If there's a helmet making waves this year, it's the Klim F4. With its wild venting system utilizing three rows of ducts across the top and back of the lid, it's shocking to behold and is the first helmet I've worn that I'd say was truly vented.
With 41 channels throughout the design, air circulates like mad once inside, and it definitely gets inside. You can feel it especially on the top and back of your head. If you work up a sweat, the helmet will actually dry out while you ride, something that no other helmet has ever done for me. Straight up, the venting is top-notch. But with it comes some concerns.
For open riding and track days there's nothing to worry about. It's amazing that roost or sand doesn't find a way to your head despite what it looks like might happen. I imagine the people complaining about this either: a) Never wore the helmet, or b) Utilized their heads as dirt scoops. But if you ride brushy trails and have to duck branches and sticks, the helmet will catch them and give your neck a yanking. You learn not to let the top or back of the helmet catch on anything when ducking brush, but that can be difficult. Right away I broke off the upper two louvers on a gnarly trail ride. Replacement louvers are available. Which is good as without the louvers in place, the helmet has a noticeable reduction in airfl ow.
I even crashed a few times and used the helmet for what it was designed for. Here it did the job as intended and I didn't notice the louvers doing anything bad, but the hits were more on the side of the lid.
Another concern is when temps dip or you go on a long trail ride with drastic temperature changes. Cold air will give you a brain freeze. It is the same feeling your cheeks get under your goggles but on your noggin.
The Klim helmet includes a Windstopper liner that effectively cuts down the chilling breeze from getting to your head, but the liner still stays cold. The graphics are good looking and the details on the helmet are top-notch, especially the shiny, embroidered liner. The fi t is as good as any other helmet for my average-size and -shaped head. The visor is sparse and fl ows through the air at speed and adjusts as high or as low as necessary for blocking roost or ducking the sun.
For warm riding out in the open, especially someplace like out in the dunes, this helmet is doing something that no other helmet can. If you like a helmetless feeling while still being protected, then the F4 might be right for you. At $375.99 it's on the pricey side of helmets, but there surely isn't anything else like it. -Jimmy Lewis
| Gear | 89.0 |
| Style | 18/20 |
| Comfort | 9/10 |
| Function | 46/50 |
| Wash/care | 8/10 |
| Price | 8/10 |