The Aerohead disappoints me.....my review with aero test

Triathlon Forum
1

I post this stuff mostly in the “aero sensors for dummies” topic. But just wanted to post this up.

I scoured the interwebs for deals on these popular and “en vogue” TT and triathlon skid lids. I got the Tempor first as it was “the thing” at the time and I got one from the UK at fair retail BNIB before the “craze” threw them to rare air status and fetching $400 on Ebay. I didn’t pay anywhere close to that.

I got the Aerohead here on ST classifieds from a long time member for a good deal. I got the Aeroswitch at the UK TT forums for a freaking steal versus retail.

So, some opinions versus data first:

Tempor:
-I don’t dig the press fit velcro style visor attachment, but it works. Also this visor seems much less likely to break than the Aerohead.
-For me, it vents fine. I bought a white one though, so probably reflects some summer heat.
-Latching and padding is fine. Latch isn’t the “boa” style but works fine.
-Visibility when you wear it as a racer would is good. My sweat tends to drip and barely miss the lower part of the visor or hit the lower part I’m not looking through anyway.
-Very very fit specific and also discipline specific. If you cannot hold still, don’t use it. As in, if you think staring at your front hub is fast then look up every 15 seconds to see what you’re about to hit…forget it. Ahem, all those time trial FB group morons staring at the front hub.
-Nice case included.
-Super expensive and rare to find now.
-Quietest helmet for wind noise, almost makes you feel you’re going slower than you really are as it gives a false sense.

Aeroswitch:
-Visor is magnetic and easy, great up road visibility and optics. Super cool to look at. Only little complaint is if you do peek eyes down to your GPS for a second the optics looking down that way give the road a bit of a “Star Wars” warp speed look that’s a bit weird. Looking at the smaller visor than the Aerohead, you’d assume you feel claustrophobic or visibility worse. Nope, somehow you get the field of vision you really need. Best of the three.
-Vents fine, it is a bit loud of a helmet IMO. A bit tight on the ears to me. Traditional “boa” tightening. Nice case was included, I bought used but not sure if included new.
-Not US safety stickered and super expensive new. I will not race it, but likely keep as my “training or testing” TT helmet.
-Maybe a little less fit specific than the Tempor, but still a tail on back helmet. So same comment would likely apply about folks who rock, look up, move a lot.
-Probably my favorite helmet to “wear” and “be seen wearing” from the bunch
-2nd place on wind noise.
-Nice case included.

Aerohead:
-Frankly, the visor is shit. They all break/crack all the time. Magnetic. Luckily my head is such I can put it on without removing the visor. Next up, the front “angle” or wedge shape of the helmet between your eyes on the front does forward visibility no favors. Huge visor for that flaw. I tilted it back best I could to help with this, but for my fit this was by far the worst skid lid for looking up road. I think you need a more “heads up” Ganna style head position to eliminate this issue.
-Vented fine, boa style latching, comfy, roomiest of the three.
-Worst on wind noise, but not by much, about same as Aeroswitch. Both pretty loud.
-As I’m aware, these are sold without a case. Big minus there for the cost. Maybe this is why they retail a bit lower than some other TT skid lids.
-I’d assume less fit specific, but due to my fit not playing to this helmet’s talents, it didn’t shine.
-Case not included…so add $50 to the $300 new price tag…putting this lid into same price category as the other lids presented here. Which is disappointing. But I got mine a deal used, so that’s way to go.

The data: laps within 1 or 2 second time per lap, power consistent, cal factor identical for laps analyzed, some lap to lap variability but the trend was the same for all: avg’s, lowest lap, highest lap, etc… all matched the results. About 7 miles of lap data per helmet. Zero vehicle traffic affecting runs. Windy day, so I assumed the Aerohead was going to win or do well. I was wrong. Wind wasn’t completely side-on, it was more of a head/tail situation…but still.

Win: Tempor (baseline)
Place: Aeroswitch (.007 slower)
Probably for sale: Aerohead (0.016 slower)

I didn’t “gain” anything here, just prevented loss as I already race with a Tempor. I wanted to like the Aerohead so much as it is so popular and so well regarded. I really just don’t care for it. Personally for TT, it was slowest. Also, for all the parts of it that don’t make you go fast…I didn’t like it either.

Next I will probably sell the Aerohead and find a used Mistral as the Mistral carries the US safety sticker. If it ties the Aeroswitch or is “close enough” and the intangibles are good, I may sell the Aeroswitch at that time so I can have a “race day” US stickered helmet and a “backup” with the US sticker also.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51875264651_780626f6e5_b.jpg

2

Interesting as we heard here for a long time how the Aerohead was the gold standard. I have a Smith Podium TT and like it. Another helmet I was considering was the POC Cerebel.

3

Interesting as we heard here for a long time how the Aerohead was the gold standard. I have a Smith Podium TT and like it. Another helmet I was considering was the POC Cerebel.

I used to own a Cerebel. I sold it when I tested it against the Tempor just being cost conscience at the time. I did really like that Cerebel though, it was a nice helmet. It was about the amount slower from the Tempor that the Aeroswitch was. Not huge, but enough. But, a Cerebel doesn’t seem to be as “fit specific”. Given that, being a hair slower than a Tempor is nothing if it allows more fit solutions for more people.

If I had a choice between a Cerebel again or the Aerohead…personally Cerebel. If they were about same test result, the fact the visor on the Cerebel won’t crack all the time and has a nicer field of view (for how I ride the bike)…I’d go Cerebel again. The Cerebel is made better than the Tempor visor wise also.

I say this about the cracking visors as a lot of the Ebay used ones I saw for “deals” said “no visor included, it cracked/ruined”.

4

Interesting as we heard here for a long time how the Aerohead was the gold standard.

I’m not sure the consensus was that it was always the best, just that it’s rarely the worst and generally a very good bet if you’re not going to test.

5

Thanks for the detailed post

If I do any aero testing I will see how the Aerohead does against other helmets

It’s the only ‘race’ helmet I have a s like it just fine. So it sounds like I may be even happier with a different helmet

Is the Tempor legal for triathlons do you know?

6

The Aerohead Ultimate and the vented version are two very different helmets. Plus, you never infer anything from one person’s test.

7

Solid info here. Obviously very specific from person to person but much appreciated post.

I have ridden the Cerebel for years because I don’t test and it seems to not be as fit specific. I have purchased an Aerohead Ultimate for testing this year. My main issue with the Cerebel is the fit is too big. The smallest size is Medium which even when adjusted to the smallest setting is still loose on my undersized cranium . Just trying on the Aerohead the fit is much better and more comfortable because it is an actual size small.

8

The Aerohead Ultimate and the vented version are two very different helmets. Plus, you never infer anything from one person’s test.

Two whole watts, whooooo hoooo.
http://aerogeeks.com/2016/05/19/giro-aerohead-mips-aerohead-ultimate-mips-first-look/

So personally I don’t think the non vented would be that much better. If they posted two watts even that is probably generous.

Remember, pros in TT and track are bound by sponsor obligations. Amateurs and national team efforts might not be, depends.

So pros may use inferior equipment.

9

Hi Jim,
Have you tested the HJC Adwatt 1.5. I picked one up from the UK. Most of Matt Bottrills triathletes seem to be wearing. I am a small triathlete wearing the giro vanquish with shield. I am racing St George IM in May wondering what you would think about time savings of the HJC if any assuming I hold aero everywhere except major climbs. I will average 19-20 mph

10

Interesting as we heard here for a long time how the Aerohead was the gold standard.

I’m not sure the consensus was that it was always the best, just that it’s rarely the worst and generally a very good bet if you’re not going to test.

^^^^This.

Most folks can’t test, so the Aerohead is a good bet as it (and the new Rudy) are typically one of the top3 fastest lids among those who do test. In contrast, the POC is super fast on a small number of folks, and quite slow for the majority (as you can guess from the shape, it is very head position dependent).

Those who can test (like the OP) have the benefit of getting the helmet that is fastest on them, without having to make assumptions.

11

Hi Jim,
Have you tested the HJC Adwatt 1.5. I picked one up from the UK. Most of Matt Bottrills triathletes seem to be wearing. I am a small triathlete wearing the giro vanquish with shield. I am racing St George IM in May wondering what you would think about time savings of the HJC if any assuming I hold aero everywhere except major climbs. I will average 19-20 mph

I thought about that lid instead of the Aeroswitch for the test but got too good of a used price. With the higher Adwatt cost I couldn’t justify it given no US approved safety sticker. Same for the Met Drone, no sticker and didn’t find a used one and too expensive without US stickers.

I can justify a training tt helmet for $120. But not $300!

Hope was Aerohead fast enough to be a US stickered backup. Now hope is a Mistral ties the Aeroswitch. Then keep that as the backup.

Man though, that visor on the Switch is damn baller.

12

I haven’t had the Adwatt test fastest on anyone yet. Good, but never first.

I think if the Tempor is working well for you then you should have good luck with the Mistral, though still not likely as fast as the POC as it seems you have good head discipline while testing.

13

I haven’t had the Adwatt test fastest on anyone yet. Good, but never first.

I think if the Tempor is working well for you then you should have good luck with the Mistral, though still not likely as fast as the POC as it seems you have good head discipline while testing.

I do my best. I think I mentioned it before, the out/back road I was using you can see your shadow of your bike fit that time of day super well without moving your head. So a little reminder to do a good job.

I guess that’s one reason I find testing for longer time than my race times is exhausting, holding myself exactly still and the same for every run and also making sure I execute the power/cadence and laps the best I can. Doing that for like 90 to 100min of testing in a ride versus just a 10mi TT starts to wear on you a bit. I’m not a pro, so that time spent at sweetspot doing that is really some training stress. They can probably do that for hours and hours.

14

Isn’t the Aeroswitch the helmet Lionel used at IM Florida after a session at the velodrome ?

I would guess he tested against others and found it fast.

15

I think so, at least is the one he used last weekend at the PTO Edmonton. If I am right, is the one from Lucy charles actually.

16

I have the mistral and aerohead. The mistral is soooo much lighter. Feels a lot less…bulky? I have seen the mistral test quite well, so curious to see how you get on with it.

17

Last week at rock hill I was doing some tests on helmets, had the aerohead, tempor, mistral and adwatt.

The tempor in a tucked (“ideal”) position was fastest by a fair amount over the aerohead in a similar position, then another gap to the other two. This was head down track position.
In a “normal’ish” position looking forward, the tempor falls off a cliff, the other three were pretty much in the margin of error for me.

My n-1 was to wear the aerohead, as my form breaks down over 3k efforts and I lift my head a lot. If I could hold that ideal tuck the tempor would be a good gain for me, but realistically I don’t have the track time to dial it in. On road TT’s I’ll probably wear the mistral if I keep it, as it does feel considerably better than the aerohead.

One thing to consider with the mistral is kask is stingy and for the $$$ you only get a helmet bag and one (clear) visor. So if you want the sweet chrome one add that into cost/hassle.

I tested sunglasses vs. visor last time I was at the track, tempor and aerohead. Visor was better on both (albeit it wasn’t as big a penalty as I would have guessed on the aerohead)

All that of course n-1 and basically useless info for anyone else :smiley:

18

I just ordered a Kask Bambino Pro Aero TT Helmet.

Can’t wait to test it :slight_smile:

19

I have one incoming as well to test. Thus far, nothing has touched the Tempor for me, though I’m good about keeping position on course.

Edit for the OP. I meant to add I found the Aerohead to be great on my wife who periscopes and peaks around a good deal while in aero. The Tempor is atrocious for her because of that.

20

I have one incoming as well to test. Thus far, nothing has touched the Tempor for me, though I’m good about keeping position on course.

That’s one I’d like to try as well but I’m mainly using the helmet for Madison, Scratch, Elimination and Points races.