Giant's New Realm MIPS Moto-Inspired Helmet - Pond Beaver 2021

Apr 20, 2021
by Sarah Moore  
Giant Realm MIPS


Giant's new Realm MIPS helmets takes cues from the brand's Rail SX helmet but combines extended protection on the sides and rear for a more aggressive moto-inspired design. Giant says that they created the Realm with all-mountain riding and enduro racing in mind so while it does provide extra coverage compared to a standard half lid, there looks to be ample ventilation for comfort on long, hot climbs.

Obviously, this is a helmet that's well-suited to someone who is going to be wearing goggles on the descents, so Giant equipped the Realm with a three-position visor. They say that they've designed it to provide shade and protection without interfering with goggles or field of vision. It uses Giant's Cinch One 360° Fit System with a D-ring strap, TransTextura Plus antimicrobial padding, and a Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS).

The fit can be tailored with the provided 5, 10 and 15mm adjustable width cheek pads and it comes in two sizes, S/M (55-59cm) and M/L (59-63cm). The smaller of the two helmets weighs in at 650 grams, while the larger weights 700 grams. Giant offers a 1 year crash replacement program for the Realm MIPS. It costs € 199.90 / $279.99 CDN.

Learn more at giant-bicycles.com.

Giant Realm MIPS
Giant Realm MIPS

Giant Realm MIPS
Giant Realm MIPS


Giant Realm MIPS
Giant Realm MIPS


Giant Realm MIPS





Pond Beaver 2021




Author Info:
sarahmoore avatar

Member since Mar 30, 2011
1,319 articles

131 Comments
  • 158 4
 "They say that they've designed it to provide shade and protection without interfering with goggles or field of vision." Groundbreaking. They described a visor.
  • 10 3
 Well they were describing a visor in the article, so.....
  • 12 3
 Thanks for the FOX inspired helmet. Seems like the FSAR patent all over again.
  • 3 1
 Like the Polygon Mt Bromo, this helmet just doesn't have enough linkages for me to wear it. I need at least 12 linkages
  • 67 3
 I can’t wrap my head around these Moto style helmets. Seems to me they would be hot if you are peddling and distance and if you are going that route you may as well have your face protected.
  • 23 3
 Yeah, given that the IXS full face is the same weight, I don't know why you'd choose this instead.
  • 24 0
 Same. If I'm taking the pros and cons of wearing one of these, a traditional chinbar is not a major sacrifice. Not sure why you'd want an armored ear and think the rest of your face will be fine.
  • 50 0
 @p0zi I think the trick is to wrap the helmet around your head.
  • 8 1
 @pcledrew: lol I see what you did there.
  • 12 4
 That's what I thought too. Then I tried on a drop frame. It just felt/fit better on my head... A good way to describe it would be that a regular half shell sits on your head, while the full cut helmets wrap around your head.... and with how expensive "regular" half shells were getting anyways, it was a pretty easy decision.
  • 11 5
 As someone who has a giro tyrant, it isn’t much warmer than my smith halfshell. It does offer more protection. I took a digger a few months ago and the side part in combination with my glasses saved my face from some bad damage. I like to wear it for enduro races where a fullface is overkill.
  • 5 0
 @Peally: My wife crashed on her ear wearing a normal half shell a few years ago. It ripped the top inch of her ear away from her head, took a dozen stitches to reattach. I’m sure the armored ear piece would’ve prevented that.

Ironically, or maybe stupidly, we both still wear regular half shells, lol.
  • 1 4
 They do offer better protection, however sized strange, tried giro - super uncomfortable
  • 28 9
 Because ultracore-hipsters need to signal that they're A) way too aggressive for a regular half-shell, but B) way too skilled for chin protection.
And because there's one born every second...
  • 2 0
 Ultimate ears protection
  • 5 2
 @mrosie: I’ve crashed in a race and smacked my ear on a bank. I also owned a switchblade at the tim and wish I’d worn it.
I think these kids do make sense and have been trying to find a Tyrant, but there’s none in my size at the mo. I would try this lid, there’s nothing wrong with it.
  • 3 0
 @lev3000: The only problem I have with this moto style helmets are their price. For the same amount I can buy Uvex Jakkyl Hde 2.0 or Bell Super 3R.

I'm on the market for a new helmet for my kid and it's really hard not to go for a "full face" instead of this moto style.
  • 6 1
 @lev3000: Chinbars on the best trail-oriented fullfaces result in no appreciable reduction of airflow to the face: it is the pads below & in front of the ears that restrict airflow and cause heat buildup. What is wrong with these "moto" style 3/4 helmets is they feature all the weight & airflow downsides of an IXS or TLD fullface with none of the facial-protection benefits for no reason other than following fashion.
  • 4 3
 @Veloscente: on point Big Grin
  • 15 1
 @Veloscente: We call them Mipsters.
  • 6 6
 @Veloscente: how dare they want to maximize protection even when they don't want a mouth piece?
I always knew those moto trials guys were just hipsters too
  • 2 0
 @BergMann: yes I owned the switchblade, but don’t want to ride with a full face or keep taking a chin bar off and on. The side of your face protection this style lid offers is a good middle ground for me. I’ll get something when availability is better.
Probably should say I have decent full face for DH and nice half shell, so it would be for those in between days
  • 5 2
 @Veloscente: Round here people wear these but with their goggles on the back of the helmet. Then they don't use their goggles.
  • 3 3
 They actually don't feel too bad. I pedal in a Giro Tyrant and it's actually not as bad as most would think.
  • 3 0
 Do you need wet Willy protection though?
  • 5 0
 @iiman: Getting the minimum amount of protection possible at a given weight is *not* "maximizing, but the opposite.
  • 4 0
 It's like merging the worst aspects of fullface and half shell helmets. Truly mind-boggling.
  • 1 0
 @Muddslinger: If I ever ride with my sister I probably would
  • 2 5
 @ratedgg13: I actually kinda like these as a replacement of a regular trail helmet. Bikes are more capable. There's tons of new riders now. These over ear should be the default, I think. Also... a full face that's as light as a trail helmet is sketchy in my book. Go for a real full facer instead.
  • 45 0
 why on earth are there so many mips stickers
  • 36 0
 I can just picture some intern, unable to contain his laughter, just sticking those bad-boys on as fast as possible
  • 69 0
 the stickers ARE the mips. they come in a pack, and you just stick them wherever you want the mips technology performance enhancement. it's like those magic anti-vibration / harmonic resonance homeopathic stickers pros were plastering everywhere for a while.
  • 3 0
 most/all mips helmets have those stickers on the inside
  • 13 0
 Its a classic mips slip situation
  • 1 0
 MIPS just does that with all their liners on higher end helmet tbh
  • 3 0
 MIPs lurks in the Pinkbike forum without us knowing. They read the comment about how one user hates seeing the yellow sticker. They are trolling him. haha It's also because if the one on the back gets ripped off you have a few spares LOL
  • 1 1
 @xy9ine: Magic Imaginary Protection Stickers
  • 4 3
 To distract from the fact that it has Giant stickers?

"Can I get a Giant helmet, in size medium?"
  • 3 0
 @DoubleCrownAddict: and they larger than large stickers, they're GIANT. I ain't wearin no GIANT branded helmet riding my non Giant bike....
  • 1 1
 @xy9ine: its the same as my race stickers on my.car
Instant +40hp gain
  • 38 2
 Looks like a Fox.
  • 7 0
 or a cross between a Giro Tyrant and a Fox proframe.
  • 2 1
 Fox filing a lawsuit against Giant in 3 2 1...
  • 1 0
 Thats what i was thinking. Doesn't fox make a lid almost the exact same as this one?
  • 1 0
 I tried on Fox and Giro and now ride the Giant Helmet for some weeks, it hat the best fit and look in my opinion.
  • 1 1
 @Rogueuniform77: I believe so. And Fox I'm quite confident designed this type of helmet, so for Giant to make claims like "Taking its cues from the trusted technology of our best-selling Rail SX helmet but combining extended protection on the side and rear with a more aggressive moto-inspired design" I can't understand why they'd make a helmet that looks identical to Fox's proframe.
  • 35 3
 been riding MTB for over 30 years, crashed lots but never hurt my ears......
  • 5 0
 Just think of it as protection you didn't know you needed......
  • 13 1
 Been riding for 30 years too, never crashed on my head. But I will always wear a helmet.
  • 1 0
 @fiatpolski: Only took a few years of riding park 6 days a week to crash on my head 2 or 3 times. I always wore my fox moto helmet for downhilling and glad I did.
  • 2 0
 Been riding for 30 years, and the Giro Tyrant saved me last summer from seriously messing up my face simply because the visor hit the ground at the angle it did. The majority of the impact on the helmet was on the edge of the "ear piece". If I would have had my normal trail helmet on I would have done some serious damage.

Helmets: You never really need all their fancy technology until you need all their fancy technology. Ya know?
  • 22 2
 Who’s been smacking their ears on a trail ride???
  • 26 0
 Fewer people than have been smacking their teeth/chins.
  • 8 0
 I never have but my brother who is an interesting rider was stopped on a steep double black trail tipped over and hit his ear on a tree. It's beyond me how he did it, but it happened.
  • 12 0
 @CPB: as a brother, f you! “Interesting.” What a brother thing to say goddam
  • 1 0
 Me. Unpleasant experience in itself, plus answering questions about my blue and black ear for about 8 weeks. Can't recommend. Still wouldn't buy this helmet.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, me too. Missed a drop I has done dozens of times, hit a tree flat on my ear, blew my eardrum with the air blast. I wore a Bell super 2 at the time, Still can't see how it didn't protect my ear, but replaced it with a Fox dropframe, which is a lot lighter than this Giant and is comfortable but of course warmer than a regular halflid. I don't like that the visor is only one position though.
  • 2 0
 @owl-X: not going to lie, since then he has gotten so much better. Now he never tips over no matter how steep the trail.
  • 2 0
 @CPB: hey you gotta call him NOW and say you're sorry for besmirching his steep stop style on the bikernet

dude how do you sleep at night? You must set this right.
  • 3 0
 @owl-X: I'm his brother. That trail was way above my level. I rode down the rock roll, and slowed down. Somehow, I tipped to the right and there was the tree. Couldn't hear very well out of it after. He's alright making fun of me; I did something to his bars involving a hacksaw...
  • 2 0
 @CPB @DJPOSUB: you guys are my new brothers. Triple fistbump
  • 16 1
 Is the visor in the 'up' position, or does it just look goofy?
  • 7 0
 Moto style.
  • 4 0
 It'll be nice for gopro mounts at least
  • 10 0
 up position provides extra wind resistance to slow you down when you're going too fast for your brakes. Also helps start rotation during back flips. So, win win?
  • 2 0
 Yeah dudes. My Bell Super DH had the same moto style visor. Dremel, small bit and ovaling out the holes in the visor got it down to a usable visor level. The #1 problem with moto level visor.... it doesn't actually block any sun!!!
  • 10 0
 if noone else is going to say it I will...how is this moto inspired? like maybe 1970s moto helmets but any motorcycle helmets I see are full face or the oversized cereal bowl cruiser helmets. just call it trendy enduro nerd style and keep your credibility.
  • 5 1
 Maybe inspired by a trials motorcycle helmet
  • 3 1
 Moto trials
  • 12 1
 I don't know about moto inspired, but its definitely Fox Dropframe/Giro Tyrant inspired
  • 12 0
 Has batman started riding?
  • 13 2
 The dude in the first pic looks pissed and I would be too if I had to wear this odd looking helmet.
  • 3 0
 I would be pissed too if my Garmin mount was pointed backwards.
  • 3 1
 @extratalldirtrider: I think he's just pissed because his mom made him wear the damn thing.
  • 4 1
 I ride a Giro Switchblade without the chinbar alot and love it's protection but hate the less than ideal breathability and it is quite heavy. I've had Giant's Realm SX trail helmet and easily the lightest and most ventilated helmet in it's class that I've had compared to Smith, Bell Supers and Giro. Also, I've seen the Giant take a couple GNARLY crashes from friends and they did their job with aplomb. Just my two nickels, but I bet this'll be a good effort.
  • 1 0
 Also consider the tyrant. I also rode a switchblade sans chinbar and found it heavy. The tyrant is way lighter and more comfortable.
  • 10 6
 Perhaps if it didn't look like COMPLETE dogshit, I might have even considered buying it. Giant thumbs down from me.
  • 1 0
 Very punny
  • 10 6
 I have the Fox version of that and love it. I don't care if people think it looks stupid.
  • 6 0
 100% nope.....
  • 1 0
 This would be a lot better if there was a modular system allowing the ear guards to be exchanged for a chin guard or just taken out entirely. Most hot days i won't want to wear this on an average ride and any downhill park warrants a chinguard for me.
  • 5 0
 A trend NO one asked for.
  • 4 1
 " I think I want a helmet that will protect my ears that already get some protection from the top part of the helmet, but not protect my chin, mouth, nose, or eyes."
  • 1 0
 I haven't seen a "moto" rider wearing an open face since like the 70s. Statistically you are more likely to hit your forehead or mouth (according to motorcycle crash tests). Why bother with this. Fox Proframe or Smith Mainline offer much better protection for the same weight and ventilation.
  • 6 1
 "Moto" inspired
  • 3 0
 I always ask myself if these helmets increase the risk of jaw injuries, since they seem to lean on it
  • 4 0
 Imagine wearing one of these ear cover helmets on a gravel ride
  • 2 0
 I think these trials / rally looking helmets are sick but I’d feel like such an a*shole if I chose it over my full face and knocked teeth out
  • 3 0
 If gonna cover the ears, might as well have a lightweight chin bar around the face like some ski slalom helmets.
  • 1 1
 I don‘t wear such a helmet and won‘t in the future. But it amazes me how many would not wear it just because others could think „something bad“ about them.

Why would i care what others think about my protection? Self-confidence anyone?
  • 3 0
 Looks like the Giro and again, to fit princess Leah’s hair
  • 2 0
 Fitting this was launched on 4/20 as whomever designed that was clearly smoking the herb.
  • 3 0
 Looks like a FOX Dropframe
  • 3 0
 looks like a fox dropframe
  • 3 0
 Inspired by moto, or FOX? Hmmm
  • 6 3
 iT LookS LIkE A TyRant
  • 4 0
 No, looks like a session...
  • 2 1
 This looks pretty sick, but doesn't show on the US site. Will it be available stateside?
  • 3 0
 D-ring strap? Boo!
  • 5 0
 That's the moto inspired part, I suppose.
  • 3 0
 Does this mean it's E-Bike approved?
  • 3 1
 what did the fox say?
din din din din din din din din
  • 3 1
 It's for those who wants to go full send but half gas.
  • 2 0
 They look so goofy, but these 3/4 helmets really tickle my pickle.
  • 1 0
 What they need are more Fullface helmets with ear cut outs. Reduced hearing is one of the main reasons I didnt wear mine.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a Dropframe/Halo Marines helmet. Just needs a little green HUD and a grey paint job.
  • 2 0
 Only thing it needs is face protection
  • 2 0
 Great, another $200 helmet...
  • 2 0
 I own a Fox Dropframe and Im pretty sure its the same thing
  • 2 0
 Why us the rider wearing virtual reality goggles in the first pic?
  • 2 0
 more like a Giro inspired ...
  • 2 0
 Moto-Inspired MTB helmets, protecting your ears and virginity since 2021!
  • 1 0
 The IXS Trigger FF is 600 grams, has a chin bar and DH certified and has fidlock. So this Giant helmet competes with what?
  • 2 0
 Princess Leia helmets are catching on it seems.
  • 1 0
 I didn't buy fox dropframe because lack of place for gopro under visor. So here is same.
  • 1 0
 I love this helmet more protection like my fox. This is my next helmet for sure.
  • 2 0
 robocop rides mtb?
  • 1 0
 D ring strap? Yeah, no thanks
  • 1 0
 Looks like Gyro and Fox had a baby...
  • 2 0
 Looks like a Session
  • 2 0
 The beaver's laughing..
  • 1 0
 They’ve had a shocker here.
  • 1 0
 No beaver wearing that flower pot!
  • 1 0
 Looks like it is supposed to have a detachable chin bar but doesn't
  • 1 0
 Looks more like a moto trials helmet than a moto helmet.
  • 1 1
 MIPS is useless if you don't talk about a full face helmet. An other marketing nonsense
  • 1 0
 Nothing better then some ear protection... Right?

(sarcasm)
  • 1 0
 Looks like a 90's BMX era Ecko...
  • 2 1
 Looks like a...
  • 12 3
 ...helmet for dorks.
  • 2 0
 @unrooted: goes without saying







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