Fox Racing Rampage Full Face Helmet

The Fox Rampage is one of the most affordable DH certified full-face helmets available, and it's also one of the nicest looking. I don't ride lift-accessed centers often anymore, but I still wanted a full-face helmet for those scarier and faster trails. Not having an unlimited budget, there were not many options that I liked in the price range I was looking for. Local availability was a factor, but I would still have chosen the Rampage for its good fit, appearance and price.

Fit

To start with, the Rampage has a d-ring closure, which is something I don't mind at all over fancier buckle or magnetic options. In fact, it works perfectly well and stays secure even in the roughest descents. It's surprising how well it works for being so simple. The fit depends of each person, for me the fit is not perfect but pretty good. I did prefer the Troy Lee Designs D3's fit, but for the price I was willing to pay and the use I was going to get out of it, the Rampage was still very good. The general fit is great and feels secure without being too tight around the head. The only thing that is a bit annoying during a long day of lift riding is the tight cheek pads. For thinner faces this wouldn't be a problem, but for my face's shape, it is a bit too tight to be comfortable for more than a few hours of riding. The general helmet feel was still good enough for me to get this one and I don't regret much. I thought that the cheek pads would flatten a bit with use, but unless I cut a bit of foam and stitch them back together, I don't think this is going to happen. Weight-wise, it's not too heavy but I wouldn't use it for trail/enduro riding. Since I remove it on the lift and only use it when going downhill, the weight didn't bother me at all. It's a bit hot if you have to pedal to reach the downhill trail, but for a few minute runs and chairlift uphills it's fine.

Durability and finish

The liner is removable to be washed, but I can't comment on this as I don't use it often enough to get it smelling bad. It's always good to leave it in a well ventilated place for a few hours/days before putting it in a closed space though! The exterior finish is nice, I liked the black colorway, and the matte paint resists scratches pretty well. All the parts of the helmet are well glued together and the whole package is well assembled. Unless crashing hard on it, I don't see anything getting loose or undone any time soon.

Compared to / conclusion

Buying a helmet is always a delicate task when your budget isn't unlimited. Since all the DH helmets have to pass the same safety standards, I didn't mind having a heavier or less ventilated helmet for cheaper. Locally I couldn't get all the available options on the market, but if I had to get another one in the same price range, I'd have a good look at the 100% Status helmet or Kali offerings. I still prefer to have a simpler open-face helmet for trail riding and a dedicated full-face helmet for downhill only riding instead of having a convertible helmet. But with more and more removable chin bar options, it's something worth looking into when shopping for a new full face helmet.