New Giro Switchblade MIPS Helmet

If you value your brain, you probably wear a helmet. If you value your face, your teeth, or race Enduro then you may also wear a full face helmet. With this new offering from Giro, there’s no need to choose between rides before you set off. If things get sedate, you can remove the chin, or if things get scary, you can put the chin guard on. So let’s have a look.

The Switchblade MIPS is certified to CPSC, EN-1078, and ASTM-1952 Downhill certification – both with and without the chinbar. MIPS Multi-directional Impact Protection System reduces rotational energy to provide more protection in certain impacts.

The chin guard is off. This is not Enduro. This is woodland pootling, with pro elbows.

The chin guard is on. This is Enduro.

This is just showing off.

Be safe, be seen. The Switchblade MIPs is available in a range of six colours and three Super Fit™ sizes.

The chinbar is easily removable (we’ve seen it done) and replaceable. The chinbar locks solidly into metal latches in the helmet and clicks into place.

Helmet with chinbar removed. No tools are required to achieve this – it just unclips using the power of your fingers. Without the visor, it recalls a trials motorcycle helmet (or perhaps the venerable Shoei/Troy Lee of last century, only bang up to date…)

There’s hydrophilic, X-Static® anti-microbial padding – which will apparently absorb more sweat than some padding. Nice.

There are 20 Wind Tunnel vents with internal and cheek pad channeling.

There’s the Roc Loc® Air DH fit system with bumper to prevent unwanted adjustments if your helmet contacts your neck brace or backpack

There’s a P.O.V. Plus™ adjustable visor…

…and each helmet comes with a spare visor with integrated camera mount.

Rubber grippers are integrated into rear vents for goggle retention.

“In 1998, Giro created the first mainstream removable chinbar helmet, it was called Switchblade,” said Dain Zaffke, Giro Marketing Director. “In the years that followed, we’ve seen many options come and go, all based around the same premise of taking a cross country helmet and adding a chinbar. This new Switchblade MIPS bucks that trend completely. Instead of a adding a chinbar to an XC helmet, we’ve done the opposite: everything about this helmet is built for the descent. We’ve essentially created the ultimate full-face downhill helmet and then made the chinbar easily removable.

“From early on, we worked with top professional riders Richie Rude and Cody Kelley (Yeti / Fox Shox Factory Race Team) to get the details just right. But more than just racers on the Enduro World Series will embrace this helmet – its myriad features will appeal to aggressive trail riders, freeriders and even dirt jumpers who will be drawn to the full-cut style.”

Oh go on then, a gratuitous speed blur shot. Why not.

If this is what your noggin needs, then the Switchblade MIPs is available immediately at Giro retailers, UK importers Zyro and www.giro.com, priced at £250.

 

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