If you ask most riders who makes the best adventure helmet, you’ll often get the answer Arai or Shoei. While many helmet manufacturers have tried to chip away at this dominance in the premium adventure helmet market, perceptions still run strong. But that hasn’t stopped Touratech from taking a swing at the big boys, and they may have hit one out of the park on their first try.

It started as a dream two years ago, conceived in the mind of Touratech founder Herbert Schwarz. Decades of world travel experience, riding motorcycles to the remote corners of the Earth, were leveraged while imagining the ultimate adventure helmet. Herbert and his team began the design process by creating an uncompromising wishlist of helmet features that would meet the specific needs of long-distance dual sport touring.

Touratech teamed up with European motorcycle helmet manufacturer Nexx, chosen for their experience in building high-quality carbon fiber helmets. The helmet builder was able to meet Touratech’s exact specifications and precision standards, and the Aventuro Carbon Fiber Adventure Helmet was born.

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Designed For Adventure Riders By Adventure Riders

The new Touratech helmet comes packed with features that solve the unique problems faced by Adventure Riders. The helmet’s wind-tunnel tested shape is designed to reduce wind noise, and virtually eliminate buffeting and lift on the highway. Goggles fit over the face with a tight seal and removable recessed side panels allow for the easy installation of Quick Straps.

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Installing a Bluetooth headset is also simplified with niches built into the helmet to mount speakers and a microphone in the optimal locations. Also included, are flat-surface attachments for mounting an action camera on either the sides or top of the helmet. A ‘peak extender’ is a unique sliding mechanism that allows you to extend the tip of the peak by about ¾ inch for additional sun shading and roost protection, or retract it to reduce lift on the highway.

Some of the other Aventuro features are designed to make the helmet more convenient and comfortable for daily use. Like an extra long chin strap that allows you to remove the helmet without unfastening the buckle and a chin curtain to reduce noise, or channels in the cheek pads for the arms of your glasses. A washable CoolMax 3D liner wicks away heat and moisture effectively. Special cooling fins in the foam liner work in conjunction with five intake and four exhaust vents to help draw excess heat away from your head efficiently. The Aventuro also comes standard with a Pinlock compatible windshield and Pinlock lens.

But the one feature that really sets the Aventuro apart is the ultra-light 100% Carbon Fiber shell. The feathery weight of the Touratech helmet reduces strain and fatigue on the neck, making longer rides more enjoyable. Also impressive, is the Touratech Helmet’s ability to convert into either a street or motocross style helmet, in less than a minute, using nothing but your fingers. In either street, dirt or adventure mode, the Aventuro looks and feels right at home.

Safety First

Safety was a major consideration for Touratech in designing the Aventuro and its Carbon Fiber shell has other advantages besides just being light. Carbon Fiber is stronger and more durable than typical fiberglass shells, and the material is better at distributing impact forces over the surface of the helmet, reducing the energy transferred to your head. The Aventuro also includes emergency quick release straps and exceeds all DOT and ECE 2205 standards for helmet safety.

A focus on safety was one reason Touratech opted ‘not’ to incorporate an internal drop-down sun shield (a popular feature on many new helmets) in the Aventuro. The company cited concerns over reducing the thickness of the impact absorbing foam liner in the area where the shield retracts, which can diminish the helmet’s ability to absorb energy in a crash. Touratech also noted that the Aventuro does not come with an internal drop-down sun visor because the design doesn’t work well for serious off-road use. Dusty conditions can cause them to scratch or jam inside their housing.

First Impressions

The Aventuro didn’t disappoint with its eye-catching Carbon Fiber exterior. We couldn’t help but admire the beautiful weave pattern gleaming in the sun, along with the angular lines and tasteful graphics. Build quality was exceptional with no flaws in the paint, graphics or plastics. Every vent and latch had tight tolerances and snapped with a solid click.

What was immediately apparent when picking up the Touratech helmet was the weight, or lack of it. Weighing just 3.03 pounds in the medium size, the Aventuro felt much lighter than our eyes expected it to be.

Slipping on the Aventuro, the padding and ultra-plush liner materials gave it a premium feel. The helmet has a neutral shape and fit true to size based on Touratech’s sizing chart. After a short break-in period the fit was perfect, and a bag full of stick-on pads were included with the helmet for further fine tuning.

Bluetooth Headset Installation

Setting up our helmet with a Sena Bluetooth headset was quick with the easy-to-remove padding, built-in microphone and speaker niches that remove all the guess work during installation. The recessed speaker housing avoids any painful pressure points on longer rides and speakers are perfectly positioned for optimal sound quality. Another thoughtful touch is a channel cut into the foam liner that holds the microphone wiring in place. The mounting position for the microphone is also optimized to reduce wind noise and provide optimal sound quality.

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Action Camera Integration

Curved GoPro sticky mounts don’t always stick on securely and they can detract from a helmet’s appearance when permanently attached. The Aventuro offers three different ‘flat mount’ attachments that can be installed on the helmet in seconds. We tested both the top and side mounting locations and they both offered a secure attachment that won’t leave you backtracking on the trail searching for a lost camera. Once filming is complete, the action camera attachments can be quickly removed to retain a streamlined appearance.

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Road Test

Riding with the chin curtain and all vents and windshield closed, the helmet is toasty warm and quiet, even with the peak installed. When temperatures heat up, opening the vents and slightly cracking the shield provides excellent cooling. Venting is dispersed evenly across the head so there are no cold spots created and any sweat wicked away quickly with the CoolMax 3D lining.

A large eye port of the Aventuro provides excellent visibility and the helmet makes it comfortable riding with sunglasses. On longer rides, no pressure points appear inside the helmet and neck muscles appreciate the light load.

On the highway, the wind-tunnel designed peak funnels wind efficiently through a large opening, helping avoid the usual lift and buffeting associated with adventure helmets.

Riding without the peak, the helmet transforms into a true street helmet. With its “streetfighter” appearance, it wouldn’t look out of place riding a sport or naked bike. And with the peak off, it’s just as quiet and comfortable as a dedicated street helmet.
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Off-Road Test

Riding off-road with the Aventuro in the standard Adventure Mode works well with traditional goggles. The design gives the goggles a tight fit around the face, just like a motocross helmet. The back goggle strap holder keeps goggles in place and ensures they stay there. Installing Quick Strap goggles with the included side panel plates takes just seconds and everything is pre-configured for a perfect alignment.

It’s typical of Dual Sport/Adventure helmets to have a truncated peak (to improve highway performance) with little value for sun shading or roost protection off-road. But the Aventuro has a nice sized peak that is as large (if not larger) than most motocross helmets. And extending the length of the peak with the peak extender makes it even more effective.

For longer dirt rides, it makes sense to remove the windshield and store it away to avoid getting it dusted up. You can pop off the Aventuro’s windshield and install a high-flow mouth vent to convert it into pure dirt helmet in less than a minute.

Moisture wicking and ventilation were very effective during energetic off-road rides, and the lightweight helmet paid dividends with less fatigue during long days. The cheek pads and liner can be easily removed and washed once dirty, and quickly dry out overnight. The durable Carbon Fiber resists chips and scratches better than a standard fiberglass shell, making it easier to maintain its appearance. The Touratech helmet never felt too heavy or bulky, and in all respects, the Aventuro works just as good off-road as a dedicated motocross helmet.

Final Thoughts

The strength, durability, protection and light weight of Carbon Fiber make it an ideal material for building motorcycle helmets. It’s also no surprise that there’s a premium to pay for Carbon Fiber. Starting at $650, the Aventuro is at the high end but there are other premium adventure helmets in the same price range that do not offer a Carbon Fiber shell or many of the specialized dual sport features. When you consider the unique integration features for goggles, action cameras and Bluetooth headsets, along with the included Pinlock lens, the Aventuro starts to warrant the price tag.

Touratech has succeeded in building a helmet that is light, comfortable, durable and adaptable. It’s been designed from the ground up to be an ‘Adventure Helmet,’ not a street or dirt helmet converted for ADV use. Those that spend significant time in the dirt will appreciate all the thoughtful off-road features. And it works well enough in each of its different modes to legitimately replace your dedicated street or dirt helmets.
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Touratech Aventuro Carbon Helmet

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