Lazer A-Line KinetiCore Full Face Helmet

Lazer has been re-designing their helmet range over the past couple of years, in particular since the introduction of their “KinetiCore” technology, which can now be found across all their mountain bike helmets. KinetiCore is Lazer’s take on a dual-density impact foam layer that is also said to be able to deal with rotational impact forces without the need for an additional slip-plane of any kind. The current Lazer range does not include a high-end, carbon DH helmet, but as of today, that gap has been filled. Meet the all-new A-Line KinetiCore.

Lazer A-Line KinetiCore Highlights

• Carbon shell construction
• Dual-core EPS
• KinetiCore protection against rotational impact forces
• Fixed visor with action cam mount (spare visor included in box)
• D-ring strap buckle
• Quick release cheek pads (two sizes included in box)
• Polygiene comfort liner
• 7 vents in the shell (+ front of chin bar)
• Sizes – XS/S/M/L/XL
• Weight – 895 grams, size M, verified (840 grams claimed)
• Colors – Carbon Black Gold, Carbon Black, Carbon Red
• Includes premium helmet bag
• Certifications: EN 1078 / CPSC / ASTM F1952 / NTA 8776
• 1-year warranty, can be extended to 24 months + 50% off crash replacement via product registration
• Pricing: €499,99 EUR / $499.99 US / $699.99 CAD

Initial Impressions

The A-Line shows up in a very nice, zippered helmet bag, featuring a separate drawstring compartment inside to secure the helmet as well as two external zippered pockets for storing extras (they will easily hold goggles and gloves, for example). The box includes an extra visor and a set of cheek pads of different thickness to fine tune the fit, as well as a spare set of tiny Velcro stickers used to hold the comfort liner in place.

First impressions of the helmet itself were great, the A-Line is well constructed with no obvious blemishes or other shortcomings from the production line. The finish is uniform and all the different layers and components fit together with precision. The only thing that stood out to us during this first examination was the visor, it is made of what feels like a fairly cheap plastic that contrasts with the rest of the helmet, although this has not translated to any actual issues in use. The visor was not designed to snap off in a crash, but perhaps the choice of material here is meant to ensure that it does break before causing your head to rotate in an unwanted direction if it should snag onto something as you tumble along in the dirt. As mentioned earlier, there is a spare visor in the box if this should indeed happen. The visor comes with a removable action cam mount on the underside (which can be mounted in two positions, one further out towards the peak and one closer to the helmet body itself).

The A-Line is designed around Lazer’s KinetiCore technology, which features dual-density EPS foam layers designed to manage different types and angles of impact. Softer foam sits on the inside where it is able to absorb lower-intensity impacts, while a harder layer sits closer to the shell where it can deal with stronger forces. The softer foam layer also features a series of blocks designed to crumble under impact, helping dissipate forces while providing integrated protection against the transmission of rotational impact forces at the same time. There is a softer indention designed into the bottom of the sides of the helmet too, in order to provide for a degree of collarbone protection in this crucial area. The A-Line is certified to the ASTM DH standard (which includes testing the chin bar), as well as the more recent Dutch e-bike certification, NTA 8776, which includes testing for higher-speed impacts.

For the rest of the features, there’s a generous Polygiene liner, and a good old D-ring buckle to close the chin strap. The cheek pads are designed to be easy to remove in case of a crash, just pull on the tabs and they slide right out. Lazer’s implementation here is one of the better we’ve seen, the tabs holding the pads in place are solid and the action of removing/replacing the pads is blissfully devoid of any jankiness (which is something we’ve often noted with other helmets featuring the same system). For the airflow, there’s a limited number of vents in the shell, not as many as you’d find on a helmet intended primarily to be pedaled around in but enough to provide a little extra cooling when in motion. On the topic of the weight, our size M sample weighed in at 895 grams, which is definitely on the light side of the full DH-certified helmet spectrum.

On The Trail

The first impression of the A-Line when you pick it up is its weight, or rather lack thereof. 895 grams is not quite what we typically refer to as a “light weight full face” (for lack of a more elegant term), but it’s not far off either. The A-Line is not a small helmet, which makes the light weight stand out even more. Slipping it on, it feels like a DH helmet though, not one of those pedal-friendly, lighter options. The padding is soft and quite generous, and there are no hotspots to speak of. We tested a size M, which runs exactly true to size – it’s listed for 56-58 cm head circumference, which seems spot-on. Our main tester (and author of this review) measures in at 58.5 cm, and the helmet was predictably a bit too tight. Another tester who measures in at 58 cm reported a perfect fit. Based on our sample size of two testers, we feel like the A-Line is a better fit for those who have a more rounded head shape as opposed to oval.

In action, the A-Line is comfortable and stable. We noted no unwanted movement of any kind, testament to a good shape but also the light weight. The helmet is free of any creaks, and it soon makes itself forgotten. The frontal opening is wide enough for big goggles, although the fixed visor does not leave any room to store them on the helmet between runs. We did not find that the visor impeded our field of vision, so this lack of adjustability did not bother us while riding. In terms of ventilation, it’s probably not class-leading but it’s not too bad either. There are a few strategically placed air vents and some mesh panels in the liner to help channel the air around, and as soon as you get moving the helmet breathes well enough. As we’ve previously alluded to, this helmet was not primarily designed for pedaling around in, which explains the relatively modest number of vents.

What’s The Bottom Line?

The A-Line marks Lazer’s arrival in the premium helmet category. Made out of carbon, it hits a very competitive weight target for this type of helmet, while the dual-layer KinetiCore tech ensures you should remain well-protected in all types of crash scenarios. It’s among the pricier options currently on the market, but if weight is among your primary concerns, it compares favorably to the likes of a TLD D4, POC Coron Air Carbon, or Fox Rampage RS. Lazer also offers 50% off a replacement helmet if you should damage yours in a crash, which takes some of the sting out of the initial purchase price and provides extra peace of mind.

For more information head on over to lazersport.com.

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord - Age: 53 // Years Riding MTB: 21 // Weight: 190-pounds (87 kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Johan Hjord