The Ambush - Specialized All Mountain helmet
The Ambush is not only meant to be stylish, but it is also one of the best fitting helmets we have used.
Drawing influence from what looks like the Specialized road range with elements of the Evade and Prevail hinted at within the make, the Ambush is one of the sleekest helmets Specialized have ever released in the mountain range.
Constructed from two different foam densities, lighter on top with a stiffer bottom, and reinforced with a Aramid skeleton, the Ambush complies and soundly beats international safety standards. While that all seems like I read the manual, at the launch a crashed Ambush was passed around and it’s safe to say, it does it’s job. Big dents but none through to the central core.
There are small, Medium and Large sizes on offer all with a 360 fit system and five height positions. The height positions allowing you to position the support around the back of the head.
Despite having a rather large noggin and usually opting for a medium, I ended up fitting snuggly in a small with no height changes. The beauty of the 360 fit being there are no places that the system puts individual pressure on you. It is also easy to adjust through a disc at the rear of the helmet and is out of the way of the fit system itself. This small well designed feature a nice difference that makes the helmet feel more whole. This is also felt through the design of the under chin strap. According to Specialized research the average adult earlobes sit within a few millimeters of each other, so the under ear part of the strap is fixed, leaving the rider to only worry about the chin strap. This means there is a lot less to come loose and makes for a worry free ride.
Ventilation is on par with some of the best mountain bike helmets out there, although the sweat pads could be a little more absorbent. The visor is not fixed nor can it be, instead it is secured on a stepped rung system, a good crash feature to keep it from breaking. There is also plenty of room beneath for goggles, should you wish, because of this.
I’ve been skeptical of the big companies entering the parts and protection areas of the sport in the past but as time goes on I’m finding more surprises and good tech from these industry giants everyday. The Specialized Ambush is one of those surprises, light weight at 248 grams, it is cool enough both visually and physically to well worthy of your coin. They come in both mens and womens size specific as well as a range of colours, unfortunately for the moment there is only one colour in the womens which is turquoise.
Essentials
Hits
– No frills, worry free fit
– Stylish aesthetics and light
– plenty of ventilation
Misses
– Only one colour for the ladies
RRP $249.95
