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MTB-Helmets Metah & Proframe by FOX tested
We're back with another test report! After we reviewed the trail helmet FLUX from FOX, we also have some impressions about its big brothers,METAH and PROFRAME, which we now want to share with you guys.
Difference between trail and enduro
First things first, the classification. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between the respective categories, for beginners as well as for advanced riders. The definitions of allmountain, cross country, downhill and many more seem to blend into each other.
Trail & enduro are similar in many aspects, but aren't exactly the same in our opinion. You may understand it best if you're familiar with the enduro discipline. Enduro is a competitive sport with the goal to finish stages in the shortest time possible, just like in other sports. The procedure of an enduro race, such as the Enduro World Series, is like this: The riders have to complete a tour with the EWS standards, which can be 60km/day. Within this distance, there are 5 stages (in the most cases), which consist of going down hill on rough trails. The actual race only takes place on those stages, on which the time of each rider is taken and added together. As the trails of this discipline are often very similar to downhill tracks, you'll meet many familiar faces from the Downhill World Cup. Enduro is therefore a sport that focuses on going down hill, but the riders still need to cover a long distance with muscle power.
Trail riding, however, is not about time. It's about having a good time uphill and downhill without worrying about the time. That's why we assume that frame, components, protectors and helmets are exposed to lower levels of stress. We get the feeling that manufacturers put "trail" in the product names so we can idenfity more with the product. But in the product description, the high quality according to the EWS standard is pointed out. We hope that we've brought some order into the trail-enduro-mess. But now on to the helmets.
FOX Proframe:
As it can sometimes get down to business on some tours - like on alpine terrain or unknown trails - and the new enduro bikes set no limits, wearing a half-shell helmet is sometimes difficult to reconcile with your concience. In order to ensure safety even in such cases, FOX relies on an enduro helmet with chin guard, which also guarantees a cooler head with the help of 24 air intakes and 9 air outlets. Unlike a downhill helmet, which is usually equipped with a double D-ring closure, the PROFRAME has a handy magnetic closure. The proven MIPS is also equipped by default and the large visor rounds off the concept of the helmet and provides an optimal goggel fit.
As we unpacked the helmet, we immediately tought: "How are we gonna test the helmet? Propably riding in the park 'till we drop or pedalling lots of kilometers." We had never worn the same helmet on our downhill bike and on our enduro, which was very exciting for us. The size check went well, so we directly jumped onto our bikes. The first impression was like wearing a downhill helmet, but we could hear much better and it weighed less. On our Ardrider bikepark tour, Luca shredded trails two days straight and gained a good impression of the helmet. When visiting Winterberg, Willingen and Olpe, the helmet also had to endure a lot. The response here was consistently positive! The helmet fits as if it was glued on. On fast trails, as in our case Willingen, the helmet doesn't promise the same safety as our RAMPAGE PRO downhill helmet, but that is ultimately not its purpose.
What we really appreciate the helmet for is for the section training on our local DH trails. You can ride short tracks and immediately get back up the hill without getting a heat stroke in your helmet. When you still haven't hit the last root correctly after the hundredth attempt, you can use the magnetic closure to drop the PROFRAME in seconds, even with gloves on.
Although Luca had been a bit sceptical about what everyone would say when he showed up for the tour with a fullface helmet, no one laughed at him. In the contrary! The interest of the teammates became especially clear during long climbs. "Well, can you go on?" was the standard question. Up to the 25°C mark, the temperature worked out pretty good. If you ignore the temperature issue, there's one point that could be a negative aspect for some riders: The weight of the helmet. The chin bar makes the most noticeable difference. Especially when pedalling standing up, when your head moves around horizontally, it takes some time getting used to. There's always a small catch with allrounders. Nevertheless, the PROFRAME has a much wider range of use than initially suspected.
Pro:
- Safety through chin bar & MIPS
- Good ventilation through 24 air inlets and 9 air outlets
- Quick and easy-to-use magnetic closure
- Good fit
- Good compatibility with goggles
- Wide range of use
- Good perception of ambient noise
Contra:
- Weight distribution
Conclusion:We see the PROFRAME as optimal for riders who don't want to buy a downhill helmet AND a half shell. For enduro riders who prioritze going downhill on tours or in bike parks, it's well suited and more than worth its price. We like to ride with it and can definitely make a recommendation here.
FOX Metah:
DThe enduro helmet METAH is clearly more suited for downhill riding than the trail helmet FLUX, which we previously tested. The difference can be seen in the shape and construction of the helmet. The METAH covers more of the neck area at the back of your head, the ears are also covered more voluminous and the helmet has a massive and more prominent visor. It feels like "more", even though the weight isn't much different compared to its little brother. The MIPS, which is supposed to reduce the load with the help of rotation forces, isn't included in the METAH. We could also imagine the helmet with MIPS in the future, because more and more helmets have that system included.
The first time we tried it on we immediately noticed that the massive visor irrupts the field of view. Although our team members mostly wear full-face helmets and are used to having a somewhat limited view, we can imagine that this might be a small change for some riders. We really like the feeling of the half shell, because it gives us a safe feeling. To be honest, we weren't really convinced after the first ride. The METAH slipped into our face after drops or jumps - a disadvantage which didn't cause a crash, but still isn't supposed to happen. A bit sceptic and helpless, we pedaled back to the bus. When packing in our equipment, we noticed a package of exchange pads for the helmets, which is included in delivery. We changed the pads and went for another ride, and now we liked the helmet a lot better. No slipping, just awesome! We then proceeded to shred some jumplines and still felt safe.
What we really like as well is the compatibility with goggles. Especially in summer you can't do train rides without getting dust in your eyes. We have to say that this isn't relevant for everyone, but especially with puddles and branches behind curves or caps, you really should wear goggles.
Nevertheless, we found a flaw: The adjustment dial, wich allows you to change the head circumference, can't be handled with two fingers, only with the thumb. This way, adjusting doesn't feel as precise.
Pro:
- Good protection of face, neck and ears
- Good fit
- Low weight
- Feeling of safety
- Good compatibility with goggles
Contra:
- No MIPS
- Slightly restricted field of view
- Difficult operation of the adjusting dial
Conclusions:After initial concerns, the METAH has convinced us with its functionality and appearance. All in all, we can give you a clear recommendation, despite the adjusting dial.