Bell has finally built a three-quarter mountain-bike helmet — the 650g, £204.99 (~R4 500) 3QTR Air Mips — slotting an extra-vented, jaw-and-neck-hugging lid between a trail half-shell and its new Full-Air full-face.
Bell finally builds a three-quarter helmet
For years, Bell has owned the two ends of the trail-helmet spectrum — airy half-shells and burly full-faces — with nothing in between. The 3QTR Air Mips changes that. It's the brand's first three-quarter lid: a shell pulled low over the ears, jaw and upper neck for more coverage than a normal trail helmet, but with the chin bar removed so you can actually breathe on the climbs.
It arrived in April 2026 as one half of a new Air Series, paired with the Full-Air Mips full-face (£249.99 (~R5 400), 760g). Both share the same DNA — Mips Evolve, dual-density EPS, a Fidlock buckle and a breakaway camera mount — but the 3QTR Air drops the chin bar to chase ventilation and comfort. South Africa's enduro and e-MTB riders, who climb in heat and descend on rough ground, are squarely the target.
Bell 3QTR Air Mips — by the numbers
Source: BikeBiz
By the numbers: 3QTR Air vs Full-Air vs Fox Dropframe Pro
How the 3QTR Air stacks up against its full-face sibling and the genre benchmark
| Bell 3QTR Air Mips | Bell Full-Air Mips | Fox Dropframe Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Three-quarter (open face) | Full-face | Three-quarter (over-ear) |
| Chin bar | No | Yes (fixed) | No |
| Claimed weight (size M) | 650g | 760g | 644g |
| UK RRP | £204.99 (~R4 500) | £249.99 (~R5 400) | £270 (~R5 900) |
| Rotational protection | Mips Evolve | Mips Evolve | Mips |
| Downhill (ASTM F1952) certified | No | Yes | No |
View data table
| Claimed weight (g, size M) | |
|---|---|
| Fox Dropframe Pro | 644 g |
| Bell 3QTR Air Mips | 650 g |
| Bell Full-Air Mips | 760 g |
The cooling story rests on Bell's Dual Flow Ventilation system, which — in Bell's words — draws cool air in, guides it over the head and dumps the warm air out of the rear vents. Around that sit the shared Air Series parts: a Mips Evolve rotational-protection cradle, a dual-density EPS fusion liner, an in-mold polycarbonate shell, and a removable, washable anti-microbial pad set with a Sweat Guide to steer perspiration away from your eyes.
The practical touches are where it earns its keep. A two-position Flying Bridge visor flips up to park goggles or stash sunglasses; there's a breakaway under-visor mount for an action cam or light; and a Fidlock magnetic buckle means one-handed, gloved fastening. It's e-bike rated too (NTA 8776), which matters for the e-MTB crowd. UK retailers wasted no time discounting it — BikeBiz noted street pricing as low as £163.99 (~R3 600) at Tredz at launch.
What the launch coverage and reviewers say
Three takes — two on the new Bells, one on the rival they're chasing
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
Frames the 3QTR Air as a true middle course
“As a three-quarter helmet, it dispenses with the chin bar, but pulls the shell far over the neck and jaw area - ideal for all those for whom a normal half shell is not enough, but a full face is 'too much'.”
Read the full reviewRates the wider Air Series as feature-rich value
“At £249.99 (~R5 400) its also pretty sensible money for such a feature-rich full face crash hat, with plenty of sizes and colours to suit too.”
Read the full reviewThe over-ear rival the 3QTR Air has to beat
“A brilliant helmet for aggressive riding, although pricey and could do with minor improvements.”
Read the full reviewA complete spec sheet at a sharp price for the three-quarter class — but this is our read of the published numbers, not a ride test, and there are no independent safety scores yet.
The 3QTR Air Mips on paper
- More jaw and neck coverage than a standard half-shell, without a full-face's bulk
- Dual Flow Ventilation and an open structure aimed at all-day climbing comfort
- Two-position Flying Bridge visor parks goggles or stashes sunglasses
- Mips Evolve rotational protection plus a Fidlock magnetic buckle
- E-bike (NTA 8776) certified — relevant for the growing e-MTB scene
- Breakaway under-visor camera/light mount built in
- £204.99 (~R4 500) undercuts the Fox Dropframe Pro (£270 (~R5 900)) by around £65 (~R1 400)
- At 650g it's far heavier than a typical trail half-shell (often sub-400g)
- NOT downhill-certified — only the full-face Full-Air carries the ASTM F1952 DH rating
- Brand new, so no independent long-term or third-party safety scores (e.g. Virginia Tech STAR) yet
- Premium money for a category some riders still find niche
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
Three-quarter helmet questions, answered
What exactly is a three-quarter helmet? +
It's a half-shell that's been extended down over the ears, jaw and upper neck for more coverage, but stops short of a full-face by leaving off the chin bar. It sits between a trail half-shell and a full-face — Bell's version is the 3QTR Air, and the best-known rival is the Fox Dropframe.
Is the Bell 3QTR Air Mips downhill-certified? +
No. Only the full-face Full-Air Mips carries the ASTM F1952 downhill (and F2032 BMX) certification. The 3QTR Air meets NTA 8776 (e-bike), US CPSC, CE EN 1078 and AS/NZ 2063, but with no chin bar it isn't a DH-rated lid.
How heavy is it, and how does that compare? +
650g claimed in size medium — essentially level with the Fox Dropframe Pro (644g) and 110g lighter than Bell's own Full-Air full-face (760g), but roughly 200–250g more than a typical lightweight trail half-shell.
Can I run goggles or sunglasses with it? +
Yes. The two-position Flying Bridge visor flips up to park goggles or stash glasses, and there's a breakaway under-visor mount for an action camera or light.
What will it cost in South Africa? +
The UK RRP is £204.99 (~R4 500) (around R4,900 approx, from the GBP price, for reference only) and €229.99 (~R4 300) in Europe; some UK shops already listed it near £164 (~R3 600) at launch. We don't set ZAR prices — check the live South African catalogue match above for current local stock.
Sources & further reading
- Bell steps into the three-quarter helmet game with the 3QTR Air Mips — road.cc / off-road.cc
- Bell release their new Full Air and 3QTR-Air lids — Wideopen Mountain Bike
- Bell Air Series helmets: full-face protection meets airy uphill flow — BIKE (bike-magazin.de)
- Bell presents new Air Series mountain bike helmets — BikeBiz
- Bell 3Qtr-Air Mips — official product page — Bell Helmets
- Fox Dropframe Pro helmet review (8/10) — off-road.cc
The 3QTR Air Mips is the helmet Bell's range has been missing — a genuinely vented, jaw-and-neck-hugging lid for riders who find a half-shell too exposed but a full-face too hot or claustrophobic. On paper it's well-judged: 650g is competitive for the genre (level with the Fox Dropframe Pro), the feature set is complete, and at £204.99 (~R4 500) it undercuts that rival by around £65 (~R1 400).
Two caveats keep us honest. It is not downhill-certified — for bike-park laps the full-face Full-Air or a dedicated DH lid is the rated choice — and as a brand-new release it has no independent ride reviews or third-party safety scores yet. If a three-quarter suits your riding, it looks like strong value; just buy it for trail and enduro, not for the certified protection of a full-face.
