Coming with bold claims to redefine the lightweight park helmet, Bell’s fresh Sanction 2 DLX Mips packs versatility. Featuring slick styling, excellent comfort, and surprisingly effective breathability, it’s a helmet that brings the heat to those strapped with loftier price tags making it a very worthy contender as one of the best full face MTB helmets.
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Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips – Technical details
Even though the Sanction 2 DLX Mips enters the fray with a rather reasonable asking price, it’s still rammed full of tech with some trickled down from its spendy Full-10 range mate. To kick things off, it gets a Mips liner to boost safety and help reduce the effects rotational impacts have on the brain. Sticking with the interior for a second, there’s then an Ionic+ anti-microbial comfort liner that uses silver metalized yarn to keep stench at bay.
Built into the ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) shell are 14 vents, showing Bell’s efforts to prioritise ventilation. Along with that, the Sanction 2 is sorted with the brand’s ventilated DH Air padding.
Finishing off the lid is a Fidlock buckle, removable cheek pads, a Flying Bridge adjustable visor, and compliance to EU: CR EN1078, ASTM-1952-DH, and ASTM-2023-BMX certifications.
The Sanction 2 is available in four sizes to suit heads from 55 up to 61cm in circumference and there are five colours to pick from. It then tips the scales at 1128g in this medium size, which is 48g heavier than claimed.
Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips – Performance
Having come from testing the luxurious £580 Full-10, I was excited to find out how that trickle-down tech translated into a helmet that’s a fraction of that cost, and even when compared to helmets of a similar price, the Sanction 2 impressed.
Slipping into the Sanction 2 greeted me with an excellent level of comfort which surpasses that of helmets in a similar price bracket but I did find it rather snug. Unfortunately, there aren’t any other cheek pads of varying sizes included in the box, so where my head is on the upper end of the sizing chart on this medium lid, thinner cheek pads would have been ideal (extra cheek pads can be bought for £15). But regardless, comfort is very good.
Though, the cheek pads come with further niggles as they’re not the easiest to remove and reinstall. They use a combination of velcro and a pair of locating tabs that sit under the main body of the helmet while surrounding the chin strap. Thankfully, removing the cheek pads isn’t something that’ll happen often as with this helmet, it’s quite the faff.
Out on the trail, the helmet’s snugness did disappear and where it really impressed was in the ventilation it offered. The number of vents present does a fantastic job of encouraging airflow, making a non-enduro-focused helmet feel comparatively breezy. Here, the Sanction 2 felt very open, minimising any claustrophobic feel that can be found on similar hats. This is partially due to that welcome level of airflow, but also because the chin bar is also very well-ventilated.
And because of this, the Sanction 2 is super versatile, especially if you’re one to race enduro at the grassroots level. Its weight doesn’t match those mega breezy enduro hats but because of the airflow it allows through, it’s one that’ll remain cool and comfy during shorter distance, single-day events while offering protection that will be applicable to high octane uplift assisted rides.
Although some areas of the Sanction 2’s build do feel very much of its asking price, with the chin bar being thinly lined with felt, and the outer shell, as well as the visor feeling rather plasticky, it’s a helmet that’s far more about performance rather than a high-end look. Although, for the cash, this is easily forgiven.
Making it a great lid for uplift-assisted days is the Fidlock closure. While it may not display the security properties of the burlier D-ring fastener, the Fidlock magnetic closure makes removal super quick, which is ideal when taking the helmet off while getting onto the uplift after loading a bike.
A big plus for any full-face helmet is that this one plays very nicely with goggles. During my time with it, I’ve worn both Melon Optics’ Parker goggles and the SixSixOne Radia, both of which integrated perfectly.
Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips – Value and verdict
Where the Sanction 2 DLX really makes its mark is in its price and for £160, it’s tough to beat. Its comfort and airflow are real highlights. Competition at this price point is very strong but I reckon that this helmet puts up a serious fight.
Endura’s MT500 Full Face comes in at £200 and while it’s super light at a claimed 640g, it’s not near as comfortable and airflow isn’t as generous.
7iDP’s Project 23 ABS looks very good at a £130 asking price (we tested the glass fibre one here) and I found that to be well made and well priced, but breathability isn’t as impressive as that of the Sanction 2 DLX’s.
Although the build quality isn’t quite up there with the best of the best, the Bell Sanction 2 DLX Mips packs the performance. Thanks to its impressive airflow, it makes for a versatile option that’s ideal for those who want a breezy helmet for the odd enduro event, or the protection that a full face delivers on fast uplift-assisted days. It would be great to see thinner pads in the box though, to help customise the fit.
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Product purpose:
Build extra:
MIPS ESSENTIAL
CONSTRUCTION
DURABLE ABS SHELL WITH EPS LINER
VISOR
ADJUSTBLE FLYING BRIDGE VISOR
PRODUCT WEIGHT
1080G (SIZE M)
CERTIFICATION
EU: CE EN1078
ASTM-1952-DH
ASTM-2032-BMX
Product construction
Product construction extra:
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Product weight
Product weight extra:
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
product value
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