For ages the concept of a convertible helmet that doesn’t look, or feel dorky in either its half-shell or full-face configurations has hovered like some sort of unattainable holy grail that various helmet manufacturers try (and mostly fail) to achieve. Abus is the latest brand to take on this task with the new Targon.

Abus is adamant that the Targon is a fully-certified, full face helmet that can be converted to a more pedal-friendly half-shell version, not a lightweight trail helmet with a flimsy chin guard clipped on. As such it’s actually a little heavier than lightweight dedicated full face helmets like Abus’s own Airdrop, or Smith’s Mainline. I’ve been riding in the Targon this summer so it’s time to dive into how it performs on the up, the down, and the in-between.

Abus Targon Overview

• Sizes Available: Small, Medium, Large - 51-61 cm head circumference
• Features: removable chin guard, MIPS Air Node system, Fidlock buckle, integrated camera/light mount, adjustable cheek pads
• Weight: 443 g (size medium, no chinbar), 978 g (medium, with chinbar)
• Price: $399.99

Abus Targon Fit 

My head is more oval than round, and has a 57-centimeter circumference. I’m pretty much always a size medium in helmets, with the occasional jump to large. I wore a size large of the Abus HiDrop, and it fit me well, and I ended up trying both the medium and large Targon. According to Abus I can fit either, which is sort of mostly true. I tried the large Targon first and it was quite big, but with the Zoom Rapid Fit System dialed almost all the way down it fit me fine. However, it looked and felt absolutely massive, and gave me a bit of a "Spaceballs" vibe. 

I tried the medium Targon but found that, even with the adjustment system opened all the way up, the padding in the top part of the helmet felt too small. There’s plenty of width around my ears and hairline but it almost feels like my head isn’t as pointy as the Targon’s interior is. So my takeaway is that if you’re between sizes, it’s probably worth sizing up.

The Targon’s adjustment system is comprehensive and easy to use. The adjustment dial on the back is easy to access, you can adjust the vertical position of the cradle easily, and the Targon’s “Vario” pad system allows you to easily slide the cheek pads around to get the best possible fit.

Abus Targon Features

The Targon is a feature-rich helmet, so we’ll cover the highlights. Starting on the outside, the Targon is well-ventilated, it’s no super-breathable trail lid, but it lets plenty of air move through when you’re pedaling. There’s a channel in two of the front vents to allow you to stow your sunglasses, but it’s not super secure, and I’d only use it for road climbs since anywhere else they’ll probably fall out. 

The visor pivots, and has a GoPro or light mount molded into the underside so you can mount a light or camera unobtrusively. The Targon’s buckle is a Fidlock affair that’s easy to open and close, and there’s a soft rubberized lining around the chinbar of the helmet that should protect your face from abrasion in a crash. Inside the Targon there’s a MIPS Air Node liner. This is one of my favorite implementations of MIPS and has been comfortable and quiet so far.

Converting the Targon

There seem to be two classes of thought around convertible full-face helmets. Some folks want to swap their chin guard on the fly, without removing the helmet. They’re in too much of a hurry to undo that one buckle, let their head breathe for a moment, and install the chin bar. And then there’s the rest of us, who are happy to take a break, grab some water and a snack, and then convert our helmets.

For that first, hurried group of folks, the Targon is manageable, but not perfect. With some practice you can install and remove the chin guard without taking the helmet off, but you’ll look (and feel) pretty stupid doing it. But, once you’re dialed, lining up the metal clips with the recesses in the helmet is fairly doable, and the clip system is easy to actuate. More importantly, it’s hard to get a “false positive” with the clips, so there’s not much chance of thinking you’ve clipped on the chin guard only to have it pop off on the first jump.

Abus Targon Performance

I’ve flirted with convertible full faces for years, since I do plenty of rides that involve long, gravel climbs and full-face-worthy descents. However, I’ve written off most convertible helmets because with the chin bar removed, they’re not actually light and breathable enough for me to want to keep them on. I’d rather risk it in a true half shell going downhill, or just strap a real full face to my pack for the climb than wear some sort of weird ¾ shell on the way up. Luckily, the Targon escapes that paradigm. It feels more like a true half shell (even though it’s heavier than a real trail helmet) on the way up than most other convertible helmets manage to.

And on the way down, you get the peace of mind a chinbar brings, while also getting a very breathable and comfortable experience. The Targon feels notably more “open” while descending in full face mode, which means you’ve got great air flow and peripheral vision. On very bumpy descents (think bike park braking bumps) I’ve noticed some light creaking from the chin guard/helmet interface, but it’s not super noticeable, and not a deal breaker.

Finally, it’s time for a subjective look at one of the least functionally important aspects of any convertible full face: how dorky does it look and feel? In half shell mode, the only thing really indicating that the Targon is “different” is the size of its visor. It’s a fair bit larger than what you’d see on most half-shell helmets, but not absolutely ridiculous. Otherwise, the Targon has nice clean lines and doesn’t look too dorky. And in full face mode, the visor feels appropriately proportioned, unlike some convertible helmets which look weird and shrunken in downhill mode. It doesn’t hurt that Abus chose modern, subdued colors here, which help the Targon look fairly classy.

For Now

If you’re looking for a convertible full face helmet that actually looks, and breathes well enough for you to wear it on rides where you don’t even bring the chinbar, the Abus Targon is a solid choice. It’s well-thought-out, and easy to convert, with smart features. Just make sure to try one on before you buy if you’re between sizes.

Learn more: Abus