Kaz recently hit the Himalayas for an epic adventure ride. Armed with a new Airoh Commander lid, she put this adventure helmet to the test in a heap of extreme conditions in India!
Airoh has been in the helmet game for almost four decades. Originally called Locatelli S.p.A, the Northern Italian company has produced helmet components for other manufacturers since 1986. I put their Airoh Commander lid to the test on the RE Himalayan Launch…
Kaz has been out testing the Airoh Commander adventure helmet. Check out what she thought…
Check out our Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 review here…
Armed with years of technical wisdom, they decided to launch their own range of helmets in 1997, so the Airoh brand was born. They have a strong presence in the European race scene, utilising racer input from many disciplines. However, their new adventure range has just arrived in Australia via Moto National Accessories, the importer, to add another competitor to the fierce adventure helmet market.
My Airoh Commander is an XS solid matt black, which retails for $649.95. White gloss is the same price, while ‘boost’ orange matt, ‘factor’ anthracite matt, or ‘boost’ yellow matt will set you back $699.95. There is also a full carbon gloss option for $899.95.
With its High-Performance Composite (HPC) shell, the Airoh Commander weighs in at only 1430 grams, which is impressive considering it contains a retractable internal tinted visor.
With its High-Performance Composite (HPC) shell, the Airoh Commander weighs in at only 1430 grams, which is impressive considering it contains a retractable internal tinted visor. A three-point ventilation system consists of a chin vent, a front vent above the visor and two exhaust vents at the top rear. The inner liner is hypoallergenic, and you can remove it to wash or replace it.
My helmet arrived fitted with a clear lens with Pinlock pins and a Pinlock anti-fog insert. I also received a dark smoke visor with Pinlock pins. The Airoh Commander helmet also facilitates Bluetooth communication systems.
The first thing I noticed about the Airoh Commander was its stunning shape and aerodynamic lines. My matt black helmet has Airoh written across the back of the shell in matt silver but is otherwise black. I’m a massive fan of this colour and every colour in the Commander range, for that matter. The Airoh Commander helmets are some of the best-looking adventure helmets out there. Putting the Commander on my head for the first time is a pleasant experience. It hugs my head snugly in all the right places and doesn’t put too much pressure on my forehead.
“Putting the Airoh Commander on my head for the first time is a pleasant experience. It hugs my head snugly in all the right places and doesn’t put too much pressure on my forehead.”
Heading to the Himalayas for two full days of riding with a brand-new, untried helmet could have been a bad idea, but not with the Airoh Commander. The first time I wore it on the bike, I realised I had the perfect helmet for the job. It is wonderfully light and provides fantastic visibility. I’m surprised how quiet it is at highway speed, and the peak doesn’t catch too much wind either.
“Heading to the Himalayas for two full days of riding with a brand-new, untried helmet could have been a bad idea, but not with the Airoh Commander. The first time I wore it on the bike, I realised I had the perfect helmet for the job.”
The chin and front vents are easy to operate and let a good air supply through. The visor has a tab in the middle to ensure easy opening and closing. The visor function is solid, with three semi-locking positions between fully open and closed, which stay in place at speed.
I stuck with the clear visor for the Himalayan trip mainly because of the retractable sun visor. On the few occasions when the sun was too bright, the inner visor did a great job. It is controlled via a sliding lever on the left side of the helmet near the visor, and it flicks down when you push the lever up. I’ve struggled to push it up on several occasions, but it always returns much easier when I push the lever down. I made use of a SENA Bluetooth system during the trip, it integrated beautifully with the Commander helmet and made for a seriously easy install.
The only downside I’ve found so far is that changing the visor requires the use of an Allen key. Although the process is very straightforward, you won’t be changing your visor if you find yourself without an Allen key. For $649.95, the Airoh Commander is terrific value. It is finished to a high standard and ticks all the right boxes for adventure riders.
Airoh Commander Helmet Key Features
- HPC (High-performance composite) shell
- Aerodynamic peak
- Three-point ventilation system: chin vent, front vent, top vents
- Extra-wide, Scratch resistant, UV resistant visor with integrated Pinlock lens (Pinlock lens included)
- UV resistant internal, retractable sun visor
- Removable and washable hypoallergenic inner lining
- DD ring retention system
- ECE 22.05 approved for on road use
- Ultra lightweight construction weighing in at 1430g ±50g
- Bluetooth system ready
- Goggle ready
- Unique action camera mounts included
- Included anti-wind resistant chin curtain
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The Verdict | Gear Review: Airoh Commander Adventure Helmet
Comfortable!
Kaz recently hit the Himalayas for an epic adventure ride. Armed with a new Airoh Commander lid, she put this adventure helmet to the test in a heap of conditions.
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