Klim Krios ADV Helmet: In-Depth Review
When you’re flying through the backcountry on your dual sport, your helmet might be your most important safety tool. I’ve been wearing my Klim Krios ADV Helmet for months now and love it. So much so that I named it my 2018 Gear of the Year here on the TWR. Here’s why.
1. The Fit is Fantastic. Some helmets make you feel a bit claustrophobic, but not the Krios. I never need to adjust this helmet while riding, even when on the most treacherous terrain. Part of the reason for this is the helmet’s cheek pads. They don’t consume your face but still apply enough pressure to maintain a safe comfortable fit.
When determining the right size for you, use Klim’s size chart. For reference, I am rocking a size Medium, which measures out to 56-57 cm.
2. The Interior Padding is Super Soft and Cleans Easily. The Krios’ interior padding is made of a really nice soft fabric. It’s not abrasive on your face and remains comfortable when sweating hard on those warmer days.
The interior padding has an anti-microbial treatment that will kill off all those nasty germs. Even better, the entire inner liner is removable and washable. I like to clean my helmet regularly, especially after a hot summer ride. Snapping the liner in and out is a breeze, so you have no excuse either.
3. The Helmet’s Outer Shell is Light, Durable, and Aerodynamic. The Krios has a hand-built carbon composite shell and weighs only three pounds (for a size medium). That’s super lightweight, making it one of the lightest helmets on the North American market today.
Despite the lightweight, the shell’s durability is fantastic. I’ve had my fair share of branch bushes and knocks and it shows no signs of scratches or wear.
The helmet’s aerodynamics—accomplished with well-placed scoops on the visor and rear air vents—are also outstanding. No matter how fast you’re cruising, you hardly feel any wind disruption and the helmet stays steady on our head at all speeds.
Likewise, the helmet’s vents—one on the forehead and four in the rear—work together to push airflow over and around your head, so that things are cool, not stuffy. What’s really nice is that the main front vent does not push air directly at your mouth, keeping the cold air away from your face. Rather, it moves the air up towards the shield, so it stays fog free. This is a lot more comfortable in the colder months when you don’t want cold air constantly blowing on your face.
4. The Interchangeable Face Shields are Sick. The Krios comes with two shields, one clear and the other black (for sunny summer days). Both are great and offer a wide field of vision. But what really did it for me was the included Pinlock Anti-Fog Lens. You just simply snap this lens onto the black or clear lens and it’s good to go. At first, I thought it was a gimmick, but I’ve yet to have a lens-fog issue on a ride, something I can’t say for all my “anti-fog” ski goggles and mountain bike shades. For $30.00 you can purchase an extra; that’s a cheap price to pay for such an excellent product.
It is also easy to remove the shield if you decide to run goggles on those hot summer days. You just twist the switch on the right and left side of your visor and boom, the shield is off and it’s time to ride with your goggles. The helmet has plenty of room inside, accommodating even the largest goggles on the market. And if you (like me) prefer to have the shield for the road and goggles for the woods, the shield hides away nicely, without interfering with your goggles or goggle strap.
5. The Expense is Worth It. There’s no denying that this helmet is expensive (retail: $499). But we’re talking our heads people. If you really want to be safe out there, stop thinking with your wallet—your head is worth the investment. Plus, the helmet is backed by a five-year crash warranty, meaning if the helmet ever has to do its job, the new one is on Klim.
In sum, you can’t go wrong with the Krios. It has all the features you need for a long day out riding and excels in every type of riding. It’s a worthwhile investment that you won’t regret. And it’ll definitely be the one Tim and Luke get when they finally get the dual sport bug.
See you on the trails!
Words and photos by Mickey Spades
