The Leatt ADV 9.5 helmet falls into the high-end/premium adventure helmet category and is comparable to the Krios Pro. Both feature a carbon fiber shell, weight optimization, true on-road/off-road versatility, and a photochromic visor. As soon as you pick up the Leatt 9.5 ADV helmet, you’re struck by its overall quality. Its lightness is truly remarkable (about 1,490 g in size M/L), as is the quality of the carbon-fiber shell’s finish and the precision of the visor mechanism when operated. But the first thing that immediately catches your eye, and what’s most surprising when you hold it up, is its light weight. Truly remarkable.
Leatt likes to offer gear that can adapt to any situation, and the 9.5 ADV helmet is no exception. It comes as a truly comprehensive kit that includes, in addition to the helmet:
- a photochromic visor, pre-installed;
- a second clear visor;
- a pair of Leatt Velocity 4.5 Iriz goggles;
- an anti-fog Pinlock 120 MaxVision XLT;
- side covers that allow you to remove the visor for riding with goggles;
- a chin guard;
- a carrying bag for the helmet and accessories;
- the small hardware and accessories needed for various configurations.
Design with no compromises on safety
The attention to safety and protection in the helmet’s design is truly extensive. There are a host of features and safety mechanisms not found in entry-level or even mid-range helmets.
First, it’s worth noting that the 9.5 ADV meets the European ECE 22.06 certification, which is among the most stringent standards for road helmets. To achieve this, Leatt uses 360° Turbine technology to reduce the forces transmitted to the brain during an impact. Consisting of small, flexible discs placed between the head and the helmet’s internal structure, this system works in two ways. During a low-speed impact, their deformable material absorbs some of the linear energy. Then, the helmet’s impact foam takes over for higher-energy impacts. In the case of oblique impacts, the turbines deform to allow slight movement of the helmet around the head, which reduces the impact energy transmitted to the brain.
The carbon-fiber shell, which has an intermediate oval shape, features four densities of expanded polystyrene (EPS) to ensure progressive absorption of impact energy.
Leatt has also included an emergency system that allows first responders to remove the padding at the base of the helmet to facilitate removal and protect the cervical vertebrae of an injured motorcyclist as much as possible. Finally, a noteworthy detail is the Fidlock chin strap closure, which is magnetic. It’s easy to operate even while wearing gloves because the magnet “sucks” the closure mechanism in. Simple but brilliant.
Assessing the helmet’s comfort
We can’t wait to wear such a beautiful helmet, and as soon as we put it on, that positive impression continues. It fits the head snugly but without any pressure points. The second thing we notice is how lightweight the helmet is. Combined with the nearly perfect fit, the comfort is truly promising.
The helmet’s aerodynamics
When riding at highway speeds, we notice that the visor doesn’t create any wind resistance. None at all. You don’t feel any vibrations or jolts, even at 120 km/h. Leatt really isn’t exaggerating when they say that during wind tunnel tests, the 9.5 ADV generates up to 38% less lift due to the visor, than other ADV helmets used as benchmarks. Combined with the helmet’s light weight, this results in less neck fatigue during long days and fewer jolts caused by the wind’s leverage effect as it catches on the visor. However, Leatt chose to keep the visor fixed, so the rider cannot adjust it when the sun is low on the horizon.
Noise Inside the Helmet
No adventure-style helmet is silent because the visor creates a lot of turbulence around the head. The Leatt 9.5 ADV is no exception, and it’s a bit odd because there’s noise but no movement caused by the wind. Compared to other ADV helmets, the noise level is slightly lower.
However, the visor is removable, so you can eliminate this drawback for highway riding. This is excellent news, as there’s no air leakage around the visor, and opening or closing the ventilation vents doesn’t affect the noise level.
Ventilation of the Leatt 9.5 ADV
The helmet features ventilation vents in the chin guard and on top of the head, as well as four exhaust vents at the back of the helmet. Despite this, we found that ventilation is adequate at cruising speeds on the highway without being particularly abundant. Perhaps the presence of an effective windshield on our test bikes was blocking airflow into the helmet.
So we imagine that when riding an adventure bike at low speeds and on rough terrain, it would be better to remove the visor and use the Iriz Velocity 4.5 goggles that come with the helmet. It’s also possible to lift the visor and use the goggles temporarily.
The Photochromic Visor
The 9.5 ADV comes with a photochromic visor that I really liked. It has just the right tint that doesn’t alter color perception. The only downside is when riding at dusk, because the fading sunlight—even though it’s dimmer—still contains UV rays that keep the visor dark. This makes it harder to see during this critical time of day. Also, its transition speed is rather slow, which is actually a good thing because you don’t end up with the visor 50% tinted when shade falls on the other half. Otherwise, it’s perfectly clear at night.
Installing a Communication System
Installing a radio communication system like a Sena or a Cardo is very easy. Leatt has provided small channels to route the wires through the helmet’s polystyrene and the necessary space to accommodate properly sized earphones. Space for the microphone is also planned.
The Price
The 9.5 Carbon is a high-end model, but the retail price of $1,299.00 is quite steep. However, for this price, you get:
- Photochromic visor
- Second clear visor
- Pinlock 120 (anti-fog insert for the visor)
- Google 4.5 Iriz goggles
- Premium carrying bag
When you add up the cost of these accessories, the price difference compared to other manufacturers narrows considerably.
Final Thoughts
The designers of the Leatt 9.5 ADV helmet have truly understood the needs of adventure riders and are familiar with the various situations a motorcyclist might encounter on the trail. It doesn’t imitate other big names in the market; instead, it offers an original solution where lightness, safety, and modularity take center stage. Furthermore, the helmet’s overall quality is very satisfactory and justifies the asking price. For riders who split their time between long highway rides and forest trails, it’s a very compelling option. The Leatt 9.5 ADV strikes a credible balance between these two worlds.
