Alpinestars is an Italian brand that has been making kit for lovers of two wheels of all persuasions for decades. I was lucky enough to get their top-of-the-range trail and Enduro helmet, the Vector Tech, to review, but does it have the credentials to be one of the best MTB helmets?
The Vector Tech Solid is part of a range made up of seven helmets, all aimed at the gnarlier end of the MTB spectrum, with open-face lids all the way up to full-face helmets raced at the highest level by the likes of Dakota Norton and Ronan Dunne on the Mondraker DH team.
Design and features
The Alpinestars Vector Tech Solid helmet has all the features you would expect from a modern trail helmet. Firstly, it's MIPS equipped for added crash protection and to help prevent injuries from rotational forces in crashes. Retention is dealt with by a dial at the rear, which is easy to use even when wearing gloves. It sat nice and low on the back of my head and is nicely padded, too, something sometimes missed by other brands. However, this is adjustable, with three different positions on offer, should you need to fine-tune the fit.
It has plenty of vents, 19 in fact, across the EPS foamed lined structure. This, in turn, has its own in-built skeleton with an in-molded polycarbonate outer shell that neatly covers all the edges of the foam, ensuring it stays looking good and free from potential transportation damage. The helmet drops down at the back like most trail lids, offering plenty of protection at the rear and some unusual side panels that drop down in front of the ears to give extra protection to the nape and temple areas.
The peak is an indexed adjustable affair, and though pretty big it's not too noticeable when riding, and lifts up high to stash goggles if you need to. Chin straps are a standard buckle style with a broad and supportive cradle, though there is no fancy quick-release setup here. Pricing is at the higher end of the market at £159.99 / €169.95 / $174.95 which puts it against some stiff competition from the likes of Troy Lee Designs, POC, and the brilliant Fox Speedframe Pro Kilf.
Performance
The first thing I noticed when I put the Vector Tech Solid on was how low it sat on my head, giving it a secure and safe feeling. I quite liked this and had no issues with it, but keep it in mind if you are a fan of oversized glasses. The shape is slightly less round than some designs, but I found it very comfortable, especially once I moved the retention cradle into its lowest position. This moved the dial a bit further down, which worked well with my noggin. It's a personal preference, of course, but it's nice to be able to adjust it, as it makes a big difference in how secure a helmet feels.
It is a very solid and comfortable-feeling lid. I thankfully didn't have to put its safety credentials to a serious test through testing by avoiding crashing. Still, If the unfortunate did happen, I'm confident the Vector Tech would do an excellent job of keeping my head in one piece with its Mips system, solid retention and good coverage on the back and sides of the helmet. The chin strap is a standard buckle and clip system with a classic Y-shaped section around the ear. Both were fine and easily adjusted, if not as quick and easy to use as the Fidlock magnetic version used by Fox.
I found it worked well with various glasses, though I rarely go for the massive style options and tend to go for more mid-sized options like the 100% Speedcraft or Oakley Radar. It works well with goggles, too, with the adjustable peak offering a good position for them when you no longer need them. Stashing glasses is less straightforward, though, with no real way to store glasses should you want to take them off, not a deal breaker, but as I like to remove glasses on particularly long hot climbs, it was a bit of an inconvenience.
The shell has plenty of vents, though ventilation is surprisingly a little lacking given its large front ports, especially at slower speeds. This is a pretty common issue I've found with Mips helmets, especially if the helmet doesn't have lots of open spaces in the brow area, as the extra webbing inside slows down airflow through the intake and exhaust vents. The Vector Tech is no different in this regard. Positioning of the visor does help somewhat, as when it's at its highest, it leaves the large front vents clear, but it's still a tad warm. However, at higher speeds, it's fine.
I like the styling. The clean white color with minimal graphics looks great, with sharp edges combined with a smooth overall shape that looks pleasing to my eye. It does look a little big compared to some helmets, giving me the silhouette of a toadstool from a distance, but that has more to do with the dimensions of my head than a slight flaw in the helmet's design.
Despite all the vents, it's not the lightest helmet out there. At 445g in the large I had on test, it's at the heavier end of the spectrum for a trail lid such as this. If I'm honest, I didn't find this an issue while testing; instead, I found the solid build much more reassuring. Though with the extra weight combined with the just about okay venting, I'd suggest looking elsewhere if you ride in warmer climates with plenty of climbing.
Verdict
In a crowded market, the Alpinestars Vector Tech Solid is a really good option, though it is not quite as good in ventilation terms as the Fox Speedframe and is a bit heavier than its competitors.
Aesthetics are very subjective, and a large percentage of that with helmets is dictated by how they fit and your choice of eye protection. For me, it worked well for the majority of riding I used it for, and I was a fan of its looks, which worked well with my standard eyewear choice.
The fit was good for me, and it felt very secure and, probably most importantly, very safe, but it's always worth trying a helmet before you buy it to make sure the fit works for you.
Tech specs: Alpinestars Vector Tech Solid helmet
- Price: $174.95 / £159.99 / €169.95
- Sizes: Small (51-55 cm), Medium (55-59 cm), and Large (59-63 cm)
- Weight: 445g (size large tested)
- Protection: Mips equipped
- Materials: Vacuum-formed polycarbonate shell with EPS foam inner
- Colors: White, Black
