Comfortable, breathable and reasonably priced, the ABUS HiDrop is a dark horse that performs excellently as a bike park and downhill full-face helmet. It’s stacked with safety features and provides everything you need from a full-face lid without costing more than it needs to. ABUS might not be the first brand in mind regarding DH-level protection, but it’s done a fantastic job here. However, the omission of Mips or similar is a real turn-off.
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ABUS HiDrop full face helmet - Technical details
Although its feature list isn’t long compared to other heavy-hitting full-face helmets, the ABUS HiDrop provides everything you need and nothing you don’t – almost.
Like all of the best full-face helmets, it’s wrapped with an ABS shell, but combines EPS and EPP foam. This combination is great to see at this price because it protects against high- and low-speed impacts. There’s a breakaway visor that helps keep the head from being thrown in bad directions.
There’s no rotational impact protection built into the HiDrop, and with Mips or similar being so prevalent, it might hold the HiDrop back against the competition. Despite that, however, the helmet complies with ASTM F1952, ASTM F2032, EN1078, CPSC, and AS/NZ standards, so there’s still a large level of protection on offer.
Elsewhere, the HiDrop employs the double d-ring closure, the same that’s found on many motorcycle helmets and can be worn with glasses. There are four sizes available, and its padding is removable for washing. There are also 10 mesh-covered vents, excluding the vents at the very front of the chin guard.
Although ABUS claims a weight of 1,070g, the large helmet on test came in at 1,045g.
ABUS HiDrop full face helmet - Performance
Thankfully, when our HiDrop delivery arrived, we received the HiDrop in two sizes: a medium and a large. I usually wear a medium helmet with a 58cm head circumference, but the HiDrop sizes up slightly smaller than suggested. As such, I went for the large, which is shaped to fit 59cm heads and upwards.
The level of comfort that this helmet provides is unreal. It’s up there with the very best, and somewhat comparable to my £580 Bell Full-10, which is a serious accolade at this price point. Every part of the helmet hugs the head while there’s plenty of padding, making for a soft and pleasant place to be.
Although it’s a size larger than I would usually choose, the fit is superb. There are no tight spots or any excess space inside the lid. If I were to force it, there’s a bit of movement but it’s nothing to be concerned about. But note that there are no extra pads included in the box, so fine-tuning the fit is off the cards.
Despite the vents being comparatively small and few, airflow is just enough for big and fast gravity-fueled riding. It’s not as plentiful as some of the more enduro-focused helmets or ABUS’s pricier AirDrop. If you’re looking for a bike park-suitable helmet, the HiDrop’s ability to channel air is ideal, even on the hottest days.
During lengthy descents, comfort is the key aspect of the helmet as its weight is in line with other helmets of this type, or marginally lighter. When riding, it never felt too heavy or caused any neck pain.
Although it complies with a good range of safety standards, the real kicker is that it’s not built with any form of rotational impact reduction technology such as Mips, Koroyd or Leatt’s Turbine 360. At this price and even less, nearly all full-face helmets come with some kind of slip-plane liner, and that’s where potential customers will begin to overlook what the HiDrop has to offer.
ABUS HiDrop full face helmet - Verdict
At £180 is the Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips, which is another super comfortable helmet. If anything, it encourages greater airflow and of course, it comes with Mips. I would say that its build quality isn’t quite to the standard of the HiDrop, however.
Leatt’s MTB Gravity 1.0 Full Face v24 helmet is a £100 full-face lid that comes with Turbine 360, Leatt’s take on rotational impact protection.
However, there are a handful of helmets around this price bracket that don’t come with such technologies, such as 100%’s Status. It complies with a number of safety standards, but it’s built with a fibreglass shell and is compatible with inflated emergency helmet release systems. Its chin bar is padded too for more protection. The Status will set you back £160.
Although it’s not quite as strong in terms of value as some of its competitors and is lacking Mips or similar technologies, the ABUS HiDrop packs a level of comfort usually reserved for helmets well north of its price. It’s a simple helmet that’s poised to please occasional bike-park riders and downhillers who prioritise all-out comfort.
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