Bluegrass has crammed a gaping gap in its helmet lineup with an all-new, light-weight full face helmet for enduro racing. We don’t have our palms on one simply but, however at a claimed 725 grams for a MIPS-equipped dimension medium, the Bluegrass Vanguard Core appears to be like to be placing a superb steadiness between safety, weight and air flow.
On prime of its ASTM 1952-15/2032-15 certification for downhill mountain biking, and its NTA 8776 certification for eBiking, the Vanguard Core additionally will get a 5 Star ranking from the impartial helmet testers at Virginia Tech. Its precise rating? Virginia Tech don’t publish that till the helmet is stocked in shops so, not till early July.
Priced at $350 USD, the Vanguard Core nears the top-end of the spectrum for a helmet within the light-weight full face enduro lid class, but it surely boasts a few neat options that, if well-executed, may make the additional {dollars} price it. Right here’s an outline.
Bluegrass Vanguard Core Full Face Enduro Helmet
The Bluegrass Vanguard is obtainable in a MIPS-equipped Core Version that retails at $350 USD (330 €), or a extra fundamental model that lacks any rotational affect safety – that one is available in at a extra reasonably priced worth level of 270 €.
It’s not simply MIPS that units them aside; the Core Version additionally advantages from a detachable mud-grill that covers the primary vent on the chin guard, whereas the fundamental mannequin lacks one completely. The Core Version additionally will get a Fidlock buckle on the chinstrap, whereas the fundamental mannequin has an “easy-to-use ratchet buckle”.
Except for these factors, the 2 helmets are similar. A polycarbonate shell sits on the exterior with an EPS layer beneath taking cost of affect absorption. It’s of the fashionable day in-mold development.
The Vanguard boasts a powerful 24 vents with inner air channeling, one thing that has turn out to be a little bit of vital in recent times with the rise of enduro racing. It has spurred on the creation of this class of helmet that should provide downhill-level safety in a bundle that’s mild sufficient and nicely ventilated sufficient to be worn on all-day missions within the warmth of summer season.
Bluegrass provide two units of cheek pads with the Vanguard and Vanguard Core, providing up totally different thicknesses – 25mm and 35mm – to suit various jaw shapes. Importantly, these are formed such that they don’t block airflow by the large air vent that runs down the facet of the chin guard.
Although the development could make you surprise in any other case, the Vanguard chin piece is definitely fastened in place. It should flex inwards to a most of 30mm throughout an affect; that’s within the context of the utmost of 60mm flex permitted by the ASTM testing.
The height additionally has a hard and fast place, although it’s designed to interrupt away simply within the occasion of a crash to forestall it inflicting undesirable neck rotation.
For retention, the Vanguard depends upon the so-called Secure-T Heta system which may be cinched down through a dial on the rear. The place of this 360° head belt may be adjusted vertically, too.
Pricing & Availability
The Bluegrass Vanguard Core retails at 330 € | £290 | US $350 | CAD $450 | AUS $450, and is obtainable in White Black Matt, Black Matt Shiny, Blue Fluid Matt and Inexperienced Fluid Matt.
In the meantime, the extra fundamental mannequin, merely named the Vanguard, is priced at 270 €. That one is obtainable in Black Matt, Blue Ochre Matt, Photo voltaic Grey Matt and Lime Matt. Each fashions are because of be out there this coming July.
Vanguard Specs
- Weight M dimension (Vanguard Core): 725g
- Weight M dimension (Vanguard): 690g
- Sizes: S (52-56cm) | M (56-58cm) | L (58-61cm)
- Certifications: ASTM 1952-15/2032-15 | NTA 8776 | CE | AS/NZS | US
