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Sleek and streamlined body guards weren't always an industry standard. These pieces of protective equipment were once so bulky, weighted, and awkward that many of us opted to ride without padding, or more→instead tape pool noodles to critical areas for 'superior' unencumbered movement. After decades of research and design, it's safe to say those days are behind us, and we have protective equipment like G-Form's Pro-X3 Knee Guard to thank for bringing us out of the dark ages. Its compression fabric hugs the skin for ride-ready comfort, while SmartFlex padding remains loose about the knee until impact occurs, at which point the pad becomes rigid to absorb potentially harmful forces. After a series …

The Manifest Spherical Helmet premieres Giro's revolutionary Spherical Technology for enhanced safety on the trail. Powered by MIPS, Spherical Technology utilizes a similar slip-plane design as MIPS f more→or greater impact absorption at angular crashes, except Spherical opts for two layers of foam with a slip-plane between the two, instead of a plastic liner. This redirects impact energy by rotating the exterior liner independently from the interior liner, and it enables greater ventilation for a cooler time on the trail as well as a safer one. Giro geared the Manifest for sweaty riding in hot weather with nineteen Wind Tunnel vents, all amplified thanks to Aura's reinforcement around the arch. XT2 …

Style meets ventilation for total comfort in all-mountain applications in the new Smith Session MIPS Helmet. This all-new cranium coverage keeps your noggin on lockdown with a combination of Smiths Ko more→royd technology and MIPS, shielding you from impacts both direct and oblique, so you can charge through rowdy rock gardens while staying ventilated as you weave your way through technical switchbacks to the top for round two. And Smith doesn't hold back on the good looks either, with a modern and sleek style that falls neatly between the previously loved Rover and Forefront, giving just a little more coverage than its cross-country cousin, but with less bulk than the enduro-ready Forefront.

Updated to have an even greater value, the Wanderer II Helmet offers greater protection at a lighter weight and price. It features the same systems, which have always made it extraordinary but with sh more→aved weight to stop that heavy-headed feeling from bogging us down in the rapids.

The Tectal Race MIPS Helmet has been a favorite of ours for years now, providing us with a comfortable, airy feel on the trail while keeping us protected from the occasional tumble or low-hanging tree more→branch. For the latest version of the Tectal Race, POC phases out its SPIN technology in favor of an integrated MIPS system developed specifically for POC helmets. This sheds some weight while still offering protection against rotational impact forces.

The Black Diamond Vapor Helmet is now lighter than ever, making us forget we have anything clipped to our head at all. The webbing and cord harness system saves grams and space in our pack yet gives u more→s infinite adjustments for a snug, made-for-us fit that won't slip or shift when we dyno or get horizontal. As we chase the sunset to the last pitch, the large side vents help us keep our cool, while the tough top cap gives us reliable protection as our partner battles the final crux above. When the sun goes down, the low-profile clips secure our headlamp for a well-lit rap.