SixSixOne Evo AM Helmet

OPEN-FACE HELMETS with increased coverage have becoming a lot more popular in recent years. The new SixSixOne Evo AM has the requisite dropped rear and ups protection with a liner made from Contigo foam, which is better at absorbing impacts than the EPS used by most manufacturers. The helmet is also available with a brainprotecting MIPS layer for an extra 45$.

Nine large vents and six large exhaust ports manage airflow, while the Boa retention system should cradle the head effectively and make it easy to tailor the fit. A magnetic buckle makes it easy to open or close the strap with one hand.

PRICE 150$ (standard), 195$ (MIPS)

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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