It’s clear that this lid and the Fox one come out of the same factory and as a result they share many similarities (most notably the identical retention system), but there are still some clear differences, mainly in the fit department. This Recon has much thicker pads which give a luxurious feel, but it does sit a bit higher so may suit riders with a flatter head better. Oh, and despite being a fair bit lighter than the Fox this lid still has a very reassuring feel to it.
BELL VARIANT
Visually the Variant might not look like it offers a great deal of protection at the rear, but when you put it on it sits nice and low, with the result being that it offers far more than you’d think. Lots of people seem to get on with the fit of a Variant too, which is undoubtedly helped by the adjustable retention system that has three different levels of vertical adjustment. And if the Jimbo Philips (legend of skate graphics) eyeballs are a bit much for you, don’t worry, there are more subtle finishes.
GIRO XAR
We’ve got to admit that we were a bit gutted when Giro stopped making the legendary Xen as we still reckon it looks better than the Xar, but performance wise there’s little contest as the Xar is lighter, has far better venting, and the 5th generation of the ‘RocLoc’ adjustment system is better than ever and adds to the increased comfort of this lid. Top it off with an adjustable peak and anti–microbial pads (non–stink) and the Xar is hard to beat.
