Leatt is making a new full face helmet, and in typical Leatt fashion, it’s packed with safety features. But first, let’s talk about the name, and how this new helmet slots into the brand’s (large) lineup.

Leatt makes two lines of full face helmets; the “Enduro” series, which comes with detachable chinbars, and the “Gravity” line which comes with fixed chinbars. Within that line, Leatt delineates models via a number. So the Gravity 8.0 is Leatt’s most expensive, most protective helmet in the line- it’s even tested for motorcycle use - and the Gravity 1.0 is a more budget-minded option aimed at rental fleets and the like.

The Gravity 5.0 sits somewhere in the middle. It’s a lightweight, very breathable full face helmet that Leatt says is optimized for “full throttle enduro racing.” It’s got a fixed chin guard, a thermoplastic composite shell, and is comfortable enough to pedal in while still having a full ASTM-DH certification. It’s also got a bunch of clever little features. 

The short version: the Gravity 5.0 quickly became my go-to full face this summer, until I crashed, while wearing it. I do my best to not test the protective capabilities of helmets I’m reviewing, but this one protected me admirably.

Leatt Gravity 5.0 Overview

• Sizes Available: Small, Medium, Large - 51-63 cm head circumference
• Features: 360° Turbine Evo, Peak extender, removable mouthpiece, BOA FS2 fit system
• Weight: 748 g 
• Price: $349

Leatt Gravity 5.0 Fit

I have a fairly oval 59 cm head. I have had good luck fitting into medium helmets from Smith, Giro, and Sweet Protection. I’ve been using the medium Gravity 5.0, and while I’m at the top end of its stated size range, I still have a few clicks in the BOA FS2 dial left to go bigger if I wanted to. The Gravity 5.0 does have swappable pads, and comes with two thicknesses, but I stuck with the thinner, lower volume pads.

In the world of “enduro-ready” full face helmets, it feels like there’s a growing divide between traditional “pad based” fits, and helmets with adjustable fit systems like this Leatt’s. While there are plenty of lightweight helmets, like the Smith Mainline, that use traditional pads, the Gravity 5.0 makes a very compelling argument for a lighter, more breathable adjustment system. In use it’s noticeably better ventilated, more adjustable, and more comfortable when pedalling than any other lightweight full face I’ve used.

It doesn’t “completely disappear" or “feel like a half shell, but it does do those things better than any other option I’ve found. This fit system is really easy to dial in and adjust, and once it’s set, it keeps my head more comfortable and less sweaty than other options. And, anecdotally, I can also hear better while wearing it than I’m used to in full face helmets. This is the full face I want to be wearing for anything short of bike park laps.

Leatt Gravity 5.0 Features

Leatt didn’t skimp on the features with the Gravity 5.0. Some  of them are safety-focused, and some are just nice to have. So let’s start with the safety stuff. But first, an admiration of bias:

I perceive helmet safety based on two factors. The first is objective: does this helmet meet industry safety standards? How does it fare in independent testing? But the second is harder to quantify: how does my history with this brand make me feel about safety?

On that second front, Leatt is on the shortlist of brands I trust the most. It might be because they hit the right balance of “concerned dad who is a safety nerd” in their marketing. It might be that they have released so much brand-agnostic safety messaging over the years. It might just be that I’m a sucker. Regardless, on “Cy’s perceived scale of safety” Leatt ranks highly.

Leatt doesn’t use MIPS, instead they have their own rotational impact tech, called 360° Turbine Evo. These dual-density elastomers are an update of the previous 360° Turbine system and are 10% smaller while also being more flexible. Leatt says that these “turbines” do three things: they absorb smaller impacts, they flex to allow the helmet to move on your head during twisting impacts, and they slide on your head in bigger twisting impacts.

In use, I don’t notice the Turbines and that’s a compliment. They’re silent, they’re comfortable, they don’t stick to my scalp or feel weird.

Beyond the Turbine Evo, the Leatt has a bunch of nicely-thought-out smaller features. The chin strap is a magnetic FidLock number, and the more I use it, the more I prefer it to traditional buckles. There’s a removable mouthpiece in the front of the chin guard, that you can pull out for more airflow, or leave in for more protection. The helmet ships with a peak extender, made of a translucent plastic that keeps precipitation off your goggles on rainy race days. There’s a platform for a sticky camera or light mount under the visor, and there are two positions for the cheek pads to dial in fit.

All-told, this is a comfy, feature rich helmet.