The little brother to the top-end pro-level SE3 helmet, the Troy Lee Air Helmet is a great choice for the weekend warrior and MX enthusiast. While it won't get you all the futuristic features of the SE3, the Air Helmet comes pretty darn close in safety features, aerodynamics, airflow and overall performance. Available in a multitude of graphics and colors, the TLD Air Helmet is a solid match for the Troy Lee GP Jersey and Pants set up. At this price point, it's going to be tough to find a lid that can match the state-of-the-art functionality that the Air brings to the table.
Externally, the Troy Lee Air Helmet is a blended weave of carbon fiber, kevlar and fiberglass for exceptional strength, rigidity and impact resistance. The multi-density EPS liner furthers the ability to absorb an impact by dispersing energy and limiting the direct impact at any given point. The shell also features a ridge along the bottom edge that not only widens the opening but also acts as a speed-bump for any shock wave of impact traveling across the shell, keeping it within the helmet and not allowing it to transfer energy to the edge (which would result in breakage) or the body. All of these factors are critical to your safety in a crash scenario. The Air is Snell & DOT certified.
Moving on to ventilation, the airflow absolutely abounds in this helmet. A total of twelve individual intake vents flow through the channels in the EPS and flow out of five large exhaust vents. You've got a total of five intakes at the chin, five more at the brow that flow directly to the liner, and two RAM air top intakes that force air streams into the EPS. Meanwhile, the three top exhaust vents combine with the two back of the neck exhaust vents to suck all of the moisture and hot humid air away from your head to keep you at the optimal level of cool in the most active and aggressive of dirt riding situations. They don't call it the air for nothing: it is extremely lightweight and flows a ridiculous amount of air.
Getting into the creature comforts of this helmet, the interior is fully removable and washable. It is a multi-density foam comfort liner and cheek pads that is lined with CoolMax fabric that is both moisture-wicking and antimicrobial, pulling sweat away from the skin while deterring any nastiness from building up. Troy Lee Designs also offers custom fit kits so that you can contour the helmet to your head shape if the out-of-the-box intermediate oval doesn't fit you. The foam roost guard is fully removable and washable, the visor is completely adjustable via aluminum screws and the Air comes with a soft helmet bag. Troy Lee also provides a three-year limited manufacturer warranty.
Brand new to RevZilla, TLD has done nothing but impress us thus far. They make pro gear for pro riders and the rest of their lineup utilizes the same technologies and concepts that goes into their pro gear. To see other available options, please visit our Motocross Helmets page at RevZilla.com.
The top-of-the-line dirt helmet from Troy Lee Designs is the Troy Lee SE3 Helmet. Packed with performance features and protective functionality, the SE3 is worn by premier professional MX riders. The Troy Lee SE-3 Helmet is a big step up over its predecessor, the SE2, in that it's made enormous strides in adding a great deal more ventilation and shaving a significant amount of weight to make it a more comfortable, ergonomic lid that will keep you cool in the most active of riding conditions. This helmet is a huge step forward for TLD.
Make no mistake about it, the SE3 lid is a super premium dirt helmet not built for the weekend warrior. This helmet is for the pros and the extremely enthusiastic riders who won't settle for anything less than the best. The shell is a blended weave of carbon fiber, kevlar and fiberglass and meets Snell 2010 and DOT certifications. The shell design and elimination of some of the bulk is what allowed them to shed 6.4oz (180 grams!) from the SE2 to the SE3. The EPS has also been completely redesigned and is now a dual density liner that significantly improves safety and impact protection. At the visor, titanium hardware is used for durability and represents another area of weight loss for this lid.
Airflow, airflow, airflow; everyone knows the significance of cooling the head when riding the dirt. The SE3 has redesigned the top scoop to suck more air into this helmet directly through the EPS and to the head. The mouthpiece has also been revamped for added airflow and brow vents have been expanded and now rush air directly through the EPS. Inside, they've added the functionality of a quick-release emergency cheek pad system in case of a severe crash. Both the comfort liner and cheek pads are fully removable and washable, made from multiple densities of foam for comfort and fit and lined with CoolMax antimicrobial moisture-wicking fabric. Helmet fit kits are also available separately for a customized fit.
There is a fully removable and washable foam roost guard that can be cleaned whenever it gets extremely dirted up, and we know how quickly that happens. The visor can be easily adjusted on the fly with a glove-friendly titanium screw adjuster. There are convenient indents for speakers for a bluetooth communication system if you so choose. As a bonus, the Troy Lee SE 3 Helmet comes with a deluxe helmet bag, a spare color-matched visor, and TLD's three-year limited warranty. This helmet truly has all the high-end bells and whistles that you'd expect from an upper echelon dirt helmet from any brand and it will certainly go toe-to-toe with the top lids from all other manufacturers in the dirt world.
