The latest in a long line of fresh, innovative products from HJC, the F70 Carbon is a sleek, technology-enhanced helmet that provides comfort and convenience, all while looking pretty cool in the process.
Make no mistake about it: this is not a helmet for the casual rider. Everything about this helmet screams performance, from its aggressive visual design to its well-designed ventilation system.
We’ll be honest: many of the features in the F70 Carbon aren’t new by themselves. However, having them all together in one package while carrying the HJC name is, in itself, an innovation, and worthy to talk about. So, let’s talk about what you can expect from this helmet.
Ratings
Comfort:
Visibility:
Ventilation:
Quietness:
Specifications
Outer shell material : Fiberglass
Shell size : XS-XXL
Liner : EPS (expanded polystyrene) shock absorbing liner
Weight : 3.4lbs (1.55Kg)
Pinlock : Pinlock-ready shield
Strap System : Double d-ring fastener
Safety Ratings
DOT : Yes
ECE : Yes
SNELL : No
SHARP : Not tested
Shape and materials
As the name implies, the F70 is constructed from a tough and durable advanced carbon fiber shell that can handle all but the most brutal impacts. On the inside there is an EPS (expanded polystyrene) liner that has both improved moisture wicking and quick-drying functions to keep you dry and comfortable.
The washable, removable cheek pads also help to keep you cool and comfortable as you ride. What’s more, the cheek pads are compatible with all sizes, making it easy to swap as needed until you find the perfect fits. There are also comfortable crown pads to help absorb and divert moisture as you ride.
Overall comfort
As you’ve just read, there has been a lot of thought going into how to make this helmet comfort.The included cheek pads, the crown pads, the moisture-wicking liner: all of these things help to keep you cool and dry on the road.
However, real comfort comes in picking the right size to begin with, and thankfully HJC hasn’t skimped on the sizes. Available in sizes ranging from extra small to double-X large, you can be sure to find the one that fits you best. The F70 is an ovalur helmet, which is pretty standard, so most riders should find it fits without being uncomfortable. However, if your head is more circle than oval, you might find this helmet to be a bit uncomfortable. As always, testing before settling is always recommended.
Overall, the F70 offers a snug, comfortable fit. It’s easy to slide on, and the easy-to-operate ratcheting system lets you adjust the chin strap until you have it just where you want it. So, when it comes to comfort, we have no complaints.
Visibility
Of course, none of this matters if you can’t see where you’re going, right? The F70 includes several features that help ensure that visibility isn’t a problem.
First, let’s talk about the large visor. This visor offers a wide angle so you can see the entire road in front of you. It also blocks out 95% of all harmful UVA and UVB rays, which is not only great for your safety but also helps reduce glare. The anti-fog coating already in place, and the pinlock-ready system, give you a way to beat the fog, as well. There is also an easy-to-operate sun visor which quickly and easily slides into place when you need it.
One thing many riders with prescription glasses know is how hard it can be to find a helmet that accommodates your glasses.
Things I liked
Things I don’t like
They may say they do, but then not provide enough room for the glasses to fit. Thankfully, the F70 is not one of those. The included glasses grooves leaves plenty of room for your prescription lenses – or, if you just want to ride with your shades, you can do that too.
Quietness
If you have a louder helmet, you know how overpowering the sounds of the road can be after a while. A helmet that fails to block out the highway, wind or other vehicles is, at best, making your ride inconvenient and unpleasant. At worst, failure to block out noise can be a serious safety concern.
This is another area where the F70 performs well. With the various vents closed, this helmet is just about as quiet as any helmet we’ve tried before. Even with the vents open a good bit of road and wind noise was blocked out, making for a much quieter and more pleasant ride than many other helmets can even hope to offer.
Ventilation
Since we just talked about opening the vents, this is as good a time as any to talk about the ventilation system on the F70. This helmet is packed with vents, including four intakes and five exhausts. It includes two vents on the chin bard that help to move air towards and around the front of your face. There are also two vents on the crown of the helmet that help to push air around the top and back.
HJC is so confident of the ventilation system on the F70 that they’ve actually given it a special design and name: the ACS, or Advanced Channeling (Ventilation) System. While doing this is nothing new, it usually comes across as just a marketing ploy. However, with the F70, this is less for show and more because there really is no other way to label it.
In short, the ventilation on the F70 is just as good as the rest of the helmet.
Safety
The HJC F70 has passed both DOC and ECE testing, which is not surprising considering how much thought has gone into the durability and construction of the helmet and its shell. It has not been tested for SNELL or SHARP, unfortunately, which is definitely an oversight they should correct.
Other Features
As if safety, comfort, moisture-wicking, high visibility, low road noise and powerful ventilation isn’t enough, the F70 comes with more. The most obvious – and the one that we think you will most likely be interested in – is the advanced Bluetooth system that HJC offers not only on this helmet but on other products as well.
The Smart HJC system, which was specifically designed for HJC products, provides an easy and unobtrusive way for you to enjoy your ride, however long it may be. The Smart HJC system is sold separately, but is easy to purchase and install on any HJC helmet.
The F70 also comes with a comfortable chin curtain that acts to help keep air away from your chin and neck, especially on those very cold days when you want to keep the wind off of you as much as possible. This curtain is easy to install or remove as needed, and depending on the weather you will definitely appreciate having it!
Conclusion
All in all, the HJC F70 is a strong entry in the field of HJC helmets. It offers all of the features you want, without any glaring drawbacks or negative qualities. Whether you’re a new rider looking to upgrade, or an experienced rider just looking for your next new helmet, the F70 should definitely be on your list to check out.
Where to buy this helmet :