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Anon Raider Review

Skate and snowboard helmet for summer and winter use
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Anon Raider Review (Anon Raider)
Anon Raider
Credit: burton.com
Price:  $70 List
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Manufacturer:   Anon
By Sam Piper ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Feb 10, 2017
47
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 25% 4.0
  • Warmth - 25% 4.0
  • Ventilation - 20% 4.0
  • Weight - 10% 4.0
  • Goggle Compatibility - 10% 8.0
  • Style - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

Another skate-inspired helmet with a simple design. This helmet is rated for summer and winter use, with removable ear pieces and fleece insulation. It is safety rated and durable. However, its stripped down simplicity has its downsides: with no size adjustability at all, our testers had to wear a thin beanie or buff under the helmet to make it fit. The vents are fixed open and few in number, making this helmet cold on cold days and sweaty on warm ones.
REASONS TO BUY
Winter and Summer helmet
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy and bulky

Our Analysis and Test Results

Hands-On Review


The Raider takes simplicity to the max. With no adjustment system, no vent-closure system and not a lot of padding, there is little to break on this helmet. The sizing seems a bit off, and with no adjustment capacity our testers that fit well into a Large in other helmets were forced to wear a beanie or buff under the Raider.

anon raider - a bit on the big and rounder side, the raider is a skateboard helmet...
A bit on the big and rounder side, the Raider is a skateboard helmet as well.

Fit and Comfort


Designed for the snowboard/skateboarder in mind, this helmet is minimalist when it comes to comfort and padding. Everyone's head is different, but as mentioned above, it felt much bigger than other size Larges we tested, making wearing something underneath a necessity for our testers. The minimal amount of padding felt fine wearing a buff or hat underneath, but left our testers wondering how it would feel to take a hit wearing this helmet. For a more sophisticated build in a similar style helmet you should check out award winners Giro Ledge or Smith Maze.

Weight and Bulk


The Raider weighs in at 21oz for a size medium, making it the heaviest helmet we reviewed by several ounces, and earning it a 4/10 in that category. Whether or not this means more foam, a thicker shell and thus a more durable helmet is up for debate. It also comes in as one of our bulkier helmets, with a round, skateboard helmet feel and was hard to fit under the hood of our ski jackets. If you're looking for a lighter helmet in a similar style, the Smith Maze is the lightest helmet in our review, and the Giro Ledge came in right in the middle of the pack.

Warmth


Even with a thin beanie on underneath to mitigate the fit issue, our tester found this helmet to be drafty and cold. With vents that don't close and a big fit it did not create a great seal around the head. The POC Fornix is another skate-inspired helmet that rated a little warmer during our test.

Ventilation


On a cold day our testers could really feel air flowing through the vents, but also had the feeling that for a helmet designed for winter and summer use, they might not be enough to keep cool during the summer months. The ear pads are removable, however, which could help with its use as summer helmet. The vents are open straight through to the inside of the helmet, allowing for snow or rain to fall directly onto our testers' heads. The Smith Maze and Giro Ledge both have ventilation systems that seemed a bit more effective.

anon raider - seen here are the helmets few vents, which are open straight to the...
Seen here are the helmets few vents, which are open straight to the inside of the helmet. Its obvious that this helmet is designed to wear the goggles underneath the helmet itself.

Goggle Compatibility


Tested with Smith goggles, our testers found a clean and tight interface between the helmet and goggles, leaving no gap. The removable goggle clip, however, was clumsy to use and didn't completely close against the goggle strap.

Style


The Raider is designed as a snowboard/skateboard helmet and in that regard it does well. It provides a bold look that does not try to be sleek or fast. Other helmets with a similar style and a slightly more sophisticated build are the Giro Ledge or POC Fornix.

Best Applications


Winter and summer use in mild climates might be the best place for the Raider to shine.

Value


For between $45 and its retail of $70, the Raider is a helmet that can serve two purposes, is durable and won't break the bank.

Conclusion


If you're in the market for a helmet that can perform in both summer and winter conditions, this might be the one, just don't expect to do either all that well.

Sam Piper