Lets say you like classic-looking helmets with lots of vent holes; if you live somewhere cold, maybe youd be better off with a more aero-focused helmet with less ventilation and holes for water to seep through. Ventilation is fantastic too, making this a great helmet for those who live in hot climes, or who regularly find themselves overheating on the climbs. No helmet is going to be effective if it doesn't fit well, so getting the right size helmet and one that's easy to adjust is paramount. You get seven forward-facing vents and another seven at the rear, but despite this, the solid rear end means that the helmet can become a bit sweaty around the nape of the neck.

The helmet can often be found with generous discounts, so its worth shopping around for the best deal. So, to make up for that, airy helmets often need more external reinforcement or are constructed with pricier materials, to ensure they still meet safety and durability standards. Adding additional safety features such as MIPS and ANGi to the already stellar S-Works Evade II, makes this easily one of the best helmets on the market. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Like the older Prevail II, the Prevail 3 is compatible with Specialized's ANGi crash detection device that alerts a named contact if you have an accident. While we so far havent been able to test the aero claims, our tester found a lot to like elsewhere: comfortable and well ventilated, and an especially good fit on larger heads (the size large fits up to a 63cm head circumference). mips stratus helmet bell road Its a comfortable helmet in its own right, with good ventilation. Scott says the Cadence Plus is one of the fastest and most aerodynamic helmets in its class. There's no substitute for trying a helmet on, so be prepared to send back a helmet if you buy online and find that it doesn't work for you. Theres good adjustability and an extra-large option to fit heads from 60cm to 66cm, too. To that end, brands are incorporating technologies such as MIPS, SPIN and WaveCel, all of which aim to reduce rotational forces. You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Read our full review of the Specialized Propero 3 ANGi. The new Protone Icon has a new internal structure that's allowed Kask to increase the vent size slightly. He started out racing cross country when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s and has never looked back. Thanks! Read our full review of the Bell Avenue MIPS. MIPS is the best-known rotational protection system, but other options include SPiN, used by POC in some of its helmets. Its no surprise this helmet has become so popular with Team Ineos riders on long, hot days. With the desire to do so still there when the rain came down, POC created the Ventral Tempus SPIN, fixing the shell into place and thus creating a helmet designed specifically for rainy weather. In a similar claim to MET, with its Trenta 3K, the brand says the carbon fibre allowed it to use less EPS foam and still pass the relevant safety standards. Obviously, we cannot test the safety of each helmet, as deliberately crashing would be a futile waste of time and resources, so in this case, we take the manufacturers' claims and those of third-party testing organisations such as Virginia Tech at face value. The Valeco uses multiple densities of EPS foam, positioned for extra protection in high-stress areas and lower weight in less critical zones. While some dedicated aero helmets are included here, you can also check out our list of the best aero helmets on the market. Learn more with our Limar Air Pro helmet review. For example, some prioritise ventilation while others put aerodynamics at the top of the priority list. Giros Roc Loc 5 or Kasks Octo Fit) to adjust the fit, but the vertical adjustment range (i.e.

Beyond the set criteria, it's likely that some helmets are safer than others, and there are a select few independent testing facilities - Virginia Tech is the most prominent - that strive to provide a fair rating system. With an RRP of 245 / 270 / $297 its certainly not cheap, but Mavic does pack a lot of tech into its Comete Ultimate MIPS helmet to try and justify that price. Its also wonderfully comfortable and Bontrager claims its very aerodynamic.

Most helmets use a dial-based retention system (e.g. In recent years, scientific research and independent laboratory tests have shown helmets that also reduce the rotational forces experienced in a crash can, in turn, reduce the risk of brain injuries or concussions. Pre Order the Official Tour De France Race Guide 2022, From 10.99 including free delivery to any UK address*, *Offer is available for UK residents only, Get a Syncros iS Coupe bottle cage when you subscribe. We reviewed the now-discontinued Rapha special edition of the POC Omne Air Spin, but you get the same tech in the standard helmet - just not with the Rapha logo on its side - and the helmet is available just in the standard S, M, L size options. The Rivales shape is more rounded than most aero helmets. For more info, read our review of the Giro Aether Spherical.

Made in Italy, and designed in collaboration with the Movistar professional team, its of high-quality construction and is very light at just 229g for a size large. Developed in conjunction with Movistar Team and worn by Alejandro Valverde to his world championships road race victory, the Abus Airbreaker is a lightweight, well-ventilated helmet, offered in 10 different colour options. Looking more expensive than its price tag, the Van Rysel RoadR 500 helmet from Decathlon is comfortable with a racy outline and 14 large vents that do a good job of cooling. The only downside to this helmet is the high price tag.

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While there's no inclusion of a separate rotational-impact protection liner, the Protone (like all products in the Kask range) has recently undergone (and passed) the 'KASK WG11 rotational impact test' - more info on which can be found here (opens in new tab). Usually there are three helmet sizes to choose from, so you can zero in on the one that is likely to fit you based on the circumference of your head. There are various types of road bike helmet. The Vento is one of the first Lazer helmets to use the tech and has been designed along with the Jumbo-Visma pro team, with Lazer saying it's lighter, faster and better ventilated than its older Bullet design. These innovations are claimed to offer increased protection from head and brain injuries by reducing rotational forces or simply by using materials that are better able to absorb certain shocks. Thats around 80g less than the major competition at its price, thanks to less material in the lower-volume shell, which also gives a more compact outline.

Read our MET Trenta 3K Carbon review to find out more. A well-designed system of vents and channels in the internal structure of a helmet can help to draw air over your head and dissipate heat. POCs SPIN (Shearing Pad INside) pads have a silicone gel-like membrane within them, designed to reduce rotational forces being transferred to the brain in the event of a crash. The protection comes in the form of honeycomb-like tubes inside the helmet, and plush padding ensures these dont lead to an uncomfortable fit. the subscription charge for the ANGi technology has been scrapped, Read our full review of the Specialized S-Works Evade with ANGi, Read our full review of the Bell Zephyr MIPS, Read our full review of the Bontrager Velocis MIPS, Read our full review of the Bontrager XXX WaveCel Road, Read our full Endura Pro SL helmet review, Read our full review of the Giro Foray MIPS, Read our full review of the Mavic Comete Ultimate MIPS, Read our full review of the MET Rivale HES, Read our full review of the MET Trenta 3K Carbon, Read our full review of the Rudy Project Spectrum, Read our full review of the Scott Cadence Plus, Read our full review of the Scott Centric Plus, Read our full review of the Sweet Protection Falconer MIPS, Read our full review of the Abus GameChanger, Read our full review of the Abus AirBreaker, Read our full review of the Bell Stratus MIPS, Read our full review of the Giro Vanquish MIPS, Read our full review of the Lazer Century, Read our full Lazer Genesis helmet review, Read our full MET Manta MIPS helmet review, Read our full MET Rivale MIPS helmet review, Read our full review of the POC Omne Air SPIN, independent safety testing of cycle helmets, potential watt savings to be made with aero helmets, have looks that sometimes border on the ridiculous, Specialized S-Works Evade with ANGi: 250 / $275 / 320, Bontrager Starvos WaveCel: 100 / $100 / 110, Bontrager Velocis MIPS: 150 / $210/ 199 / AU$250, Bontrage XXX WaveCel Road: 200 / $300 / 250, Giro Foray MIPS: 80 / $85 / 100 / AU$99, Kask Protone: 225 / $199 / AU$269 / 255, Mavic Comete Ultimate MIPS: 245 / 270 / $297, MET Rivale HES: 110 / $99 / 130 / AU$199.95, Scott Cadence Plus: 170 / $240 / 250 / AU$340, Scott Centric Plus: 150 / $200 / 200 / AU$300, Specialized Propero 3 ANGi: 110 / $140 / 140, Sweet Protection Falconer MIPS: 210 / $230 / 230, Abus GameChanger: 180 / $245 / 220 / AU$340, Giro Vanquish MIPS: 230 / $275 / 250 / AU$430, Kask Valegro: 170 / $250 / AU$299 (Gloss colours), AU$309 (Matt colours), Excellent ventilation, weight and claimed aero performance, Good ventilation and claimed aero performance, Comfortable and easy to use Boa-dial adjuster, Great looks, a drag-friendly shape and MIPS, Superb ventilation and aero performance, delivered by CFD design and wind tunnel testing, Octo Fit retention system offers huge adjustment range, Very comfortable and light, with good ventilation at speed, High-quality construction with distinctive looks, Fast and airy, with good claimed aero performance, MIPS protection and vent bungs are included for winter riding, Dedicated sunglasses port and lots of colour options, Comfortable, well ventilated and excellent claimed aerodynamics, 170 / $250 / AU$299 (gloss colours), AU$309 (matt colours) as tested. At 355g, its not the lightest helmet on the market, but we didnt really notice that in use, and we love how well finished the helmet is. With no fewer than 19 vents, the Trentas shell is somewhere between that of an aero lid and a traditional vented helmet. The helmet is very comfortable and despite its aero-leanings, is still very well ventilated. We found the S-Works Evade to be supremely comfortable and well ventilated, and its claimed to also be very aerodynamic one of our tests backs this up too. Simon joined BikeRadar in 2020, but has been riding bikes all his life, and racing road and time trial bikes for over a decade. For more info, read our Lazer Century MIPS helmet review. As seen on the heads of Team Bahrain McLaren riders such as Mark Cavendish and Mikel Landa, Rudy Projects Spectrum helmet combines good looks and ventilation with claims of good aerodynamic efficiency. The Limar Air Pro was designed in collaboration with theAstana cycling team to serve as an open, well-vented helmet that still performed well in the wind tunnel. The Giro Aether Spherical offers great ventilation and keeps safety as a priority through its MIPS system. With the Manta, MET looked to turn the aero helmet on its head, keeping the weight low and ventilation high.

It also benefits from SPIN (Shearing Pad INside) which is POC's rotational impact protection, as well as the option to choose AVIP Orange (Attention, Visibility, Interaction and Protection) which will provide extra safety during the sorts of grey and dreary conditions that the helmet's designed for. The best road bike helmets will protect your head in the event of a crash, but they won't feel uncomfortable to wear all day every day and many have advanced features to improve airflow over your head and aerodynamics, while being so light that you'll hardly notice you're wearing them. Those times are very much in the past, with Bells Avenue MIPS being a perfect example. HJC brings its aero expertise, honed from 50 years of making motorcycle helmets, to cyclists. There's also a new MIPS Node Air version of MIPS technology which integrates MIPS more directly into the helmet's padding and adds perforations to increase airflow. The best road bike helmets balance comfort, aerodynamics, ventilation and protection. The Trenta (thats 30 in Italian) was created to celebrate 30 years of Italian brand MET. There are a handful of niggles that prevent the helmet from being a full five-star performer, but its safe to say that the Velocis is very unlikely to disappoint.

You get five large forward-facing vents, another eight at the rear and deep channelling to encourage airflow between them. The Starvos brings Bontragers WaveCel collapsible cellular construction technology, which is claimed to be more effective at impact absorption than EPS, to a new low price. Using carbon fibre in the construction of the Trenta 3K Carbon, MET says it was able to reduce the amount of EPS without affecting the capacity of the helmet to absorb energy. Before joining BikeRadar, Simon was a freelance writer and photographer, with work published on BikeRadar.com, Cyclingnews.com and in CyclingPlus magazine. He enjoys a good long ride on road or gravel, but he's most alive when he's elbow-to-elbow in a local criterium. All rights reserved. X-Static pads lining the helmet feature anti-microbial and anti-odour technology to keep things fresh on the inside but the Cadence Plus is let down slightly by its weight and a limited colour choice. For each helmet in this guide, we've outlined whether or not its design includes a consideration of rotational impact protection, which we've explained in more detail a little further below. The Lazer Blade is a value-packed lightweight helmet that is available in a range of colours. Theres deep channelling for good ventilation and soft straps, making for plenty of comfort when riding, although the fixed strap anchor points limit adjustability. Like MIPS, Kali claims this system can reduce rotational impact forces, which is claimed to lower the risk of brain injuries in the event of a crash. Find out more with our Kask Protone helmet review. The reduction in size also contributes to a low profile when worn and is a key aspect in the aerodynamic performance of the helmet. Quality features such as a shell that fully wraps the EPS core and thick, hard-wearing straps make for a helmet that belies its budget price. Bontrager has WaveCel, designed to crush and protect your head in an impact, while Koroyd, used by Endura and Smith in some of their helmets, has the same objective. The internal padding is minimal yet well placed and the micro-adjust dial offers plenty of tensioning to keep it securely on your head. The relatively minimalist helmet uses four large front vents to scoop in air, with two smaller vents at the back to exhaust excess heat. Limar has moulded what are essentially twin carbon wings into the helmet that run horizontally across the shell, serving a dual purpose of adding structure and strength and cleaning up the airflow through the helmet. The brand also sticks to its AVIP (attention, visibility, interaction, protection) mantra by offering the helmet in an array of eye-catching colours. The Starvos brings Bontragers WaveCel collapsible cellular construction technology, which is claimed to be more effective at impact absorption than EPS, to a new low price. The Cadence Plus is Scotts aero road helmet solution. The new design sees woven aramid fibres replacing the more traditional cross-bridges between the longitudinal ribs. MIPS technology boosts safety, alongside Specializeds own ANGi angular and g-force indicator, which connects to your smartphone and automatically calls an emergency contact should it detect you are in an accident. On the bike, 30-year-old Josh has been riding and racing since his early teens. Likewise, the opposite could be true if you live somewhere hot; theres no use having a helmet thats super-fast in the wind tunnel if you dont want to wear it because it makes your head boil. It also has a rechargeable LED light integrated in to the rear of the helmet, for adding visibility in low light. The size large StormChaser helmet, the third in Abuss road line-up after the GameChanger and AirBreaker, is impressively light at 238g. A helmet will always be a personal choice when it comes to pricing, aesthetics and ventilation vs aero needs. MET achieves this through a semi-aero helmet that is as at home in a bunch sprint as it is in the high mountains. It attaches via magnets and can be mounted in two different orientations (or not at all) to adjust the aerodynamics/ventilation of the helmet.

Check out our pick of the best road bike helmets below or, if you're after a women's-specific helmet, our guide to the best women's bike helmets. Large reflectives at the rear increase visibility and the internal skeleton helps maintain the integrity of the helmet in an accident. Cyclingnews is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Despite the focus on cutting weight, the Valegro has an artificial leather chinstrap, and the polycarbonate shell still wraps right around under the base of the helmet to protect the foam core from knocks. It won't be right for everyone, but for those who ride in the rain on a regular basis, it's definitely one to consider. Its not quite as compact as the Van Rysel Aerofit 900, although that helmet will cost you 10 more. It's also worth checking the padding, how much there is and where it's placed, although even minimal padding may be adequate and too much padding may restrict airflow through the shell. Although the best aero helmets are designed specifically to save watts by streamlining the airflow over your head, even many of the best vented road bike helmets will also be aero optimised, while the best gravel bike helmets will aim for great airflow at lower speeds. We rated the fit, as well as the helmets ability to keep our heads cool, and the 4X DryLite webbing inside that wont stretch out with sweat or water is another bonus. One thing to bear in mind is we found the helmet was warm in hot weather. At Cyclingnews we've ridden and rated almost all the best road bike helmets out there, so we can give you an objective opinion of their pros and cons, looking closely at fit, form, aesthetics, comfort, noise, adjustability and many other factors besides.

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