The Specialized Tactic 4 MIPS trail helmet is a solid, well-made and good-looking helmet for the price, certified for electric mountain bike use, and while it’s not perfect for the…
Mick Kirkman
Contributor/tester
100% Trajecta Fidlock 2022 helmet review
100%’s Trajecta is one of a growing breed of modern full-faces designed for e-biking and aggressive all mountain riding, rather than full-on downhill racing. As such, it’s lighter, airier and…
POC Kortal helmet review
When you think of Scandinavian firm POC, you likely think of a premium, safety-first brand with the high-end price tags to match. That’s fair comment considering this stylish Kortal lid…
Fox Proframe RS helmet review
Fox’s DH-certified lightweight full-face lid has already been a top-scoring helmet at MBR in its previous generation, so has Fox made it even better with this RS version, or has…
100% Altec Fidlock helmet review
The Altec is 100%’s only half-shell helmet and it has been around for a couple of seasons already. It boasts Fidlock’s rapid-to-fasten magnetic chinstrap buckle to boost what’s already a…
Leatt MTB Enduro 4.0 helmet V23 review
Leatt’s snap-together convertible MTB 4.0 Enduro helmet is one of only a couple of helmets with full DH certification that can still multitask as a lightweight open face trail lid…
Abus Moventor 2.0 MIPS helmet review
German brand Abus has really stepped up its MTB helmet game recently, with this Moventor 2.0 one of a trio in a reinvented range. Targeting the trendy down-country sector, it’s…
Deity Speedway Carbon handlebar review
Designed for DH and enduro, Deity’s Speedway is the brand’s burliest 35mm carbon bar. It comes in a massive 810mm width, laid up with unidirectional carbon using in-house only moulds.…
Maxxis Shorty Gen 2 tyre review
Originally launched in 2014, the Maxxis Shorty is a cut down mud spike in the same vein as Specialized’s Hillbilly. Released four years earlier, Spesh’s tyre brought to market downhill…
Koo Edge goggles review
Italian brand Koo only offers one MTB goggle; this high-end Edge using lenses made by German optical giants Zeiss. Koo’s lenses are installed or removed by a clip-in system where…
Look Trail Fusion pedals review
French brand Look already has a solid reputation for high-quality clipless pedals and entered the flat pedal market a couple of years ago with a two-model range. Recently it has…
Merida One-Forty 10K first ride review
If first impressions are anything to go by, Merida’s latest logically-named One-Forty trail bike, looks like the kind of do-it-all rig you’d expect from a mainstream brand – with a…
Scott Factor MTB goggles review
If you’re looking for a good pair of budget goggles that outperform their price, the Scott Factor goggle is a really good choice. In fact, Scott’s Factor goggle is by far…
Unior Tools Pro Home Kit review
Slovenian brand Unior, manufactures bike tools in Europe and has a well-deserved reputation for putting loads back into cycling through supporting events, teams and athletes. This experience of World Cup-level…
Jobsworth Bike Tool Kit 48 piece review
Planet X has a reputation for some of the keenest prices in the cycling industry, so it’s no surprise this Jobsworth box packs 48 tools for under £70. That’s almost…
LifeLine Performance 39-piece tool kit review
LifeLine is one of CRC/Wiggle’s in-house brands, and it offers this comprehensive 39-piece tool box as a one-stop home repair solution. There are some really good tools here, but also…
PRO Starter Tool Kit review
This PRO kit from Shimano’s component division is a compact tool kit, with eleven tools held in a zip/fold-out case. It’s clear from the off that it’s a more up-to-date…
Alpina Roca helmet review
This Alpina Roca is the German brand’s first shot at producing one of the best full-face mountain bike helmets. It is focussed on lightweight and ventilation, meaning it’s more aimed…
POC Spine VPD Vest review
Top-end Swedish brand POC has a varied line up of protection vests and jackets stretching up to almost £300 for some of its AIR range. This Spine VPD sleeveless vest…
Alpinestars Paragon Plus Protection vest review
Alpinestars’s Paragon Plus is one of the best MTB body armour vests on the market. It’s also £30 cheaper than POC’s VPD, but the basic design is almost identical, whereby…