Share

Apparel

BONTRAGER LITHOS MIPS

Bontrager has been producing helmets for many years, but they’ve slipped under the radar here at Dirt HQ. They have some real gems tucked away though, and the Lithos helmet has won us over.

With a wealth of impressive bikes in the Trek line up, they’re equipped with plenty of Bontrager hardware, so it’s a brand we’re very familiar with when it comes to components. We’ve been impressed with plenty of their hardware including the Line Pro flat pedals, a pick in this year’s Dirt 100. Of course we were missing out on plenty of other kit from the Bontrager brand and when the Rally and Lithos helmets rolled into the Dirt office they were an instant hit.

There’s been loads of updated trail helmets roll onto the market in the last twelve months with the new Fox Metah and Giro Chronicle being the latest. The Bontrager helmets compare favourably, and the higher spec of the two, the Lithos MIPS has become a ‘go to’ helmet for Dirt’s chief bike tester Steve Jones.

‘The Lithos is one of our favourite trail helmets currently available’

So, what’s new in the helmet world? What are we looking for in a helmet that will cope with anything from an evening out in the woods on the trail bike through to harder hitting enduro and bike park riding with goggles?

Deeper all round coverage is a given when it comes to adding further protection. It can also add to the fit, and the Lithos has a shape that we’ve found very comfortable and very stable. The increase in protection does add a touch of bulk and this lid does weigh in the 425 – 450g region, around 50g more than comparable lids. It’s the only area for criticism with both the Bontrager Rally and Lithos helmets but it really isn’t noticeable when on the head and in use.

Ventilation is on a par with the Giro Chronicle and original Troy Lee A1 helmets and much better than older helmets such as the Giro Feature.
The Lithos is available with or without the MIPS safety liner but for the small additional outlay we feel that for most of our riding (and yours) it’s worth the extra price. It goes without saying that a good adjustment system is standard and Bontrager’s ‘Headmaster’ retention is easy to operate with gloves on and stays secure in the rough.

As you’d hope at this end of the price bracket, this helmet is not short on features. The adjustable peak, which moves through a huge arc, is a real plus point here and a feature that is still overlooked on many helmets designs. If you’re running goggles and want a place to park them on a long climb, they can sit just below the peak when fully lifted up. The integrated ‘Blendr’ mount easiliy attaches a GoPro or light in a similar way to the fixing included with a Giro Montaro.

Along with the Giro Chronicle, the Bontrager Lithos MIPS is one of our favourite trail helmets currently available.

PRICE: £129.99 (or £99.99 without MIPS)

trekbikes.com

[monetizer101 search=’Bontrager Lithos MIPS’]

Share

Selected for Dirt 100 2017

View the full 100
Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production