Review on the new ventilated Troxel helmet

[eventer_mi]

OK- for those of you who asked, here are my initial thoughts regarding this helmet.

First impressions - very nice! I don’t know if it will be any cooler than my Tipperary Sportage, but it will definitely be cooler than my International IRH.

Fit - I have a very, very round head. As in bowling ball. My husband has an extreme oval head. This helmet actually fits both of us! I have always had to do some “creative padding” to make helmets work for me - usually they’re too tight in the temples and too roomy fore and aft. Usually I end up ordering a size too large so that it doesn’t pinch in the temples and then pad creatively in the forehead and back region to make things work for me - not ideal because the padding starts to break down and then the helmet starts to slide over my eyes. The way this helmet’s system works is that it has an elasticated band on either side of the center piece, which can be snapped tighter or looser. You adjust it by using one of the two snaps - it loops back around itself and snaps down. At the tightest setting, it fits pretty well - the entire helmet “carriage” sits inside the helmet body itself, and the adjustments on both sides are elastic, so that it can shape itself around an oval or round head without causing any pinching - lovely! I admit that I was surprised at the snaps - I thought it was more of a “click-fit”, like you find in cycling helmets, which would give you more adjustability, but the elastic takes care of little adjustments. I will admit that I bought it one size too large (I am an 7-1/8" and ordered the Large, which is really too big), but with the snaps I can make it fit without pinching. I was afraid that if I ordered the Medium, it would be too tight in the temples.

For those of you with oval heads, my husband has the exact opposite shape head that I do - an extreme oval. This helmet actually fits him, too - he said it’s slightly tight fore and aft, but not bad at all. It doesn’t LOOK bad on either of us - it actually looks like it fits quite well.

Quality - well, I am worried that the elastic will stretch over time and cause the helmet to once again be too big for my head. However, you can play around with the straps and make it work - I think I can do it if the elastic gives out. I would order the size that you normally take, just in case, if you have an oval head. If you are totally round-headed like me, you might want to go one size up if you are straddling sizes. Other than that, the quality is good.

The only negative thing I can see is that there is no pony-tail port! I have very long hair, and I wish I could pull it through something so I didn’t have to wear my ponytail so low on my head. However, with the elastic straps, I can stuff all my hair up under my helmet and still be comfortable, so for those of you who normally buy your helmets one size too big to make room for all your hair, you won’t have to with this.

Overall, I’m pleased with the fit. Instead of scrounging around for pieces of foam to fill in the gaps of my helmet, this one cradles my head evenly all around. I have options for wearing my hair, and it certainly looks nice. I wonder what the less-expensive models feel/look/fit like? SmartPark only carries the high-end one.

So, there you have it, folks - a helmet that actually fits round and oval heads alike. Never thought it could happen!

[AmmyByNature]

Awesome! So in your personal opinion, as a size 7 1/8 with my hair up and a reasonably ovalish head, do you think I should get the Medium? You said that you were glad you size up, but that was because of your round head, right?

I think I’m gonna try this helmet out! After the last week of a HOT head, I’m tired of it. The JR8 can come back in October…

[eventer_mi]

Yup, I sized up because I hate returning things and I wanted to make sure it wouldn’t pinch me in the temples. I rode in it today, stuffed my ponytail up the back, and had a great ride - no pinching, no headaches. I think you’ll be fine in the medium. Report back on what you think!

[AmmyByNature]

FYI everyone, I got it and I love it! Rode in it today (got the size medium, usually wear a 7 1/8) and it’s really nice.

As soon as I walked into the ring, another girl at my barn asked what it was and was shocked when I said that it was a Troxel, and was even more shocked when I said it was only $150.

Anyway, she tried it on (usually wear a 7 1/4) and is probably going to buy one, too, to school in instead of a GPA Speed Air.

So I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good price on a classy, well ventilated helmet that looks way more expensive than it really is.

[GrantanaKC]

I had the same experience, almost exactly, as ammybynature, except no one tried mine on. Got it a few days ago, and it’s WICKED comfortable, like as comfortable or more than my GPA, which is a very very comfortable helmet. I have a very oval head, and I had no problems with it. It’s nice and cool and is very light. I was afraid maybe it made me look like a bobble-head (most helmets do, my noggin is huge), but my trainer liked the profile very much, and she is not easy to please.

If you’re thinking about it, do it! I’m thrilled with mine, and I’ll be honest, I’d never have thought I’d buy a troxel, but I really like it!

[AmmyByNature]

Oh, I just remembered something – this thread did NOT come up when I searched “Troxel Avalon,” so I wanted to make sure to get those words in here somewhere.

Troxel Avalon Troxel Avalon Troxel Avalon.

There.

[GrantanaKC]

I got the troxel venture, I assumed we were talking about the same one! Lol, but the important stuff remains the same!

[stb]

I live in the land of heat and humidity. I have a Tipperary Sportage and a GPA Speed Air. Both are cool and well vented. I think the GPA is a tad cooler than the Tipp. I like the Tipp and love the GPA. I forget the GPA is on my head. However, it is considerably more expensive than the Tipperary.