HOW THE HELMETS COMPARE IN THE WIND TUNNEL, FROM THE SLOWEST TO THE FASTEST
6. POC Ventral Spin £270
The 250g Spin has decent airflow from its vast 13 vents and comfortable straps, but it seriously underperformed in the wind tunnel for a helmet with a £270 price tag. The unique Poc style divides opinion but, for us, the masses of exposed white EPS foam and straps give it a cheap overall aesthetic.
Best aero position: Lower speeds, low aero position, 0° yaw angle
Least effective: Higher speeds, low aero position, 0° yaw angle
Average 40km time: 1:00:16
Buy from:
www.wiggle.co.uk 5.
B’Twin Road R 500 £30
The Road R has modern racy looks and the 17 vents help keep you cool on hot days. The outer shell is in-moulded, even at the rear and around the bottom surface, which makes it robust in day-to-day life but it does take the weight to 320g. The rear ratchet retention system is crude but overall it’s an amazing value lid.
Best aero position: Higher speeds, low aero position, 0° yaw angle
Least effective: Lower speeds, low aero position, 0° yaw angle
Average 40km time: 1:00:11
Buy from
www.decathlon.co.uk 4
Scott Cadence Plus £170
The 280g weight is higher than most but neat features include MIPS and the addition of winter bungs, which can be shoved into the ventilation channels on colder days. The internal padding is limited and the tunnel results varied wildly (see below).
Best aero position: Lower speeds, high aero position, 10° yaw angle
Least effective: Higher speeds, high aero position, 0° yaw angle
Average 40km time: 1:00:07
Buy from
tredz.co.uk/ 3.
Giro Vanquish MIPS £219.99
The fairly heavy 355g Vanquish MIPS is unique among the competition here as it comes with a magnetic Shield Visor. There’s good clarity but a clear gap between face and visor, which gave us concerns about detritus flicking up. Yet the helmet itself offers sound ventilation via its 10 well-placed vents, there’s MIPS and a comfy ratchet.
Best aero position: Lower speeds, high aero position, 0° yaw angle
Least effective: Lower speeds, high aero position, 10° yaw angle
Average 40km time: 59:59
Buy from
www.evanscycles.com 2
Specialized Evade II £200
With a narrow frontal profile and streamlined tail, the updated 246g Evade II instantly feels fast on the roads. The 11 deep, internal air channels are an improvement over the original, and the magnetic buckle is the best here in transition. We would’ve liked to have seen MIPS and the fixed straps are a little odd.
Best aero position: Higher speeds, both high and low aero positions, 0° yaw angle
Least effective: Lower speeds, high aero position, 10° yaw angle
Average 40km time: 59:54
Buy from
www.evanscycles.com 1
Kask Mistral TT £320
The fit of the 345g Mistral is very comfy, and the internal pads and the lateral covers for the ears are really embracing. The wind- tunnel results are almost uniformly impressive, only falling behind the aero road competition when slowing down in crosswinds and at a higher head position. But the ventilation can’t compete and it suffers in hot conditions.
Best aero position: Higher speeds, high aero position, 0° yaw angle
Least effective: Lower speeds, high aero position, 10° yaw angle
Average 40km time: 59:22
Buy from
www.wiggle.co.uk Road, aero road and TT cycling helmets: How much difference does the type really make? - 220 Triathlon