Toby Henderson and crew have gone and done it again! For the past few years I’ve been rocking THE full face helmets on the slopes and at the parks and this year there’s a brand new lid that’s more than just another re-design. The T2 full face helmet takes some styling queues from last year’s ONE but takes things to another level entirely. As with everything Toby does, he adds his own touches to products which sets them apart from the pack.
The T2 is a fairly lightweight helmet at just under 1,100 grams (mine weighs 1025grams) and is made from hand-laid composite materials which makes it super strong. The stylish tight silhouette features a semi-integrated visor in a fixed position with custom metallic hardware. A cool padded chin strap and double D-ring arrangement with matching hardware ensures the lid doesn’t vibrate at high speeds. The T2 even comes with a second color-matched visor in case your first one gets shredded.
The liner inside the T2 is sort of a cross between Corinthian leather and suede from the interior of an exotic sports car, finished off with THE INDUSTRIES embroidery. Even around the mouth guard you have an extra touch of shock absorbing material for added protection. For heat management, the T2 sports 17 large cooling vents (11 forward facing / 6 back) and four internal air-flow channels, which combine to pull heat out the back of the helmet. There’s also an included Cordura nylon helmet bag with handles to carry the helmet around. The T2 has graphic choices ranging from mild to wild – check the site to see for yourself.
As far as fit is concerned, the T2 fits a bit on the tight side, almost like a euro racecar helmet (unlike the diving bell fit that I’ve experienced with other helmets). To put the helmet on you have to spread the bottom a bit by pulling on the chin strap since the helmet has a tapered fit to help reduce unwanted helmet movement on the slopes.
The face opening is big enough for most goggles on the market – my Oakley and Giro goggs fit great. Along the sides of the opening, THE even added hard rubber inserts to minimize wear on goggle straps. With goggles off, the shape of the T2 has also been designed to secure your strap in position which reduces the chances of your goggles slipping off.
Most of my tests of the T2 have been at the indoor park on my DJ bike. I haven’t had any big crashes yet (I did face plant once off a jump – that’s another story) but I’m pretty confident this helmet will be up to the task when the time comes. The T2 Exceeds CPSC and CE certification standards.
I had a really hard time picking a color scheme because all the choices are pretty hot. I went for the Fantasy ($229 MSRP) because I love the mix of patterns, vibrant colors, and graphics that will show great in photos this summer. The best helmet is the one you don’t mind wearing – and I can’t wait to put this one on every time I shred!
Helmets off to the folks at THE for sending the T2 down for a review!
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