Team Tested: Sweet Protection Fixer Fullface Carbon MIPS
Things are changing, this seasons Enduro World Series was tougher and more gnarly than ever, with mandatory full-face helmets tested on many occasions. It is also changing on the national scenes too, with many governing bodies bringing in mandatory full-face helmet rules. It is not just racing either, as our bikes get faster and more capable, we are riding increasingly more challenging terrain and accidents do happen, nothing protects your head as effectively as a full-face
Lightweight full-face helmets that are protective enough for the toughest DH terrain, but can also be worn on long transfers or simply for shredding the woods with your mates are going to become more popular than ever. One cutting edge helmet in this new category is the Sweet Protection Fixer Carbon MIPS, bringing high-end looks, a very compact profile and unique features at a staggering 850g. This technology does not come cheap however, as the Fixer Carbon costs a whopping £399. We have been running this helmet for the last month, on local trails and racing it in the final round of the Enduro World Series. Lets take a look at how it performed.
The special lay-up of the carbon fiber allowed Sweet to customize which parts of the helmet are rigid while some remain more flexible. Sweet Protection are the only company on the market using pre-impregnated Carbon Fibre. Most manufactures use a wet lay-up process, where the fibers are positioned in the mould dry and the resin is applied with a brush, a relatively inexpensive process, but normally the end product is heavier. During the pre-impregnated process used by Sweet Protection, the resin is applied by machine onto the fibers in a thin film. Therefore, the resin is very even and controlled. The parts are then cured under a high pressure and temperature environment. This results in a well-compacted laminate with better properties, and to us riders we get a lighter helmet, however it is an expensive process.
The EPS foam liner features Impact Shields, polymer inserts added to critical areas that help distribute the force of an impact over a greater surface area. Beneath that lies the yellow MIPS low-friction layer. In a crash it slides within the liner to take up to 50% of the rotational force out of an oblique impact.
Bottom Line
After a month running the Fixer Carbon there were many things that I liked and a couple that I did not. The helmet is certainly one of the lightest and most compact that I have ever used, you can hardly feel the weight when riding and hucking off obstacles. The cheek and neck padding pops out with a simple pull, facilitating easy helmet removal by medics if you have really ‘rung your bell’. If you have ever wrestled with double D rings with cold hands, you will love the Fixers rapid ratchet closure system, and to release you just pull the toggle and you are out. The finish is impeccable and after a number of scuffs and minor tree strikes the helmet still looks good as new. MIPS technology has been proven to help in an accident so I am glad it has been integrated so seamlessly.
The only negatives I found after racing in Finale Ligure were that the fixer is a little warm on long slow climbs, but no worse than any other helmet offering the same level of protection. The two front vents are a little smaller than ideal and you need to get a fair bit of speed up before it starts to draw the heat through. And we cannot ignore that price tag! £399 for a helmet is a big pill to swallow, but if you can afford it, this is certainly one of the lightest, best engineered and most compact helmets on the market at the moment. It is certainly an indication of the future of full-face helmets, and our current World Champion Tracy Moseley puts her trust in one!
For more info, check out the Sweet website: www.sweetprotection.com
Words and Photos: Trev Worsey