It’s taken a long time, but MTB helmet design is finally catching up with riding styles and bike design. Most of us don’t fit neatly into the boxes of XC racer or downhill enthusiast—we sit somewhere in that broad middle ground.
We’ve seen the advent of ‘trail’ helmets in the last few seasons; open face helmets with a bit more coverage than a traditional racer’s lid, but until recently there was nothing like a de-tuned full face helmet; something that still protects your chin but with better ventilation and less weight than a classic DH helmet.
That’s all changed with MET releasing a new version of their Parachute model, and Bell stepping up to the plate with the Super 2R. So we put them head-to-head (boom-tish!) to find out how they compare and see which one is the new welter-weight helmet champion.
MET Parachute
The previous version of the Parachute was never officially available in Australia but it had a devoted following nonetheless. In many ways it was the first attempt at a helmet that spanned the divide between DH protection and XC comfort.
The removable chin bar it sported was pretty flimsy, and was equally praised and criticised for providing a modicum of extra protection, whilst perhaps instilling a bit more courage than was justified. The new Parachute no longer has removable bits; instead it features a fully attached chin bar and meets full DH certification. Weighing in at 720g (actual) for a medium size, it’s the lightest full face helmet currently available. It also uses a DH-style metal D buckle for the chinstrap, a moto-esque adjustable visor with three metal thumb studs and a fixed goggle-retaining clip at the back.
There’s no shortage of gaping vents and the angular styling is so modern looking as to be almost sci-fi. There’s a nice soft micro-fleece lining on all of the retention straps, a gel pad at the brow and the cheek pads can be removed for washing. Currently it’s available in a range of colours but only medium and large sizes. The Parachute will set you back around $279.
Bell Super 2R
The original Bell Super took the technical trail and enduro world by storm. It offered a better combination of coverage, comfort and ventilation than pretty much any other helmet at the time.
Interestingly, the Super 2R is actually more like the original Parachute than the new Parachute is; it uses a removable chin bar that attaches with three ski-boot style clips. Without the bar attached it looks almost identical to the regular Super. The retention system is also like the regular Super in that it uses thin webbing and a plastic quick release buckle like most open-face helmets.
There are only two thumb-wheels for the visor, but they’re much bigger and more glove-friendly than those on the Parachute. Despite the large adjustment range, the visor never slipped once adjusted. The Super has more vents than on the Parachute but they’re smaller and the styling is more rounded and retro, with a very low profile around your head.
All the interior padding is removable and they use ‘X-static’ antibacterial fabric, which helps it remain stench-free for longer between washing. Our small size hit the scales at 695g with the chin-bar, or 365g in open-face guise. There are a number of colour options and the Super 2R comes in three sizes; small, medium or large. It’ll also lighten your wallet by around $299 and there’s a ‘MIPS’ version available for $30 upcharge.
Head to Head
Somewhat surprisingly, the Parachute is noticeably better ventilated than the Super 2R with the chin-bar fitted. Neither helmet is a sauna but by the same token you wouldn’t want to wear them on a three-hour ride in mild-to-warm weather. This is where the removable chin-bar of the Bell makes it more versatile; you can just use it as an open face when the extra protection isn’t required.
Although it’s possible to both fit and remove the Bell’s chin-bar on the fly, it’s a fiddly process that in all reality will have you stopping for a few minutes to do the transformer thing. It’s also worth noting that whilst the 2R is based around the regular Super, there are a couple of extra bonded-in pads inside the helmet which will change the fit for those at the larger end of the spectrum in any given size. Check the sizing before you buy, as it does differ from the open-face only Super.
In terms of protection, we feel that the Parachute will come out on top. It’s officially certified to the ASTM-F1952-2032 full face helmet standard but still has masses more ventilation than a traditional DH lid. I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t see use if you’re doing shuttles on the ‘big bike’—in this guise the Parachute represents an affordable and very comfortable alternative. The combination of wide fleecy straps, metal D-ring closure and a retention mechanism that sits very low at the base of your skull, works to provide a very secure fit without any hotspots or obvious pressure points. That said, I had to crank the ratchet down almost to its maximum to get it to fit, and if they made a size small I’d certainly have preferred it—I like the shell to fit my head rather than relying on a plastic retention mechanism to make it work.
So at the end of the day I can’t say there’s a clear winner here; despite similar weight and pricing, the Parachute and Super 2R are likely to appeal to different riders. You could say that the Parachute is a lightweight DH helmet; perfect for those doing shuttles or pushing up the ascents before bombing back down. With the cheek pads removed the ventilation was surprisingly effective, making it ideal for regular gravity enduro racers—especially if you want to dabble in the odd DH race or two.
The Super 2R, on the other hand, is a heavyweight trail helmet. It’s not quite as ventilated or as protective as the MET but with its take-it-or-leave-it chin bar, it’s the best jack of all trades compromise for whatever the day’s riding entails, uphill or down.
MET Helmets – Advance Traders
1300 361 686
www.advancetraders.com.au
Bell Helmets - Monza Imports www.monzaimports.com.au
