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Submitted by
joe downhiller
a Downhiller
from australia
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Windy point jump track | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | cheap light weight | | Weaknesses: | hot bulky weak | | Similar Products Used: | various othe rbells | | Bike Setup: | 7inch craftworks dh bike | | Bottom Line: | ok helmet but after coming off once down a bitumen road it cracked and now usless but it did what it should do cause i still have a head so its pretty good value and it is protective i give it a 4 for value and 3 for overall | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from winnipeg
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | looks good
price (didn't have to sell my kid to pay for it)
fit
adjustability | | Weaknesses: | venting
visor attachment system | | Similar Products Used: | specialized something | | Bike Setup: | Giant Yukon, XT hubs/cassette, LX deraileurs, 434 pedals, Mavic 222/221 rims, DT Revolution spokes, Avid Arch 50 brakes,Marzocchi Z4, Selle-Italia Nitrox saddle, Titec L'il Al stem/bar-ends, Icon Ernie bar, SRAM Plasma gripshifters, Cane Creek C-2 headset, Bontrager Revolt SS tires | | Bottom Line: | I've read the other reviews and wanted to add my 2 cents. First, this helmet fits me like a f***ing glove. WOW!!! Once on my head, this baby doesn't move. Great!! But, a helmet should also help keep your head cool and not turn the area between your head and the helmet into a sauna. I agree with the guys who said that this helmet is HOT . I'll say that again - HOT!!! HOT!!! HOT!!! The vents look big, but are too small on the inside. Why did Bell do this to what could have been a really great helmet?
The visor's retention system also sucks - the little holes in the shell are supposed to retain the visor, but mine didn't do their job very good. The visor itself is great - love it. Even if this helmet had the full Nelson retention system, I'd still have to pass on buying it again - it is just too hot, but I'd sure check out other Bell helmets. I think I got a Bell head.
I'll give it 5 chilies for being kind to my head, but only 4 chilies because of the lack of adequate venting and the weeny way they attached the great visor. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobby
a
from Middlebury, CT
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | saved my life, i guess thats a good enough strength | | Weaknesses: | the cover comes off very easily because its only taped on around the edges | | Similar Products Used: | Image Pro, Forza II | | Bottom Line: | This helmet was bigger than my image pro but i like the looks about the same. I didn't like the way it adjusted in the back but the most impresive thing about this helmet is that it probably saved my life or maybe just saved me from a really expensive hospital bill twice. Once i was speed skating and i got knocked around backwords and fell on the back of my head so hard but the helmet heald up great. Another time i went off a jump on my bike and flew over my handlebars and landed head first. I dented the helmet good and cracked part of it but i didn't hurt my head at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Wessendorf
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | The Murderhorn | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Ummmmmmm it looked cool on my head, as far as I remember | | Weaknesses: | I dont reMemBER 2 moch abut da helmut, xcpt it waz crakd wit ma blud in IT, I tink It werkED gud doh. | | Similar Products Used: | Soup bowl with some kleenex in it, taped ot my head | | Bike Setup: | Stock (for now) '00 Specialized Hardrock A1 FS | | Bottom Line: | I blew out real pretty like on a root a couple of weeks ago and landed on my shoulders and head, I think my head slid and hit something because it was wicked cracked! I'm just fine though, great helmet saved my noodle! nice and light, nice and cool | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jared
a Cross-Country Rider
from Me
Date Reviewed: December 8, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Good protection, stays on well | | Weaknesses: |
Hot, bulky | | Bike Setup: |
Raleigh M200 Marzocchi Z3 shocks | | Bottom Line: | This helmet looks pretty good, and when you look at it you would think it would breath well with all the vents, but if you look at it. The vents taper down so that there is barely an opening. But when I wore this helmet I did feel protected and when I did crash with it, it surved its purpose. It is very safe and stays put fairly well but does not vent well and gets very hot. It is fairly bulky too, the foam is pretty thick. So she gets 3 flamin ponys | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Feasty
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver
Date Reviewed: August 9, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Cheap,Comfy | | Weaknesses: |
bad venting | | Similar Products Used: |
now use giro torreo | | Bottom Line: | get a small hack saw an open up those vents and boy,what a great helmet. From the outside those vents seemed pretty big but they taper in reaaly small. I cut them out and she's reaaly sweet now for those hot summer XC rides. Of course I ain't
got no warranty any more and I use the Giro on those Downhill rides.... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Travis Kelley
a Cross-Country Rider
from Auburn, CA
Date Reviewed: June 27, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Clementine Loop | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
-Low price
-Retention system
-Visor
-light weight | | Weaknesses: |
-Pads
-Visor
-Ventilation | | Similar Products Used: |
Bell Nemisis Pro II | | Bike Setup: |
GT BAckwoods, XT everything, manitou sx | | Bottom Line: | This is a decent helmet with bad ventilation and bad pads. I got it for 40$ and liked the fit, full nelson and visor. After a few months, the visor wouldn't stay locked, and I had to glue it in place. The original pads wore out in a month, the spares in a week. Pads dry out slowly, keep fore head very wet even after beibg sqeezed out. Did save my skull a number of times, keeping it as a spare. If you have the bucks, get a Nemesis Pro, if not, spend 55$ and get a Giro Torrero | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chase
a weekend warrior
from Langley BC Canada
Date Reviewed: March 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
The 1999 Tsunami pro helmet Is a great helmet. It has a good shape and it keeps
your head cool. There is no stupid velcro fastners like the 1998 Image pro which runs for almost double the price overall this helmet is great | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Breezy Willis
a cross-country rider
from Westby, WI
Date Reviewed: February 4, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
This helmet kicks arse it fits like a glove, keeps me cool, cost next to nothing, looks cool, and has saved me quite a few times. If you want a great helmet with a good replacement warranty for cheep, chow down. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trevor McIlroy
a cross-country rider
from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 28, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
When I was looking for a helmet the main thing I wanted was one that looked cool. I tried on many of the expensive helmets but they felt horrible and would hurt my head. Then I picked up this $50 (Canadian) helmet and fit like a glove. I have had 2 hard falls on it and there are only small dents in the styrofoam. It could use a bit more ventalation but if I had to buy another helmet, it would be this one. 5 flames for this well fitting helmet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a weekend warrior
from SC
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is an update from my previous rating. Great helmet for the money. Saved my ass. I had two major crashes on the same ride and this helmet literally saved me from serious head injuries. The first accident happened when I hit a hole on the outside of a fast corner and got launched over the bars onto my back and slid headfirst into a tree. No apparant damage to the helmet at this time, but I was going to replace it after this ride any way. With only two miles left to the truck we approached our last downhill. I should have taken it a little easier knowing my helmet had been impacted earlier, but I love this downhill at speed with its smooth water bar jumps. Yea, I cranked on it, and before I knew it I landed on my head instead of my bike at 30 MPH coming off the second water bar. The impact shattered my helmet and I suffered some minor cuts and abrasions. The helmet was busted in three places but my head wasn't. The helmet was sent back to Bell with a check for $20 and in a couple of days I received word that they were out of the Tsunami. They offered me in its place a Forza 2 pro, an upgraded model at no extra cost. I would like to commend Bell for a quality product and the best customer service I have ever received from any company. I'm sure I will enjoy the Forza as well. I will post a review on the Forza after using it a bit. I just hope I don't get to find out the hard way agin about the quality. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Felix Wong
a weekend warrior
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: September 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This helmet is a good value, as it holds onto the head very well, is somewhat stylish (at least back in 1996), and even comes with a visor for Furthermore, the pads are very thin and can become drenched with sweat quickly. They do not dry out rapidly, even after squeezing out a lot of the sweat from them.The visor, on the other hand, does a pretty good job of keeping rain out of one's eyes. It can also be flipped upwards, although not in a locking position. Tilt your head down at speed with the visor flipped up, and the wind will blow it back down. In conclusion, because I have done too many long rides in 100 degree heat, I will be looking for a significantly cooler helmet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory
a cross-country rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Of course some people might consider this a nice helmet but normal human beings realize that this posibly be the worst helmet in the history of bikes. I was given this helmet as a gift but did not like the fit or the durablity( it cracked within two weeks). I recomend that no one buy this helmet | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony D
a cross-country rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've had this helmet for 2 years (yeah, I know, time to replace it). This thing is still working great. The tape liner hasn't come loose and though I've always though they looked suspect, the little pads haven't disintigrated after being washed countless times. Great helmet, but w/all the Evo2 Pros on sale............ | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a weekend warrior
from S.C.
Date Reviewed: May 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a very nice fitting helmet.It does not slip around,stays in place very well.The cam-lock retention holds the straps without slipping.I tried on several differant brands and models including some higher priced models.This helmet had the best fit by far.The airflow is good also,cools very well.The colors are nice, and the $20 replacement cost if damaged makes this a very good purchase.I would recommend this helmet to anyone. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a cross-country rider
from Munich
Date Reviewed: May 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is one of the best fitting helmets I could find and at 30-50 bucks it is certainly a great deal. It wears very light and the ventilation is quite effective both in the winter and summer. Why Bell choose to save a nickel on the cheap pads (two popped open after one ride - must be my head I guess)and tape for the shell is beyond me. Spoils the otherwise great impression. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd
a weekend warrior
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: May 8, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Hot Damn!!!!! This is the best helmet I have ever tried. Went downhilling the other day and the helmet didn't even move... I have a hard time fitting helmets and this thing fit soooo nice the first time. New laws in BC says ya gotta wear a helmet (only idiots don't anyway) and with the Bell ya don't feel like quite such an idiot when ya go to town with it on. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a cross-country rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Wicked helmet! I love the Tsunami Pro! Light as hell, I can barely feel it when im rippin' down the trails. great for the $$ too. Great hold system too. I have yet to bust the thing. Heh, great paint job too. and the visor.. it;s a great helmet. buy it now! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Studer
a cross-country rider
from Hauenstein, Switzerland
Date Reviewed: May 2, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
The first Tsunami I bought in Spring 1996 and used it until September 1997. At this time I had a crash in the Swiss Alps. The helmet protected me very well from all head-damages! Of course, the helmet broke on one side, but this was absolutely nescessary (my crash speed was probably about 45 km/h...).After sending the helmet back to Bell USA, I received a brandnew version of the Tsunami: Great backhead protection, very good air ventilation, best visor! The clip-close-system is not bad. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Bryan
a downhiller
from Canada
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This helmet is light, stylish, not too pricy, and gives you everything you could possibly want in a helmet. I would recommend it for anyone not wanting to spend too much, but still wants a good quality stylish, inexpensive helmet! Happy crashing! Oh Yeah! I crashed, and the company replaced it for me! BYE! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ed
a weekend warrior
from Vacaville,CA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great helmet, got it on sale-closeout at sportmart for $30. It fits snug, it's strong, and keeps my head cool. Unlike cheaper helmets, it prevents sweat from dripping off your forehead into your eyes. My only beef is the liner pads are cheap and ripped after 10 rides. Cool green color. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eslinger
a cross-country rider
from LA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These things are ugly as hell why the hell is it above the exodus and evo2. These thing cost more than the evo2 which is being sold currently at Supergo for THIRTY NINE BUCKS!!! $39. Go get the top of the line bell helmet now before it's gone!!! damn 50 word thing | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: November 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Great helmet for the price - $35 at REI a year ago. Only had 2 problems with it. 1) I left it in my car on a sunny day, and the rear part of the shell curled up like a shrinky-dink. My own damn fault for that one. I used some electrician's tape to hold down the curled portion, and it's fine. 2) The tape holding down the shell started to crack after 6 months. Dunno if it was due to the sun episode in #1, but some more electrician's tape did the job.5 stars.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a weekend warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Great Helmet! I got mine at REI For 35 bucks. This helmet fits good
and stays in place with the full nelson retention system. This helmet
is also comfortable, I have never been in need of removing my helmet
because of discomfort,even in the heat of summer. If you want a great
helmet for not much cash buy the Tsunami Pro! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
The Very Big Daddy From Down Under
a downhiller
from MTB heaven is a place called New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The Best helmet this side of the century dollar mark. Might even be better than helmets costing x3 as much. Nice looks and backed up with a rock solid crash replacement warantee!!! My only complaint is that the covering of the pads peel of thus rendering the pad useless but heck almost all pads will eventually do that, even $200 ones. Recommended to anyone who has less than a stellar credit rating. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick S.
a weekend warrior
from Toronto, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Best helmut I have tried for the price!!!!
Comes with full-nelson retention system, visor, and excellent custom fit pads.
Conforms perfectly to my head. Did not know how a helmut should fit until I casually tried this one on in the store without intent to buy. Not the most ventilated helmut, but certainly does the job.
If you would rather invest good money into your bike rather than your helmut, buy this brand! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MATT gomer Vermeer
a cross-country rider
from Beamsville CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Kick ass price, great room for stickers! the visor is kind of flimsy,
it almost knocked off the scacread CANACAIN flag that I have mounted on.
To bad my Dad won't let spend a cool $200 to get troy lee to make it really
CANADAIN! Should get 100 star pepper things
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad Cavanagh
a weekend warrior
from Victoria, BC
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Excellent helmet for an excellent price (I paid $30!), but there are two things wrong with it: one, the shell should be permanently bonded to the foam like my last Bell helmet. That tape job looks way too flimsy. And two, the adhesive that sticks the horseshoe pad at the back of the helmet keeps sticking to my hair! I hope that adhesive wears out pretty darned quick. Loses one pepper because of that, for sure. But, all in all, it's a nice helmet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a
from Maryland
Date Reviewed: June 13, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Love the helmet. It cost me just under $50, and I don't think I could get a better deal. Fits like a glove, and the straps don't bug me. Defintely fits better then alot of the higher priced helmets. No sweaty head complaint either. Is vented nicely, and I live in like 99% humidity here in Maryland. No complaints. Only been over the handle bars once, and that was two days ago. Did a nice front fall, but foruntantly didn't get a chance to road test the helmet. Best buy out there IMOO. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
paul
a weekend warrior
from massachusetts
Date Reviewed: May 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
nice fit on my head(better than GIRO, GT). It doesn't bother me on mountain bike trails but it does get hot. started using it on my road bike and it probably saved my head after I hit a cat going downhill. 2 broken ribs, a fractured scapula, a very broken helmet and a lot of road rash but no head injuries. I'll gladly send this back for a new one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick Pickett
a racer
from Princeton , NJ
Date Reviewed: October 2, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I ahve had the Bell Tsunami for six months. I crashed once and the visor broke the little tab in to my helmet so now I only have my visor connected to the sides. I noticed that the tape is riped all around the helmet so i had to do some jimmy rigging to it. Alos the pads fabric covering riped off the foam but I sent them to Bell and they promptly refunded me with a whole new set of pads.
The reason I bought the helmet is the style for the price and the price and the half-nelson (although the full nelson is great) and did I metion the price? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a weekend warrior
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 5, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
this is the best helmet I have ever had. The thing that I noticed first was
how good this helmet looked, sleek and aero dynamic! For $50 this is hard
to pass up!In my opinon it fits better than the $80 image pro and is
$30 less. The vents work great and the half-nelson gives a secure fit.
On the downside I noticed a possible problem, the visor snaps into the shell
(there are holes punched into the shell) if you were to hit the visor hard
it could rip the holes out and damage the shell. Another thing I plan to
do is put a roc-loc retrofit kit on it to make sure stays on my head in a
crash, while the half-nelson keeps it on well, I think if it got hit hard
it might tilt. Overall this helmet is just as good on the trail or road
and is the best helmet for the price.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dennis V.
a weekend warrior
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: August 5, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I just survived a major crash in this helmet! I came out with scratches on both legs and arms and on my left shoulder, spent a night and half a day being observed in a hospital after being rushed to the emergency room, and lost three work-days recovering from the effects of the concussion. I was still lucky considering that I was downhilling at close to 30 miles per hour when the accident happened. The helmet was of course almost totally destroyed, cracked in five places (and it could have been my skull).
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stanton Kramer
a cross-country rider
from IL
Date Reviewed: July 4, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I think the Bell Tsnunami Pro helmet is one of the best deals out there. It is
readily available for under $50 and in my opinion challenges helmets costing
twice that.
The reason I bought this helmet is because it fit my head better than any other
helmet on the market, including higher priced Bell helmets. Once on,
I don't even notice its there.
Their Half Nelson locking device is adequate and holds the helmet on securely,
but I wish I could get a Full Nelson with the elastic straps for a little more
solid fit. When I called Bell, they told me I should buy a Roc Loc from Giro. That
is my only dissapointment regarding the Tsunami Pro. I highly recommend this
helmet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Chae
a cross-country rider
from San Jose CA
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
At $50, this has to be the best deal going. Styling is a pretty subjective thing,
but at this price level, it has to rank as one of the better looking lids around.
The retention device holds really well; it's smaller than a Roc-Loc and rides
cooler. I wore a demo Giro Helios for a while and didn't find it rode any cooler
than the Tsunami. In fact, I prefered the Bell cause it simply fit better and
it doesn't scream LOOK AT ME like the Helios. One drawback, the tape that bonds
the shell to the bottom section splits/cracks easily. But tape is easily
replaced. If you need a helmet and dont wanna spend a c-note for what is
basically a glorified coffee cup, check it out. | | Overall Rating: |
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