Icon AirForm Helmet Review

My new Icon AirForm Helmet review will be in two parts. The first part I can do immediately, it’s the unboxing review. With time, as I use my Icon AirForm Helmet, I will have more of a use review.

Let’s talk about Part 1; being an out-of-the-box review, I will review some specs, looks, and feels of the Icon AirForm Helmet. At any time, if you have comments or questions about this motorcycle helmet, please feel free to leave a comment.

What Model of Icon AirForm Helmet Did I Get?

I got the Icon AirForm Dark Helmet.

It has the same shape and design as the other AirForm helmets, but the finish is matte black. Yes, I know this surface tends to collect bugs and grim, but I own an Icon AirFlite with the same finish, and with a bit of cleaning( How I Clean A Matte Black Helmet ), the matte finish looks great.

Why Did I Buy The Icon AirForm Helmet?

When I was looking at a new helmet, I was focusing on three things:

1. Reliability/Safety
2. Comfort
3. Affordability.

Break this down without going crazy.

Motorcycle Reliability and Safety.

I do not test helmets. There is no way to bounce them like buying a basketball and seeing how they respond. So, I depend on independent testing organizations to do the testing and give them their seal of approval.

My first motorcycle helmet was the Fuel Full-Face helmet I bought at Walmart. This helmet is DOT-certified. As I got more into motorcycles, I learned that DOT is a manufacturer’s declaration that the helmet meets a certain safety level established by the Department of Transportation.

With my Fuel full-face helmet, I found it was DOT-certified until proven otherwise.

This means the helmet could be certified by the manufacturer but later tested and found not to meet the DOT standards through a later audit—long after I’ve been wearing the DOT-only certified helmet.

I wasn’t so comfortable with this knowledge now that I ride faster today than when I wore the helmet for my motorcycle safety course. Also, I am still a new rider, so I will likely make a mistake and fall.

Well, that’s a long story; sorry. Today, I am looking for specific third-party certifications. I know of two: Snell and ECE. 

As for Snell, since I like integrated sunglasses, I found that Snell doesn’t. The word I got they see motorcycle helmets shouldn’t have hollow layers, and integrated sunglasses require a hollow space to store the glasses out of place. So Snell wasn’t going to help me.

ECE, the “Economic Commission for Europe,” is an international organization that establishes testing for motorcycle helmets. It ranges from design, like the field of vision, to responses to physical stresses, such as impacts. One thing that is very important about the ECE standards versus DOT is that a third party does their certification. The manufacturer needs to do more than self-declare this certification.

So, ECE is my safety certification. I was looking for the latest ECE certification, 22-06.  

The Icon AirForm Helmet has the ECE 22-06 certification.

Motorcycle Helmet Comfort.

Much of what I anticipated is from my experience using Icon’s AirFlite helmet over the past few years. 

So much of the comfort requirement concerns what I anticipate versus using the new helmet.

— Smooth Padding. HydraDry is the Icon’s name for the material they use to cover the helmet’s padding. From what I’ve experienced, this material stays dry and has a moisture-wicking property.  

-Thick, Soft Padding. Now, for a snug fit, I felt motorcycle helmets would crush your head. Don’t get me wrong; my helmets are snug, but there are no seams I’ve felt on the Icon padding that would create a sore spot or make you think twice about wearing the helmet.

—Vents. The Icon AirForm helmet has four inlets, which are only controllable by the rider, the top.  

Two vents on the chin bar have no controls and direct air to the jawline; both are always open.

One vent is at the top of the visor, directing air over the head through the cloth and expanded foam liner. An easy-to-open/close door controls this vent.

The fourth vent is right below the visor and appears to direct air to the inside surface of the visor. Keep it clear of fog. This vent is also always open.

—Drop-Down Sunglasses. An integrated set of sunglasses is available, like a very tinted inner visor that moves up and down from a lever on the left side of the helmet.

I rate this as a comfort feature, but it could also be considered a safety feature. Adjusting how much light reaches your eyes is essential for not only happy riding but also safe riding. 

There is no need to stop and put on sunglasses, panic to peek under them, or go through a tunnel or a darker street.

Bonus Item: The helmet comes with the usual Icon helmet bag with a drawstring and a tinted second visor. So now I have a clear visor and a tinted visor to choose from.

An Affordable Motorcycle Helmet.

I didn’t want to give up safety and comfort to save a buck or two.  

I know firsthand that many motorcycle helmets are cheap, safe, and comfortable. Still, you can only choose two options.

The Icon AirForm motorcycle helmet might not have all the features of a higher-priced helmet, but it has enough to make it worth using, especially at its price.

The Icon AirForm Dark Helmet was ordered from Cycle Gear and picked up at my local Cycle Gear store(free shipping) for under $200. 

I might have gotten it cheaper with Cycle Gear sales I keep missing. :p

Nonetheless, this helmet met my third desire: affordability. 

A Positive Icon AirForm Helmet Review?

Well, so far, yes.  

But I have yet to use this helmet much. I just tried it on for size. Give me time, and I will find out if I made a good choice.  

I admit it: If money were no object, I would have bought a more feature-rich motorcycle helmet, but for my riding needs, this helmet works.

Also made a quick video of my unboxing of the Icon AirForm Helmet, take a view.