7idP makes great mountain bike gear, and they’ve got a pretty legit selection for kids as well. We’ve been hitting up a bunch of mountain bike parks this summer and have had a chance to test out the M1 full face helmet, the Transition knee and elbow pads, and the Flex knee pads.
Read on to learn more about each…..
Where To Buy:
Video Review
M1 Full Face Helmet For Kids
Pros:
- Lightweight and slim profile
- Not as hot and sweaty as many full face helmets
- D-ring closure
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not ASTM F1952 or ASTM F2032 certified
- No “extras”
Price: $109.99
Slim Profile And Light Weight Makes It Comfortable For Kids
The biggest problem with kids and full face helmets is that full face helmets are big and bulky. They are heavy. They are hot. They can be awfully uncomfortable for little necks.
This is where the 7iDP M1 really shines. It has a smaller profile and is less bulky than most full face helmets.
The interior padding is thinner than the padding on the Fly Racing Default, for example. This makes it both a little more comfortable and cooler. Our son’s head was a lot less sweaty in this helmet than others.
The breathability is also aided by 17 vent holes. Although some of the vents are covered by padding, these did seem to help with comfort even on hot summer days.
Because the helmet is a little less bulky, it also weighs less. It weighs a mere 840 grams. (Compare that to most full face helmets that are in excess of 1,000 grams).
A slim profile and lower weight makes the helmet one of the more comfortable helmets around. I even tried it on and enjoyed it.
The only problem with this slimmer profile is that the helmet is NOT ASTM certified…….
Helmet is NOT ASTM Certified For Downhill Use Or For BMX
In our family, we use a full face helmet for two things: downhill mountain biking and BMX racing. For that reason, we prefer a full face helmet that meets the ASTM F1952 (downhill mtb) or ASTM F2032 (BMX) standards.
We have been using this helmet while doing lift served riding, BUT if he starts going much bigger, I would want him in an ASTM helmet. It’s just not worth the risk.
For kids who are doing mellow downhill riding, or playing around on the jump line at your local skills park, the 7iDP M1 helmet should offer plenty of protection. But if you have a more aggressive child who is serious about downhill riding OR getting rowdy on the BMX track, keep your peace of mind in tack and opt for an ASTM certified helmet instead.
D-Ring Closure Keeps The Helmet Secure
Unlike many other helmets that aren’t ASTM certified, the 7iDP M1 helmet DOES have a D-ring closure. This is opposed to the regular buckle you find on a traditional bike helmet.
The D-ring closure does make it a little trickier to get on and off–I still have to help my 8 year old–but it ensures the helmet isn’t going to fly off, even in a violent crash.
Adjustable Visor
The visor is adjustable, and moves up or down via a center screw. We did have one pretty major face plant during testing, and are happy to say that while the visor got scratched up, it did not break off.
Plenty Of Space For Goggles
If your child wants to wear a pair of goggles, the 7iDP M1 helmet has a nice wide eye opening and worked well with goggles.
Sizing
We found the helmet fit true to size. Our 8 year old son has a 53cm head circumference, and wore the XS adult size.
The youth medium fits heads as small as 48 cm and would be a good choice for preschool age rippers.
- Youth Medium (48-50cm)
- Youth Large (50-52cm)
- XS (53-54cm)
- S (55-56cm)
No “Extras” But Affordable Price
The 7iDP M1 helmet is an entry-level full face. This means it’s actually affordable (thank god!) but lacks extras you might find on more expensive helmets. There are no goggle clips or GoPro mount, for instance. Still, we’ve found most parents will gladly pass on extras for a lightweight, affordable lid for their kids.
Transition Knee And Elbow Pads
Pros:
- Super comfortable
- Mailable, flexible padding
- Good range of sizes
- Mesh panel for airflow
- More protection than other “sleeve” type designs
Cons:
- Still not as much protection as a pad like the Flex (below)
Price: $26.99-$64.99
Sleeve Design Is Comfortable….Even For Picky Kids
I may have one of the pickiest kids ever, and mountain bike protection is no exception. If it doesn’t feel just right, he won’t wear it.
Luckily, he was happy to wear the 7iDP Transition pads–which says a lot. They fit well and stay in place so he didn’t spend time whining about them slipping down or having to adjust them.
The sleeve itself feels kind of like a knee warmer (if you’ve ever worn those on the road bike). Both the top and bottom have a silicone gripper that does a good job of staying in place.
Most importantly in terms of fit, the Transition pads come in quite a few sizes so you can get the right size without having to modify them. (We’ve spent lots of time in the past showing parents how to modify their too big G-form pads). We’ll talk more about sizing in a moment…
Pad Is Soft And Malleable But Offers Fairly Significant Protection
The actual padding on the front of the knee (or elbow) is fairly significant. Unlike pads with a hard shell, the 7iDP Transition pads are soft and maleable.
I did feel like they offered more protection than a pad like the G-Form pads, which I appreciated for downhill and more aggressive riding. They still don’t offer as much protection as a more significant pad (like the Flex pads while talk about in a moment), BUT they are far more comfortable. And did I mention my kiddo is picky?! These he’ll wear.
Mesh At The Back Provides Airflow
The other reason my kiddo doesn’t like wearing pads is that they are hot. The Transition pads do a good job of adressing this thanks to the mesh panel at the back. It provides good breathability at the back of the knee or the nook of the elbow–two areas that are important for keeping little bodies cool.
Sizing
Both the Transition knee pads and the Transition elbow pads come in kids (little kids) and youth (big kids) sizing. In fact, 7iDP does a better job of covering a wide range of ages than just about any other company out there. The size small pads fit tiny toddlers just starting on a balance bike, and are now our #1 pick for small kids.
7iDP Youth Flex Knee Pads
Pros:
- Offers lots of protection
- Stay in place…didn’t have issues with them slipping down (even when pedaling)
Cons:
- Bulkier and hotter than the Transition pads
- Don’t come in tiny sizes
Price: $64.99
Sizing
The Flex Knee pads are a little bigger than the Transition pads–so skip these for the preschoolers. They are designed for bigger, older, and more aggressive riders.
The Youth Knee actually doubles as the Adult elbow pad, and it was a little too big and bulky to fit my 8 year old comfortably. We’ll give it another year or so and these should fit well.
The good news is that they fit me! And I really liked them!
Design
The 7iDP Flex knee pads are a more traditional knee pad design and are very similar to other pads I’ve worn from SixSixOne, etc. They were comfortable (at least as comfortable as hard-shell knee pads can be), and provided good protection on days I wasn’t going to go too big. (On black diamond days, I went with more robust POC knee and shin guards instead).
The knee pad is hard and not as malleable or flexible as the Transition pads. While it makes walking a little harder, these pads do provide extra protection for hard charging kiddos.
The primary fabric is thicker than the Transition pads (it feels like Neoprene?) but that adds an extra level of protection as well. The fabric at the rear of the pads is thinner and the entire back of the knee is left open to provide some much needed breathability.
Both the top and bottom of the sleeve have silicone grippers, and there is velcro top and bottom as well. I had no issue with these slipping down like I’ve had with other pads.
Keep Your Kids Safe!
About Us
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is our resident tester and inspiration.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!