Matt black is the plainest Rapid III and one of the four cheapest. Everything about it works except one thing, and that one thing is worth saying before the rest.

1350 grams, and why that is the headline

At about 1350 g the Rapid III is lighter than most full-face helmets at its price and lighter than several costing twice as much. That comes from the HPTT shell and from LS2 leaving out an internal sun visor.

🔵 That omission is real and it is covered further down this page.

HPTT shell, three shell sizes and ECE 22.06

Injection moulding buys consistency. Every shell out of the tool is identical because a machine made it, which is why a mid-priced thermoplastic helmet can be trusted to be the same helmet every time.

🔵 It is heavier than a composite of equal strength, and much cheaper.

No independent safety rating — and the trap that goes with it

🔵 A trap worth knowing about when you research helmets: manufacturers reuse model names across generations, and search results do not distinguish them. „LS2 Rapid" returns a 2-star SHARP result for the FF353, which is not this helmet.

The FF820 Rapid III has never been tested by SHARP. We checked the brand list directly.

About the solid matt black finish

🔵 Black is the hardest helmet colour for a driver to separate from dark tarmac in poor light, and poor light is exactly when the separation matters — overcast afternoons, dusk, rain on a grey road. That does not make it a bad choice, and plenty of riders weigh it up and take it anyway; a helmet is one of several things making you visible, and a bright jacket does more work than most people credit. It does mean the choice should be made deliberately rather than by default, which is why it is the first thing here rather than a footnote. Everything else about it is good. A flat finish shows the shape of a helmet rather than the reflections on it, which suits the Rapid III's fairly clean shell; it hides the handling marks a daily helmet collects, because there is no clear coat for them to catch in; and it is among the cheapest here. Wash it, never polish it. One practical consolation: because it hides marks so well, matt black is the finish that stays looking new longest with the least attention, which matters on a helmet you will own for five years. If you want most of that benefit without the conspicuity penalty, the matt titanium at the same price is the version to look at — a mid grey hides dirt nearly as well and is considerably easier to see.

What this helmet does not have: an internal sun visor

🔵 An internal shield costs weight and shell volume, which is exactly why the cheapest and the lightest helmets tend not to have one. The Rapid III is both, and it does not.

If you ride into low sun regularly, this is the specification that should decide your choice rather than the graphic.

Chin and top intakes, channelled EPS

Two intake paths — chin and crown — is one more than several helmets in this price bracket manage, and the chin intake is the one that matters in winter because it feeds the visor as well as your face.

🔵 A breath deflector and a chin curtain are both fitted as standard.

Anti-fog — prepared for, not supplied

An anti-fog lens works mechanically rather than chemically: it sits slightly proud of the visor with a sealed pocket of air between the two, holding the inner surface above dew point.

🔵 Sprays and coatings are a poor substitute — they need reapplying and fail exactly when humidity is highest. The Rapid III is prepared for the lens but does not include it.

Lining, closure and everyday comfort

Washing the lining is the most effective maintenance there is and the one most often skipped. Sweat breaks down foam, and the foam is what holds the helmet in the right place on your head.

🔵 Cool water, a few times a season, dried away from direct heat.

Where it sits in LS2's range

Nineteen finishes, two prices. Gloss White, Matt Titanium, Matt Black and Gloss Black at the lower price; the remaining fifteen slightly above.

🔵 Nothing else changes between them. The cheapest Rapid III is structurally identical to the most expensive.

Care and replacement parts

Look after the visor above everything else, because on this helmet it is the entire optical system — there is no internal shield behind it.

🔵 Never wipe it dry. Wet it, wash it, dry it with something clean and soft. Replacement visors are available.

In the box

• LS2 FF820 Rapid III helmet — Solid, Matt black (HPTT shell)
• Clear outer visor, fitted
• Chin curtain, fitted and removable
• Breath deflector, fitted and removable
• 🔵 No internal sun visor — this model does not have one
• 🔵 No Pinlock insert — the visor is prepared for a Pinlock® 70 MaxVision™, which is sold separately
• 🔵 No second visor and no intercom — both are separate purchases

Size guide

A tape gets you to the right size; it cannot tell you about head shape. If a correctly-measured helmet presses at the temples while gapping at the forehead, that is shape rather than size.

🔵 No padding change fixes a shape mismatch — a different helmet does.

Specification

• Model — LS2 FF820 Rapid III
• Part number — 168200011
• Colour — Solid — Matt black
• Homologation — ECE 22.06
• 🔴 Safety rating — none. SHARP has no entry for the FF820, Rapid III or Rapid 3 (brand list checked directly). The 2-star result under „FF353 Rapid" belongs to the previous-generation helmet — different shell, different standard — and is deliberately not carried over. No ADAC or Certimoov result either
• Shell — HPTT injection-moulded thermoplastic; three shell sizes (2XS–S / M–L / XL–3XL)
• Weight — approx. 1350 g (±50 g), mid-size shell without accessories
• Sizes — 2XS to 3XL (eight sizes)
• 🔴 Sun visor — none. This helmet has no drop-down internal shield — unlike LS2's FF808 Stream II, FF811 Vector II and FF817 Challenger II. It is most of the reason it weighs 1350 g
• Visor — clear outer visor, scratch-resistant, tool-free change
• 🔴 Anti-fog — prepared for Pinlock® 70 MaxVision™ — the insert is NOT included. The pins are fitted; the lens is a separate purchase
• Ventilation — chin and top intakes feeding channelled EPS, with rear exhausts — two intake paths, one more than the FF817. 🔵 Assessed from the published construction; no independent airflow measurement exists
• 🔴 Wind noise — left unrated — no independent measurement is published for this model
• Retention — ratchet buckle
• Interior — hypoallergenic, antibacterial, fully removable and washable. 🔵 No branded wicking fabric (no COOLMAX or X-Static) and no magnetic wind deflector — both appear further up LS2's range
• Included — chin curtain and breath deflector, both fitted and removable
• 🔴 FIM homologation — none — a road helmet, not eligible for FIM-sanctioned competition
• Serviceability — visors, cheek pads in several thicknesses, complete lining, chin curtain, breath deflector and vent covers all available separately
• Replacement guidance — after about five years regardless of condition, and immediately after any impact

• 1× helmet
• Carrying bag
• Reflective stickers