Bell Volt Helmet

I've worn the Volt for the past 3 seasons in all kinds of conditions for competitive road and recreational mountain biking and have been extremely pleased with the fit, ease of adjustment, comfort, and ventilation. My highest praise for this helmet however is reserved for it's protective safety.

While on a summer training ride I was broadsided by an SUV traveling at 40 mph. Needless to say, I flew airborne for quite some distance and landed hard, breaking bones, shattering my bike, and destroying my helmet. Remarkably, despite slamming my head into the pavement, I suffered no head injury - no concussion, no skull fracture, no head trauma period - amazing! The EMT's and the sheriff's deputy said I was lucky to be alive given the context of the accident. The Volt performed it's job exceptionally well and for that I and my family are very thankful.

Bell makes great helmets and I will most likely replace the ruined Volt with another. Ride safely and keep the rubber side down!

THE BELL VOLT IS A GREAT HELMET. THIS IS MY SECOND VOLT HELMET IN DIFFERENT COLOR. THE VENTING AND PADDING ARE GREAT AS WELL AS SUPER LIGHT. GREAT HELMET OVERALL!

The time had finally come to replace my old Bell helmet. Having such a good long relationship with that helmet ( a 2001 Bell Envy) I naturally chose the Volt to replace it. I ordered it here, and it was shipped and received in perfect condition, and quickly.

When I opened the box I was very surprised to see how the helmet was configured. Compared to my old helmet there was about 1/3 less helmet at the back of the head! Really you can't detect it from the photos but this helmet is VERY short at the back of the head. I measured a full 3 inch difference between my old helmet and the Volt. (Both helmets are size L/XL, both the top of the line helmets from Bell) Luckily I am not an expert at falling on my head, but I do think that this part of your head might be the most common part to contact the ground during a fall.

Also, as surprising as this odd configuration, is the poor build quality of this helmet. The fit and finish are very average at best. My previous Bell had a quality build to it that was fitting for their top of the line offering.

I decided to return the helmet based on my opinions expressed in this review. WesternBikeworks no hassle return policy made this easy. They suggested I post this review so other customers could consider it in their decision making.

I am a Mountain Biker from Southern California