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MTB-helmets & protection by TSG tested
You can't ignore the fact, that accidents are a part of our sport. We all take a risk when we swing ourselves onto our bikes and blow off the excess energy we have. Over the years, we have met a lot of people living with slight to severe permanent damage of their bodies. We too can't free ourselves from it. Sometimes you ask yourself: Am I doing enough for my safety? You never know what the future will bring. We have been riding with helmets & knee protectors by TSG for some time now. In this test, find out how our experiences with the products were.
TSG Advance full face helmet
Compared to the established brands like O'Neal, Fox, Bell, Troy Lee & Co, TSG never attracted much attention in the downhill sport. When we heard what the guys and girls of Maciag Offroad sent us, we were very excited. After we unpacked the helmet and screwed on the visor, the helmet came directly on our head. It fits, although we were somewhat sceptical about the sizes, to be honest. Goggles and chest protector on, neck protection set and off into the woods. After some rides we have noticed that the button of the double-D closure is very difficult to close with gloves on. We also immediately noticed the low weight of only 1.040 g (+- 50 g), as well as the excellent ventilation. The outer shell is made of carbon, very rigid and hardly deforms when one bends the chinrest with both hands. That inspires confidence.
After almost two months, Luca went to the first race of the German Downhill Cup in Winterberg. Shortly before the race on Sunday, he had to realize that he had lost a screw of the visor. It wasn't very tragic, but still annoying. After a short mail on Monday, Friday already came the replacement. The next three months went by without any material loss. Another positive feature is that the cheek pads can be easily removed, as they are fixed with magnets. This is a good thing, especially after a day in the mud. Wash briefly, let it dry, done. The helmets have seen lots of kilometers, whether on the head or in the car. At first glance, it's very hard to see any scratches because, coating the carbon, there's a 1-2 mm thick, resin-like layer. Only when you look more closely you can see that the helmets aren't brand new.
TSG Trailfox Enduro-/Trail helmet
In addition to lift-supported bike park shredding, there are also some moments and disciplines in mountain biking which do not necessarily require an integral helmet. On our home trail, we are riding without a large part of our protectors. We're wearing knee protectors, gloves and a MTB helmet. Stop, why MTB helmet? Are there different MTB helmets? Yes, the goal is always the same, but the circumstances are different. If you're off-road, there's a big chance your helmet will meet the ground sometimes, which is not the case if you're just riding around town. Therefore, you need more protection off-road.
The most important thing when buying a helmet is the fit. Even the best helmet isn't very useful if it doesn't fit well and can't be adjusted to your head. Most manufacturers therefore have at least two different sizes which are specified with the range of the possible head circumferences. To find the right size, this is the only thing that helps: trying, trying and trying. But we can give you some tips:
- Make sure that you can adjust helmet a little wider once you adapted it to your head. When riding, the head is always swelling, so it's very comfortable if you can wear the helmet a bit wider in those situations.
- If you're going to wear glasses riding, wear them while testing the helmet. If you don't do so, either the glasses will be pressed against your head, which can be painful, or they will sit very loosely.
Now on to the helmet itself: After tearing open the always very welcome white parcels, we unfortunately had to realize that the helmet with the smallest size and the biggest available cheek pads is still too big for Jelka with her head circumference of 54 cm. We had to think about an alternative. Because no helmet is no solution, we had to choose a BMX helmet for Jelka. Although it's okay from the point of view of safety, it has some deficits for our purposes. In addition, skate & BMX helmets don't come with an adjustable circumference, so you can't change the fit. On Luca, however, the helmet fits perfectly. The adjustment in front of the mirror didn't even take 30 seconds, since everything is kept very simple. We like that!
The helmet does not distract while riding. Even after long trips, you hardly notice it. The pads are very thin, which is most likely the cause of the good fit. However, the shell of the helmet is very close to the head, so there's not much space between the scalp and hair. You have the feeling that the helmet is directly clinging to every pore of your head. This could be unsuitable for some heads, but for Luca, everything was alright.
TSG Tahoe Knee Protectors
After flat-pedal shoes or clicks became the most used, the trend went from thick knee & shin combos made of plastic to slim foam knee protectors. And with good reason, in our opinion, as we have our scars from times of Wellgo pedals and Nikis. In the age of FiveTen & Co., pedal slipping is rarely the case. The demands on current protectors are very different from before. Not only do they have to stay in place while shredding, they also can't scrub on your legs during long enduro trips.
When we first tried the protectors on, we were happy about the correct size charts. Everything fits perfectly. The protectors are rubberized on the top edge, so they can't slip. A hook-and-loop fastener is located above the rubberized areas. We like the slim and clean look. In order to find out if they really fit, we decided to go to the bike park in Winterberg for a few downhill runs. We like the narrow fit a lot, there's never any contact with the top tube. Nevertheless, the knee is also equipped with protector pads on the right and left side. After our first Sunday round with new protectors, the logo was already completely covered with a thick layer of mud. Just like our bikes, the Tahoe were lovingly water blasted and the gas station. Completely soaked, but clean, we put them in the box with the rest of our equipment. After that, they went to the washer and dryer. Before washing, the D3O inserts can be easily removed, which is also a plus. This procedure was repeated for about six months.
Long story short:
About the Advance Carbon full face:
- Compatible with large and small goggles
- Very light helmet (+- 1.040 g) with great ventilation
- Works well with neck braces by Leatt
- Closure is difficult to open with gloves on
- Screws can come loose, so don't forget to tighten them
About the Trailfox MTB helmet:
- Not suitable for small heads
- Few adjustment possibilities
- Sits comfortable even during long enduro tours
- Quick and easy adjustment
About the Tahoe knee protector:
- Clean look and slim fit
- Additional protector pads on the right and left side
- Sits well on long trips and doesn't slip
- Easy to clean, as you can remove pads
Conclusion:
By now, we got a good impression of the products. TSG really surprised us with the Advance Carbon. Fit, weight and processing leave nothing to be desired. All of our goggles, whether small or lage, fit. The neck brace by Leatt also works very well with this full face helmet. The button of the double D ring is hard to open wiht gloves at first, but after a few times you put either the helmet first on and then the gloves or you're just good at it. After we lost a visor screw, we tighten the screws from time to time.
The Trailfox is a rather low-key but also very well functioning helmet. We believe, however, that some helmets on the market have better adjustment options. For this helmet, we would definitely want a smaller size, so that children and smaller persons have the opportunity to ride a good MTB helmet.
We fell in love with the TSG Tahoe knee protectors. They have everything we look for in protectors. There's only little that we would change. The fit is so good, we literally forget that we're wearing them. Unfortunately, you can't put on the protectors with your shoes on, which isn't a bad thing, but would have been cool in some situations. Washing is very simple. Only the tinkering in of the removable pads is a bit difficult the first few times.
At the end of the day, we can recommend the tested helmets and protectors by TSG. No wonder TSG helmets won the 1st place at the Gravity Magazine's Readers' Choice Awards. We were able to gain many positive impressions and were never restricted in doing what we love: Riding our bikes!