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Quick verdict — Ride long days in real Northern Ontario cold? Get the CKX Mission. It is warmer, quieter, and the sunshade works with glasses. The HJC i80 is about $499 with the electric shield, but you get what you pay for. Short rides on a budget, the i80 does the job. 200–300 km touring days? Mission, no question.
Why I am comparing these two
I sell powersports for a living in Northern Ontario, and I ride the same trails you do — 200 to 300 kilometre touring days. These two come up in the shop constantly. Guys see the price gap and ask if the Mission is really worth it over the i80.
For most serious winter riders, yes. Here is why, from actually using both.
The contenders
HJC i80 — With the electric visor, roughly $499 CAD. Lightweight, fairly comfortable, and it checks a lot of boxes for the money.
CKX Mission — The one I have run for two seasons. With the electric shield, roughly $830 CAD; carbon fibre runs $850 to $1,000. Sizes go up to 5XL — for the big guys out there like myself — and that range matters. A lot of helmets just do not fit bigger heads.
HJC i80: what I liked, what I did not
I liked the weight and the comfort, and the price is hard to argue with if you are watching the whole sledding budget.
In real winter it feels cold. A lot of wind comes through, and with it, constant engine noise — all day. I would only run it in winter with the electric visor. Without it, you are fighting it.
The drop-down sun visor is the bigger problem. Mine gets condensation and ices up inside the helmet, so when you drop it down it is coated in ice and unusable. If you wear glasses, it is not usable at all in Northern Ontario winters. At $499 it is quite a bit less than the CKX, but I feel you get what you pay for.
CKX Mission: two seasons of notes
Two seasons in, this is not a parking-lot review. It is warmer because less air gets through, so with the breath box you are not getting cut by the wind all day.
It is much quieter too — very little wind or engine noise next to the i80. That does not sound like much until you are 200 or 300 kilometres in. That constant noise is very tiring and mentally draining. The Mission is just more enjoyable on long days.
Mine is non-carbon and I still find it relatively light and maneuverable; it does not beat up my neck. Want lighter? The carbon fibre Mission is easier on the neck again.
The bubble visor and drop-down sunshade are both superior. I wear glasses and contacts, and I can use the Mission sunshade. On the HJC I cannot. When the Mission shade is retracted it does not ice or fog inside — drop it down and it is clear and usable right away. That is how it should work.
Head-to-head
- Warmth: Mission, not close. Less airflow, proper breath box. The i80 feels cold by comparison.
- Noise: Mission. Far less wind and engine noise — over a long day that is the difference between tired and mentally drained.
- Visor and sunshade: Mission. Better bubble visor, shade drops down clear. The i80 shade ices inside; when you need it, you cannot use it.
- Glasses wearers: Mission. I can use the shade with glasses. On the HJC, I cannot. For a lot of guys that settles it.
- Weight: Both manageable. Mission gives you standard (already relatively light) or carbon if your neck bothers you.
- Warranty: CKX 5 years. HJC 12 months. Big gap on a helmet you plan to keep.
The warranty story — I actually used it
I have used the CKX warranty. The sunshade slide latch broke on mine — CKX acknowledged a quality issue with that mechanism. I sent it in, they repaired/replaced it, and I had it back in about three and a half weeks. Pretty good turnaround.
My tip: do not send it during prime riding season. Send it at end of season, or October/November before things get going, so you are not waiting in January.
Five years versus 12 months does not mean you will need it. When I did, CKX stood behind it.
Who should buy which
Budget first, shorter rides, and you can live with more cold and noise? The i80, with the electric visor — just go in eyes open, especially if you wear glasses and counted on that sunshade.
Long touring days, real cold, glasses, or you want the warmer, quieter helmet you are not fighting? The Mission. Need a big size? It goes to 5XL.
Check current pricing at your favourite retailer before you buy — prices move through the season.
Straight-talk verdict
The CKX Mission is the better value and the better buy. You are going to pay more, but you get a whole lot more feature and benefit — warmth, quiet, a sunshade that works, sizing for bigger heads, and a 5-year warranty I have personally tested.
The i80 is not a bad helmet for the price. It just saves you money up front and asks you to put up with more cold, more noise, and a sunshade that does not hold up in our winters.
Running 200 to 300 kilometre days like I do? Buy the Mission and be done with it.
— Doug
Prices are approximate CAD and were current when this was written. Check with your retailer for the latest price and sizing.
About Doug — Doug has been in the powersports and marine industry since 1989, the last 23 years at Sudbury Boat & Canoe. SBC has been in business since 1920 and is Canada’s oldest Johnson outboard dealer. He rides what he sells.