Trek Sonic Helmet vs Old Mtn Bike Helmet: Worth a Change for Tris?

Triathlon Forum
1

The local bike store is offering a good deal on the Trek Sonic Helmet.

My current helmet is just an old mountain-biking helmet. Fits OK, not great. No visor.

I think it’s being offered for $50, so not a big expenditure.

I’m not really serious enough to justify a true race-specific aerodynamic helmet.

Hard for me to judge how much of an aerodynamic improvement Sonic would be.

Any thoughts on whether upgrading my helmet is worth $50 to do 2-3 sprint tris and maybe 1 olympic tri a year?

Thanks in advance.

2

If your old helmet is over 3 years old (or you’ve ever crashed on it - realistic if it’s a MTB helmet) you should get a new one anyway. i have a Sonic that i use once in a while - it’s comfortable and easy to adjust. $50 seems like a good price for it.

Probably no difference in aerodynamics.

3

Agreed. Don’t get a new lid for its aero properties, get one for your brain. I’d wager the contents are worth at least $50. ;-p

4

I don’t think I’ve had a bad crash in it, though it does have a small nick in it.

My helmet’s at least 6 years old though. I’d never heard they go “bad”.

5

The EPS foam (the stuff that absorbs shock) breaks down over time, lessening its ability to protect your skull. Also, exposure to heat and sunlight breaks down the shell/liner. So does exposure to chemical vapours that might linger in your garage, etc. While helmets don’t have “expiry dates” per se, it’s generally considered best practice to replace your lid every 2-3 years. Sure you might probably be ok with a 6yr old lid, depending on your usage and storage patterns - but for $50, is it worth the risk?

I think of it as an insurance policy, and will happily spend a hundred bucks or so every couple of years to know that me head is well protected. Not to mention that after a year or two the lid gets pretty funky, and my nose demands a new one anyway!