First Look: 2014 Kali Shiva - World's Lightest DOT Certified Full-Face Helmet

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<b>The newest Kali Protectives helmet meets both the ASTM downhill mountain biking and DOT motorsports certifications, something never before advertised. Now you can safely do both activities in one helmet.</b>
<b>The DOT-certified Shiva will weigh 2.2-pounds (1kg). That's a few hundred grams less than many mountain bike helmets and 250-700 grams less than the typical motocross helmet.</b>
<b>What's the difference between the standards? Kali's owner and designer Brad Waldron weighs in.</b>
<b>Many mountain bikers prefer a DOT-certified helmet, but they previously came at a weight penalty.</b>
<b>Kali's first prototypes weighed just 800 grams while passing the certification tests, but some improvements were still needed.</b>
<b>A pronounced I-beam profile adds strength to the chin bar with a minimal increase in weight.</b>
<b>While the standards may be the current approval system, Kali makes it a goal to work beyond them.</b>
<b>Companies like Kali are working to stay up to speed with recent studies and current knowledge about head injury prevention.</b>
<b>Low-G impacts are a big focus for Kali, even though they aren't required to address them.</b>
<b>Standards aside, is the Shiva safe for both moto and downhill mountain bike use?</b>
<b>The triangular pyramid foam shapes are the basis of Kali's Composite Fusion Three technology, combined with another density of foam to fill the voids. A switch from the cone shape to the triangular pyramid shape boosted the level of energy dissipation.</b>
<b>The pyramid shapes point outward, with a smooth surface inside the helmet.</b>
<b>The new shape’s ability to spread the impact force laterally allowed them to lower the height of the shapes, which in turn slimmed down the helmet's entire profile.</b>
<b>This cutaway comparison shows just how much the profile shrank compared to Kali's other DOT certified helmets.</b>
<b>Deep internal channels and eight intake ports help with air flow.</b>
<b>Twelve exhaust ports allow the air to pass through without getting trapped inside.</b>
<b>The visor breaks away from the center mount, reducing the chance of rotational injuries.</b>
<b>This replaceable visor insert can be swapped for a GoPro or light mount.</b>
<b>The Shiva helmet will be available this summer at $499. Visit www.kaliprotectives.com for more details.</b>
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Description
Claimed to be the World's lightest DOT-certified helmet, the Kali Shiva also meets the new ASTM downhill mountain biking standard. What does that mean? Now you can do both activities in one helmet knowing your head is well protected. It weighs just less than 1,000 grams, which is also lighter than the vast majority of mountain bike-specific lids. Compared to the weight of standard DOT helmets it's massively less.



"We can’t control the acceleration, but we can control the mass, and that’s what we tried to do with this helmet. We wanted to make a DOT helmet that had lower density foam and lower mass because we believe that’s better for you in an impact." - Kali Protectives



Kali Shiva Helmet Highlights


- Meets ASTM downhill mountain bike and DOT motorsports certifications

- Carbon fiber shell

- In-molded Composite Fusion Three technology

- Eight exhaust and twelve intake ports

- Replaceable breakaway visor insert

- Thumb screw visor adjustment

- Padded D-ring chin strap

- Removable and washable antimicrobial liner

- Includes two sets of cheek pads, replacement visor, camera mounts and bag

- Future versions will be Eject system compatible

- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL

- Weight: 2.2-pounds (1.0kg)

- Colors: White/Red, Black/Carbon, and Pure Carbon

- MSRP: $499

- Available Summer 2014



What you see here is very, very close to what will go to production in the coming months. The helmet uses a carbon shell, improved integrated airflow system, and washable antimicrobial pads. What makes it really cool, however, is how Kali pulled off the remarkably low weight and slim profile...



Unlike the vast majority of helmets on the market, the Shiva doesn't use a solid chunk of EPS foam inside the shell. Instead it uses Kali’s in-molded Composite Fusion Three technology, which combines triangular pyramid foam shapes with another density of foam to fill the voids. Kali has used similar technology in their other helmets before, but a switch from the cone shape to the triangular pyramid shape boosted the level of energy dissipation and protection it's able to provide. The new shape’s ability to spread the impact force laterally allowed them to lower the height of the shapes, which in turn slimmed down the helmet's entire profile. Composite Fusion Three bonds the shell directly to the foam. This allows a thinner, less rigid shell that still exceeds both standards.



Other neat features include a breakaway visor with a swappable mid-section that can be changed out for a GoPro or light mount. Kali includes a bonus visor in the helmet bag, as well as two pad sizes to help dial in the fit. Custom molded polyurethane foam pads are used to adjust the internal size for a total of five sizes.



Visit www.kaliprotectives.com for more details.
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