How long is a bike helmet supposed to last? Aside from when it has to do its job absorbing some smash-bash-crash-then-replace action it’s an unanswerable question. Sans smack-down, most brands recommend replacing your lid after 3-to-5 years but throwing that out in a helmet chat always invites endless discussions of the infinite variables from storage, to hours of use, to sweat production.

Short of taking a proper knock, sun-faded outer shells, rock hard foam, mushrooms growing from the straps, or liners that act as passive fellow-human repellent, my thinking has evolved over time, and having this conversation too many times in bike shops. Now, when there’s no obvious crash damage or epic concussion-causing head knocking narrative, I just say, “you’ll know.”

Personally, as a sweat machine, I’m usually replacing a helmet after I install the third liner*. Somewhere between liner two and liner three, helmets just become a bit generally gross. Distracted as I’ve been, this go around what prompted me to replace my Kali Invader 2.0 was flipping through some old photos and realizing just how long its been kicking around. The foam still passed ye olde ‘finger nail test’ but a sober inspection showed that the straps, {third} helmet liner, cheek pads and, well, there was a general grodiness giving me those time for a fresh lid feelings.

*{Hence why replacement liner availability is a key feature for me.}

Invader DH

I was previously alternating between the slightly lighter and minutely more vented Kali Invader 2.0 and a ever so slightly sweatier Invader DH. Both helmets are acoustically awesome, which is a big detractor for me with most full face helmets, whether they have removable chin bars or not. On that note, Invader lids use a fixed chin bar in an effort to drop weight and improve venting and acoustics compared to other full face protection, with the chin bar installed. I wear them year round for all the mountain biking that I do.

The Invader DH is beefed up to meet higher standards {CPSC EN 1078 & ASTM DH certs} and the fit is slightly better for me than the Invader 2.0, so it was my replacement choice or, in other words, I’m now alternating between an Invader DH and an Invader DH. That’s a luxury I’m unashamed of. I’ll gladly save some bucks min-maxing my bikes with U6000 drivetrains, and aluminum rims, and Deore-this-and-that, but I always own two lids, two pairs of knee pads, two pairs of riding shoes, and a small stack of gloves. I do enough wet-wet two-a-days that having the double kit is experience changing.

[Canadian Aside]
Unfortunately there’s a scarcity of Kali dealers in Canada which means trying on a lid is nigh on impossible in the land of Lake Ontario. For us non-VPN-ing computer Luddites, Kali Protectives Dot Com also forwards to Canada-only web coordinates that don’t show the current colours or inventory. I know, not ideal.

But I’ve tried on a lot of full face lids {fixed & convertible} and of what I’ve worn this helmet is far enough into its own category that I think, for Canucks looking for more protection, it’s worth reaching out to the company, the old way, as, in my experience, they’re seriously nice folks.

And I know they have a full line of mountain and moto stuff, not just the nifty Invader line. But, if you’re a Canadian distributor looking for interesting product, in a world full of full-on e~MTBs and e~BSOs there are tons of folks on the trails who could, maybe should, be in the market for a DH-rated chin barred lid where they can still hear their friends bantering.

For individual contacts it’s Info@ and for shops inquiring about being stockists it’s Sales@.
[/Canadian Aside]

Yeah, so. Features. The visor on the Invader DH is better, and its DH-rated but otherwise it shares the magnetic FidLock buckle, two-shell-size-multi-pad-size fitment with a small rear ratchet and adjustable webbing, and of course the Rheon LDL*. The helmet comes close to a DH-snug fit while at the same time being actively and passively much better vented, allowing maximum repartee to travel in and out, and being surprisingly lightweight at the same time.

*{The Low Density Layer is the blue Rheon non-Newtonian padding material placed inside the helmet to absorb impacts, particularly rotational ones.}

And look, I’m not here to convince you to wear a full face helmet going down trails never mind wearing one of the climbs, but since I’ve committed to riding in a full face it’s really not been that bad and wearing one has saved me a few times on trails where I was not expecting to be eating rocks or roots. So, if you have any questions, I’m happy to help. I mean, if you have a lid competing lid recommendation I’m happy to hear it too, but these are my best option to date.

For those outside of Canuckistan or VPNing, you can check out pricing and colour options for the Kali Invader DH.

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