The Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt is a 3/4 open-face MTB helmet with extended coverage around the ears and sides of the head. It suits riders who find a conventional trail lid too exposed but do not want the enclosed feel of a full-face. It has no chin bar.
Quick verdict
After riding with it, comfort was the standout: the Stage Stunt felt secure, breathable and easy to hear through. The Fidlock buckle and adjustable neck rolls also worked well. Its extra coverage is reassuring, but it is a specialist choice and cannot provide the chin protection of a full-face helmet.
How we tested
This review draws on our riding experience with the Stage Stunt, assessing comfort, fit, ventilation, hearing and everyday use of the buckle and visor. The observations below are from riding, not laboratory impact testing; specifications and the claimed 550g weight come from Troy Lee Designs.
Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt
Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt — Drone Black M/L
A comfortable, breathable 3/4 trail helmet with reassuring ear coverage and good hearing on the trail. It has no chin bar and cannot replace a full-face helmet.
At Tredz
Stage Stunt; Drone Black; M/L (57–59cm)
Read our review →+ Pros
- Comfortable and secure in our riding
- Breathable for the coverage
- Hearing remains clear
- Easy-to-use Fidlock buckle
− Cons
- No chin-bar protection
- More enclosing than a conventional trail helmet
Compare prices
Stage Stunt; Drone Black; M/L (57–59cm) · Verified totals first; unconfirmed offers follow.
Prices and availability may change. Prices last checked: 2026-10-13 06:56 UTC. Prices are checked when this guide is updated. Confirm the current price and availability with the retailer.
Our verdict
Our riding impressions favour the Stage Stunt for riders who want extra coverage around the sides of the head without the enclosed feel of a full-face. Try the fit before buying: its neck rolls and cheek area feel different from a conventional open-face lid. Manufacturer weight is 550g; this is not our measured weight.
Read the full Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt — Drone Black M/L review →Key specifications
- Format
- 3/4 open-face, no chin bar
- Rotational system
- Mips Integra Fuse
- Shell / liner
- Polycarbonate / dual-density EPS
- Claimed weight
- 550g (manufacturer figure)
- Vents
- 9 intakes, 13 exhausts
- Fit
- Adjustable Dri-Lex neck rolls
- Buckle
- Fidlock
- Size checked
- M/L, 57–59cm
Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt: Review
Comfort and fit
The Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt feels much more comfortable than its shape might suggest. A 3/4 helmet can easily look like it should feel bulky or awkward, but that was not the case here. Once fitted, it sat securely and felt natural on the trail.
The extra coverage around the ears and jaw gives the helmet a more protective feel than a normal open-face trail lid, but it does not feel like wearing a full-face helmet. That distinction is important. You get more reassurance when the trail gets faster or rougher, but without the enclosed feeling that can put riders off full-face helmets on normal rides.
The adjustable neck rolls are a key part of the fit. They let the helmet settle around the lower rear of the head and jawline more naturally, which helps stop the extra coverage feeling clumsy. It is still a different fit experience from a standard open-face helmet, so riders should take time to set it up properly, but once dialled in it feels impressively easy to live with.
For eMTB riding, that comfort matters. A helmet like this only makes sense if you are willing to wear it for proper rides, not just short bike-park laps. The Stage Stunt clears that hurdle.
Ventilation and trail use
Ventilation was one of the best parts of the helmet. With 9 intake vents and 13 exhaust vents, the Stage Stunt feels breathable for something with this much coverage. It is not as open as a minimalist trail helmet, but it avoids the stuffy, boxed-in feel that some more protective helmets can have.
That makes it well suited to UK eMTB riding. On climbs, it lets enough air through to stop the extra coverage becoming a distraction. On descents, it gives a reassuring feel without making you feel isolated from the trail. It is the kind of helmet that suits riders who want more protection for trail centres, natural woodland riding and faster eMTB routes, but who do not want to jump straight to a full-face.
Hearing is also good. That matters more than some riders realise. Being able to hear trail noise, other riders, freehub sound, tyres on the ground and people around you helps you feel connected to the ride. The Stage Stunt gives extra coverage without making the trail feel muted.
Protection and confidence
The real appeal of the Stage Stunt is confidence. It does not try to be a downhill full-face helmet, but it gives more protection around vulnerable areas than a standard open-face helmet. That extra coverage around the ears and jaw is noticeable in a good way.
For riders who have been caught between helmet categories, this makes a lot of sense. A normal open-face helmet can feel too minimal for harder riding, especially on an eMTB where the bike’s weight and speed can make descents feel more committed. A full-face helmet can feel excessive for normal trail riding. The Stage Stunt sits neatly between the two.
The Mips Integra Fuse system adds the rotational impact protection riders now expect from a premium MTB helmet, while the dual-density EPS liner and polycarbonate shell give it a serious safety-led construction. No helmet removes risk from mountain biking, and this should not be treated as a full-face substitute, but it does offer a useful step up in reassurance for riders who want more coverage without closing off the whole face.
Design and usability
The Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt looks brilliant. That is subjective, but it matters with a helmet this distinctive. It has a strong retro 3/4 influence, but it does not look like a novelty throwback. It looks purposeful, modern and very Troy Lee Designs.
The Fidlock buckle is another strong detail. It is easy to use with gloves, simple to fasten and less fiddly than a traditional buckle when your hands are cold or muddy. On a helmet designed for trail and eMTB use, that kind of everyday usability matters.
The adjustable visor also works well, and the goggle and sunglasses stowage makes sense for riders who switch between eyewear setups. This is not just an odd-looking open-face helmet with extra shell coverage. It has been built properly around the way trail riders actually use their kit.
What is not so good?
The main limitation is that the Stage Stunt is a specialist helmet. It offers more coverage than a normal open-face helmet, but that also means it is not as simple, minimal or familiar as a regular trail lid. Riders who only ride gentle routes may not need the extra ear and jaw coverage.
The second point is protection category. The Stage Stunt adds reassurance, but it is still not a full-face helmet. If you want proper chin protection for bike-park days, downhill tracks or high-risk enduro riding, a full-face helmet is still the better choice.
Those are not major criticisms, but they are important buying-context points. The Stage Stunt is excellent if you want this middle ground. It is less necessary if you already know you either want a normal open-face or a proper full-face.
Final verdict
The Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt is a seriously impressive 3/4 MTB and eMTB helmet. It is super comfortable, breathable, good to hear through and gives a noticeable boost in confidence thanks to the extra coverage around the ears and jaw.
Its biggest strength is that it does not feel as awkward as it looks on paper. Once riding, it feels natural, secure and easy to live with. The Fidlock buckle, adjustable visor, Mips Integra Fuse protection and goggle storage all add to the premium feel.
It will not replace a full-face helmet for riders who need chin-bar protection, and it is more specialist than a standard trail lid. But for eMTB riders who want extra reassurance without the full-face commitment, the Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt makes a very strong case for itself.
Stage Stunt versus conventional trail helmets
The Endura MT500 Mips and Troy Lee Designs A3 Mips below are more conventional open-face alternatives; the Canyon Deflectr offers another retention and impact-management approach. None adds a chin bar. Compare our trail helmet guide with the full-face helmet guide if chin protection is your priority.
Endura MT500 Mips
The Endura MT500 Mips is one of the most practical trail MTB helmets in this guide for UK riding.
At Leisure Lakes Bikes
Price retained from the published article; check size, colour and availability with the retailer.
Read our review →+ Pros
- Comfortable enough to forget you are wearing it
- Generous L-XL sizing up to 63cm
- Mips and Koroyd protection package
− Cons
- No Fidlock buckle despite the strong feature set
Compare prices
Price retained from the published article; check size, colour and availability with the retailer. · Verified totals first; unconfirmed offers follow.
Prices and availability may change. Price reference: 2026-09-19 08:47 UTC. Prices are checked when this guide is updated. Confirm the current price and availability with the retailer.
Our verdict
Read the full Endura MT500 Mips review →Key specifications
- Type
- Open-face trail MTB helmet
- Rotational protection
- Mips with Koroyd core
- Fit system
- One-handed micro-adjust fit system integrated into the Mips layer
- Ventilation
- Large vents including top air intake zone
- Visor
- Removable adjustable visor
- Best for
- practical trail, all-weather riding and eMTB use
Troy Lee Designs A3 Mips
The Troy Lee Designs A3 Mips is a premium open-face trail helmet for riders who want deeper coverage, strong ventilation and a more substantial feel than a simple trail lid.
At Leisure Lakes Bikes
Price retained from the published article; check size, colour and availability with the retailer.
Read our review →+ Pros
- Excellent ventilation for a deep-coverage trail helmet
- Secure, confidence-inspiring fit
- Fidlock buckle is easy to use with gloves
− Cons
- Not the lightest open-face MTB helmet
Compare prices
Price retained from the published article; check size, colour and availability with the retailer. · Verified totals first; unconfirmed offers follow.
Prices and availability may change. Price reference: 2026-09-19 08:47 UTC. Prices are checked when this guide is updated. Confirm the current price and availability with the retailer.
Key specifications
- Type
- Open-face trail, enduro and eMTB helmet
- Rotational protection
- B-Series Mips
- Fit system
- TLD V3 precision fit system
- Ventilation
- 16 vents with internal channeling
- Visor
- Three-way Magnajust adjustable visor
- Best for
- premium trail, rougher descents and eMTB riding
Canyon Deflectr
The Canyon Deflectr is the most unusual trail MTB helmet in this guide, but it earns its place because it offers something genuinely different.
At Canyon
Price retained from the published article; check size, colour and availability with the retailer.
Read our review →+ Pros
- Incredibly comfortable on the trail
- Strong safety-led design with RLS technology
- Well ventilated for trail and eMTB use
− Cons
- HighBar system takes some getting used to
Compare prices
Price retained from the published article; check size, colour and availability with the retailer. · Verified totals first; unconfirmed offers follow.
Prices and availability may change. Price reference: 2026-09-19 08:47 UTC. Prices are checked when this guide is updated. Confirm the current price and availability with the retailer.
Our verdict
Read the full Canyon Deflectr review →Key specifications
- Type
- Open-face trail MTB helmet
- Rotational protection
- Canyon RLS release layer system
- Fit system
- HighBar 1.5 with rear micro-adjustment dial
- Ventilation
- Large intake, top and exhaust vents
- Visor
- Adjustable visor
- Best for
- safety-focused riders wanting a different trail helmet
Also compare retailer options for the Endura MT500 Mips at Balfe’s Bikes and Troy Lee Designs A3 at Leisure Lakes Bikes; check the exact size and current offer before ordering.
FAQs
Is the Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt a full-face helmet?
No. The Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt is a 3/4 open-face helmet. It gives more protection around the ears and jaw than a normal trail helmet, but it does not have a chin bar like a full-face helmet.
Is the Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt good for eMTB riding?
Yes. The Stage Stunt is well suited to eMTB riding because it gives extra coverage, good ventilation, Mips Integra Fuse protection and a secure fit without feeling as restrictive as a full-face helmet.
Can you hear properly in the Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt?
Yes. Hearing remains good in the Stage Stunt. The extra ear coverage does not make the trail feel overly muted, which helps it feel natural when riding with other people or listening for trail noise.
Is the Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt breathable?
Yes. The Stage Stunt has 9 intake vents and 13 exhaust vents, and it feels breathable for a helmet with this much coverage. It is not as open as a minimal trail lid, but airflow is strong.
Who should buy the Troy Lee Designs Stage Stunt?
The Stage Stunt is best for riders who want more protection than a standard open-face helmet but do not want to wear a full-face helmet on normal trail rides. It makes particular sense for eMTB riders, enduro-style trail riding and riders who like extra reassurance around the ears and jaw.