Full disclosure up front: our love for Filson brand runs pretty deep here at Motolicious. Surrounded by a our squad of full of hunters, anglers, and roughneck outdoor labourers, it’s always a happy day when another Filson shirt, jacket, or bag is added to our already well-stocked gear commissary. The only problem is that it never wears out. Like our collection of waxed cotton Barbour outerwear, there’s always “one more year” to be gotten out of it, regardless of how threadbare or thick the patina from rugged use in the field.
While so many of old school, “benchmade” brands of quality have given-in to cheapen their products in an increasingly price sensitive and fast-fashion market Filson remains uncompromising in their quality. As such, it comes as no surprise that Bell was tapped as the collaborator of choice for Filson’s leap into motorcycle hardgoods. Both Filson and Bell have OG status in their respective categories and have managed to retain their heritage brand stature through the massive generational sea change, remaining stubbornly grounded in the glory days of domestic, American-made manufacturing.
With a color palette inspired by the vast network of roads providing access to the forests of the Pacific Northwest,” and based on the well-established Bell MX-9 Adventure MIPS dual-sport helmet, this limited edition effort adds one more graphic option to the long list already available from Bell, and offers Filson some hardgoods cred as their brand drifts into the ADV segment. Admittedly, without a technical offering, Filson’s Moto Collection would lack motorcycling specificity, and simply seem like a repositioning of their existing product lines.
At a retail price of $265 USD, the Filson limited edition version demands a $20 brand tax over the average price of a stock MX-9 Adventure MIPS, but that’s the cost of cool. Given the deep pockets of Filson’s target customer and the comparable cost of their house-made goods, this collaboration actually represents an affordable (dare we say, “cheap”) price point, and good value for the money.
The helmet’s mid-weight polycarbonate and thermoplastic shell is equipped with Bell’s exclusive MIPS® technology which disperses and manages linear and rotational impact energy, offering serious safety. The scratch-resistant, anti-fog visor flips up with just enough room for a pair of goggles, and detaches easily to switch colors or tint. The adjustable visor features airflow vents and is removable for a more-streamlined look on the road. The interior liner is treated with an antimicrobial finish and can be removed for washing.
With its burly visor, abrupt angles, earth-tone colors and bold Filson branding, this has definitely been curated to look the part of an “adventure helmet.” Customer reviews of the MX-9 Adventure continue to be positive overall, with high marks given for ventilation, comfort, and value. The extra-large visor provides a very wide field of vision, additional ventilation, and enhanced fog resistance. The trade-off however, is that it has been known for water leakage. For those that would prefer more of a brute force, off-road enduro look, the visor can be removed to allow for goggles.
Pair it with a tin cloth jacket, some army surplus duffle bags, and a pair of mud covered, enduro-style style boots and you’re Insta-pose ready for your next backcountry sesh.
Features
- Tough, lightweight polycarbonate shell
- MIPS® energy-dispersion technology Scratch-resistant, anti-fog visor is removable Adjustable and removable visor with airflow vents Antimicrobial, removable liner
- Limited-edition custom Filson graphics
Buy it online here:
https://www.filson.com/filson-x-bell-mx-9-adventure-motorcycle-helmet.html#sk u=20180278-fco-012249476
