Nexx X.LifeTour review | Modular flip-front touring helmet tested

Date reviewed: March 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: From £359.99 | https://nexx-helmet.co.uk/

Value is a very personal perception, but the new Nexx X.LifeTour on review here really does offer a lot for the money, standing up well to competition from the likes of Schuberth and Shoei. This modular / flip-front / flip-up / system (take your pick) helmet offers the performance and spec of lids costing much, much more. Having worn it for more than 1,000 miles on a BMW R1250GS, Honda Hornet CB750, Honda ADV350 and a Zontes ZT350-T, I can say that while it’s not perfect, it is very good for the money…

Outer Shell

Made in the company’s Portugal factory, the Nexx X.LifeTour on test here is the composite fibre ‘X-Matrix2’ construction with – like most other flip-front helmets of all prices – a plastic chin section. In this ‘Globe White/Blue’ and other colour schemes it costs £399.99, but plain colours are £359.99.

A ‘Pro’ version is also available with a carbon-fibre shell at £469.99 for graphics and £509.99 for bare carbon (no graphics mean the weave must be cosmetically perfect all over). The Pro models also come with an additional dark visor and a visor bag, and are claimed to be lighter.

The finish on this X.LifeTour is excellent, with a lovely metallic sheen to the coloured graphics, which are accurately applied under a deep gloss top-coat.

The chin bar is released with an easy-to-operate button under the front, and there’s a small slider tab on the right, which locks the chin bar up more securely. This little tab is a lot more fiddly to operate than it could be, but to be honest, I’ve never used one on any helmet.

The idea is that this securely locks the chin bar open, so it can’t unexpectedly fall across your face while riding with it open. On this Nexx, if you lock it then forget and pull the chin bar down it will override it with more force than you’d need were it not locked, and it resets the tab when you next open it, which is a handy feature if a little disconcerting in the noise it makes.

Surprisingly, nodding my head down sharply can override the lock, though the front doesn’t come down as easily as with it unlocked.

However, despite the front section being a lot looser than other helmets, I’ve ridden very bumpy, pot-holed trails with this open and not had it close itself even without the lock engaged.

I would like the X.LifeTour to secure the front up a little more firmly without locking it, and have a more accessible locking tab, but I only noticed the ease with which I could shake it down when sat here to write the review – it hasn’t been an issue in any riding.

The front of the Nexx locks down easily and reliably with one hand during use, and when open the mechanism’s holes are cleverly hidden by sprung covers.

There’s plenty of space inside the front for my chin and mouth, and in fact I was even able to mount a DJI Mic Mini inside when testing for the video linked here. The helmet also comes with two action camera mounting points; one that screws into the top and positions the camera to the rear of the top vent, and another that puts it on the left.

An Allen key is supplied for the two screws that hold the side plate on, but you’ll need a PH2 screwdriver for the fixing on the top.

There’s no printed instruction manual supplied with the X.LifeTour – just a QR code on a piece of paper, which takes you to this link for all the Nexx owners’ manuals.

A three-year warranty is standard, with an extra two years if you register online.

Weight

This size medium Nexx X.LifeTour weighs 1,930g on my scales, which is 235g heavier than the Schuberth C5 and 198g more than the Shoei Neotec 3. To be honest, that surprised me as, while it’s not the heaviest helmet we’ve reviewed, it is a significant amount. And yet I hadn’t noticed at all while wearing it.

Aerodynamics make the biggest difference in how a helmet affects your neck, but I acknowledge that some people with neck problems might dislike heavier helmets.

I do have compressed vertebrae in my neck that cause nerve problems, but I’d still say that the weight of this helmet isn’t an issue for me. As with any lid, my recommendation is always to try it on for yourself, though it’s perhaps worth noting that the carbon-fibre Pro versions of the X.LifeTour are claimed to be 50g lighter. I haven’t been able to try one, but this might make a difference for some riders.

The small piece of foam inside the top vent – seen with the cover removed – is said to better direct air into the internal vent channels

Ventilation

The X.LifeTour has an open/closed chin vent that’s easy to operate and gives a noticeable flow of air to the brow (depending on the size of your bike’s screen).

The top vent, which can be unclipped for cleaning, is open or closed and feed four ports inside. It works well, allowing air to flow over the top of the head and out through the rear always-open exhaust, without being a powerful and localised blast of air. Of course, the helmet can also be used with the front open as all ECE 22.06 flip-fronts have to be homologated as P (Protective, or full-face) and J (Jet, or open-face).

The Nexx also has channels and chambers incorporated inside the inner shell that allow air to move through the helmet and draw heat away. While difficult to quantify in testing, it’s certainly got the potential to help reduce temperatures.

Visor

While the Pro versions of the X.LifeTour comes with a top-spec Pinlock 120XLT anti-fog insert, the ‘standard’ models like this have a mid-range Pinlock 70, which during an hour in heavy rain at 7°C I found performed well.

Otherwise, both helmets are the same, with the visor giving a good field of view, if a fraction higher at the outside lower edges than the C5 and Neotec 3.

The visor has a tab on either side of centre, making it easier to thumb open with either hand, and can be cracked just open for more ventilation. There are then five stages on the ratchet to fully open.

The visor is incredibly easy to remove and replace for cleaning, and while it does come down with the chin bar when closing the front up again (rather than staying open like the Schuberth), it can be opened while the front’s coming down, which can make it easier to latch with one hand.

The built-in sunshield is controlled by a slider on the upper right and gives excellent coverage – with the removable nose guard in place there’s very little distracting stray light along the bottom edge.

Above the visor aperture are two black reflective patches – combined with the thumb-tabs and some other design touches they’re very reminiscent of the Schuberth C5. The bottom of the chin skirt also has a reflective strip for when riding with the chin open, and there are patches on the cheeks that reveal in this position too. The neck skirt also features three of these strips.

Lining

The X.LifeTour’s lining – which is fully removable for easy cleaning and made entirely by Nexx in Portugal – is soft and comfortable with a quality feel.

There’s no quick-release system for the cheek pads, but with a flip-front helmet there’s no need as in an emergency situation it’s still possible to access the rider’s airway by simply opening the lid without moving their neck.

Something I did notice – and that isn’t exclusive to the Nexx – is that during an hour’s ride in pouring rain the lining did wick some moisture up. It wasn’t uncomfortable while on the bike, but the damp was noticeable once I’d stopped. Perhaps less absorbent material could be used on the exposed lower edges, though it seems to dry out quickly enough.

Fastening

The X.LifeTour has a micrometric ratchet fastener, which I’d consider ideal for a touring helmet as it’s quick and easy to use. Once the strap length has been set to suit you, this style gives a range of adjustment to ensure a snug fit every time.

However, the soft rubber cover on the ratchet tongue slides forward when you use it, effectively halving the ratchet’s range – where there should be four clicks of adjustment, unless you grip it carefully there are only two. It’d be very good to see Nexx address this, even if it simply means bonding the sleeve to the metal tongue.

Nexx makes its helmets – right down to the lining – in its factory in Portugal

Fit

Fit and comfort are of course extremely subjective, but I found the Nexx X.LifeTour to be fantastic from the first wear. Where the X.WED 3 and X.WST 3 took a little bit of breaking in at the forehead, this seemed perfect from the off thanks to a different design of expanded polystyrene (EPS) inner shell.

After a full day in the X.LifeTour I’d say the cheeks are perhaps a fraction tight on me, but I’ve no qualms wearing this helmet at all.

Nexx X.LifeTour Noise

Over about 40mph it’s important to wear earplugs in any helmet. But while the noise you experience will depend on the bike’s fairing and screen, your height and riding position, and the individual fit of any helmet, I’ve been impressed with just how little noise there seems to be when wearing the Nexx X.LifeTour.

On one hour-long ride I forgot to put my earplugs in and was genuinely surprised at how good it was. I of course put them in as soon as I stopped, but the lack of buffeting and any squeaks or whistles is impressive for any helmet, let alone a flip-front.

For more information on why earplugs are vital with any helmet, and advice on which are the best, click here.

Can I fit my own intercom to the Nexx X.LifeTour?

Nexx offers its own X.COM 3 Bluetooth Sena-based integrated comms system for £169.99, or the Bluetooth/Mesh X.COM 3 Pro reviewed here for £339.98. If you want to use your own comms you’ll need to stick the unit slightly to the rear, but it’ll still be within reach. The speaker ports are 46mm in diameter and 12mm deep.

As with other brands, if you buy an intercom at the same time as the helmet from most stores, you’ll not pay VAT on the comms system, saving 16.66%.

Three alternatives to the Nexx X.LifeTour

The Nexx X.LifeTour represents very good value for money, but here are some alternatives to consider…

• Nexx X.LifeCountry, from £439.99 | While we haven’t reviewed this helmet yet, it appears to offer the flip-front versatility of the X.LifeTour with a low-sun-beating peak. The spec suggests it’s quite heavy, but whether that matters will depend on you. We hope to review the X.LifeCountry in future.

• Schuberth C5, from £539.99 | A revision of the visor mechanism means we love the Schuberth C5 again, and while fit is the most important thing, this is now one of our favourite flip-front helmets. There are also some surprising discounts available. Read the full review of the Schuberth C5 here.

• Shoei Neotec 3, from £599.99 | You can’t have a system helmet review without mentioning the Neotec 3, which is better than the previous Neotec II in almost every way. A great go-anywhere, do-anything helmet, it is a pricey investment when compared to some of the competition, but it’s very good. Read the full review of the Shoei Neotec 3 here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the helmets we’ve tested here  and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Nexx X.LifeTour review: Verdict

There are a surprising number of similarities between the Nexx X.LifeTour and the Schuberth C5, but that’s no bad thing. Starting at £359.99, this isn’t a budget helmet, but it is incredibly keenly priced given its specs and performance.

The weight might be an issue for some (it wasn’t for me), and the front section could do with being a little more secure when locked up, but I hadn’t noticed that while riding with it open over a deeply pot-holed off-road track for about three miles.

Flip-up helmets like this aren’t as good to ride in open as flip-over helmets, due to the chin-bar acting as a sail, but those are also a style that not everybody likes. The Nexx X.LifeTour represents excellent value for money and earns its place as a recommended modular helmet.

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