Troy Lee Designs SE5 Composite Helmet

Troy Lee Designs builds the SE5 around a tri-composite shell blending carbon, fiberglass, and aramid fibres, keeping weight to 1350 grams for a size medium while meeting both DOT and ECE 22.06 certification. Inside, dual-density EPS foam is paired with MIPS liner technology, which allows a small rotational slip inside the shell to reduce rotational energy reaching the head during angled impacts, a common mechanism in motocross spills. Our bench score puts protection at 82, reflecting that combination of a light, tough shell and rotational-impact hardware working together rather than either standing alone. Emergency quick-release cheek pads round out the safety package, letting responders remove the helmet without added strain on the neck.

On the trail, the SE5's fourteen intake and exhaust vents deliver an airflow score of 78, among the strongest in this line-up, which matters enormously during hard motos in summer heat. Weather scores a low 32, unsurprising for a helmet built around ventilation rather than weatherproofing. Comfort scores a strong 82, helped by a moisture-wicking, removable liner and a visor shaped to work cleanly with goggles rather than fight them for space. The lightweight shell reduces fatigue over a long day of standing and shifting body weight, and the wide eyeport keeps peripheral vision open on technical, rutted trails where a narrow view costs confidence, especially when picking a line through rocks or ruts at speed.

This is a helmet for serious motocross, enduro, and trail riders rather than road use, and a value score of 56 reflects a fair return for MIPS and a tri-composite shell together, even if it costs more than entry-level MX lids. It holds up well over repeated off-road abuse thanks to the washable liner and durable shell, though visor screws are worth checking after rough sessions since they can work loose. Against rivals without rotational-impact liners it offers a genuine safety edge for angled impacts, a real consideration on terrain where crashes rarely land square. Riders competing at club level or simply riding hard on weekends will likely find that extra margin worth the added cost.