Lazer’s latest revision to its Impala KinetiCore helmet delivers great looks, solid comfort, and decent breathability. However, it’s certainly not without its foibles as it doesn’t play ball with all glasses, its Recco reflector is useful in only select locations, and well, it’s tough to get past its asking price.
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Lazer Impala KinetiCore – Technical details
There’s a lot going on with the latest version of the Impala KinetiCore, the first of which is its namesake. KinetiCore is Lazer’s way around rotational impact reduction, and rather than using a cradle, like Mips, this system is built up of an array of small crumple zones cut into the EPS foam. However, this particular specification of the tech uses the brand’s new DualCore tech. It’s built up of two EPS layers of different densities, with a softer layer sitting closer to the head, and a firmer layer sitting underneath the shell. The combination addresses both rotational and direct impacts, says Lazer.
Adding an extra hint of safety, the helmet benefits from a Recco reflector. It’s a neat feature that’s hidden within the helmet that allows you to be seen by emergency services equipped with a Recco detector, so they’ll be able to scoop you up after a spill that bit quicker. Better still, it doesn’t require a power source or any kind of charging.
As for the rest of the Impala’s features, it employs an adjustable breakaway visor, it can store eyewear underneath the visor, there’s a Fidlock magnetic buckle, which is always a nice touch, and there’s a goggle gripper at the rear. The helmet is compatible with LED lights, and there’s a breakaway camera mount included in the box.
The Impala KinetiCore is available in four colours: Matte Coral Peach (pictured), Matte Black, Matte White Mint and Dark Green Mint. The helmet is then available in three sizes to suit heads from 52 to 61cm in diameter. Lazer claims a weight of 370g in a medium size, whereas I weighed it to be 384g.
Lazer Impala KinetiCore – Performance
I’ve been riding in the Impala KinetiCore for three months now, and I’ve had a generally pleasant time doing so. Although I wouldn’t say that it’s as comfortable as some of its competitors, comfort certainly isn’t shabby. It’s definitely a firmer feeling helmet when worn, but not distractingly so. As such, I’ve happily worn the helmet during extended rides.
Lazer’s KinetiCore tech brings more benefits to the lid than just extra protection. It helps shed overall weight, as it shaves EPS and doesn’t add a cradle into the mix. So its lightweight adds to the helmet’s comfort, but importantly, as KinetiCore essentially adds a whole bunch of channels into the helmet’s interior, air circulation is rather good.
Regardless of the speed I’ve ridden at, there’s a clear feeling of air being sucked in through the helmet’s nine front vents, and out its six rear vents. It’s a breezy place to be.
While I’m always pleased to see glasses storage built into a helmet, integration with glasses when worn isn’t perfect. It very much depends on the length of your chosen glasses arms, as when riding in Leatt’s RideViz Pro glasses, the longer arms interfere with the retention system and its cradle. With that, these particular glasses never sat properly. However, with glasses with shorter arms, such as Smith’s Shift MAG, I didn’t have that issue.
That said, the helmet’s wide retention cradle puts even pressure around the circumference of the head. This results in a very secure feeling hat that doesn’t shift about when worn.
My main gripe about this lid is the inclusion of the Recco reflector. I’m never going to say that adding more safety features is a bad thing, because it’s simply not. However, the reflector adds cost to the helmet, and it’s a feature that’s only useful in select areas. Although Recco’s network of usage is constantly growing, it’s only emergency services that cover Tayside, Glencoe, the Nevis Range and Cairngorm that employ the detector. So, unfortunately, at the moment, the Recco reflector isn’t especially useful anywhere else in the UK. That said, if you ride the Alps or the French/Spanish border, Recco coverage is expansive.
Lazer Impala KinetiCore – Verdict
Coming in at a round £200, the Impala KinetiCore’s value is a tough subject. If you live in an area covered by Recco’s technology, it’s well worth the investment, but if not, there are plenty of helmets that offer a similar level of features (ignoring Recco) at a more accessible price. A favourite of which is Fox’s Speedframe Pro. It’ll set you back £165, it’s more comfortable, works well with a greater range of glasses, similarly breezy and lighter, at 356g. Plus, it gets a Boa retention dial, which is always a nice touch.
Also priced at £200 is Troy Lee Designs A3, and when it comes to comfort, few come close. Like the Impala, it gets a dual-density EPS and EPP combination and a magnetic buckle. It’s not as breathable, but its Sweatglide system works very well, and its comfort is a serious draw.
POC’s Kortal Race is another helmet that comes sorted with a Recco reflector, but it’ll set you back £250. However, for that money POC is offering more. It’s a mega stylish lid that boasts excellent breathability, but it almost manages to justify its lofty asking price by including Mips Integra, an NFC medical ID chip and an interesting Aramid bridge, further boosting protection. Admittedly, even with loads of features, £250 is a tall order.
Coming packed with features, the Lazer Impala KinetiCore is a very valid entry into the helmet market, bringing good comfort and breathability into the mix. However, its compatibility with certain glasses is off-putting, and if you can forgo a Recco reflector, there are more comfortable and more feature-laden helmets available for similar, or less money.
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