Kali Protectives has introduced the Kru, a new full-face trail helmet designed to combine downhill-certified protection with the ventilation and visibility demanded by modern trail and enduro riders.
The California-based protection specialist said the Kru is the world’s first full-face trail helmet built with a 360° titanium chin bar. The brand says the design is intended to address a long-standing compromise for riders choosing between lightweight half-shell helmets and heavier full-face options.
The helmet has been developed for riders using increasingly capable trail and enduro bikes, offering full-face coverage while retaining airflow, visibility and comfort for climbing as well as descending.
Brad Waldron, founder and lead engineer at Kali Protectives, said: “Our bikes allow us to ride harder and more aggressively than ever before. Our helmets need to keep up.”
According to Kali, the Kru was not conceived as simply another full-face helmet, but as a rethink of how full-face protection could feel on the trail.
Helmet concept more than a decade in development
The idea behind the Kru dates back more than 10 years, when Waldron noticed the titanium face masks used in hockey and began considering whether a similar approach could work for a full-face bike helmet.
“It looked non-intrusive,” Waldron said. “I couldn’t help but wonder why we don’t build a full-face bike helmet like that.”
Rather than attaching a chin bar after the helmet was moulded, Kali engineered a continuous titanium structure into the helmet itself. The brand says this preserves the strength of a true 360° design without relying on bolts or mechanical joints.
Kali said the process required extensive development and manufacturing refinement, with precise titanium tolerances needed for the moulding process.
The company has previously expanded its breathable full-face line through the Invader family, including the DH Invader, Invader 2.0 and OF Invader.
Downhill protection with trail-riding comfort
The Kru’s most distinctive feature is its titanium chin bar, which Kali says is designed to provide protection while remaining unobtrusive during riding.
Waldron added: “The titanium chin bar almost disappears when you’re riding. Even climbing, the airflow is incredible. You forget it’s there, and that lets you focus on the ride.”
Kali said this focus on protection that riders “forget is there” guided the development of the helmet, with the aim of combining stronger coverage with the comfort needed for all-day trail use.
Testing and certification
The Kru meets ASTM downhill certification requirements, as well as CPSC and EN 1078 standards. Kali said its engineering team also carried out additional internal impact testing beyond required certification protocols, including impacts from multiple directions and conditions intended to better reflect real-world riding.
The company said certification standards establish the baseline for its helmets, while its internal engineering programme is intended to push beyond those requirements.
UK launch with Oxford Products
Kali Protectives is launching the Kru in partnership with Oxford Products, its UK distribution partner.
The brand said Oxford has played an important role in bringing Kali products to UK riders, with ARD Rock chosen as the launch platform for the new helmet.
Product highlights
- 360° titanium chin bar
- Composite Fusion construction
- ERT low-density layer
- Extra pads for fit adjustment
- Frequency Fit System
- Available in S/M and L/XL
- Claimed weight: 650g in S/M and 680g in L/XL
- Certifications: CPSC, EN 1078 and ASTM F1952
- Colours: Solid Black and Solid White
For more information, visit kaliprotectives.com.
