Giro Switchblade Helmet Review

Full-face mountain bike helmets are great. They provide extra coverage and confidence when riding techy trails. However, they can often be overkill for mellow rides, hot days, and long climbs.

This is where convertible mountain bike helmets come in. Convertible helmets like the Giro Switchblade offer the benefits of a traditional full-face helmet but allow you to remove the chin bar to convert it into an open-face version.

The idea of the Giro Switchblade is to provide two helmets in one. Leave the chin bar attached for technical descents, and unclip it for the pedal back up the mountain. In this Giro Switchblade review, I’ll go into what this helmet is like to live with and if it stacks up.

What Is The Giro Switchblade Mountain Bike Helmet?

The Giro Switchblade is a high-end mountain bike helmet with the versatility many riders look for. It offers high levels of protection thanks to its MIPS technology and ASTM Downhill certification.

This certification means you can wear the Switchblade in enduro and downhill races if you feel competitive. Being able to remove the chin bar is a real benefit, especially if you spend all day in the saddle or do a lot of varied riding.

Key Features of the Giro Switchblade

Hydrophilic Padding

Giro has used hydrophilic padding inside the Switchblade, which can absorb 10 times its own weight in water.

This stops sweat from dripping into your eyes and dries quickly. It also has an antimicrobial lining to keep your helmet as fresh as possible.

Hardshell With In-Mold Hardbody Lower Wrap

The Switchblade has a two-piece shell design that comprises an outer hard shell with a polycarbonate lower shell. They are permanently fused to the liner to add durability while reducing weight.

MIPS

MIPS uses a slip plane that reduces rotational forces during a crash that may be transferred to your brain. It offers an excellent additional level of protection when riding.

POV Plus Visor

Giro has given the Switchblade a very adjustable visor.

You can raise and lower it in indexed steps, allowing you to adjust it easily when riding. It also provides ample space to store your goggles when you want to let your face breathe.

Rol Loc Air DH Fit System

The Switchblade uses Giro’s revolutionary Roc Loc Air DH fit system, which enhances cooling, comfort, fit, and stability.

The design provides optimum airflow over your head, which works incredibly well with the vents and internal channels that exhaust warm air out the back. You can also fine-tune the helmet’s fit with a dial on the rear with one hand.

Wind Tunnel Ventilation

For ventilation, Giro has given the Switchblade its proprietary Wind Tunnel system. Active vents in the shell and exhaust channels thrust fresh air into the helmet and warm air out the back for effective cooling.

How Does the Giro Switchblade Mountain Bike Helmet Perform?

Fit and Comfort

The Giro Switchblade is incredibly comfortable whether the chin bar is attached or not. It’s not the lightest convertible mountain bike helmet, but you soon forget you’re wearing it. The slight extra weight comes from the added protection, which is easily forgiven.

Giro provides additional internal pads of varying sizes to ensure you get the perfect fit. These easily pop in and out until you’re happy with the fit and comfort level. Additionally, the dial on the back helps you fine-tune your helmet on the fly.

Some riders find that when the chin bar is attached, it’s pretty tight around your ears when putting the helmet on. However, you don’t get this problem when the chin bar is unattached.

Living With The Giro Switchblade

The Giro Switchblade’s double personality is incredibly beneficial. You don’t always want or need full-face protection, so removing the chin bar is a bonus. When detached, the chin bar can easily fit inside a backpack or be strapped to the outside for convenience.

However, reattaching the chin bar while wearing the helmet can be tricky; there’s definitely a knack for getting the hooks to line up before clipping it in place.

You get plenty of coverage from the Giro Switchblade, instilling confidence when riding the trails. The adjustability of the helmet makes it incredibly secure, so you don’t get annoying movement, even on the roughest terrain.

Even with the excellent coverage, the Switchblade doesn’t hinder your vision. You get a great field of view only limited by your goggles, and you’ll find that most goggle brands and models will fit without interference or discomfort.

Any Negatives?

The only real downside to owning the Giro Switchblade is that the BOA system failed quite quickly. There’s a tiny screw that sits in the middle of the dial, which came out after a few rides.

Luckily I didn’t lose the screw and was able to put it back in and use some superglue to reattach the screw cap. Unfortunately, it fell out again, which was concerning.

However, after reporting this to Giro, they responded by sending me a new helmet, no questions asked. This was fantastic service, and the issue was resolved in an afternoon, giving me peace of mind; hopefully, I won’t experience the same with the new helmet.

Final Thoughts On The Giro Switchblade

Overall, the Giro Switchblade is an excellent convertible mountain bike helmet. It is loaded with features and offers versatility you don’t get from traditional helmets.

You’ll also like its comfort, fit, and style, making it a great all-rounder. The initial disappointment of the BOA system failing was soon put to bed by excellent customer service.

The Giro Switchblade’s nearest competitor is the Bell Super 3R, another great MIPS convertible helmet that is actually lighter than the Switchblade. However, despite having excellent safety certifications, it doesn’t quite match the Switchblade’s ASTM Downhill certification, which may sway your decision towards Giro.

Tom Fortune

Tom Fortune has been reviewing cycling products for several years from his home in the French Alps. As the owner of mtb-threads.com, he mainly reviews mountain bike products but also reviews road cycling products independently.