Review: O'Neal's Fury RL and Warp Full Face Helmets, Both Under $160

Practicing endo-pivots in the Warp full-face helmet at the end of a ride.

I find an added sense of security in wearing a helmet designed by a company that has been making motorcycle protection since 1970.

O’Neal has been in the business a long time, transferring their safety knowledge from high-speed moto racing to their extensive bike line.

After seeing some of Greg Minnaar’s burly dirt naps last year I was personally convinced that O’Neal lids can do the job.

Fury RL

On the safety front, the Fury RL exceeds CPSC safety standards for bicycle helmets and meets the ASTM US Downhill standard. All of those initials add up to the highest crash test ratings in the bike business, and the Fury RL retails for an affordable $119 USD.

A downhill race-ready helmet at that price is an impressive offering, and the Fury has some worthwhile features to sweeten the deal.

Well placed cheek pads in the Fury make for a proper tight fit while allowing you to remove them to loosen things up on climbs. For enduro racers who have to keep their helmet on during grueling 2-hour summer ascents, removable padding is a necessity. To the delight of all of us sweaty pedalers, the entire lining is removable and washable. Your shuttle van mates may appreciate this feature as much as you do.

The Fury RL uses a Fidlock latch system to keep the helmet snug on your head. The latch slides apart with far less fight than a traditional moto style DH helmet strap. It is held in place by a pair of internal magnets and is easy to use with gloves on.

The helmet comes with a detachable camera mount, perfect for days when you need to film practice runs or your friend’s knack-knack attempt.

The visor adjusts high enough that when I put my goggles under it nothing obstructs my view. Three bolts keep the visor in place, and they have stayed tight during the weeks I have had the helmet.

With the helmet pulled down tight, it sits a bit higher on my head than others, and the chin-guard is about 1.5cm from my nose.

On the subject of fit, I go by a rule that an old DH race friend taught me: new full-face helmets should be tight enough that when you try to move them up-and-down or side-to-side the skin on your head moves and the helmet doesn’t slide around. They should not be truly comfortable at first, because the padding will compress over time and the helmet will eventually become looser. Using this fit method prevents the helmet from moving or ejecting on impact.

I have a battering-ram for a head, at 61cm circumference, and I found the Fury RL quite tight compared to other size extra-large full face helmets I own. After several weeks of use, I continue to get headaches if I wear it for more than 30 minutes at a time. For rides near my house the tight fit doesn’t pose a problem because I only wear it on the descents, but for enduro racing, this would be unbearable.

The Fury RL is a feature-packed lid at a relatively affordable price. For gravity riders with smaller domes, this will be a sweet piece of protection.

Features

Actual weight 998g (size XL)
Camera mount
Multiple vents and channels for increased airflow
Sweat-absorbing, removable, and washable inner liner
Fidlock magnetic buckle for easy, single-handed fastening and release
Height-adjustable visor
Exceeds CPSC, ASTM, and EN1078 safety standard for bicycle helmets
139,99 € / $119.99 USD

O’Neal Warp

The field of vision on the Warp is fantastic, thanks to the large opening and high visor adjustment.

O’Neal’s Warp full-face helmet has the same ASTM US Downhill standard of protection as the Fury RL and includes many of the same features. All of the pads are removable and washable, the chinstrap opens with the magnetic Fidlock one-handed system, and the highly adjustable visor stays in place with three hand-tight bolts.

O’Neal’s Warp also fits high, covering less of my jaw and the sides of my head than other full-face helmets, despite it being pulled down snug against my skull. This leads me to think these helmets are made for riders who carry around less cranium than I do.

It is somewhat out of character that the Warp weighs roughly 80g more than the Fury RL and lacks a camera mount, yet costs more. I had to quadruple check those numbers, but they are correct. The Warp does have ASTM approval stickers all over it, and O’Neal confirmed that the weight, tautness, and price can be attributed to its high-level DH race orientation. Warp owners can order a camera mount here.