looking for another top performer and aren't too concerned with price, the Giro Manifest Spherical is an excellent option. If you're looking for a helmet that scored well in our impact tests, the Lazer Coyote KinetiCore boasts top scores while also coming in at a budget price point.