Kali is calling the Shiva 2.0 the second coming. No one wants to plan for the crash, but if you are going to be flying down the mountain racing DH or even Enduro, you won’t find a much safer place to put your head then inside a Kali Shiva. When it was first introduced a couple years ago the Shiva was truly ground breaking with its unique impact management inside, offering a fully DOT certified helmet (so you’re welcome to cross over to moto if you want) at a light weight around 1kg. Kali are back now with version 2.0, and the new Shiva gets even safer with the Low Density Layer (LDL) nubbins we saw last year in their trail Interceptor, an improved foam liner, plus an improved fit – all while keeping the weight the same…
This time Kali Protectives is releasing the Shiva 2.0 in two versions right from the start with either the super light carbon shell, or a more affordable reinforced plastic shell that adds just 140g, both with the same all-new protection tech inside.
LDL
Kali’s LDL tech are the little green inserts in their helmet liner that is said to offer soft but durable improve protection to reduce rotational and oblique impact forces by more than 25% and reduce both low & high-G impacts. When we saw them inside the half shell Interceptor last fall, Kali told us of how rider Nicholi Rogatkin was using some prototypes when he had a heinous crash at the 2015 Redbull Rampage. Back in the lab Kali recreated the forces Rogatkin experienced in the crash and saw an actual 50% reduction in the peak rotational acceleration forces that his head would have been subjected to with a standard helmet.
That pretty much makes the addition of those little green things a no-brainer, so it’s good to see them in Shiva 2.0.
Nano Fusion
As for inside the foam & shell itself, Kali is surpassing their own Composite Fusion 3 tech with a new Nano Fusion in-molding technology that bonds together self-healing acrylic foam with new viscoelastic Casidion carbon nanotubes inside of the EPS liner & outer shell. Again molded in interconnected cone shapes in the new Shiva 2.0, Nano Fusion is able to dissipates energy even more efficiently in even less space than before.
The outer shell itself – in two optimized shell sizes to better work with the 5 size XS-XL fitting range from 53-62cm heads – sticks with a round profile to limit rotational forces as much as possible and 10 vents overall. Inside of that a new thicker pad system uses an improved anti-microbial, wicking material to keep your head more comfortable, and still allow easy machine washing.
The breakaway visor carries over mostly unchanged and offers a good mounting point for accessories like a GoPro or light where it won’t impact your head in the event of a crash.
The new Shiva is available in two version the $550 carbon shelled Shiva 2.0 Carbon weighing in at just 1050g (medium) or the $350 tri-weave reinforced ABS shell Shiva 2.0 that weighs 1190. Both helmets get all of the same safety tech and DOT, ASTM F1952, ASTM 2032, ASTM F2040, CPSC & EN 1078 certifications. The Shiva 2.0 Carbon comes only in gloss black for now with the Shiva 2.0 available in matte black/lime or black/red/white.
