Freshness · News & advice

The Visor & Vent Blog

Certification updates, the US-vs-Europe homologation trap, and honest buying advice — the same enthusiast, no-lab-coat voice as the rest of the site.

Article
US vs EU Helmet Certifications: Why It Is Often the Same Helmet With a Different Cert
The Tour-X5 you read about is sold in the US as the XD-5, DOT and Snell instead of ECE 22.06. Why the split happens, the real examples, and how to verify the cert on the shell.
Read →
Article
ECE 22.06: What Actually Changed From 22.05
Rotational impact testing, up to ~18 impact points, multiple speeds, and tested visors, modular mechanisms and fitted accessories. What ECE 22.06 changed over 22.05, plus what it means for a US buyer.
Read →
Article
Adventure Helmets in 2026: The Honest State of the Category
The 2026 ADV field splits by certification: genuine US ECE 22.06 builds (Krios Pro, EXO-AT960, MX-9 Adventure, AGV AX9) vs Snell builds (Arai XD-5, Shoei Hornet X2). Plus carbon weight trends and comms.
Read →