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Giro Mad Max

MSRP $ 279.00
Weight 43.2 oz/1225 g
# of Reviews 26
Average Rating 4.88/5
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Submitted by Mike Rudolf a Weekend Warrior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2004
Favorite Trail:dh trail at COP
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $110.00
Purchased At:eurotech cycle
Strengths:It's cool looking, goggles work well with it, comfy, well ventilated,
Weaknesses:no major ones so far...kinda tough to get on and off...pads eventually make your face all dry and weird.
Similar Products Used:mace hammer, sixsixone full bravo 2
Bike Setup:Specialized p.2, completely stock...i love it
Bottom Line:This helmets good, not as huge as a louis garneau or such, fits nicely, comfy, looks rad, fits goggles well..it's a great helmet for the price
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by ryan a Weekend Warrior from napa,ca,usa
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004
Favorite Trail:the one at my house
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $115.00
Purchased At:beyondbikes.com
Strengths:everything,it doesnt get that hot but then again i havent use it in the summer yet.great protection.it feels really nice on your head.it looks cool but that doesnt really matter
Weaknesses:the strap could be better.its especially hard to put on if you have gloves on.the visor also seems kind of week.my brother has one too and he broke his visor off.also the adjustor screws for the visor suck,they strip really easy.
Similar Products Used:some crappy bmx full face called "tech series",giro switchblade (weak as hell,i wont go there)
Bike Setup:arrow dss hardtail,marzocchi 00' z1,hayes hydrolic,arrow rims and tires
Bottom Line:get this helmet.i think it is probably the strongest on the market (well, troy lee's are probably stronger but i wouldnt know)the strap is kind of a pain but when you crash,it's well worth it.if you do really aggresive xc,freeride,downhill, or even slalom, this helmet is for you.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Josh E a Weekend Warrior from Whistler
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:anywhere man....
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $150.00
Purchased At:steveston bikes
Strengths:sweet lookin, nice breather, everyone looks :p
Weaknesses:is there any?
Similar Products Used:thats bell helmet that sucked ass
Bike Setup:small norco rampage with super-t
Bottom Line:buy it
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Bryan a Downhiller from Fernie
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003
Favorite Trail:Hedonism Fernie
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $130.00
Purchased At:Spokes and Attire
Strengths:Light, good vents, good looks, secure
Weaknesses:none
Similar Products Used:I tried at least 20 other helmets on in the stores and this is the only one that fit my head and had vents
Bike Setup:Big Hit
Bottom Line:As far as I was concerned this was the only helmet I could find that fit my head, so it was the obvious choice. A lot of the other helmets had no padding in the forehead area and it felt very abrasive there. I found that the other helmets could tip back and forth as well. This helmet is definately worth the little bit of extra money. The strap is very confortable under the chin. It does the job and looks cool too!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Justin T a Downhiller from Canada BC
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2002
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $200.00
Strengths:Great helemet, very strong, comfy
Weaknesses:None
Similar Products Used:first full face
Bike Setup:Brodie evolution
Bottom Line:This is a great helmet for all around biking, If your looking for a great helmet to protect you get this one
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Grubby Octoweed a Cross Country Rider from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:All
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $190.00
Purchased At:LBS
Strengths:Comfortable, lightweight. Good ventilation.
Weaknesses:None from me.
Similar Products Used:first full face.
Bike Setup:2001 RM Slayer
Bottom Line:Awsome helmet. I am glad I bought it. I see many reviews of people asking for more vents. The more there are the weaker it gets. I don't find it that hot anyway. Mind you I got it near the end of summer. (So in the dead of summer heat the only thing to do is bike faster.)

Fullface in general: More courage. Ride faster and be more aggressive. Deflect branches to the face.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by bOOnie a Downhiller from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 22, 2002
Duration Product Used:Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid: $200.00
Purchased At:Canada
Strengths:Looks Tuff, Strong, nice padding
Weaknesses:Heavy, don't breath, needs more vents, vision limited
Similar Products Used:QumaQaze QrancOGK (z best) Apache odessy (farken crap)
Bike Setup:Intense M1
Bottom Line:Not too bad, I like the QumaQaze better. Not many helmets can compete with the madmax
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Sebastian a from Milford, Maine
Date Reviewed: November 15, 2002
Favorite Trail:Kings trail
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $120.00
Purchased At:Ski Rack Sports
Strengths:- Nice plush feeling pads
- Comfortable material on chin straps
- Plenty of vents
- Adjustable visor
- Sharp looking helmet (red)
Weaknesses:- Haven't found one yet
Similar Products Used:- First full face helmet
Bike Setup:- 2002 Kona Stinky, BETD rocker plates
Bottom Line:Nice helmet, fits great, some reviews complain about lack of visor adjustment, this is my first full face so i dont know how big of a deal visor adjustment is but i dont see a cause great enough to complain about.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Andrew Wallerstein a Weekend Warrior from NYC
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:Ski Plattekill
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $80.00
Purchased At:Hunter Mtn. Shop
Strengths:Inspires confidence, lightweight, looks great, fantastic chin protection
Weaknesses:None worth mentioning
Similar Products Used:Giro Havoc and Switchblade
Bike Setup:Freeride and XC hardtails
Bottom Line:Been riding 15 years, my style ranges from aggressive XC to hardcore freeriding, and I've never used anything quite like this... Great price (I got it on sale, but still priced well enough these days even if you can't), and once its on your head for a few minutes, you forget its even there. Great clearance for goggles and sunglasses, my only wish is that it were appropriate for warm-weather XC use! Perfect for my freerides, though!
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Ben Hersey a Downhiller from Mylor, SA, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2002
Favorite Trail:fox creek
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $115.00
Purchased At:Aldgate Bike Shop ;-)
Strengths:-great visibility
-light-
-cool
-impresses chicks
-gets you laid
-protects your head
Weaknesses:-the stupid visor adjustor does hardly anything
-EVERYONE has one
Bike Setup:poverty de-lux 2002
Bottom Line:Greatest helmet ive ever tested, and other people think so too cos 4 out of 5 people are wearing them at race meets. Nice to wear, boosts your confidence, looks sh1t-hot. Good for pretty much anyone, buy your grandma one, she'll love it so much she'll wear it to the shops and when she plays bingo.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Herman Helmet a Weekend Warrior from Vancouver B.C.
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:?
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $120.00
Purchased At:Cove Bike Shop
Strengths:Lots of padding, fits well,not too hot for a full face, good fit with goggles, cool design (race blue).
Weaknesses:Visor adjustment is really stupid because it hardly adjusts at all.Otherwise none.
Similar Products Used:none
Bike Setup:2002 norco fluid w/ telescopic seatpost.
Bottom Line:Good helmet got it on sale for $180 can. havent ridden with it much yet though.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by james may a from saltash,cornwall,england
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2002
Favorite Trail:Fort william(scotland),north shore
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $150.00
Purchased At:local bike shop
Strengths:every thing,strengt+looks+ but in the end it does the job and it does it well, and cool features
Weaknesses:NONE!
Similar Products Used:Azonic,bell,661
Bike Setup:brooklins DH+ Avalanche 10"inch+XTR E.T.C
Bottom Line:excelent probably the bst helmit ever made well worth the money
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Michael a Downhiller from Australia, NSW
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002
Favorite Trail:Midtown Madness
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:ABC bikes
Strengths:Looks sick
pretty light
heaps of padding
comfortable
googles fit easily
doesn't come in a large size (for people with big heads)
Weaknesses:Price???
Similar Products Used:Bell Balistic
Bike Setup:Giant AC1 full XT, Hayes, Mazocchi Z1
Bottom Line:This is a great helmet for anyone that is serious in downhill or extreme freeride. The helmet looks sick and gives you pretty good view out of the sides. THe helmet is pretty light so you can be doing shuttle runs all day with out getting a sore neck, you also stay pretty cool.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alex Zouev a Downhiller from Richmond Hill
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2002
Favorite Trail:A-line (Whistler)
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $180.00
Purchased At:Silent Sports
Strengths:-Looks much better in real life, than on-line.
-Light for a downill helmet.
-Has enough vents (compared to other full-face helmets)
-Good sight range.
-Good fit for both goggles and shades
(I use Oakley and SPY)
-Nice strap with a tage --> easier to undo.
-Nice decals on Black-&-Silver helmet.
-Soft strap pads.
-Nice shape, easy to maneuver around the shoulders.
-Nice steel grid in the face-cage openings.
Weaknesses:There are very few minor glitches such as:
-Low adjustability range for the visor.
-Non-removable jaw pads.
Similar Products Used:-Bell bellistic.
Bike Setup:KONA Stinky Primo.
-2002 Super-t Pro, XTR, Blackspire AS-1 chainguide, etc.
Bottom Line:One good helmet for a good price, very well designed, it is very comfortable, good looking and strong.
You could easily wear sun glasses, glasses, or goggles with it. Good quality product, stuff does not come off......time will tell : )

Get it when you need another affortable best-priced helmet, it's available in a variey of colouring options and does the job of protecting your face best.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Guillaume B a Downhiller from Quebec, quebec, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2002
Favorite Trail:Banzai @ Bromont
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $80.00
Purchased At:Mont-Velo
Strengths:Nice fit
Feels solid
Visor adjustement
Awesome looks
Chin strap covered by a really soft material, very comfy
cool (not warm)
Looks like it can withstand many crashes
LIGHT! No 5lbs MX helmet here
Weaknesses:Not enough range of visor adjustement
non-removable iner liner, but just spray some stuff that removes the odours and everything is fine
Similar Products Used:Bell Nemesis 2 Pro, Bell Rhytm Pro, Lazer ??
Bike Setup:Kona Chute 2002 frame, Z1 MCR 01/02 5", Hussefelts, Hayes purple DH, XT stuff, MRP Long Range Patrol 2 ring guide, Intense Mag 30, etc etc etc
Bottom Line:Best DH helmet out there, awesome in every domain (looks, protection, price), fits nicely if you got a small or medium head (no large, but the medium is big enough for the biggest one), and it's fricking light for a full face.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alex Fok a Downhiller from Ottawa, ONTARIO, canada
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2002
Favorite Trail:Urban (downtown)
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:Award cycles (LBS)
Strengths:LOOKS, weight, fit, price... jsut about everything.. ohhh and warenty...the fact that's it a giro... anything else?
Weaknesses:well... i do urban.. so it looks silly wheni go out on the weekends jumping stairs and all the skaters look at you funny... punks...
Similar Products Used:none
Bike Setup:2002 Giant acid, 2002 psylo race, avid discs, xt, race face, 24 doublewide
Bottom Line:this helmet is great.. inspires confidence, cheap.. looks sweet ( i have the blue race one) and makes your friends jealous... fits great.... buy one now!!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jamie Shankland a Downhiller from Waterloo, ONT, CAN
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2002
Favorite Trail:Gruvula
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Purchased At:Work
Strengths:Nice and Light. Grabs he face unlike the other full face Giro Makes!
Weaknesses:Metle D rings are cold on neck in winter!
Similar Products Used:Switchblade, Louis Garnou Buzz, Fox Elite
Bike Setup:Kona Stinky Dee, Stab SE
Bottom Line:I like my helmet. My goggles fit in the thing properly and it keeps my head warm this time of year, Ill let you know how it feels in SUmmer
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Robbie a Weekend Warrior from Ottawa, Ontairo, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2001
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $161.00
Purchased At:Power Bikes and Boards
Strengths:Very strong, ski goggles fit very well. Sun glasses even fit. Has a bunch of vents that cool my head! snug fit. I have had no porblem with the visor adjuster screw
Weaknesses:None. Yet?
Similar Products Used:Giro SwiTch BlADe
Bike Setup:Dmr trailstar, psylo XC, Rhyno lites, Deore
Bottom Line:Very good helmet. You should buy it if you are a serious rider. Makes you feel thougher and you can do more tahn with a wimpier helmet. You should buy it if you see a good deal.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Radek a Downhiller from Adelaide, Australia
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:JT Cycles
Strengths:Relatively light,
Very comfy
gives you more confidence
relatively cool for a full face
good goggle fit
SOLID FEEL
Weaknesses:could use a couple more vents
only 2 sizes so if you got a abnormal head i guess youre outta luck
takes a while to dry inside during winter
stripped the visor adjuster thread
Similar Products Used:Giro SwitchBlade, Lazer fullface (cheap no vent fullface)
Bike Setup:DBR V-10, Z1 bombers, XTR
Bottom Line:Great helmet, already has saved my face
people complain that its a bit hot i guess it could use
a few more vents but a fullface helmet is always gonna be hot.
The visor adjustor seems like a good isystem but i stripped the screw first time i touched so i suggest just leave the visor as is. Cant adjust it much anyway
Nice and cushy inside but it abosrobs all the sweat instantly
and remains wet for up to 3 days during winter i found.
I tried my friends Switchblade it just seems that if you were to comedown on your head the chinguard would just break. The MadMaX feels very solid through.

overall though the weakness are very minor so if youre into doing a few crazy things n want your head intact go out n buy it.

Money Well Spent!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Garett a Downhiller from Coquitlam
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001
Favorite Trail:Whistler DH
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $100.00
Purchased At:Blak Dog Bikes
Strengths:Very strong, looks good.
Weaknesses:None that I can think of.
Similar Products Used:Giro Switch Blade
Bike Setup:Giant ATX-1 Team DH, Boxxers, etc
Bottom Line:This overall is a great helmet and reccomend one if you are into dh'in or extreme freeriding.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by taylor hatton a Downhiller from wood acre,ca
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2001
Favorite Trail:tamalpa
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $126.00
Strengths:strong, good visabilty, chin strap is very comfertable
Weaknesses:liner is falling apart, kind of hot, if you chip the paint it is pink below
Bike Setup:01'marin team dh, 01' boxxxer,hope enduro,
Bottom Line:this helmet is very strong
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Aaron a Downhiller from Bothell
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2000
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $125.00
Purchased At:Bicycle Outfitters
Strengths:At first I had my sights set on the Bell, until I saw this helmet. Very comfortable and fits nicely on your head. It also has enough room for sunglasses or a pair of goggles.
Weaknesses:Giro only makes these helmets in S and M so if you have a bigger head you might be out of luck.
Similar Products Used:Bell Rhythm Pro and Bellistic, Azonic AZX
Bottom Line:This helmet used to cost a small fortune, but now the price has dropped considerabley and I'd suggest that if your looking for a good full face helmet, that you check this one out.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Crash a Downhiller from SLC, UT US
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2000
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $350.00
Strengths:Good looks, strong.
Weaknesses:weak replacement policy
Bike Setup:Yeti DH8
Bottom Line:This thing saved my life. I landed on my lid from about 2 stories up on the Mammoth Velocity course and walked away. I broke through the carbon shell and completely destroyed the foam liner but it did what it was supposed to do.

If you go fast and take chances (like you have to do in DH racing), this is it. The cost is high but I will do it again.

You only get one shot so I wouldn't bank on a cheap immitation. I can tell you that it isn't just a pretty decoration to hang on your mellon.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by fatty a Downhiller from hobart
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999
Favorite Trail:
home made
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Strengths:
tough as nails, awesome looks, nice venting, good vision and goggle fit, strong shell, light
Weaknesses:
pads are a bit thin, crappy visor
Similar Products Used:
qranc DH, troy lee DH, Bell Dh
Bike Setup:
Merida Team series Dh, sigma 7 forks, etc
Bottom Line:Great, airy, comfy, reasonably light, and very reassuring to wear Dh lid, I never feel safe going fast without it, highly recommended. It's light and well vented enought that I often wear it on freeride style rides
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Mark a Downhiller from Dublin
Date Reviewed: June 30, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ravensdale, Dundalk
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Strengths:
Rock solid shell (crash tested- took the tree with me)
Weaknesses:
sometimes slide ove your eyes now and again
you really need a good fit
Similar Products Used:
Met Nitro
Eurofighter
Manga
Bike Setup:
Saracen Addiction
Boxxer pro's
Stratos Expert
Bottom Line:Save your life/World cup Helmet IR£250.00 Lets just say when you need it you get your moneys worth!!!
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Jules a Downhiller from Herts, Uk
Date Reviewed: April 13, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Strong carbon, good design, well built, product replacement program, goods vents feels like your wearing an XC lid
Weaknesses:
Not the comfiest of lids but you get used to it real quick
Similar Products Used:
Met attila
Bottom Line:If you've got the cash , no even if you haven't got the cash buy this lid, You've only got one brain(that's if you had one to start with). This lid is built to last, Stick a troy lee paek on it & you're stylin'
Overall Rating:5






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