The new ‘safest cycling helmet’ on the top of the Virginia Tech test lab’s ratings is this Canyon Deflector RLS. And it’s a third cheaper than the previous holder of that top spot. Its secret is more than 2000 tiny plastic ball bearings underneath four outer plastic panels, designed to shear off in a crash – transferring forces away from your head, even before they impact the helmet itself.
I’ve been riding with Canyon’s all-new Deflector RLS helmet for more than two months now, and it’s beginning to grow on me. And that’s important, because the unique HighBar retention took a little getting used to.
Canyon Deflector RLS safe & affordable mountain bike helmet
Teased all the way back in September, we already knew that the Canyon Deflector helmet was coming for VA Tech‘s top spot, outfitted with the new RLS anti-rotational impact solution. That’s because RLS shared the details of its new Release Layer System, basically introducing an all-new type of low-friction layer on the outside of the helmet to minimize concussion risks in a crash. You can read more about the new tech in that original article if you want more details.
But it’s really quite simple.
Outer panels sit over top a grid of hundreds of tiny 2mm diameter clear polycarbonate ball bearings. So when your head hits the ground, an outer panel will detach, and the helmet just glides away, turning anything but a direct perpendicular impact into a glancing blow.
What happens to the balls?
Well, first off, not every impact ejects the outer panels & balls. I had a small ‘incident’ with a tree, combining a slight misjudgment of how close I was with a sudden loss of traction. My head hit the tree enough that I would have had a knot on my head if I weren’t wearing a helmet. It was enough to visibly scratch the helmet right on one of the RLS panels. But the tight fit kept the panel in place, so no plastic pollution yet.
But when you do properly crash, expect hundreds of plastic balls lost on the ground. I counted more than 600 plastic bearings under the central on top of the Canyon Deflector RLS helmet. The balls are gently held in place with a tiny amount of glue to keep them from rolling around while riding along. But wherever there is an impact, those balls are gonna fly. You’ll hopefully be aware enough post-crash to at least pick up the outer shell that has detached. But the balls are lost.
We asked Canyon if there was any solution to keep those balls from adding to microplastic pollution of the environment in a crash, and they essentially said ‘not yet’. There was mention of potentially using a bioplastic or other biodegradable material for the balls in the future, if their performance characteristics could be met. But for now, there’s no concrete solution, other than a statement that in a real-world crash, only a small portion of the balls are actually expected to be lost.
Meanwhile, try not to crash to protect the environment!
(Note: Please DO NOT take the outer RLS covers off your helmet to look at the balls like me! I had a pre-production sample to play with, which had not been approved for safe head protection while actually riding.)
Setting a High Bar
Back to the helmet itself. RLS is a defining feature to the Deflector’s safety. But it by no means all there is to say. Just like the Canyon Disrupter CFR helmet that launched last fall, this one also uses the unique “watt saving” HighBar chin strap. To the uninitiated, HighBar is a flexible plastic retention system that replaces a conventional strap & buckle setup with a dial-adjust chinbar.
This one is actually HighBar 1.5, which adds more ventilation holes on the sides next to your cheeks, more room for glasses at your temples, and a lighter-action dial. It does a great job of keeping the straps away from your skin for free airflow. It doesn’t press against the arms of Rx glasses or sunglasses. And it does not absorb any sweat. Canyon also claims that it is more aero than regular straps.
But the real reason for HighBar’s existence is to ensure that the helmet actually stays on your head in a crash.
Riding with the new Canyon Deflector RLS helmet
The RLS system didn’t require any adaptation. Just put a helmet on a try not to crash like usual. Just with a bit of extra comfort knowing that it is the highest-rated 5-star helmet by the independent Virginia Tech testing lab.
But HighBar took getting used to. Since I wear glasses and have a beard in the colder months, I had two obstacles to get the semi-rigid chinstrap past. Fully opening the HighBar, I can carefully guide it past my glasses, which is fine. Sitting at my desk, I couldn’t find the perfect position & tension for the chip strap. It first felt like it was too tight, pressing into my chin as I bent my head forward or opened my mouth to chew. Loosen it up, and it would slide over my chin or grab my beard when I looked up & down.
The funny thing is, out on the trail, it was totally fine. I tightened it up so I could still stick a finger under my chin (but it would stay put), and went for a ride. Moments into the ride I forgot it was there until it was time to take the helmet off at the end of the ride. So, if you buy this Canyon Deflector RLS helmet, put it on, and immediately feel like you made a bad decision? I suggest going out for a ride and giving it a chance.
It is undeniably a weird helmet retention solution. And yes, it almost looks like you put the helmet on backwards at first. But it does seem to work. And any solution that collects less of my sweat is probably a bonus in the long run. I’ll have to wait until next summer to be sure.
Optional taillight, too
One other nice bit of tech in the helmet is a small pocket on the back where a magnetic Canyon Flash taillight snaps securely into place. Available separately, the small USB-C rechargeable light offers 6 light modes with 5-30 hours of run time, and a quite bright max 10 lumen output. It fits both the previous Disruptr CFR and this new Deflector, and will likely work with future Canyon helmets, too.
A little extra visibility is always great. And this is nice that you can easily snap it in, just when you want it. But it’s still secure enough that it’s not going anywhere, no matter how rough the trail gets.
Tech details
- dual-shell RLS design with low-friction ball bearings in between
- over a classic in-mold construction with a polycarbonate shell over EPS foam
- full-wrap shell protects the impact-absorbing foam
- Canyon’s own HighBar 1.5 plastic chinstrap retention
- fully vented design with 8 forward, 7 middle/top & 3 rear vents
- height-adjustable rear dial retention fit
- 3-position adjustable visor
- works with goggles including a rear gripper for the goggle strap
- securely stows sunglasses with silicone grippers in two forward-facing vents
- 5-star safety by Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings lab
- optional 23g magnetic rear light for an extra 30€
- CE/EN & US/CPSC certification
- 3 sizes (S-L) from 51-63cm
- 397g actual weight (395g claimed weight, size M)
Canyon Deflector RLS – Pricing, options & availability
The new Canyon Deflector RLS is surprisingly affordable at just $160 / 160€ for a lightweight mountain bike helmet with the latest in safety tech. The previous holder of the top VA Tech Safety rating was eighty euros more expensive with MIPS inside. It comes in two colors – all matte black or with a dark metallic green upper half – and in three sizes (S-L). A third ‘Desert’ tan color will come soon, but not the black & white dazzle of our pre-production test sample. The new Canyon Deflector RLS is available now in most markets in limited numbers, while it is officially “coming soon” for US-based mountain bikers looking for new head protection.
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