Gear Up with 80SIX: A Straight-Talking Take on This Kids’ Multisport Helmet

Why this helmet might be the all-in-one safety solution for your active youngster—and why it can also drive you up a wall.

Let’s cut to the chase: the 80SIX helmet is built to cover kids (and teens) across biking, skateboarding, and scooting. It carries the heavy lifting of triple certifications—U.S. CPSC for bike helmets, and ASTM standards for roller skating and skateboarding. Inside, you’ve got a tough ABS hard casing surrounding an EPS foam core, the same kind of impact-absorbing material safety regs require. It’s a good starting point when it comes to multi-activity safety.

The helmet’s venting works well enough. It has a classic, street-ready look with decent airflow from around ten vents, but don’t expect a breeze like a pro cycling helmet. On warm summer spins, you’ll get some sweat but nothing extreme. Keep in mind, the vent edges aren’t perfectly trimmed; in rough tumbles your kid’s hair might catch on some sharper plastic bits.

Build-wise, the helmet’s surface resists dents, but its matte finish reveals scuffs straight away. Drop it even once on concrete and you’ll see the paint chip at edges rather than flex. It’s a rigid ABS shell that’s tough but shows wear faster than a gloss finish would. That’s typical for an affordable helmet but worth knowing if you’re picky about looks.

Sizing comes in three clear buckets: 49–52 cm for ages 5+, 52–56 cm for 8+, and 55–58 cm for 14+. No gentle overlaps between sizes here—measure with string and tape, because straddling those gaps often means a looser or too-tight fit. The strap system leans heavily on a plastic side-release buckle that flexes under tension, and while the straps run behind the ears as expected, the small sliders can pinch skin near the collarbone if you crank them too tight. You can trim excess strap length, but then you lose adjustment room for hats or layers.

Inside, triple foam pads mold to your kid’s head shape. They keep things comfy for short rides, but after an hour the thin padding spreads pressure awkwardly, which has caused complaints of discomfort and sweat buildup. The pads don’t wick moisture and can get sticky against skin, prompting kids to yank the helmet off—not the sign of all-day wearability.

Here’s the kicker: there’s no rear adjustment dial. It’s all about strap tightening and the foam pads for fit. If it sits right, it stays put through head shakes, but if straps loosen, the whole helmet shifts forward or sideways. No quick fixes mid-ride. For a helmet intended to cover multiple sports, that’s a significant drawback.

Durability is a mixed bag based on usage reports. The ABS crust holds up against impacts without cracking, but the EPS foam liner can develop small fractures after hard knocks that aren’t obvious from the outside. Treat this helmet like a one-hit wonder—if it’s taken a big hit, time to replace it even if it seems fine.

When it comes to style, you get a matte finish that’s great for adding decals—vinyl stickers stick well and peel off cleanly, making customization easy and fun. Just keep in mind that the brighter colors, like teal or pink-purple fades, scratch and reveal dull core material quickly. Matte black wears best in roughhousing but shows every fingerprint.

So, who should snag this helmet? It’s a reasonable pick if your kid is five or up and mostly doing short neighborhood rides, scooter trips, or low-risk skatepark runs. You get solid safety certifications, a classic look, and a price that won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

But skip it if your kid needs micro-fit adjustments, rides long sessions, or falls between the size ranges. The fit options are limited and the padding doesn’t play nicely over longer wear. Also, if you want easy on-the-fly tuning or worry about strap comfort, there are better options out there.

In the end, the 80SIX Triple Certified Multisport Helmet delivers on certification and basic functionality but trades off comfort and fine-tuning. It’s a decent starter helmet that covers multiple sports without breaking the bank, but don’t expect it to be the go-to for heavy-duty, long-lasting sessions or kids who obsess over fit perfection.