Hello,
I am considering buying the AdWatt 1.5 to use in races in the US (and much less likely in EU).
Any experiences with it? Also, compliant with US standards? (No point in buying it and not be able to race with it)
For reference, I own:
Giro Aerohead. Like it but find it too sweaty and heavy
LG P-09. Really like it but lost the face shield / lens. Sunglasses don’t work for me as they covered in sweat (dangerous for visibility)
Thanks
I’ve tested that helmet when I was in Australia for a testing/bike fitting trip.
Nothing stands out in my mind as it being a WOW helmet. Not really the fastest but always on of the better helmets. N= between 6-8 people.
Not sure if it meets US standards.
Hope that helps
I have 3 categories : best in class, good/ok, not worth it.
I’d say it falls in the 2nd category with the other 2 you have.
All this based on road testing data and some tunnel results
Thank you. Appreciate the response.
What helmets would you put in the wow category?
Based on a recommendation, I am putting the Rudy Wing in the consideration list. Looking for Lightweight, good visor, good ventilation, and likely fast on majority of people (because I will not test before purchasing).
A lot of pro’s use that helment for the US just fine. Rudy Wing is pretty good. Although I woulnt get thier new helemt. once that visor is off… You might was well be wearing a road helmet.
If you are looking for good vents. the Lazer Tadiz 2 checks that box. Lazer Tardiz 2 Triathlon Helmet | Lazer Sport Helmets
The Giro Aerohead is still imo “The Helmet”. Which is crazy because we are what 6-7-9 years post launch with that.
The LG P09, which is a year or two older is still a pretty solid helmet, Not a WOW helmet.
The Rudy wing is a pretty solid choice. Good visibility, better vented than the Aerohead. Doesn’t work as well though. If the Giro isn’t The Helmet it’s in that next group of helmets likely to work well.
What I might suggest is that you use the Aero head when conditions aren’t super hot/humid or it’s one of your Most Important races of the season. Use the Wing when it’s hot/humid or you’re going to be sweating a ton/need better ventilation.
Hope that helps
Problem with the Lazer is it’s rarely in that top 4 fastest helmets that one can easily buy.
I’ve tested it and often thought oh man that looks like it’s going to be fast. Then it turns out it’s not even close.
It’s becuase that helment is all about “Ventilation” AKA a huge wind drag…
If the Aerohead is supposed to be so good, how come almost none of the top pros use it? (e.g. Frodo, Blu, Iden, Lionel, Knibb, Charles, Sodaro, Ditlev… I could go on forever ) Can only think of Ryf using it. Just purely from a statistical perspective, if the helmet were as good as you claim it to be, I would imagine that a larger number of pros would have found it to be the fastest for them when doing their wind tunnel testing.
I personally found the Aerohead just as fast as the Javelin and the Wing. Because it’s heavier and hotter than those two and the front protrusion interferes with my vision when in aero, I am liking the Wing a lot more.
Sponsorship $$
Not all cases. Frodo for example, a few seasons he used the Met Drone without the logos as it was the helmet that test the fastest but he wasn’t sponsored by them. I don’t think all the above mentioned athletes have helmet contracts.
Thanks again.
Agree with your suggestion on Aerohead for cooler climes and XXX for warmer. I did just that for Daytona last year; it was warm on raceday (80s F so brought the P09 down).
Question on the P09: in general, it is faster with the plug out (great ventilation) and no visor? …if the visor is not a disaster, def want to find a way to source one (even just for a “backup” helmet…).
Again thanks alot
Lots of reasons.
Sponsorship. I’ve tested athletes before that had helmet sponsorships from $250 to 4 figures. When the pro triathlete with a $250 cash + a X # of free helmets per year testes a handful of watts slower they decided to keep the guaranteed cash & helmets.
Or they found other helmets that were within 1-2-3w and like the visibility better, or like you found them to be cooler or lighter or fit better or whatever. Ultimately you’d have to ask them why they made the decision(S) they did. I have tested several people that choose The Wing over the Aerohead for the reasons you said.
When it comes to pro triathlon and more so with pro cycling, you’re often making choices that compromise things here and there in exchange for money.
Over the last however many years I’ve tested 100s of people ranging from pro triathletes/cyclists to 6.5h IM athletes. The aerohead is the helmet that over that time tested fastest for the most people and still does. It’s just that the current crop of helmets have caught up, mostly.
I’ve been lucky to test a few of the new crop of helmets from Spec, Rudy etc on 10-15 people last year and it’s still hit or miss if they are fastest for that particular athlete.
I put the Aerohead in my #2 bucket, but it’s near the top. I am VERY biased and shouldn’t be but everytime I look at that Visor, it cracks on me. I have been through 3 now.
As for sponsorship, at least 5 of the names mentioned don’t have helmet sponsorship. I think the top athletes have figured out it’s better to sell your head real estate to the Feed or RedBull. But some seem willing to sell to everyone. It will be interesting to see how that goes in Kona.
I switched to the ADWatt earlier this. I had raced in the Rudy Project helmet but found even their largest size to be small, and pressing on my ears. Not an issue in a 70.3, but in an Ironman it became problematic and bothersome. The Adwatt is very light, and one of the reasons I went to this versus my aerohead. It also ventilates pretty well (I sweat like no other). Visor is about the same structural integrity as the Giro, but much harder to find replacements in the US.
Have not had any issues racing it within the US or EU.
This was a reason for me as well.
And the light weight of that helmet. That is an important thing when considering racing IM distance. Even if tests 3-4 watts slower during aerotesting it still can be actually ‘faster’ if it is easier for the subject to keep his/hers aero position due to the lighter weight.
Jeroen
Does it have a CPSC sticker? From some interior pics on the web I see a CE sticker, but can’t see if there is a CPSC one or not.
Thanks. Does the AdWatt have a CPSC sticker?? The lightweight is definitely appealing…
I read a review somewhere that said the visor was further off your face therefore didn’t steam up out of the swim like some do, has anyone found this to be true? This is a big appeal for me.
Except for the last post this thread was right around the time the Wingdream was just coming out. I’d be interested to hear if the Giro Aerohead is still “The Helmet” in your estimation. It would be great to have others like @marcag chime in as well.