7iDP Project 23 Carbon full-face helmet review
Downhill protection with a low weight and good ventilation
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7iDP’s Project 23 full-face helmet is designed to offer the same protection as a full-on downhill lid, at a decently low weight and with enough ventilation to wear for enduro riding and racing – no easy task, but 7iDP has done a pretty good job.
I tested the priciest model, with a carbon fibre shell that fully encloses the EPS liner. Integrated into that liner are sections of smart foam, claimed to reduce energy transfer to the brain on impact.
The magnetic FidLock buckle is quick and easy to use, and the angular peak offers three positions. There are six sizes, with no additional padding to tweak the fit. I had to swap from my usual medium to a small, so do try before you buy.
The overall feel is closer to an enduro-style full-face than a DH lid, although its 1,070g weight (small) does make it more noticeable on your head than lighter equivalents, such as Troy Lee Design’s Stage which weighs 690g.
That said, ventilation is impressive, with 23 decently-sized vents, and I even tackled long climbs wearing it without feeling like I was going to melt.
When you start panting, your breathing is louder than in a lid like the Stage, but removing the mesh guard at the front of the chin bar is an easy way to improve airflow and reduce the noise.
Overall, if you get the fit right, the Project 23 is comfortable – maybe not as plush as a full-on DH lid, nor does it feel quite as secure or protective, but ventilation is good and the weight and price are reasonable.
Authors
Rob Weaver is BikeRadar's technical editor-in-chief. Rob manages all of the testing here at BikeRadar and across our magazines, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus. Rob first graced the pages of MBUK back in 2001 when working as a freelance writer and went on to start testing bikes for the title in 2007. In 2010 he joined the team full-time and has been keeping a close eye on all things test-related ever since. Rob’s expansive knowledge of bikes comes courtesy of his passion for racing. He cut his teeth racing cross-country mountain bikes in the early 90s before finding his feet in downhill. After many years competing on the UK national circuit (including a year attempting to race UCI DH World Cups), Rob realised his know-how and passion for bike setup, tech and writing clearly outweighed his racing ability. A degree in sports technology and decades of riding experience all help to give Rob a thorough understanding of what’s needed to create a great bike or product. While Rob’s a mountain biker at heart and never happier than when he’s sliding down a Welsh hillside, he’s more than happy to put the miles in on the road or gravel bike, too.
