THE NEW 2025 FOX SPEEDFRAME HELMET

SETS NEW RECORD AT VA TECH TESTING CENTER

Words by Drew Rohde | Photos by Eric Winkler & Brian Niles
Video by Eric Winkler

SPONSORED CONTENT

January 28, 2025

One of the highest reviewed and safest mountain bike helmet franchises on the market receives a significant update for 2025, making it safer and better ventilated than ever before.

The new Fox Speedframe lineup has a 5-Star safety rating from Virginia Tech in all three versions, even the $109 entry-level model. This price point makes it one of the most affordable helmets to achieve such a score. While all three models have a 5-Star safety rating, the RS model has just taken the #1 ranking at Virginia Tech’s helmet testing center, with the Speedframe Pro taking a #2 ranking over 258 helmets tested!

Along with the impressive safety gains, several other improvements in functionality and ventilation are also worth exploring. Featuring an industry first, the Fox Speedframe RS is the first half-shell MTB helmet to use the MIPS Integra Split system. If you’re unfamiliar with the Mips Integra Split dual-layer system, we’ll dive into that and the rest of the features below.

With almost eight months of riding in the new Fox Speedframe Pro and a month of rides with the Speedframe RS, this Dissected feature will have plenty of Fox tech mixed in with my own personal experiences along the way.

As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Fox Racing for the opportunity to create this feature and getting you some valuable beta on the new Speedframe Helmets.

MODELS

For 2025, the Fox Speedframe helmet franchise will range in price from $109.95 up to $279.95. The Speedframe RS model meets the higher-speed NTA 8776 eBike standard, which tests impact safety at a speed of 28mph. The new models are named the Speedframe; Speedframe Pro, and top-of-the-line Speedframe RS. As stated above, all helmets pass the Virginia Tech helmet safety test with a 5-Star rating, however the peak energy numbers transmitted do vary within that passable 5-Star range. That means they’re all very safe, but there is a difference in exactly how much energy the different materials and technologies absorb in a crash. You can see just how impressive the RS and Pro models performed in this graph from Virginia Tech here:

#1. Fox Racing Speedframe RS

★★★★★
Price when tested: $279

The Fox Racing Speedframe RS earned a 5 star rating. Its STAR value score of 7.23 ranked #1 of 258 helmets tested.

#2. Fox Racing Speedframe Pro

★★★★★
Price when tested: $199

The Fox Racing Speedframe Pro earned a 5 star rating. Its STAR value score of 8.10 ranked #2 of 258 helmets tested.

#137. Fox Racing Speedframe

★★★★★
Price when tested: $109

The Fox Racing Speedframe earned a 5 star rating. Its STAR value score of 13.39 ranked #137 of 258 helmets tested.

WHAT IS MIPS? WHICH MIPS SYSTEM IS IN THE FOX SPEEDFRAME?

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. Where a traditional helmets’ goal was just to absorb the energy from an impact, MIPS-equipped helmets take that energy absorption and go a step further.

While an impact can be devastating to the skull and wearer’s brain, recent studies have shown that the rotation, or sloshing, of the brain inside the skull causes significant damage and brain injuries, too. MIPS is designed to act as a brake that slows down the rotational motion of certain impacts. A low friction liner, or LFL, is designed to move slightly inside the helmet, aiding in deceleration during oblique impacts.

The Fox Speedframe RS will come with a MIPS Integra Split system while the Speedframe Pro features the MIPS Air Node system and the base model comes with MIPS Evolve Core.

HOW MUCH DOES THE FOX SPEEDFRAME WEIGH?

Our size medium Fox Speedframe RS helmet weighs 413 grams, and the Speedframe Pro weighs in at 367 grams. The base model Speedframe has a weight of 410 grams (+-50g).

HELMET FEATURES

During our visit to Fox’s headquarters, we learned that they took the limited negative feedback received about the existing Speedframe Pro helmet and put it at the forefront of their redesign. A lockable, three-position visor can be moved with one hand and stays put nicely. No more crooked visors! The visor also has a nice option for mounting a POV camera, and the locking screw ensures the visor stays in place while recording footage. Another addition for the new Speedframe helmet is a dedicated sunglasses storage solution. Fox has given the new Speedframe integrated sunglass storage that has worked quite well for our selection of shades thus far.

Fox will be offering three sizes of Speedframe helmets from small to large. The range will fit heads from 51cm up to 63cm. Within each size riders can select the best fitting washable liner and a BOA fit system to dial in the ultimate fit.

In typical Fox fashion, the new Speedframe helmets will be available in a variety of stylish colors and varying designs.

 THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I received my first Speedframe Pro nearly a year ago and have been not-so-secretly logging miles (and videos) in that all black prototype. I absolutely love how light and breathable the helmet is. And despite it being all black and having no graphics, the sharp styling and ventilation ports were noticeable enough for our video viewers to constantly point it out and ask questions. It’s hard to deny that while safety is paramount, we all want a helmet that looks badass. And in my opinion, this is one of the coolest looking trail lids out. The low weight and BOA system meant that I could wear this helmet all day without any discomfort, and I just forgot it was on.

In recent months I’ve added the new Speedframe RS to the lineup and have enjoyed my time in it as well. With a nearly 50-gram weight increase, it made me realize really how much I love the Pro, even though 413 is far from heavy. That said, there is no denying the numbers coming out of Virginia Tech’s testing center, and knowing that the RS is a bit safer, I found myself selecting different helmets for different days on the bike. The MIPS Integra Split has remained quiet so far with no creaks developing as of yet, however this is not our long-term review. SO, we’ll update readers on that after we get some more months of abuse and dirt inside the helmet.

While this isn’t an official review, I can safely say that the new Speedframe helmet is really awesome, sponsored content or not. Unless we have other obligations to wear anything else, these helmets will likely be my go-to open-face trail lids for the 2025 season.

We’re going to be giving away a Fox Speedframe to one of our amazing supporters of our Member’s Page, thanks to Fox. If you’d like the chance to win a helmet, or be entered into our monthly giveaways, test products and review them for our site and get exclusive discount codes and sneak peaks, we’d be honored to have you join here.

If you’d like to learn more and get first access, visit Fox’s website here so you don’t miss out on the official launch! 

SUPPORT AND JOIN THE LOAM WOLF PACK

Did you find this feature helpful? Would you like the chance to review (and keep) products? Are you interested in saving big bucks by getting exclusive Members Only discounts from industry brands all while helping support a small, rider-owned media crew?  We have big plans for our members beyond big discounts and product giveaways! To learn more and help support small, independent media, visit our Member’s Page.