Fox Releases New Crossframe XC & Gravel Helmet
After making appearances at trade shows earlier this year, Fox is officially launching the new Crossframe helmet. It's aimed at cross-country and gravel riders, with a unique shell shape that does away with the visor entirely. Instead, the helmet tips upwards above the brow, allowing air to enter the three prominent front vents.
The Crossframe has a total of 22 vents, although it's worth keeping in mind that vent count doesn't matter as much as size and position. The vents located just above the temples do serve double duty – they can also be used to store sunglasses. A small plastic flap holds the sunglass arms in place, and the vents are lined with rubber to help keep them from slipping out.
The Crossframe has a total of 22 vents, although it's worth keeping in mind that vent count doesn't matter as much as size and position. The vents located just above the temples do serve double duty – they can also be used to store sunglasses. A small plastic flap holds the sunglass arms in place, and the vents are lined with rubber to help keep them from slipping out.
Fox Crossframe Details
• Mips liner
• BOA fit adjust
• Dual-density Varizorb EPS foam
• Weight: 370 grams (medium, actual)
• Sizes: S, M, L
• MSRP: $220 USD
• www.foxracing.com
• Mips liner
• BOA fit adjust
• Dual-density Varizorb EPS foam
• Weight: 370 grams (medium, actual)
• Sizes: S, M, L
• MSRP: $220 USD
• www.foxracing.com
A ratcheting Boa dial at the back of the helmet is used to fine-tune the fit, and the chinstrap uses a Fidlock magnetic buckle. The Crossframe uses Fox's Varizorb dual-density foam, which uses a softer foam to help deal with the slower speed impacts, and a higher density foam for larger impacts. In addition, the Crossframe is equipped with a Mips liner, a plastic slip plane that's attached to the inside of the helmet with elastomers that allow it to move in the event of a crash, ideally dissipating some of the impact energy.
My size medium helmet weighed in at 370 grams, the same number indicated by the sticker inside the helmet. That's a reasonable weight for a helmet designed for mountain biking, but many XC racers these days are using helmets originally designed for road biking, like the POC Octal or Specialized Prevail, that weigh nearly 100 grams less. That said, I'm not convinced that a helmet is really the place to shave every gram possible, and the Crossframe does offer more coverage towards the back of the head.
The Crossframe is available in sizes S, M, and L, and is priced at $220 USD.
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Fox: Hold my beer
Eclipse is a more closed helmet which weight 265g.
Aries has more opening holes, so the structure is less efficient and it need more re-inforcement to get the strength back from all the holes. It end up 280g.
Another thing, yes, it might have a little more coverage in the rear compared to a traditional road/XC helmet, but always mind that any material bellow the certification test lines is not tested, so there's no way to know as a consumer if that increased coverage is indeed effective as protection
My point is more in the sense that it's tricky to use coverage as a criteria of choose between different models. As a consumer, I would prefer helmet A with, say, a very high rating at VT than helmet B with a lower score but more coverage. Helmet A proved itself with an objective test protocol, helmet B just has subjective safety perception going for it
A good lab test result + more coverage will make for a safer helmet in most situations. It’ll likely be hotter and heavier though.
So Fox cuts away lots of protection over the forehead and sticks it low on the back?!
Alternatively, we can reasonably assume ANY helmet which covers the occipital region of your head is going to be effective protection. Or we can use the aluminum bar. Your call. (Jks)
Also, if you're so inclined, lay down on your back on the floor and check what part of your head is touching the ground - yes, the part that is covered by pretty much every certified helmet around
Additionally, manufacturers tend not to add rigid plastic components, knives, spears, or any other objects which may increase injury to its user when wearing as directed given the extremely litigious climate of USA (a market which this helmet is sold).
Great ventilation, great, solid visor to block sun, and damn good sweat management.
Fox are crap, worst sweat management ever. Unless their goal is to run all sweat directly into your eyeball in which case they succeeded. Bonus on the speedframe pro: nowhere to hold sunglasses!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Zh8tym51Y
It's like when they were making everything "Enduro" for awhile. You know. it's the same thing, but we put Enduro in the name so now...better.