Troy Lee saw a need to create a new helmet. The D3 delivers in a lot of ways over their D2 and some other mountain bike full face helmets. Check inside to find out why.

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Putting on the D3 for the first time, it’s clear Troy Lee Designs spent their time redesigning this helmet.  TLD uses the same visor no matter which size helmet you get so the graphics may not line up perfectly.

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In addition to the ample vents throughout the helmet, there are a lot of safety designs implemented as well.  With neck braces becoming more and more popular for bikers this new D3 clearly saw some design changes to fit with these a bit more.

the D3 is an overall larger helmet with extensive frontal ventilation ports (click to enlarge)

rear venting (click to enlarge)

The cheek pads fit a bit snugger compared to our D2 and they have a quick release tab to allow the pads to be removed quickly in the event the helmet has to be taken off in an emergency situation.

notice the cheek pad pull tabs (click to enlarge)

The chin bar area is quite a bit more robust and positioning seems optimized here as well as it covers the chin area better on our heads compared to the D2.  Additionally the frontal mouth piece is also a bit larger.

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Included with the helmet is a helmet back (with white lining… ) as well as two visors.

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Weight wise, it is a little bit heaver than the D2 but its still quite light.

• 1207.3g for our XL TLD D3 Blue Carbon Flame

Color Options

• Blue Flame, Helmet Hill Skulls, Peaty Pub, Red Flame

Highlights

• Carbon/Composite Shell
• 20 Intake and Exhaust Vents
• Dual Density Shock Pad System
• Removable, Washable MX-style padded liner
• Coolmax™ and Dri-Lex™ moisture-wicking materials
• Deep Channeling for Optimal Airflow
• Titanium Hardware
• Quick-release cheek pads for emergency helmet removal
• Full incremental sizing based off motosports
• Includes 2 visors
• Internal cavities for audio integration
• Injection-Molded Trim to increase airflow and venting
• 1/4″ Thicker EPS Foam for Increased Impact Resistance
• Improved Chinbar Protection
• Exceeds bicycle and snow certification: CPSC 1203, CE EN1077, CE EN 1078, AST F1952, ASTM F2032, ASTM 2040

Adult D3 Sizing Chart:

• SMALL = 6 3/4 – 6 7/8 (54-55cm) (21.3-21.7″)
• MEDIUM = 7 – 7 1/8 (56-57cm) (22-22.4″)
• LARGE = 7 1/4 – 7 3/8 (58-59cm) (22.8-23.2″)
• XLARGE = 7 1/2 – 7 3/4 (60-62cm) (23.6-24.4″)
• XXLARGE = 7 7/8 – 8 1/8 (63-65cm) (24.8-25.6″)

MSRP:

• $450 USD

Helmets are best tried on first to ensure proper fit as everyone doesn’t have the same size head.  We’ve found the Troy Lee series helmets to fit almost everyone.  If you’re in the market for a new downhill helmet the Troy Lee D3 is an option you’ll want to have on your list to try out.  Motocross helmets like the Troy Lee SE2 are also good options for those looking/wanting additional protection.  Price wise helmets aren’t cheap but they’re cheaper than the subsequent medical bills or the price of long term brain damage.

[2010 Troy Lee D3 Helmet Gallery] [Troy Lee Designs Website]