TESTED: IXS Xult Helmet

Words and Photos: Derek Recio

iXS is a big brand in the motorbike world, and has recently been dominating sportswear and protective gear for mountain bikers. Their mountain bike ambassadors includes Gee and Rachael Atherton as well as Tracey Hannah and Andrew Neethling in DH, and Dan Atherton and Cedric Gracia in enduro.

The IXS XULT Crossover Full Face implies that it’s the do-it-all gravity helmet, being designed and tested for riding both up and down the hill. At $349 it is at the upper end of the helmet category so I was hoping it ticked most of the boxes.

The first thing I noticed is that it looks and feels fast. A medium size fit my head perfectly, and the weight was good at 1090g on my scales. This helmet is light for a DH helmet, however there are lighter enduro options out there so if this is a major criteria and you’re riding enduro you might want to look at other options too.

In use the field of vision was good and the fit and foam pads were comfortable. X Matter absorption foam worked a treat when riding up hills, keeping sweat build up low and ensuring the helmet was always snug, comfortable and sitting in the right place. The visor was fully adjustable to suit how the helmet sits on your head, and your field of vision. The strap worked exactly as expected however not being a clip it was harder to slip the helmet off for a drink. With 11 intake vents and 11 exhaust vents the ventilation system is designed to circulate the air aiming for sweat to be evaporated to reduce heat build up.

Fortunately I stayed upright during a day of shuttles at Green Valley MTB park and also sessioning a few of my local trails. The helmet is well regarded in the safety category, and from all the research I’ve done X Matter inserts are placed at major impact zones to absorb more force than traditional EPS foam alone, which helps reduce the impact force plus offering rotational impact absorption and increasing the durability of the helmet. Further to that the rail based design and reinforced form increases structural integrity in places that any additional strength is required to maximise safety.

Our Take
This helmet is right up there as a serious contender for an all rounder full- face helmet. The XULT’s features of slick design, great ventilation and extremely good construction makes for a very impressive product that I simply felt fast and safe riding in. It just missed having a camera mount.