If you are looking for a great, modular helmet that isn’t going to break the bank, the Bell Revolver Evo is a great place to start. This is an aggressive riding helmet that is meant for riders that are going to be in the tucked position, so keep that in mind as you explore the features of this model. This is the next in line and an upgrade from its predecessor, the original Bell Revolver. Issues cited with the original model is that it was a bit loud and leaky, and Bell took this is an opportunity to make some upgrades with the Evo.
The biggest thing that this helmet hones in on is creating premium insulation for hot weather riding. There are tons of vents and ventilation points on the exterior and interior of the Revolver Evo to keep you nice and cool while you are riding. 3 separate air intakes allow for tons of airflow through the helmet. In being a member of the modular helmet family, you have the ability to adjust the chin bar up so that you can take in even more cool air while you are riding.
In looking for a well-ventilated helmet for hot weather riding, the Bell Revolver will keep you cool, but not without a cost. This is one of the loudest and leakiest modular helmets that you can find. Even with making some serious improvements in terms of air and sound leak and upgrading the ventilation from its predecessor model, it still appears that Bell hasn’t totally gotten the noise under control.
There are a few limitations of this helmet that may lead you to explore other modular helmet models. That being said, the Bell Revolver Evo also has some features and perks that other helmets around the $200 price point may lack. With cool exterior designs and styling and a cooler ventilation system, let’s take a look at what the Bell Revolver Evo has to offer.
Ratings
Comfort:
Visibility:
Ventilation:
Quietness:
Specifications
Outer shell material : polycarbonate
Shell size : XS,S,M,L,XL
Liner : Removable and washable interior
Weight : 3 lbs
Pinlock : Ready
Strap System : D-ring
Safety Ratings
DOT : Yes
ECE : Yes
SNELL : No
SHARP : Not tested
Overall comfort
The cheek pads and inner liner of this helmet make it really comfortable while riding, and very easy to slip on and off.
A drawback to this model is that it is one of the heaviest modular helmets on the market, despite being made of polycarbonate. It would be unreasonable to expect the Revolver Evo to weigh as light as some of its carbon fiber counterparts, but for something that is this well ventilated, we would assume that this helmet wouldn’t be as dense. It would make sense that a lower helmet density would lead to a lighter model, but apparently, Bell found a way to sneak some more weight on this helmet than one would expect.
Perhaps because of the reasonable price point, Bell only makes 2 different bucket sizes of this helmet. Despite the Revolver Evo being made with a neutral, round shape, this really limits the number of riders that are actually going to be able to wear this helmet.
The entire inside liner and padding of the helmet is easy to remove and wash. Since this is a hot weather helmet, there is a good chance that you are going to be sweating into it a lot. It’s nice to be able to quickly and easily remove the liner and cheek pads so that you can wash them, and freshen up your helmet again to make it feel and smell like new.
Visibility
The face shield comes in a variety of different tints that you can choose or customize for yourself. The visor is anti-fog (NutraFog II) and scratch-resistant to maintain both visibility and durability. The visor itself does not lock up or down though, which makes it feel a bit loose or cheaply made. However, we do really like the single button sun visor operation feature that you can find on the underside of the helmet. Just press the button and quickly, easily drop or retract the internal visor without having to stop or take off your gloves.
The internal sunshade is a really nice touch on this helmet. It gives you the ability to protect yourself from the sun at a moment’s notice, without having to stop and change out your face shield. Since the sun shield is integrated into the design, you don’t have to worry about carrying around another visor on your or storing it somewhere else on your bike.
Things I liked
Things I don’t like
Quietness
If you are looking for a quiet helmet, this is not going to be the choice for you. The Revolver Evo is designed with summer and hot weather conditions riding in mind. Therefore, the design is made to facilitate as much cool air and ventilation as possible while riding.
With that, this is one of the loudest, hot-weather modular helmets that you are going to find on the market. All of the ventilation on the front, sides, and back of the helmet makes for a massive influx of sound and ambient noise seeping into your helmet. With that, there are a lot of unintended gaps and openings in this helmet that lead to even more sound leaking through.
What’s interesting about this model is that the level of noise that it lets in is actually a step up from the Bell Revolver. Bell became aware of how noisy and leaky that the original model was, and decided to take the Revolver Evo as a means of redeeming the original model. Though they have made some improvements, it is still apparent that they have a long way to go with cutting down on the noise in future models of the Revolver Evo.
Ventilation
Overall, this is a well ventilated modular helmet, which allows air to flow through the deep and superficial regions of the helmet, allowing tons of channels and room for air to move in and out. The biggest goal that Bell had one they set out to upgrade the original Bell Revolver was to improve the original design to make a cooler, quieter, and better-ventilated helmet, which they accomplished.
The ventilation system is really effective for pulling warm moist air out of the helmet and pushing cooler air through the front. The cross ventilation in the helmet is excellent at keeping you cool during hot weather conditions. The adjustable chin curtain is, of course, another nice plus when it comes to letting more cool air into the helmet. The chin guard itself is well ventilated, but flipping that guard up on a hot day is definitely going to give you the maximum amount of air over your face during a scorching day of riding.
Safety
The heavy polycarbonate shell that this model is made of is going to keep your head safe while riding, and it passes both DOT and ECE safety standards.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a well-ventilated, modular, hot-weather helmet that is going to put all others to shame, this probably isn’t the bucket that you are looking for. However, if you are looking for a modular helmet for summer riding that doesn’t break the bank, the Bell Revolver may find its way to the top of your wish list. With tons of great ventilation, a few nice features, and premium designs and graphics that you can get for around $10 above its list price, there are some things that make this helmet stand out from the rest of the pack. Just keep in mind that at this lower price point, you are going to be paying for things that aren’t related to cost.
Even though this helmet is an improvement from its predecessor, it is leaky in terms of both sound and water. It appears to be well-ventilated, but somehow at the design cost of their being cracks and openings in the helmet that don’t keep noise or water out. We would not recommend using this helmet in rain or wet conditions unless you want to give your head and face an exciting rinse while you are riding.
Where to buy this helmet :