Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00Spurge here, and in this video we're going to break down the new Shark Squall i3 LED helmet.
00:11So this is going to be replacing the Squall 2, and while this is a very popular helmet in Shark's line,
00:17it was due for an update. Really what you're going to see with the i3, in addition to some of the other changes
00:22that we'll walk through, is that this version is now getting an accelerometer.
00:27to monitor the LEDs that are built in.
00:30So there's three different modes still. You can turn it on, you can turn it to flashing, or you can just leave it off.
00:36If you leave it in the off mode, it will activate under deceleration.
00:40So that's where the accelerometer comes into play. In all three modes as well, the brake light will flash.
00:46So that is the main change over what is a very popular helmet within Shark's line.
00:50Popular because it's one of the fewest helmets, if not the only helmet in the market that we're aware of,
00:54that has the LEDs built right in.
00:57So $360, this is going to be roughly a $70 price increase over the previous Squall 2.
01:05If that is too steep for you, you're not really interested in the LEDs, but you like the function of the helmet itself,
01:11you could check out the D Squall. The D Squall is the same helmet, just doesn't have the LED integration.
01:18That's coming in around the $250 price point.
01:21So let's start by walking through exactly what you can expect top to bottom.
01:26So the shell construction on this is a Lexan polycarb.
01:29Lexan is just a higher end polycarb, has a bit more flex to help with absorption in the event of a crash.
01:36Sizes will range from an extra small up to a 2XL.
01:39And then there's two different shell size breakdowns with this.
01:42So the first shell size will run from extra small to medium.
01:45And then the second shell size will run from large up to 2XL.
01:49You're looking at a helmet that is DOT only.
01:53And it's going to be 3 pounds 10 ounces in a medium.
01:57That is roughly down one ounce over its predecessor.
02:00So it's great to see that they are able to add the accelerometer in here,
02:03but you're not going to see an increase in weight.
02:05Whereas in fact, Shark has managed to shave a little bit of weight off when comparing like sizes.
02:11Intermediate oval fit.
02:13If you're not sure what we're talking about when fitting a helmet,
02:15make sure you check out our How to Size and Buy a Helmet guide,
02:17where we walk through the difference in head shape.
02:20So this is going to be an intermediate oval fit.
02:23A little bit longer front to back, a little bit narrowed on the side of the head.
02:26And this should work for the majority of riders in the American market.
02:30Again, if you're not sure what we're talking about, make sure you check out our helmet sizing video.
02:34So, starting with the front and working our way through.
02:39The vents have changed a little bit.
02:41Still just going to be a vent at the front chin to the face shield.
02:46So would love to have seen some actual front vents incorporated into this.
02:50As it stands right now, if you open the vents, it pushes air through from the top
02:55and just goes down and in to help from fogging with this.
02:58But the face shield itself does come pinlock ready
03:02and there is a pinlock insert included in the box for the Squall i3.
03:07So, what has changed with the face shield?
03:11The mechanism to get it on and off.
03:13So, you still have the drop down there.
03:15The one thing I'll note because I need to get this out of the way.
03:17Really great drop down sun visor on this.
03:20Full coverage, not any real space.
03:22So if you're somebody that likes using a drop down sun visor, this one works really well for you.
03:27To activate it, there is a switch on the back and you can see very smooth, no detents.
03:32It's all the way down or all the way up.
03:35You can kind of put it in a different position if you want it to go not down as far
03:38and it holds pretty well there.
03:40But some manufacturers will have different level of detents along the way.
03:43This is just one smooth actuation.
03:46So, back to the face shield.
03:48The face shield on this, like I said, pinlock ready, pinlock insert included in the box.
03:52But what has changed is the way to get it on and off.
03:55So now what you have is these two little plastic buttons on either side.
03:59You have to push both the buttons in simultaneously
04:03and you can see it undoes that little snap and then you just rotate the face shield back and off.
04:09That's a little bit different than what we've seen in the past.
04:11Only concern here is whether or not these little plastic tabs will wear out over time.
04:15Obviously, we would need to test this for a lot longer to be able to determine that.
04:19But just a very simple system, not hard to use, very easy to swap shields
04:25if you want to go with a different face shield on this.
04:29So, taking a look at the top, single vent at the top.
04:33You have an open-close.
04:35Would have liked maybe a little bit more kind of tension built into the vent on the top
04:40just to give it a little bit more of a streamlined or a little bit more of an actuated feel.
04:44Like it is open, it is closed.
04:46As it sits right now, it's just very smooth in its operation.
04:49The spoiler around the back has been redesigned slightly
04:53and this is where you're going to get the LEDs baked in here.
04:56So, let's go ahead and turn the system on.
04:58You can power it on.
05:00As you hit the button, you can see it flash on.
05:02It is now on.
05:04Even though the LEDs and the brake light are not activated,
05:08it will activate under deceleration.
05:12If you hit it again, now the four LEDs stay on in the front
05:16and the red LED stays on in the back.
05:20Hit it one more time and it goes into flash mode
05:24and it's just a regular steady flash.
05:26One thing I'll say here is that if you're riding at night,
05:29the steady flash mode can be a little bit distracting in the front
05:32with the way that the lights bounce off of the dash at times
05:35depending on what motorcycle you have.
05:37But again, that's going to vary based on rider and rider preference
05:42and what you can tolerate from the nighttime.
05:44So, if I go to turn it off,
05:48three, four,
05:50flash four times.
05:52So, that gives you a battery indicator when you're powering down.
05:55So, you push the button in to hold it to power it down
05:58and you count how many strobes.
05:59Four strobes is 100% battery.
06:01Three strobes, 75%.
06:03Two strobes, 50%.
06:04One strobe or one little flash is 25%.
06:07Typically, Shark is claiming roughly 12 hours of use
06:11for a three-hour charge.
06:13It does go into standby mode after a minute or two
06:15if you're not using it, if it doesn't detect any motion.
06:18And then I think after like 72 hours, it'll power itself down.
06:21I don't know who, you know, I guess that's more about like
06:24if you put your helmet down and you forget to power it off,
06:26after 72 hours of no movement detection,
06:29it will power itself down.
06:30Now, the one nitpick I'll throw in here
06:32is that the accelerometer, while it's a nice addition,
06:35is not nearly as advanced as some of the stuff that we're seeing
06:38in let's say like airbag technology, right?
06:40So, it is sometimes a little bit harder to actuate.
06:44It really only actuates under really aggressive heavy braking.
06:47So, from an emergency standpoint,
06:49it does a good job of just making sure it's strobing that brake light
06:52if you are coming on the brakes pretty aggressively.
06:54But under more mild braking conditions,
06:57you're probably not going to notice it.
06:58So, if you are somebody that wants to just use the light
07:01for awareness as extra visibility,
07:03that's where either leaving it on or putting it into strobe mode
07:06is still going to be your best bet.
07:08And in both strobe mode and in the steady mode,
07:11it will still flash the brake light under heavy deceleration.
07:16So, let's move to the inside.
07:20So, the first thing you'll note is the zipper along the back.
07:23If you open this up, the charge is a USB-C charge.
07:28Again, roughly around three hours for a full 12-hour charge on that
07:31if you're leaving the LEDs on the full time.
07:34That will tuck away nicely.
07:37A little zipper on the back.
07:39Plenty of padding.
07:40Depending on where you kind of place the wire,
07:45you can feel that at times.
07:46So, just make sure you're getting it to a place where it's tucked away
07:49and it's not putting undue pressure in the back of your head.
07:52Chin curtain is included, is removable if you want to,
07:55but I like it.
07:56It's flexible.
07:57Some chin curtains, they have a tendency to fall out or pop out too easily
08:00or they're too hard to get in and out.
08:02I find that this one feels very comfortable.
08:04Easy in, easy out, and it helps to block a little bit of that wind
08:07coming from underneath.
08:09Now, the one note here,
08:11and it's more of something to be mindful for,
08:15maybe a light critique,
08:17is that there's a little bit of Velcro on the top of the cheek pad
08:20in addition to snaps.
08:21Very easy in, very easy out, as you saw,
08:24but the male Velcro is on the inside of the helmet.
08:28So, if you don't line this up perfectly,
08:30that male Velcro can actually start to rub against your face a little bit.
08:33So, the note here is when you're removing the cheek pads
08:35or placing the cheek pads back in,
08:37make sure you align the Velcro correctly.
08:40Would have been nice if the male Velcro would have been on the cheek pad itself,
08:43leaving the softer female Velcro on the actual helmet.
08:47You are getting speaker cutouts.
08:49Very deep speaker cutouts.
08:51There's a little foam pad in there,
08:53but these are probably some of the deepest speaker cutouts
08:55that we have seen from a manufacturer.
08:57Very comfortable if you are using comm systems.
09:00No built-in or integrated comm systems.
09:02That's where you're getting the built-in LED system,
09:05and if you want to add a comm system,
09:07you just add a universal comm to the helmet.
09:11Nice contour to the cheek pad itself.
09:13Very comfortable.
09:14Again, the only real note or slight criticism on there
09:17is it would have been nice to have seen the female Velcro on the helmet side.
09:21Snapping out.
09:23No real concerns or issues here.
09:26Easy in, easy out, and you can see here,
09:28this is where the battery system comes into play.
09:31So, you need to kind of unwind the,
09:34or undo the battery system from the helmet itself
09:37if you're going to take this out and wash it.
09:39And you can see the battery pack
09:41kind of fits in nicely into the back of the helmet.
09:45So, just have to stuff all of that back in
09:48if you're taking the liner out to clean it.
09:51Now, the one thing to note here,
09:53there is a bit of adjustment.
09:55There's a little Morpho pad in this back little sleeve.
09:58So, what this does is it gives you a little bit of pressure
10:00at the back of the head
10:01if you want a little bit more of an aggressive, tight fit.
10:03If you don't, you can pull this out.
10:06That just comes right out,
10:08and it just gives you extra room at the back of the head
10:10to add a little bit more comfort.
10:11If you're someone that has a little bit more
10:13of a long oval head shape to yourself,
10:15you can fine-tune the fit a little bit,
10:17buy yourself a little bit of room at the back,
10:19and it actually helps to stop
10:21with a little bit of front pressure as well.
10:23No snaps at the front.
10:25Just a traditional brow mount.
10:27Very simple system, but also very comfortable,
10:31and I like the added addition
10:32of being able to adjust some of the foam padding at the back.
10:35And you can see here, it's really not too complex
10:38once you pull the wires out of the helmet
10:40to get this out to be able to wash it.
10:42Taking a look just at the inside for a moment,
10:45you can see the channel cutouts
10:47for the ventilation system goes back.
10:49You've got those active vents at the top,
10:51and then down to the passive vents at the back.
10:54So, if you're keeping score,
10:56I think my nitpicks would have been
10:58a little bit better ventilation at the chin
11:01would have been nice.
11:02I think that the accelerometer,
11:04while it's a step in the right direction,
11:06I still wouldn't rely on it,
11:08you know, in regular braking conditions.
11:09That's where I'd probably just leave the LEDs on
11:12and just use that accelerometer
11:13to help flash the brake light under aggressive braking.
11:17And then, again,
11:18probably my most minor nitpick of all of them
11:20is that it would have been nice
11:21to have the female Velcro on the helmet itself
11:24and the male Velcro on the cheek pad,
11:26just in case you don't line that up perfectly,
11:28a little bit of discomfort.
11:29But, overall, nice iteration with the Squall i3
11:33over the Squall 2.
11:35Like I said,
11:36if you're not interested in the LED function of this,
11:38you could look at all the same features that we discussed,
11:41and that would be the D Squall
11:42for around the $250 price point.
11:44But, for considering this is pretty much the only,
11:48if not one of the only,
11:49LED built-in helmets out in the market,
11:52it's become a very popular helmet from Shark
11:54for folks out there
11:55that do spend more time riding at night
11:57that want that extra visibility.
11:59Even riding during the day a little bit,
12:00it just helps to give you that extra pop of visibility
12:03to help keep you safe.
12:05Now, if you want more information on this helmet,
12:07you can check out what other riders have to say
12:09by clicking the info button on your desktop or mobile device.
12:12That'll take you over to the Squall i3 LED landing page
12:15where you can read other rider reviews,
12:17get all the nitty-gritty details.
12:19And, if you're still not sure
12:20as to which helmet is right for you
12:22and your riding style,
12:23you can always reach out to one of our customer service reps
12:26and they can walk you through
12:27all the different helmets available
12:29to make sure you find the right helmet
12:31to match up with your budget
12:33as well as your riding style.
12:34I want to thank you for joining us for this look
12:38at the Shark Squall i3 LED helmet.
12:42I'm Spurge.
12:43Enjoy the ride.