Leatt may be best known for their neck braces, an item that the founder originally created after seeing the issues with neck injuries in cycling disciplines, but over more recent years the brand has quickly updated their range to include a range of protection for riders. The brand’s most recent release? Their third helmet. Having already developed both a DH and “enduro” helmet (a helmet with a removable chin guard, which the brand dubs as their enduro helmet) they felt it time to have a trail/all-mountain specific helmet in the line. Enter the DBX 3.0 All-Mountain.
For Leatt, protection of the head
and brain is of the utmost importance. They say that their focus when developing a helmet is not only to minimize the effects of head impacts (like every other helmet out there) but equally important is reducing the momentum of the brain during an impact. To do this the brand has developed what they call 360 ̊ Turbine Technology. For those that have been paying attention to Leatt, you already know that this is not something new given that they run this throughout the other two helmets already in the line, but for those that aren’t aware, a quick summary.
The 360 ̊ Turbine Technology is a system of little, rubber-like donuts strategically placed throughout the inners of the helmet. These turbines are manufactured with a material that Leatt sourced called, Armourgel. Armourgel has some pretty impressive properties, one of which is that 4mm of it is claimed to be able to stop a .22-caliber air gun pellet (though we weren’t able to get a distance on that stat). In the helmet the material acts and an energy buffer, while the rotational properties of the turbines reduce the stress on the head from rotational forces during an accident. The Turbines are constructed of roughly 4mm thick pieces of the material, and the brand also utilizes 6mm thick pieces over the knuckle of some of their gloves, noting that the material’s flexible properties work well for such placements. In the event of a crash, the 360 ̊ Turbine Technology is claimed to provide a 40% reduction in rotational forces and a 30% reduction of head impact at concussion level.
Additionally, Leatt found that the size of the helmet greatly affects the rotational forces in the event of a crash. They note that a 10% decrease in the size of a helmet shell (material between the head and the outermost portion) can translate up to a 10% decline in rotational forces. Rather than simply adding more material in an attempt to increase impact resistance, the brand instead focused on finding a balance between this and rotational effects. The result is a helmet that they claim to be of the same safety level as the 6D but in an overall smaller package.
With minimizing rotational stresses in an accident being a key component of helmet safety for Leatt, they also designed the visor to break away during an impact by using attachment bolts that shear during such an event. They also provide an extra set of three so that riders can mount their visor correctly in the event that they have a good enough spill to break the visor off. On the topic of extra bits, Leatt also provides extra sections of the Comfort Liner material used in the helmet, for any customizations required to get a better fit. The Comfort Liner is a washable, anti-odor and antimicrobial material.
The helmet is priced at $169.99 USD and the brand pits it against the TLD A2 for the price but notes that the safety level of their helmet is comparable to the standards of the 6D ATB-1T, though for a considerable amount less money. It’s available in five colors: Orange/Teal, Black, Blue, Green, and Grey/Teal. It also features a Fidlock magnetic closure system, contains 18 vents and is available in either, small, medium or large sizes that fit a range of head sizes thanks to the ratcheting retention system. They also noted that the large size goes up to 63cm, which Leatt claim most size large helmets cap out around the 61cm mark.
The helmet passes both CPSC and EN-1078 safety standards and Leatt makes these documents (called “whitepapers”) available for the public to see,
on their website. If you’re interested in finding out more about the tests make sure that you check those out.
Leatt Gloves Leatt also had their new gloves on display. The line features a pretty common, super slim looking palm in most, and many double up with a thin, minimal layer on top, which should be good for riding in warmer climates. The interesting thing, however, is their use of Armourgel over the knuckles, adding potential protection to that part of the hand without the stiff bulk of some other methods used to create knuckle protection.
MENTIONS: @LeattUSA
Would love to see all the helmet companies get in a war to see who has the safest helmet with some hard testing numbers and it seems like Leatt is leading this.
Or would that end up like the haircut vacuum from Wayne's World?
I recently bought a pair of the gloves with the knuckles and I was very impressed with how comfortable they are. The knuckles do take some sting off impacts (yay for tree strikes on the narrow NC trails) and yet the fingers are flexible and light. Like the knuckles aren't there.
Hoping to get the trail helmet this summer as the temps rise. The deeper coverage and slimmer weight/shape are a great bonus on top of the safety. The full-face vents well so hopefully their half-shell keeps it pretty cool too.
While I don't have a bald head, I've never felt those turbines during a ride and the gel doesn't have a sticky/grabby texture. I don't think you'll notice them while riding.
Hope that experience helps!
This is a scam. You fall once and gloves are bust.
Oh well, time to buy a new pair!
The main reason I wear gloves is so palms don't get ripped up. These minimal gloves are such rubbish imo.
My hands have some big scars as do my knees. I almost value gloves more than a helmet as 90% of the time it's my hands that take the brunt of the force.
That's why I only buy gloves on sale at 1/3 of the price. They are disposable if you ride a lot and crash often.
I had stayed away from minimalist gloves before (my previous gloves were Fox Unabombers...the palm tore at a seam) for the same reasons but have to admit the feel for the grips now is awesome.
Anyway, most important: this fabric feels to have almost a kevlar like rip resistance. I crashed twice wearing the slimline (no nuckle protection) gloves in the last 2 months (one time on a gravel road, stupid me), and the palm holded strong, looks like new.
You can also wash the gloves in a washing machine, and the palm fabric looks like new afterwards (just gets a bit darker with the time)
I know that I can wear a POC, Azonic, TLD, Bell, but not a Giro or an Urge...and no Leatt dealers in Wisconsin. That's what I'm working with at this point.
mtbholic.com/%D7%9E%D7%91%D7%97%D7%9F-%D7%9C%D7%A7%D7%A1%D7%93%D7%AA-leatt-dbx-3-0-mountain
I think it depends on size.