Fox Speedframe Pro mountain bike helmet review

The Fox Speedframe, introduced in 2020, is the brand’s best-selling half shell mountain bike helmet. As they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And if your mountain bike helmet is broken, don’t fix that either. Seriously — replace your broken helmet immediately.

Though the Fox Speedframe wasn’t broken to begin with, it’s clear the brand wanted to improve both comfort and function this time around. Based on my tests over the past few weeks, I’d say they’ve largely nailed it, though there’s at least one area where I think the previous version was better.

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Fox Speedframe Pro key specs

• Features: MIPS Air Node, Fidlock chin strap buckle, BOA fit system
• Weight: 345g as tested (size medium)
• Available in three sizes and four colors at launch
• Price: $199.95
• Buy from Fox

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The Fox Speedframe Pro fit system is lightweight and dials in comfort

Pretty much every mountain bike helmet on the market today makes use of a ratcheting dial system that adjusts for a snug fit. This time around, Fox upgraded their dial to a BOA-brand ratchet, which Bontrager also uses in their premium Wavecel helmets. My head measures 58cm in circumference, which sits near the top end of the 55-59cm range for the medium size. Despite being at the edge of the size range, I found the adjustment system leaves enough room to fit a knit cap underneath on cold days. Based on my own fit, I would say the Speedframe runs true to size, with a little wiggle room at the top end.

The Fox Speedframe has a four-position height adjustment to the fit system to ensure stability and comfort for a wide range of head shapes. Unlike a lot of trail helmets I’ve tested, and even the previous Fox Speedframe helmet, the new circumferential fit system uses soft cords to connect the front and back halves, rather than hard plastic. This surely saves weight while improving comfort and making for a quieter, less rattle-prone helmet on the trail.

Fox also swapped the regular old plastic MIPS liner for a MIPS Air Node rotational impact protection system. MIPS Air Node has been around since at least 2023, and the Speedframe isn’t the first to feature the liner; the Cannondale Terrus and Liv Rail are two MTB helmets that already include it. Compared to the more basic plastic MIPS liner, MIPS Air Node is softer and quieter, with thin padding built right in. The liner velcros into place, and Fox says it’s washable.

The side straps have plenty of ear clearance before converging into the chin strap. However, it’s surprising they’re not adjustable. Most helmets, like the Lazer Coyote and State All Road helmet, allow adjustment up and down, though, to be fair, the straps tend to slip over time. It feels a little strange to have the side straps hanging so low on my cheeks (see top photo), but better to be too low than too high.

The price of the Fox Speedframe Pro went up by $10, but I guess that’s inflation for ya.

When it comes to bike helmets, safety is #1

The Fox Speedframe RS Pro earned a 5-star helmet safety rating from Virginia Tech, where it’s ranked #2 overall for 2025. The only helmet that ranks higher? The pricier Fox Speedframe RS, which is #1.

Extended rear coverage offers additional protection at the back of the head, and I found the secure fit system ensures the helmet stays properly in place, even on rough trails.

Looks good and feels good, thanks to generous vents

The new Fox Speedframe Pro mountain bike helmet weighs an impressive 30g less than the previous version. My size medium is 345g, and though it’s heavier than my State All Road helmet, it feels just as comfortable if not more so. That could be because the MIPS Air Node liner practically floats above the top of my head, though I’m not sure if the physics check out on that one. Without as much hard plastic in the fit system, the Speedframe Pro doesn’t dig into my forehead and the sides of my head as much as my State helmet.

There’s been a subtle change to the vents at the front of the helmet, with Fox moving from three brow vents to four on the latest Speedframe Pro helmet. The upshot is excellent ventilation and airflow, albeit with a slightly strange, gap-tooth look with the visor in the full-up position.

I’ve noticed some scuffs and scratches to the helmet finish due to normal wear and tear. Fox warns that bug repellent and sunscreen can cause the finish to peel, and I’ll add that you should avoid placing it on the ground, too. Damage due to brushes against tree branches, however, is unavoidable.

The “one-hand adjustable visor” takes two hands… and a tool

A three-position adjustable visor is pretty much a given for any premium mountain bike helmet, and the Fox Speedframe is no exception. Whereas the previous version had a pretty standard visor adjustment system like those Lazer and State helmets I mentioned, this one boasts a “one-hand adjustable visor.” As the ugly, flat head screw at the middle front of the helmet makes abundantly clear, adjusting this visor on the Speedframe is a bit more involved.

OK, so maybe it could be one-handed if you use your thumbnail to loosen the screw. Nope. The threads on the other side, which slide along a slotted channel below, sit snugly in place. I had to use a 3mm hex tool to get mine to slide, and when it did, there was a popping sound that had me convinced I had broken something on the helmet. I found that adjusting the visor during a ride isn’t really an option without dismounting and taking the helmet off my head. Maybe it’ll loosen up over time, but that’s TBD.

In an interview with Chris Smith from Lazer, he noted that one of the big differences between road bike and mountain bike helmets is the inclusion of a visor. We talked about a number of reasons for this — a visor is helpful for dealing with variable sun conditions, as riders enter and emerge from shaded areas throughout a ride; a visor can help deflect tree branches and protect against debris; and a visor has the right look for mountain biking. And as of late, visors have also become an integral part of on-helmet eyewear stash solutions.

I suppose the usual visor adjustment system isn’t as secure as the one Fox provides on the new Speedframe, and it would truly suck to lose an expensive pair of glasses on the trail due to a visor that slips. Still, I’m OK with the old system, which looks cleaner and is easier to use, but maybe that’s just me.

Pros and cons of the Fox Speedframe Pro

Pros

• Looks great with a sleek profile
• Comfortable
• Premium hardware and construction

Cons

• Visor is not easy to adjust
• Side straps are not adjustable
• Cosmetic finish is delicate

Bottom line

The Fox Speedframe Pro has quickly become a favorite mountain bike helmet thanks to its comfort, fit, and good looks.