After a few thousand miles inside the new Icon Variant Raiden Carbon Helmet it’s my duty to report on the latest ADV hooligan headwear.

If you’re picky and detail-oriented like me, you shouldn’t fret over purchasing this helmet. It comes with the nicest helmet bag I’ve ever seen, a second blacked-out visor inside its own bag, a shield replacement tool, a spray bottle with cleaning cloth, and the most serious chin curtain (or for those of us so lucky, beard retainer) ever.

Stuffing your head into the Variant is a welcoming experience. The premium HydraDry liner is just that—premium. With its long-to-intermediate oval head shape your cheeks won’t be scrunched up. The eye port is one of my favorite features—it’s huge. Sealing out the incoming air is Icon’s 3D molded shield—a game-changer as far as shields and optical clarity go—and the detent positions are spaced well, working properly with just the left hand’s index finger and thumb.

The price-swelling feature of the helmet is the carbon fiber shell. Weight savings come in at an impressive four ounces. The added benefit of the carbon fiber is the killer look, with its matte Rubatone clearcoat over the fiber weave, and the black “airbrushing” around the neck roll is a nice touch.

Many are concerned with wind noise, or getting their heads ripped off by the beak at highway speeds. From experience I can tell you that all ADV-inspired beaked helmets are louder than street-oriented helmets, and the Variant is no louder than others (we should all be wearing ear plugs, anyway).

However, the Variant’s beak, along with the rear spoiler, is better than most at resisting buffeting. Six-hour rides at 80 mph with a cut-down fairing on an ADV bike make for slight discomfort. But remember, the tradeoff for the beak these helmets offer is the much improved field of vision, key when you’re scoping out your line in the dirt.

When off road and in the nasty stuff, having a lighter helmet with superior field of vision can help. If you drop your bike or struggle in a rough section, your helmet can feel like a tight place (complete with tunnel vision-inducing adrenaline) and you’ll need all the field of view you can get.

Does the Icon Raiden Variant Carbon Helmet check all the boxes of other premium helmets? Yes, but remember, it’s not about the helmet you wear, but the size of the beard you hang out the bottom. MSRP: $550 IconRaiden.com

 {gallery}ARTICLES/Gear/Icon/Variant/gallery::{/gallery}