THE CRATONI
C-TRACER
An expensive helmet at a
not-so-expensive price
{ TECH }
The name Cratoni might fool you into thinking this helmet is made in Milan, but holding the $120
C-Tracer helmet reveals the truth. This
helmet is all German, with the attention to detail and quality that made
BMW, Audi and Porsche famous.
Tech features: The C-Tracer has
Cratoni’s Light Fit System, a dial-
adjustable inner-fitting membrane;
in-mold construction (the shell and
Downshell (the shell wraps around to
the inside of the helmet). The helmet
is available in M/L or L/XL in black or
orange/black. Our L/XL weighed 11. 4
ounces.
Field test tesults: Cratoni almost
insults the C-Tracer by calling it
a mountain bike/commuter helmet. Sure, Cratoni’s top-of-the-line
C-Hawk is twice as expensive, but we
couldn’t find anything “entry-level” or
“basic” about this impressive helmet.
The C-Tracer fits between an enduro-style helmet and a road-race helmet,
meaning it doesn’t come down too
low (enduro) or seem perched on top
of the head (road).
The helmet’s shell and liner are
flawless. The retention straps are soft
and comfortable. The Light Fit System
(an adjustable inner band to keep the
helmet steady) is easy to adjust with
the twist of a dial and, like the rest of
the helmet, is beautifully designed.
The Light Fit System offers three positions to set the height of the helmet
on the rider.
The shape of the fixed visor is
strange from the rider’s perspective. There is a gap in the center of
the visor, like the two sides couldn’t
quite meet. Also, the longish visor
sits too low, and there is no adjustment mechanism to tilt it up. An easy
workaround if you don’t mind taking
an X-acto knife to the visor is to trim
about 1/8 of an inch on each side.
The helmet ventilates well, and its
fit made it seem even lighter than its
weight. This was most noticeable (or
unnoticeable) on rides of more than
three hours, where every ounce of
a helmet starts to feel heavier. The
C-Tracer stays light on the longest of
rides. ■
The C-Tracer helmet doesn’t sit too
high or too low on the rider’s head.
Cratoni has found the sweet spot for
most trail riders.
Cratoni’s Light Fit System keeps the helmet
firmly planted when the rider is bouncing
along the singletrack. Its small size and
adjustability are a big plus.
