Magnetic Buckle from O'Neal

Jan 25, 2011
by Mike Levy  
O'Neal has just debuted their new Fury RL fullface helmet that uses a very cool Fidlock magnetic chin strap. Is this the future of MTB helmets?
Check out the O'Neal Fury RL and it's Fidlock magnetic chin strap:




The Fidlock magnetic chin strap is certified and ready to go, and looks mega easy to work with a single gloved hand. You've seen how it works in the video above, now chime in below with your opinion.

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133 Comments
  • 16 0
 Watch the video carefully, its not just the two magnets that are holding it together. The two magnets are there to make the job of doing the strap up a lot easier, but you can see from the video that it has a proper clip as well. So the magnets are not actually whats keeping your helmet coming off, there to make it easy to buckle up. Plus its CE certified so dont see what the problem is. Looks like an amazing idea, when you actually think about it there are countless times when out riding that you would want to buckle up one handed but instead have to stop at the top of a trail and faff about with d rings and gloves.
  • 7 0
 Thank you. For some reason a VIDEO with CLOSEUPS needs to explained! Ha! 90 percent of the people bitchin apparently haven't watched it, just hear magnets and freak out.
  • 14 0
 thats a really good idea!!!! i hate always having to put the string thing through all those loops with gloves on.
  • 5 0
 That's such a pain in the a**!!
  • 12 0
 haha....any way i can buy a conversion kit? dont really wanna sell my helmet for an oneal...
  • 2 0
 aggreed
  • 2 4
 this wont be poplular until a trusted company starts using them. oneal needs to sell Troy Lee the patent
  • 3 0
 yeah but if you could put it on any helmet it would be good
  • 3 0
 I don't think conversion kits would be sold to the public, too many safety issues. I think it would be great if Oneal could sell the design to other helmet manufacturers.
  • 4 0
 I'm sorry pjrmtb31, but since when was O'Neal not a trusted company? Plenty of moto riders use their helmets every day and their helmets usually exceed most standards. Just because Troy Lee helmets cost $200 more doesn't necessarily mean they're better.
  • 2 8
flag p-romano (Jan 25, 2011 at 21:04) (Below Threshold)
 ya but nobody knows how they feel because they arent established in the mountain bike world. When you buy a troy lee you know it will be a good product. when you buy an oneal you hope it will be a good product
  • 1 0
 im not bashing on oneal, im just sayin that if i was to upgrade my helmet, it would have to be something better (like carbon fiber). better yet, id rather not have to "upgrade" at all.
  • 1 0
 Alright I understand, I guess I have more faith in O'Neal than most.
  • 1 0
 like if troy lee used this noone would question it. in order for a paradigm to change it has to be the top company endorsing the new technology
  • 8 0
 there's a trick to to "D" buckle clip helmets like TLD's. Just loosen and tighten them without ever undoing it completely, slides on and off your head, and tightens with one gloved hand.
  • 6 0
 That's such a good idea, I get well annoyed after a push up with having to do the 'D' ring strap up on my Troy Lee D2, O'NEAL should sell this concept to other manufacturers too.
  • 3 0
 yeah same, and its especially hard to do with gloves on
  • 4 0
 Am I the only one who never undoes the D-ring anyway though? Just loosen it enough to pull it over your chin - so prob just as quick as a magnetic catch. Still a neat idea though, let's face it D rings are pretty basic.
  • 1 0
 yeah i do that aswell! this does look like a good idea though
  • 1 0
 My strap is frayed so much I cant loosen it just so I can get the lid off, there just aint enough material anymore.
  • 11 7
 Looks good, now what if it gets loaded up with dirt? Still going to work as well coming around that corner and crashing for the second time and the magnet fails? Just throwing it out there.
  • 60 13
 I'll stick with my D3 thanks.
  • 16 8
 Clip , Clip , Clip , Clip is all i remember from this vid. I wouldn't trust some clipping shit going down hard !
  • 66 7
 ...and I'm sure Troy Lee is happy to take your $450.
  • 9 14
flag luigi (Jan 25, 2011 at 17:28) (Below Threshold)
 oh man, it looks cool, but i see so many problems/ lawsuits coming to an O'neal near you.
  • 10 15
flag guy38 (Jan 25, 2011 at 17:31) (Below Threshold)
 @idrinkpabst yes tld helmets r a bit pricey but are one of the safest and best looking helmets in the world, so its well worth it.
  • 122 9
 TLD lids are worth the cash. It's like putting your head into a vagina.
  • 47 10
 theres something very wrong with inserting your head into a vagina...... just sayin
  • 61 4
 ^depends on which one you're talking about
  • 19 3
 i would buy this helmet just so i can take off the clip and replace the D rings on my TLD.
  • 5 5
 Its cool and all,... but I think ill stick with the standard push in lock, its eaiser than rings, and safer than this. The less complicated the better.
  • 4 2
 From personal experience breaking the plastic clip on a Remedy and having the helmet come off and gaining a concussion because of that im sticking with the good ol' D-Link!
  • 1 0
 its a good idea and i would trust it just as well as a d link because it slides in from the side and the magnets just clip it together at the begging but once there together it is held by a plastic piece, thats why you have to slide it to unlock it
  • 6 7
 Actually I am more than happy to give Mr. Troy Lee my hard earned cash. I don't spare any expense when it comes to the protection of my head. D rings that stay tight and snug... or some magnet that apparently only takes one hand to undo?
  • 137 1
 Lol you're all a pack of idiots jumping to conclusions. What are you basing your statements on, do you think O'Neal does no R&D? It's this style of ignorant thinking that sets back development in all industries. Similar to when the SC Carbon V10 was announced, "oh its carbon it'll snap", yet it's the only frame not to break in SC inhouse testing. Also did you read that the clips made from magnesium & not plastic. Do any of you know the failure rate of magnets & what causes them to fail? It would be dam near impossible to heat that buckle past 100 degrees celsius out riding. If you do manage that then i'm pretty sure your D2/D3 is gonna melt & you'll have bigger problems to worry about.

Sry for getting all aggressive but the ignorant shit that gets posted around pb is tiresome, think before you speak.

For what it's worth, if this was on a D3 you'd all be praising it's ingenuity. I think this is a sick design & like chochocho said i would gladly replace my d ring with one. O'Neal great design.

Peace out & bring on the neg props
  • 3 5
 it takes one hand to do because you slide one piece out of another piece and is held together like puzzle pieces but i would still buy TLD because there cool and comfortable as crap but i can buckle my d ring with gloves and with one hand
  • 12 1
 tom-moT i totally agree with you
  • 13 2
 it's not O'Neal's design or patent... www.fidlock.com/en/produkte.html

@Tom-moT - that's some rant for someone who didn't do their research Wink
  • 5 0
 dam busted already. In my defense i did a quick skim nothing to in depth as i didn't want to give ppl headaches. Didn't even think to research Fidlock as a company, thought that was O'Neals' patent name. This is sweet, maybe we will see it on D3s in the not too distant future.
  • 5 1
 ^^ After O'Neal make a shit tonne of money from it you might see it on D3's. Excellent idea, good on 'em.
  • 1 0
 he likes it dumbfish
  • 2 0
 Tom-moT, well said!
  • 4 0
 Gotta give it to TLD though. Their marketing department is top notch. Just look at these results!
  • 4 0
 I'll give my money to O'Neil before I ever buy a TLD...

www.pinkbike.com/photo/2536064
  • 2 0
 as a user of helmet with d-rings im quite jealous Razz
  • 1 1
 meh... Giro for life
  • 3 4
 my knowledge of physics may be letting me down here, so correct me if i'm wrong, but if a metal is magnetised, it will lose its magnetism with a hard smack on another hard material (for example, if i hold an allen key next to a magnet it gets magnetised, if i then drop it on the concrete floor in my workshop, it becomes demagnetised) so surely one large crash could in theory demagnetise the clips, meaning the rest of that run, you have potentially no strap... looks like a good concept if i'm wrong though
  • 1 0
 It would have to be a pretty gnarly hit to hit the chin strap though, so if you manage to do so, good luck.
  • 3 0
 And i am sure if you crash and Smack the chin strap. You will now have more body problems to worry about, rather then your helemt clip no longer working. Show of hands everyone. How many people have gotten branchs caught in full face helmet straps, or crash and hit there buckles. I've been riding for over 10 years and i am an avid crasher. No hand showing for me.
  • 1 0
 So who did this first then? Lazer or O'Neal? The Lazer Oasiz has the same buckle.
  • 2 0
 I had a bad crash with a composite troy lee lid on, lost a chunk of flesh from my shoulder and two of my teeth when sliding down a gravel fireroad on my face at 40mph,

The double D kept the helmet real secure, simple design works well. I dont think there is any reason to change it....

a href="http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2841023/">http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/2841023//a>

If the problem is attaching the double D you can easily get a longer strap fitted and leave the DD connected, you can loosen the buckle and slid the helmet on and off easily with one gloved hand.
  • 1 0
 @wa aw yea it is they have convinced people to wear pajamas while they bike
  • 4 0
 WHAT? Who said magnets become demagnetised from impact? When was the last time you dropped your refridgerator magnet and had it stop working? The properties of the metal are such that it carries a magnetic field. Unless you think dropping something changes the direction of the electron spin inside a magnet (IT DOESN'T) your magnets will work! When was the last time you dropped your headphones? They have magnets too.

Wow please guys. Do not spread rumours. It's not hard to research a little bit about magnets. They do not get demag'd from impact. God...damn,
  • 3 0
 look what magents are used for in this world and we don't have a little faith in a helmet strap. Don't magnets help propel one of the fastest trains?
  • 2 2
 yes but over long periods of use some give u cancer, and this ones right on ur neck...
  • 2 1
 Oh come on man, what doesn't give you cancer these days.
  • 1 1
 nothing. pretty much nothing.
  • 6 0
 true, the real money lies in selling this technology to all other helmet manufacturers
  • 4 2
 hhmmm, well, dont want to knock it because it seems really awesome. Neodynium magnets are extremely strong given the right size and polarity strength. Although I would love to try it freeriding, I just dont have confidence in it. Now XC helmets and maybe BMX would be great for it. But High speed crashes.......I dont think so. Just my two cents. Still an awesome invention none the less! Ride and Be Free Daver
  • 2 0
 The magnets simply pull the LATCHES together. Like a magnetic tongue-and-groove joint. Even if the magents fell out the helmet is still latched.

And who's ever gotten a bruise from their chin strap during a crash? Barely anyone ever really tightens them up anyway. The safety is in the helmets fit. Just more cyber-critics at play here...
  • 2 0
 Cool product! If it works as good as they say it does and there is a demand I'm sure similar designs will begin to show up on other brands and judging from the video I can't see why it wouldn't hold just as good as a standard buckle in the event of a crash. If the price is right I might consider one of these when I need a new helmet.
  • 3 1
 hey as much as i love Velcro and a few other modern invents, i will stick to a clip in [ or god forbid even a MotoX double strap buckle - barf ! ] but here's the thing : magnets break and i will stick to taking a few moments to buckle up with a clip in - i mean, jeezus on a stick, how fricken much time are we really trying to save ! Rush Rush Rush ! Fast Foods ! Hurry Hurry Hurry ! Well, what the hell is the hurry, i'll just take my time until i get to the top and smell the brake burn on the way down and leave the magnets for my fridge notes...
  • 2 0
 I think the idea looks good, but I can fasten and un fasten my THE D strap with one hand with gloves on anyway. If your strap is long enough with a D buckle you just loosen it without pulling it out of the D ring. The press stud acts as a good stop too.
  • 4 1
 I'd personally rather spend those extra couple of seconds doing my d-lock strap up and have the security of knowing my lids gonna stay in place!
  • 2 0
 For those who weren't really paying attention... the patent and product does not belong to O'Neal.
Here's the product page for Fidlock:
www.fidlock.com/en/produkte.html
  • 1 0
 I am a big fan of the ECHO quick release buckles. One hand opening no fuss closing and DOT and SNELL approved for motorcycle use. They are a metal to metal closure and leave your D-rings on your helmet in case you decide you want your rings back all for $9 bucks on Amazon. Much more user friendly than D-rings and don't have to trust my mellon to my sewing skills.

The Fidlock looks cool and seems like it is built on a sound theory but I will wait until they have been in use before I rush out to try them.
  • 1 0
 Looks interesting. I'll bite just because its certified and there are lots of times where I'd use it. But at the same time....bike park days? Yeah I'll keep my D-Ring'd THE.

That being said, its great to see something new, and I can't wait for it to pop up on more and more helmets.
  • 2 1
 TLD IS CRAP, has anyone else seen the technology behind Kali? Their helmets are not only lighter and less gaudy, but they are more certified and protecting. Check it out, the newest ones coming out will blow the doors on anything you have seen!
  • 1 0
 Same here. Been a kali fan for 3 months now. Just banged my head last december on a 4x race & darn this thing holds up. Very nice product. They have real engineers to find new ways to save your head. Not unlike other helmet companies who stick to theire technology to save money.
  • 2 0
 This is a great product imo, I think we'll be seeing more. But that video was sooo stupid, I couldnt take it seriously. They took the music straight from a Sylvain Learning Center commercial.
  • 1 0
 Dam good idea and innovation, who ares about other brands this is about O'Neal and they're design, innovation and something new for a change props to them. O'Neal are doing some great stuff of late, Sinner pads, they rock and hope this innovation is on they're new Helmet as well, the Airtech!
  • 1 1
 I find it rather sad that companies and consumers would place convenience over safety. I'm not saying that the buckle is dangerous, but its not as safe as a regular ring system. Personally I want as much protection for my head as possible, its the only one i've got. and some little gimmick clip that saves me the 5 seconds it takes to buckle my helmet while wearing gloves isn't worth it. grate for half shells yes, but if i'm riding hard and possibly going down hard, like i did a few weeks ago. I'd like my helmet to stay where its supposed to be.
  • 1 0
 WHO, besides YOU said it isn't as safe?? Oneal is an old school(been around a long time) moto company. Obviously they have pros using this system already and prob have for quite awhile before releasing it!
  • 1 0
 Agreed. RnD is why they released it. Why would they want to get served? Besides the patent got through so something must be right
  • 1 1
 Open your eyes and look at the damn thing. You can release it using one hand. A normal helmet strap you have to pry at with two hands to get it to come off. I went flying through some bushes the other week and somehow my goggles got ripped of and were hanging from one of the bushes all neatly. I'd hate to think one of those branches could also unbuckle my helmet by sliding the clip sideways. Like I said, its not really the buckle that even bothers me, its that people think the current system is too much of a hassle to be worth it. Oneal may be old, but i wouldn't say they're on the leading edge of helmet technology. I would think that the company who holds the patent on this device, "Fidlock," probably approached a larger company who sells more helmets first, like TLD, 661, THE or a few more popular brands before they turned to Oneal. But obviously its not any of those companies on this add, so it leads me to believe they turned it down for one reason or another.
  • 1 0
 may be it was also o'neal who approached first fidlock? both have their R&D departments in germany... may be that´s the reason... engineering in germany...not in china... TLD u pay 300 $ extra for the image not for the product quality...
  • 1 0
 Exactly. All helmets are tested BY A THIRD PARTY and then rated accordingly. Oneal, Kali, TLD, etc doesn't get to tell you their lids are safe, someone concerned only with the products reliability and not sales does. They aren't trying to revolutionize the helmet industry. They are simply offerring another neat little aspect to an already great helmet. Man...kill a guy for trying!
  • 1 0
 Yup. Love my Kali. It seems many advances trickle down from moto. You don't see plastic buckles on moto helmets. R&D should be focused on lightweight protection. It's not that tough to buckle a helmet.
  • 4 0
 sick. i want one just make one for tld helmets
  • 2 0
 would probably add another 50 $ to an already over priced helmet
  • 2 1
 THE helmets with the button on the end of the d-ring toggle have it pretty sussed. Hell, you could even put a stud of some sort on the end of your precious tld buckle and do it one handed every time.
  • 1 0
 PS...on the other hand, could be a good product, but like any prototype it's a smart thing to wait for a while to see how it works out...don't wanna appear to be an old curmudgeon, so.......
  • 4 0
 And in 300 to 400 years when the magnet wears off your screwed
  • 2 0
 damn
  • 1 0
 lmoa I love how two different people can post opinions meaning the exact same thing....just in different words. But for some reason one person get +props and the other gets neg props haha
  • 2 1
 if it can come undone with one hand cant it also come undone by one poorly placed rock or stick??? just putting it out there ae
  • 2 0
 would be very handy if your wareing big winter gloves aslong as it stays secure
  • 1 1
 good idea but i really dont see the point, i can do my clip with one hand but that is with thin gloves. it would be good if you are wearing big gloves.
  • 3 1
 or everyone could just take a little time and fasten it the right way with a "D" buckle. What's the hurry anyway
  • 4 1
 One hand WITH gloves on? Sold
  • 1 1
 I love my Kali, lightest, strongest, best helmet I've ever worn, hands down. This buckle is dope too. One hand down I guess since it only needs one hand to open and close. Ken
  • 2 0
 This paid advertisement brought to you by Kali protectives...
  • 1 0
 I'll have to give it a try if my lbs gets some in stock, other than that I dig it. Just gonna wait for rider reviews to start popping up. I don't like buying blind.
  • 1 0
 Lids are important but not worth skitzing over online. If you dont break your head because of you favorite lid... Good. Leave it at that.
  • 4 3
 I really would love to see this come to MTB helmets. Would make getting the helmet on a lot easier and faster!
  • 7 1
 yeah especially since strapping them with gloves on is sometimes a big pain in the ass
  • 1 0
 Not only O`Neal use these tricky buckle - also LAZER and NUTCASE have Fidlocks on his helmets!
  • 1 0
 i like the concept. would this mechanism stick to a metal plate in the chin area?
  • 1 0
 Like a surgical plate inside your chin?
Probably not. Stainless is much less magnetic than regular steel, and Ti isn't (in these terms) magnetic.
If that's what you're asking, best bet is probably to ask your Doc.
  • 2 0
 The should have it so It can attach to any helmet
  • 2 1
 you can if you know how to remove your buckles.
  • 1 1
 Designer should have sold it to TLD, mind you they want to see if it fails first, no doubt. Cant see how a metal strap bit could fail.
  • 1 0
 I would like to see if they have any plans to use this in their moto helmets
  • 2 0
 D rings are not hard unless you're wearing welding gloves or something...
  • 1 0
 very good idea but i wouldnt trust it to be honest think ill stick with the D rings or clip straps!
  • 3 1
 dunno if i trust this.
  • 1 1
 Sure it might be easier to take on and take off, but would you rather that then risk saftey?
  • 1 1
 Amazing concept, however if the magnet gets hit is it going to come undone?
  • 1 0
 I've got one in yellow/cyan Smile
  • 1 0
 My foremost concern would be beard entrapment.
  • 1 0
 MAGNETS ARE DRAWN AUTOMATICLY TOGETHER? WELL DONE!
  • 1 0
 thats sick bud, mountail bike helmets knwo where the fuck its at lol
  • 1 0
 i want that on my helmet but i dont want an oneil helmet
  • 1 0
 One question, why? theres really no need, its not exactly 'revolutionary'
  • 1 0
 What was the last "revolutionary" product you saw? It's innovative, at the very least. It provides greater convenience without the cost of safety or increased price... so, why not?
  • 2 0
 but how do magnets work?
  • 1 0
 661 helmets? anybody? i think they are ok.
  • 1 0
 i like mine. it doesnt have space age tech.... but it always works.
  • 1 0
 This would be so nice on a hot day in a bike park!
  • 2 1
 cool idea, I like this
  • 1 0
 chill out simi831
  • 1 0
 spiffy
  • 1 1
 i wanna see a crash test with this helmet
  • 1 0
 how much will these cost
  • 2 2
 i dont like this.. i can see it coming undone.
  • 2 0
 Hazards for Neodymium magnets:

The greater force exerted by rare earth magnets creates hazards that are not seen with other types of magnet. Neodymium magnets larger than a few centimeters are strong enough to cause injuries to body parts pinched between two magnets, or a magnet and a metal surface, even causing broken bones.[4] Magnets allowed to get too near each other can strike each other with enough force to chip and shatter the brittle material, and the flying chips can cause injuries. There have even been cases where young children who have swallowed several magnets have had a fold of the digestive tract pinched between the magnets, causing injury or death.[5] The stronger magnetic fields can be hazardous to mechanical and electronic devices, as they can erase magnetic media such as floppy disks and credit cards, and magnetize watches and other clockwork mechanisms and the shadow masks of CRT type monitors at a significant distance. This summarizes my thoughts. Food for thought.
  • 1 0
 wow, wikipedia knowledge!! its also dangerous to cook water, you might burn your hand! I guess the helmet and its closure was well tested before launching it... just like these dangerous microwaves and magical hotplates each of us has in the kitchen nowadays...
  • 3 0
 It's a good thing these magnets are not "larger than a few centimeters" then isn't it? Just make sure you don't swallow them... or carry floppy disks near your face while riding.
  • 2 0
 That was possibly the most useless post I've ever seen used...


"Hazards for Neodymium magnets"

That's f*cking awesome! hahaha!
  • 1 0
 not too shabby
  • 1 1
 mmmm, nope, thanks
  • 1 1
 Neat....
  • 2 2
 a bit sketch it seems







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