Three of the four color schemes that Fox offers for the Rampage Pro Carbon helmet the fourth is black on white.



Fox Head invited a small group of journos to Laguna Beach today to ride its long-awaited Rampage Pro Carbon full-face helmet on some local DH trails. The prototypes were first reported at Interbike 2012, and production lids are scheduled to ship this coming Thursday, January 10, 2013. Along for the ride were some of Fox Head’s top names. Steve Smith, Josh Bryceland, Cameron and Tyler McCaul and Kirt Voreis all joined Fox designers and product engineers to outline the lengthily development process that went into the first new helmet that has come from the California icon in a number of years. The Rampage Pro Carbon comes in three colorways and four sizes, and reportedly, the large-sized lid weighs 1145 grams. Price is set at $424.95 USD.









Rampage Pro Carbon Details:



• Purpose: DH racing/Freeride

• Construction: 60K weave carbon fiber laminate, EPS foam shell.

• Two shell sizes, three EPS liner sizes

• Dry-Lex wicking interior fabric throughout.

• 17 screened vent ports and interior

channels for maximum air flow.

• Adjustable visor integrated into helmet shell design

• Maximized peripheral vision and goggle clearance

• Reinforced chin guard

• Weight: 1145 grams (claimed)

• Sizes: small, medium, large, X-Large

• MSRP: $425 USD. invited a small group of journos to Laguna Beach today to ride its long-awaited Rampage Pro Carbon full-face helmet on some local DH trails. The prototypes were first reported at Interbike 2012, and production lids are scheduled to ship this coming Thursday, January 10, 2013. Along for the ride were some of Fox Head’s top names. Steve Smith, Josh Bryceland, Cameron and Tyler McCaul and Kirt Voreis all joined Fox designers and product engineers to outline the lengthily development process that went into the first new helmet that has come from the California icon in a number of years. The Rampage Pro Carbon comes in three colorways and four sizes, and reportedly, the large-sized lid weighs 1145 grams. Price is set at $424.95 USD.• Purpose: DH racing/Freeride• Construction: 60K weave carbon fiber laminate, EPS foam shell.• Two shell sizes, three EPS liner sizes• Dry-Lex wicking interior fabric throughout.• 17 screened vent ports and interiorchannels for maximum air flow.• Adjustable visor integrated into helmet shell design• Maximized peripheral vision and goggle clearance• Reinforced chin guard• Weight: 1145 grams• Sizes: small, medium, large, X-Large• MSRP: $425 USD.

Comfort is Job One



Bike Marketing Manager Mike Redding started the low-key presentation by underscoring that the new Rampage was designed specifically with a ‘Moto’ fit and feel, to be the most comfortable full face DH helmet made – and then piped in that it has been on the podium eleven times since Fox Head handed pre-production Pro Carbon models to its athletes. To ensure that fit, Fox uses two carbon shell molds, with three sizes of EPS liners to cover the small, medium, large and X-Large range.

Product Engineer James Sonntag says that more accurate sizing of the shell and EPS absorbing liner, the less pressure is required from the internal padding to secure the helmet on the wearer’s head. Special emphasis was given to the cheek pads to keep them from pinching around the jaws and teeth, and Fox offers padding kits in a variety of thicknesses, so owners can fine-tune the Rampage’s fit. The helmet is also stabilized by generous pads that cradle the forehead and around the base of the skull – and a clever mesh cap spaces hair and the top of the head away from the vented air channels in the EPS liner to maximize the flow and cooling effects of the 17 screened vents designed into the shell. A special wicking fabric is used at every point of contact inside the helmet, and the liner segments are machine washable.

Three views of Fox's Rampage Pro Carbon show the placement of its 17 vents - each protected by stainless steel mesh. Carbon fiber ribs that run the length of the chin guard add strength and direct air flow.

(Left to right) Cam McCaul, Steve Smith, Tyler McCaul and Kirt Voreis discuss their experiences during the final development phase of the Rampage Pro Carbon helmet.

Designer Dennis Tan said that rider input inspired numerous changes in the helmet, both externally and internally, and that development continued for a year after the pre-production versions were released to them. While the feel is very Moto, Tan said that the Rampage has a narrower profile and its chin guard sits farther away from the face than a Moto design in order to assist breathing. The window provides ample space for the largest goggles and a quick test showed that there is little or no reduction of peripheral vision. Special ribs in the carbon fiber shell add strength to the chin guard and double to direct cooling air to vented regions in the lower shell. The Rampage Pro Carbon passes current ATSM 1592 and also the new Australian standards.



Visor design and placement is integrated into the Rampage to assure that the user remains stylishly correct and also, that cooling air is channeled through the upper ports. The ventilated visor has an angular adjustment screw, but it is designed to fit against a

Fox designed the visor to remain in a fixed position to optimize ventilation and visibility. You can, however, adjust the visor with its conventional thumb-screw.

First-Ride Impressions

(Left to right) Josh Bryceland, Tyler McCaul, and Steve Smith rolling out for another shuttle.

Thick padding at the forehead and back of the helmet encircle the head to stabilize the helmet. The top has a mesh cap built in to keep the air exhaust channels free flowing. The Rampage Pro feels like a 425-dollar helmet.

Cam McCaul and Josh Bryceland had different takes on their new helmets. McCaul emphasized the lightness and comfort, saying that he often won’t bother to take it off on the chair lifts. Bryceland has until now insisted on a Moto helmet because he prefers the more secure feel and the assurance of protection. Josh said that the feel and fit of the Pro Carbon won him over to a dedicated MTB helmet for the first time.molded relief in the helmet shell. Kirt Voreis joked that he never has to worry about being unstylish – because his helmet shows him exactly where his visor should be.Fox’s launch was assisted by perfect weather, tacky trail conditions, a well-organized shuttle crew and the good folks at Giant USA, who brought a stable of Glory DH rigs for all who did not bring their own bikes. The short shuttle and return of Laguna’s storied ‘Telonix’ DH trail made it possible for the group to get a number of runs in before day’s end, so there was plenty of time to get a feel for the new lid.Most notable of the Rampage Pro Carbon’s features is the peripheral vision its large window affords. The field of vision is pretty much unobstructed in all directions – even the visor is tilted out of the view line. The helmet’s wide-open feel and its close, but unconfined fit make it disappear the moment the wheels start rolling. Weight wise, the carbon fiber Rampage feels on par with other carbon lids – it’s not necessarily the lightest I’ve worn, but there is absolutely no pendulum effect when bike and rider are being pummeled over braking bumps or through the boulders. Better still, the Rampage never moves fore or aft in any situation.If there is a downside to Fox Head’s extraordinarily well-fitting helmet, it may be that the padding that fits closely against the head inside its 17-port, uber-ventilated shell still gets a little warm. Temperatures never climbed above 70 Fahrenheit, so it was a best-case scenario for testing. That said; it was a minor point that I would happily live with in exchange for a helmet that fits as well and offers such an unobstructed view. Besides, anyone who has lived in one all day, knows that a good full-face is never going to feel as cool as the foam coffee-cup with nylon straps that XC/trail riders call ‘protection.’Bottom line is that Fox Head’s team of designers and athletes took the time to produce a winner. The Rampage Pro Carbon achieves their promise of a superior fit and its performance is on par or better than its competition. The graphics are sharp without looking like downtown graffiti and while its $425 asking price is a bit scary for most, it is on par with pro-level carbon helmets worldwide. The remaining questions to be answered? When can we have one?And, when will a less-expensive fiberglass version be available? ‘Soon,’ was the official reply.