Leatt's 6.0 MTB helmet has new premium features and a matching price tag – so are the new additions worth the cost?
Leatt has launched its new 6.0 Gravity MTB helmet which features an M-Forge Carbon shell. The a fully downhill-certified model is now the South African brand's flagship helmet, which Leatt says, sets a new benchmark in technology and design for the best full-face mountain bike helmets.
From the outside, the 6.0 looks exactly the same as Leatt’s 4.0 helmet with the outer shell featuring the same good looks as its sibling. It also uses a few of the same safety features, like the dual density EPS and EPO construction, and Leatt's 360 Turbine technology. However, the similarities end there. The new Leatt 6.0 Gravity gets some new features but also a bigger price tag. If you're considering a new full-face helmet, read on to find out if the new Leatt 6.0 Gravity MTB helmet might just be the one for you...
Green carbon credentials
The M-Forge carbon uses a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process which uses less resin and energy. Although Leatt has yet to release any facts of figures to back up this claim, the brand says the 6.0 continues Leatt's commitment to increasing sustainability, without compromising any of the performance features of the helmet.
M-Forge carbon is designed to be more flexible and less brittle than traditional carbon, which Leatt says not only adds to the lifespan of the 6.0, but will enhance the helmets head and brain protection capabilities too.
The carbon shell makes the 6.0 lighter than the previous 4.0 model, and although we've yet to get our hands on one to weigh, they claim it to be 840g, with the 4.0 being 850g, but Leatt don't state which size they weighed.
Ultimate protection
You want to have your head protected by the best MTB helmet around, and being a fully certified downhill mountain bike helmet, as you'd expect the Leatt 6.0 has plenty of protection.
360 Turbine Technology is Leatt's answer to MIPS and is designed to decrease rotational acceleration and linear g-forces, by using a network of energy-absorbing small discs with 360-degree movement that reduces rotational impact force on the head and brain, and lowers the risk of concussion that may occur during a crash.
The 6.0 has two types of impact management foam – EPS and EPO, they come in two densities which gives additional protection during a wide range of impact forces, from low-speed to high-speed impacts.
Elsewhere fit is improved by the addition of a new Moto-Style liner that includes a neck roll, and Leatt rider Reece Wallace says it made the 6.0, "Feel like a helmet he's never worn before", and he added, "the tight fit, unlike other helmets, didn't move or slide during a big landing."
The new liner not only makes for a better and safer fit but improves the fit and comfort too, the liner is made from the Leatt X-Static moisture-wicking fabric, and is breathable, anti-odor, and washable.
The helmet's construction is certified and tested to meet AS/NZS 2063:2008, ASTM F1952–15, EN1078, and CPSC 1203 standards. It is complemented by optimal neck brace compatibility and is included in the three-year Leatt Helmet Replacement Program that offers riders a 40 percent discount on a brand-new Leatt helmet.
Fit and ventilation
The 6.0 gets a new double D-ring buckle that is also borrowed from the Moto side of Leatt's helmet range. It's the benchmark for strap fastening technology and holds the helmet firmly on the head, improves fit and safety, and appears on a Leatt MTB helmet for the first time.
Ventilation improvements see the 6.0 getting 22 vents that are designed as wide as possible to ensure optimal airflow, and there is a removable mouthpiece ventilation cover.
Pricing and availability
The Leatt 6.0 is available now from all Leatt stockists and comes sized from S to XL. Color choices are in White, Yellow and Stealth Black. The Leatt 6.0 is priced at $379.99 / £299.99 / €399.00, which seems steep but is comparable to other premium full-face helmets such as the POC Otocon ($350 / £270 / €280) and the Fox Proframe RS ($360 / £320 / €370).
For more information visit Leatt.com and check out Reece Wallace's thoughts on the the helmet below.
If you're interested in finding the best prices on a full-face helmet then check out the attached price checker, that gives the best daily prices, and also our Chain Reaction Cycles clearance article with some big reductions on helmets and plenty other MTB kit.
