We always liked the Fox Flux helmet, the company’s first helmet for us cross-country types, but as much as we loved the mad styling with the little spoiler, we found it a little on the heavy side.

Fox have clearly been listening, as the newly released Striker is everything we wished the Flux had been in the first place. It’s lighter; grab it in one hand and a Flux in the other and you can really feel the difference. It’s about 100g on the scales, doesn’t sound much as it stands but on the trail, the reduced bulk is so noticeable that we also found it shifts around less as a result too.

It still retains the styling that helped make the Flux a real alternative over the standard choices, but is noticeably pared down with a lower profile, it looks smaller and lower on the heads of our testers. There’s still the spoiler styling at the back of the helmet, only now it’s integrated seamless, as well as toned down.

There’s also a few more vents in the Striker too (22 in total), so more cold air can be channelled through to your hot sweaty bonce. Inside the helmet there’s been some tweaking too, the straps now ext from inside the helmet which means they sit flusher, and more comfortably, next to the face and don’t tend to flap around.

The Detox II retention device is easy to use and keeps the helmet stable and planted on your head, but most other helmet brands are moving over to micro-dial adjustable retention devices which are easier to adjust, especially on the move, and are generally less bulky too.

It’s premium money at £90, but it undercuts rivals like the Giro Xar by a good £25. It’s a great follow-up to the Flux and will appeal to a great many riders who might have initially been tempted with the Flux. It’s lighter and more comfortable and, we think, looks much better. A real alternative to the ‘standard’ helmet choices.

www.bikemagic.com/gear-news/giro-xar-helmet—review/9346.html