Sweet Protection Bushwhacker Carbon MIPS - Review

Sweet Protection is a Norwegian company with a lot of expertise and pedigree in the water and snowsports markets, and has steadily been making inroads into the mountain bike market. Their Bushwhacker helmet certainly makes a statement with its distinctive looks, offering extended coverage and 17 vents to keep the air flowing. The helmet is available in three versions, one without MIPS and using a composite construction (£140), and two MIPS models, one with a composite construction (£170) and the most expensive model which we’re testing here, is made with carbon fiber (£200). Sweet Protection uses carbon fiber to reinforce critical areas of the helmet, and claims its addition offers a 15% protection improvement compared to the non-carbon version. The carbon is pre-impregnated into the 5-piece in-mould shell. It’s very neatly done, and construction is impressive, but then it should be for the money they’re asking for it. Weight for a size medium is 347g, which is competitive for a trail-style helmet.

The noteworthy feature on this helmet is the addition of MIPS. Those four letters are spreading throughout the helmet industry and more brands are starting to offer a MIPS version. Pinkbike has tested several MIPS helmets so far, but here's a quick recap on what it’s all about: It stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System and is basically a low friction liner placed inside the shell, and is designed in the event of an angled impact, to let the helmet rotate a small amount. The idea is that the small range of sliding movement dramatically reduces the severity of the impact. The clever people behind MIPS claim this acts like the low friction cushion of fluid that protects the brain inside the skull. The Bushwhacker is available in sizes S/M, M/L ans L/XL with two color options, Matte Black Metallic and Matte White Metallic. CE 1078 certified. MSRP: £200 / $299 / €249. www.sweetprotection.com




On the Trail

Our review helmet came equipped with a simple ratcheting retention system that required two hands in order to adjust it, making on-the-fly adjustment difficult, but get it set up at the trailhead first and you’re unlikely to need to make further adjustments. The retention system offers a small range of vertical adjustment as well so you can really dial in the fit for your head shape. Sweet Protection have since updated the helmet's design, and the Bushwacker will now be sold with a ratcheting dial, which should facilitate one-handed operation. There are plenty of molded pads that are interchangeable so you can tailor the fit, as well as being removeable so you can toss them in the washing machine when they need it. Once everything was dialed in, the fit was excellent - comfortably snug, with no pressure anywhere around the head, and no unnecessary movement when riding over rough trails.

The 17 vents, split between five large direct inlets, eight rear direct outlets and four vertical extract vents, do a good job at sucking in cooling air and keeping your head cool when working hard, or when the temperature rises. The vents have been ‘digitally optimised,’ which sounds impressive, but it does seem to have worked - it’s an airy helmet. The peak isn’t adjustable, which is a real shame on such an expensive helmet, but it doesn’t negatively intrude into your field of view like some can.



Pinkbike's Take: