Unless you need to pick your nose at traffic lights, an open-face helmet is a poor protective investment. Think of helmets as so much more than expensive tupperware for your brains; they’re the only thing standing in the way if the road, or cars, or a tree, decides to punch you in the face. In fact, that’s exactly what happened on last year’s ride in India, and thanks to a full-face Shoei, I found myself shopping for a new lid instead of paying for facial reconstruction surgery.
The Airoh Commander All Terrain arrived in Singapore late 2018, bolstered by the Italian brand’s reputation for ultra light, ultra expensive motocross helmets. It comes in at a similar price band to my old Shoei Hornet Adventure, but at half a kilogram lighter, with a retractable sun visor to boot. When I tried it on at Regina Specialties last year, there were hardly any user reviews online, but HALF A KILOGRAM LIGHTER. I gave the store my money. 10,000km of journeys under the vagaries of tropical weather later, here’s how the Commander has held up in comfort and function.
Quality & finishing
The Commander is not carbon fibre, but it’s almost. The shell is High Performance Composite Fibre, which – to cut the geek speak short – is a close second to carbon fibre helmets in weight, impact resistance and cost. From afar, the Commander’s predatory aesthetics are arresting; up close, it feels robust and stoutly constructed, and is certified to European ECE 22.05 safety standards. The helmet’s matte black finishing and rubber trim have not degraded nor become sticky despite a near-daily regime of sun and rain.
Both the main visor and tinted sun visor have delivered consistently smooth sliding action even after some dusty weeks of riding in Laos. The main visor, touted to be “Scratch and UV resistant”, hasn’t picked up any nicks yet. The first few weeks in, I was baffled by a bizarre rattling sound that seemed to originate from the sun visor’s mechanism, but this disappeared after awhile. Gremlins?
Fit
The Commander comes in two shell sizes and 6 inner pad sizes: Shell 1 for XS, S and M, and Shell 2 for L, XL and XXL. If, like me, you are a medium with Arai, Shoei and Acerbis, the sizing runs true with Airoh as well.
The cut is nowhere similar to the other brands though. With Shoei and Arai, the pressure points were on the hairline above my forehead, while the Airoh Commander is tight against the upper half of my ears and back of my head. It took a few rides to break in well. Papaya-skulled, broad-eared aliens beware – this might not be a comfortable fit.
The helmet fastens with a classic double D ring system – and with a chin strap that is awkwardly short. Here, let me show you what I mean:
Hullo Airoh, why get miserly with the fastening strap when everything else about the build is flawless?
Comfort
This is easily the lightest multi-sport helmet I have ever used, and also the noisiest. Admittedly, the *mildly altered* Husqvarna 701 is also the loudest motorcycle I’ve ever travelled long distances on, and after a full day on the road I am deafer than a roomful of grandmothers.
The upside of it is that ventilation is top notch. With generous vents at the chin, above the brows and top, heat build-up at any speed is significantly reduced. In our steamcooker climate, this lightweight, breathable lid makes all the difference between riding fun and fatigue.
Cheek pads are plush and not scratchy; they are removable, washable and – for those of you with sensitive skin – hypoallergenic. Removing and replacing the pads is an annoying struggle though; I’ve been pampered by the easy snap-in-snap-out fitment that Shoei uses.
Functionality
An extra wide eyeport delivers a generous field of vision that allows you to react quickly to any large predator coming up alongside your motorcycle, such as the traffic police or a bus overtaking stupid-fast. I can eyeball up to my 3 o’clock on either side. Spectacle users will be able to slide a thin pair in, and MX googles fit just as well as with any dirt sport helmet.
Blistering sun and relentless rain – the Commander fends off these two demons of the tropics with an easy-action retractable sun visor, UV-resistant clear visor and anti-fog Pinlock. Even with the air vents fully opened, I haven’t had problems with the rain getting in.
The helmet’s aerodynamic lines and short peak also take on wind blast like a champ. My Husqvarna 701 has no windshield, but I cruise the highway at 130kmh with minimal head buffeting. At 100kmh I can still turn my head to the side without feeling like it’ll get ripped off.
Airoh has also set this one up for the tech-equipped. The Commander is primed for bluetooth communication sets, with indents over the ears and an opening at the base for wires to thread through. I used a Sena SMH10R with no complaints, aside from the extra tightness over the ears. Out of the store, the helmet comes with accessories that allow you to screw a Go-Pro mount onto the top.
For those who straddle multiple motorcycling disciplines, the biggest draw of the Commander ought to be its sheer versatility. The removable peak and visor allow it to be used for road, dualsport and offroad, without losing an ounce of its fierce handsomeness. Oh, I’m sure you’ve seen one of those other helmets that suddenly look like a rice cooker after its peak comes off.
Yay or Nay?
For an upper-mid-priced helmet, the Airoh Commander is chock full of prime features that appeal to both vanity and practicality. Chief of it is its weight – or lack of it – and breathability, which make it a terrific choice for Southeast Asia’s riding conditions; even more so if you expect to be sweating it out on rougher terrain. As you can probably guess, I love it. Regrettably, this is not going to be a helmet for everyone, because of its unique fit that will be awkward for some head shapes. Try the Airoh Commander on at Regina Specialties, where it retails for 420 SGD (matt black).
Good read. One question – how often is one expected to replace the helmet, esp in our kind of climate? Thanks.
Airoh’s official website claims that there is no expiry date for their helmets, but we would apply the usual cautions and replace the helmet after 3 to 5 years, or whenever there’s been a hard impact or material deterioration (rubbers coming loose or becoming sticky, and so on). Wear and tear adds up over time, so it also depends on how intensely the helmet is used – Heat and UV rays are especially damaging in our climate.
Great review Cherie. You are so right about the fit of the Commander which for the average oval shaped face is very tight on cheekbones. I’ve only just purchased mine and am in two minds as to whether to return it or not as I wear it for 7 hours a day on tours of 10-14 days.Did your internal pads change at all to fit your face?
Oh no, there are few things more annoying than an ill-fitting helmet on a long ride! After my month-long ride in Laos, mine wore in nicely and now I’m happy to use it for my daily commute. I also have a Shoei that fits my head better, but I’m very sold on the lightness of the Airoh. I hope your cheek pads wear in quickly.
Interesting I’m a medium in Arai & Shoei but found the Airoh way too small & had to go up to a large. The dealer said it was common with the airoh fit wise. Found it super comfy & very lite. Think it’s my next helmet.
Thanks. Pretty truthful review with user insight. Bravo. p.s. looking at the Nexx X.WED2 as well.
Hi, I purchased a Nexx X.WED2 recently, chosen over this Airoh after many positive and generally, better opinions.
It seems that the Airoh sort of degrades (the interiors especially) after some short time, few months.
About the Nexx I have: not that happy, after the first weeks.
It is definitely a very well build lid, full of accessories, with excellent details, one among many, the interiors: plushy, silky, well done. Overall, at least on paper, probably better than the Commander.
What I am disliking, is the weight of the Nexx: it’s 1.850 gr! Gee… that’s heavy! Medium size, tested myself on the scale.
You can feel it right away holding it in hand, and wearing it. I come from a full face motocross HJC helmet (1200 gr..), and feel a bit like having a brick on my head. The Commander, tested at the shop, does not.
Plus, the Nexx compresses a bit the forehead. Something the Commander does not, at least for 5 minutes in the shop.
don’t know.. I’m thinking more and more of getting a Commander, and reselling the Nexx second hand.
A year and half later, I’m happy to report that the Airoh is still holding up well on the daily commute. It shares duties with my Shoei Ex-Zero, which is even lighter and just as comfy.
The inner liner has frayed a little on the outside areas near the cheeks, but it’s nothing I can’t live with. The outside is crusty with bug juice, but that’s entirely my own lazy fault!
Matteo, I tried the Nexx too, but it was just too heavy and gave me a horrible pressure-point headache. Same complaints as yours!
” it was just too heavy and gave me a horrible pressure-point headache”. I finally, sent back the X-Wed and go a Airoh Commander.
It fits my head like a glove, so it must be definately a long oval shape or similar.
I’m very happy with it: way lighter than others. I pur it on a scale, and my Medium was avout 1450 gr, as from the specs.
Again.. very happy.
the only drawbacks I notices after 3 months of use:
1. I guess the ventilation on the forehead, sides and head in general, is poor. On the X-Wed I could clearly feel the air coming in on top of my head. On the chin is perfect, though.
2. the placement of Intercom headphones took some time as the original places designed by Airoh are way too backward, and too shallow as well. I had to “dig” the inside about 2 cm to the front, and make rook for the headphones, at least 0.5 cm deeper that stock. I have a regular, pretty this headphones from Cardo.
Hi, nice review. Three questions: 1. Can offroad goggles be worn with the face shield in the raised position? 2. How is the helmet holding up? 3. Was your Hornet Adv the latest version (it supposedly weighs around 1530 grams) ? That’s my other contender but I like the internal sun visor on the Airoh. How would you compare the ventilation of the Airoh and Shoei? Thanks.
Hey there Jim.
1) Yes, with regular to smaller sized goggles, although you’d have to bend the strap a little to get it underneath the hinge area of the shield. If you remove the face shield entirely, any size of MX goggles should fit nicely.
2) It’s still holding up well on my daily commute. The inner liner has frayed a little on the outside areas near the cheeks, but I can live with that!
3) Yes, my Hornet Adv was only half a kilogram heavier than the Airoh, but it felt like a world of difference to my neck. The Airoh is way more ventilated, but also noisier than the Shoei. Most importantly, the internal shape of the Shoei and the Airoh are quite different, so it’s best that you try on both before you decide. The Airoh is narrower on the sides and back.
Thanks for the additional information, Cherie. Have you weighed the two helmets? I thought the Hornet would be within 200 grams of the Commander.
Cheers,
Jim
I haven’t weighed the helmets myself; just referencing the specs provided by the dealers. The weight significance was obvious from personal usage though.
a M size is about 1450 on the scale – I did it – matching the specs. It feels light on the hand and on the head.