Trails are getting more technical, and so are the helmets, with 7iDP's new Project.21 packing in safety features galore
7iDP has launched a new open-face helmet, the Project.21. The name represents the number of vents the helmet has, (21, if you hadn’t gathered that) and is designed for bike park, all-mountain and enduro riders. The combination of cooling and overall coverage aims to keep riders comfortable so they can concentrate on the trail ahead. It will set you back almost £200, thought, which makes it 7iDP’s most expensive open-face helmet.
Conehead uses three layers of EPS foam, where the outer and inner layers both face towards your head, and sandwich a squidgier layer in the middle. The result is better protection for your noggin thanks to more efficient energy dissipation, 7idp says.
We’re guessing the 7iDP Project.21 helmet will be better vented than most, although the angular style won’t suit everyone
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new open-face helmet from the brand – we last reviewed their M2 back in 2017. So why has the brand decided to launch a brand new, premium offering in this category now, and how will it stack up against the best open-face helmets on the market today? And can it bump the Troy Lee A3 off the top spot?
7iDP Project.21 open-face helmet need to know:
- The helmet weighs a claimed 402g, and is available in one colour: black holographic
- It uses 7iDP’s ERT system, crash release visory system, and meets CE, CPSC and AS standards
- Project.21 helmet costs £199.99
- Cooling vents number 21 (hence the name), and has Through Flow goggle ventilation
- Available in sizes XS/S, M/L and XL/XXL
The 7iDP Project.21 comes with two sets of pad kits to allow you to get the best fit
The technologies
As trails get more technical, or you become more confident in your abilities and want to hit harder obstacles on your bike, you might start to wonder about when you need to transition to a full-face helmet. Project.21 is designed almost to bridge the gap between the two, 7iDP says, with the helmet being their most advanced open-face option to date. The two main bits of tech are the ERT system, which stands for ‘energy reduction technology’, and is a 4mm layer of soft polymer foam that helps to protect further against brain injuries in the case of rotational and linear impacts.
The second bit of tech is the Conehead technology. This relates to the structure of the foam inside the helmet, which is made up of three layers and helps to dissipate the energy generated from various types of hits. In 7iDP’s words, “combining these two technologies makes the Project.21 our safest open-face helmet to date, so you can have even more confidence to tackle technical trails.”
Like its full-face sibling, the Project.21 open-face helmet gets the black/holographic treatment
7iDP Project.21 open-face helmet
You also get the crash release visor (CRV) system, which does as it says – and reduces further rotational impacts in the event of a crash. You also get 21 cooling vents, which is where the name Project.21 comes from, goggle ventilation, a Fidlock magnetic closure and a rear dial aduster.
The helmet looks pretty sleek and is available in one holographic black colourway, and in three sizes (XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL). There’s no MIPS technology here, but it does meet CE, AS and CPSC standards.
It’s priced at £199.99, and stock should be available for UK customers from July.