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When Icon comes out with something different, they sometimes get a little carried away. The Domain looks like no other helmet on the market, which is the point Icon wanted to make. Well, they made their point.
The Domain is a very well made helmet, which is saying a lot, since it has a ton of "stuff" going on. From every angle, you see something different. The Domain is obviously targeted to riders wanting something that "looks" high tech, to match their other gear.
Now, the nuts and bolts.
To start, we HATE gimmicks. If part of the design doesn't have a purpose, we mark it down in our evaluation. If a vent system "looks" like it works, it better actually work. We did a short test of the Domains venting, and honestly, it didn't impress us. It was only slightly above average, but for a helmet costing around $350, it better work great. The Domain goes head to head with the Shoei RF-1000, and it falls short.
Icon has made a few needed improvements such as a fully removable liner, an anti-fog visor, and the weight has been cut (slightly). Is the Domain all that light, when compared to some of the other models out there in this price range? Well, we don't feel it has an advantage, but it's in the ballpark. Consult the Helmet Harbor Weight Chart to see how the Domain stacks up.
The first thing you see is the HUGE wing on the back of the diffuser. It reminds you of a rear wing on a F1 car. Why is it there? A Rep. told us it had something to do with keeping the helmet stable at speed. Well, we think it's a little over the top. We see riders in the future using it as a carrying handle, which over time, will cause damage. Of course it looks very different, which again, is the point of the Domain.
Overall, the helmet is solid, but we feel it's slightly overpriced. If you're looking for something that stands out, then the extra money might be worth it. If you're looking for a huge bang for you buck, then I would pass and buy a Shoei RF-1000.
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