For the Dissident 2, Specialized collaborated with powerhouse athletes, Loïc Bruni and Finn Iles, to design a helmet that would meet the highest demands of downhill mountain bike racing, in terms of confidence, a modern-styled fit, and breathability.

With five strategically placed EPS foam inserts, they’re able to tune for higher and lower density foam based on where it is being configured inside the helmet—allowing us to maintain a light weight and still manage energy. The use of a softer foam density allows more energy to be absorbed in an impact, transferring less to the rider. Dissident 2 also provides added confidence through its Mips Evolve Solution—that helps to redirect rotational movement away from the head. In this Evolve Solution, they utilized fabric pocket attachments inside, reducing creakiness.

Remaining cool is more than a state of mind, and it’s hard to keep your composure when things get hot—specially when your head feels like its in a sauna. That’s why instead of focusing on more vents, Specialized focused on better vents. Built from the inside out, the Dissident 2 ventilation system features a hood scoop to channel a flow of cool air in, and purpose-placed vents that direct the warm air out—letting your head stay cool and comfortable in any situation.

Keeping this helmet light was of high importance. In a race context, feeling light and mobile leads to faster reactions, and reduced fatigue between the tape. With the EPS foam insert construction, the helmet remains very light while still offering big protection. While we can’t speculate on everything that was going through Finn Iles’ head during his 2022 winning run at Mont-Sainte-Anne—we know what he wasn’t thinking about… Whether you’re taking the stage to drop in on your first winning World Cup run, or chasing your own championship on the local enduro series, Dissident 2 has you covered.