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gear of the week

Gear of the Week | Sweet Freeride Helmet

High wearing comfort and ventilation miracle

by Benjamin Eggert 12/17/2016
"The Igniter Helmet from Sweet Protection makes no compromises in terms of safety or comfort". With such a product description, the expectations of a ski helmet are naturally extremely high.

Luckily, I did not test the helmet in terms of safety and only subjected it to a non-destructive test. But in terms of comfort, my expectations were fully met.

First impressions are probably also decisive for many of us when choosing a new ski helmet. A paradox, as you don't normally see yourself wearing the helmet. Nevertheless, the design remains a major selling point. Who wants to listen to their buddies on the lift saying things like: Where did you find the melon skin? In grandma's attic? No! It's better to choose a stylish model. And this is where the Igniter scores. The matt, dark blue makes the "headdress" look simple and the curved ventilation slits look sporty. Presumably to the taste of the Field Productions film crew, to whom this helmet was dedicated.

But how does the designer piece sit on the head? This is where my initial euphoria was briefly dampened. I probably don't have the average Sweet Protection head and so there was a bit of play at the sides, although the helmet fitted well on the forehead and back of the head. This could be the case for some of us when trying it on. The product developers have come up with something special for these "hard cases". The supplied fit pads can be glued under the removable inner mesh where they are needed. It's as simple as it sounds - and works brilliantly. When I put the helmet on for the second time, it sat just as a helmet should and I was delighted again. You should definitely take the time to adjust it individually when trying it on at your trusted dealer. Wearing comfort increases immensely. The Occigrip Fit System makes it easy to fine-tune the fit. Even if this system sounds complicated, it is simply adjustable plastic straps at the back of the head that can be operated with one hand.

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On the mountain, we can now see whether the helmet delivers what it promises in terms of ventilation. On the first day, it was a few degrees above zero on the mountain and the 26 ventilation openings paid off. True to the motto "a lot helps a lot" you can feel the good ventilation even at medium speeds. Even on short hikes, you can leave the helmet on without your head overheating. If you do work up a sweat, the inner mesh can be easily removed and washed at home. In spring conditions, the ear pads can be removed, which ensures an airy riding experience.

In cold temperatures, the two front openings on the forehead can be closed continuously. This is recommended as otherwise the cold will quickly penetrate to the ears and cool them down. Those who are sensitive to the cold should perhaps consider wearing a buff or thin headband at temperatures well below zero. The huge advantage of excellent ventilation can become a minor disadvantage on powder days. But slightly cold ears don't make the grin any smaller on these days either.

With its 500g, this helmet is in the lightweight class and the high wearing comfort probably also makes it excellent in this category.

The Igniter is therefore a very well thought-out and comfortable helmet that also impresses with its design. The only question is how the Igniter will fare at apres ski, or rather how it will be received. Not that a thief will get their hands on it.

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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