The 7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet is well-thought-out offering plenty of safety tech to address the impact and rotational forces during a crash. This lid has a range of construction methods that aim to keep you wrapped up in a comfortable and airy package. The sweat management needs some refinement, and I found the helmet a little bulky but represents good value for money considering all the tech on offer.

 

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet – Technical details

The Project 21 Pro Trail helmet is 7iDP’s answer to the perfect open-face trail helmet and it’s clear the brand has put a lot of features into it for maximum protection.

Starting with the foam construction, 7iDP has used ConeHead technology to act as a crumple zone during impact. It’s made up of an outer and inner EPS foam with inward-facing conical shapes, which sandwiches a softer mid-layer – this construction is designed to distribute and absorb impact and rotational energy during a crash.

Beyond the foam build-up, the helmet also features Energy Reduction Technology (ERT), which is a separate foam lining inside the helmet. This is a 4mm layer of polymer foam, which adds a layer of protection against linear and rotational impacts, even at low-impact levels.

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_5
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_5 (Image Credit: Ty Rutherford)
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_5, by Ty Rutherford

The visor is released during a crash to reduce rotational forces and has two preset positions. The padding is minimal and features an anti-microbial liner to keep things fresh. The helmet has two pad sets of different thicknesses to help get the perfect fit.

Finally, adjustment is covered with a Fidlock buckle and a rear adjuster dial with four positions to get it sitting correctly under the cranium.

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_2
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_2 (Image Credit: Ty Rutherford)
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_2, by Ty Rutherford

The Project 21 is available in three sizes, XS/S, M/L, and XL/XXL, fitting head circumferences from 52cm to 63cm. It comes in three styles, which are all fairly subtle and is covered with a lifetime crash replacement where 7iDP will offer a 50% discount on a replacement.

The tested helmet is the Holographic Ltd Edition Series 1 which features all the same technology but comes in its own unique style and includes a padded helmet carry bag.

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_1
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_1 (Image Credit: Ty Rutherford)
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_1, by Ty Rutherford

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet – Performance

Starting with the fit, I’d say the Project 21 fits a slightly rounder head shape. My head is more oblong shaped and I’ve found the fit quite uneven. That being said, with some padding adjustment I got the fit to be comfortable, which included adjusting the height of the dial to sit correctly under my cranium. Although the padding itself is minimal, it does a great job of cushioning the helmet which I think is aided a little by the low-density ERT foam lining. The adjuster dial pulls in evenly around the circumference and having a Fidlock buckle is always a nice touch for ease of use.

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_3
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_3 (Image Credit: Ty Rutherford)
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_3, by Ty Rutherford

Once on the head, I got the sense the helmet was on the bulky side, however, it doesn’t feel heavy. The design is on the chunkier side but doesn’t impact the total system weight.

I found sweat management to not be great on this helmet, the thin forehead pad fills up with sweat quickly and then drips into your glasses, which is less than ideal mid-trail. This can be managed by ensuring the pad isn’t saturated before dropping into a descent. In terms of sunglasses, I had no issues with the helmet shape interfering with riding glasses. There is no dedicated glasses storage but this is not a deal breaker for me.

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_4
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_4 (Image Credit: Ty Rutherford)
7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet_4, by Ty Rutherford

The 21 vents do a good job of managing airflow and, although it’s not the most breathable helmet, considering the enduro-style shape and size – it does a good job of letting air flow in and heat out.

The visor adjustment is a little odd. It clicks into place but only has two positions, which are very similar to each other.

7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet – Verdict

The 7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet retails at £160 while the Ltd-edition version comes in at £200. While the Ltd edition gets a fancy padded helmet bag, the standard versions represent better value for money. Other options include the £175 Smith Optics Payroll helmet which Liam praised for being very comfortable and packed with safety features. For £150, the Giant Rail helmet is good-looking and gets the latest Mips technology – it’s well worth a look. 

The 7IDp Project 21 Pro Trail helmet is an excellent offering featuring a host of safety tech to save you from impact and rotational forces in a crash. It’s a little bulky and the visor adjustment is minimal. However, I found it a comfortable and breathable lid for trail and enduro riding. 

You might also like:

Test report 7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet review £160.00

Helmets

Product purpose: 

Looking for an open-face helmet with a clean, modern look and advanced protection features? The Project.21 meets all your requirements.

Named after the number of vents, the Project.21 combines massive airflow with the coverage demanded by increasingly technical bike park, all-mountain and enduro trails. This airflow gives a cooling effect to keep you comfortable whilst concentrating on the trail ahead.

Build extra: 

ERT™ System
Conehead™ Technology
21 Cooling Vents
Easy position Visor angle
CRV (Crash Release Visor) System
7iDP Rear Dial Adjuster
AGION Anti-Microbial Liner
TF (Through Flow) Goggle Ventilation
Fidlock Magnetic Closure
Padded Pro Helmet Bag
Meets CE, CPSC, AS Standards
Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL
Weight: 402g +/-10g (M/L)

Product construction 


Product construction extra: 

Well put together – finishing is excellent

Product performance 


Product performance extra: 

Airy and comfortable
Lots of safety tech
Good adjustability
Limited visor adjustment and poor sweat management

Product durability 


Product durability extra: 

No concerns

Product weight 


Product weight extra: 

Not super light but equally not heavy – feels about right for a trail/enduro lid

Product comfort 


Product comfort extra: 

Comfortable and easy to adjust
A little bulky

product value 


All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.

Product value extra: 

Good value for the tech packed into it

Overall performance: 

The Project 21 Pro Trail helmet is an excellent offering from 7iDP which features a host of safety tech to save you from impact and rotational forces in a crash. It’s a little bulky and the visor adjustment is minimal however I found it to be a comfortable and breathable lid for trail and enduro riding. The sweat management is an annoyance but aside from that it’s a good value helmet which is a step above the usual £80-£100 offerings.

Product likes: 

Comfortable and airy
Lots of safety tech
Magnetic buckle

Product dislikes: 

Poor sweat management
A little bulky
Limited visor management

Enjoy: 

yes

Buy: 

yes

Recommend: 

yes

Conclusion: 

The 7iDP Project 21 Pro Trail helmet is a well thought-out offering packing in plenty of safety tech to address impact and rotational forces during a crash. This lid has a range of foam densities and construction methods that aim to keep you as safe as possible all wrapped up in a package which is comfortable and airy. The sweat management needs some refinement and I found the helmet to be a little on the bulk side but it represents good value for money considering all the tech packed into it.