There are 32 vents in total, ranging from large inline strip vents and boxy exhaust ports to small square vents that punctuate the diagonal arch architecture of the helmet and extensive internal channelling helps keeps fresh air flowing. Performance It may have been around for a long time, but the Specialized S-Works Prevail helmet still delivers on all fronts: styling, comfort and ventilation are all superb. It manages to look both chunky and supremely vented at the same time, with muscular shaping and aggressive vents. The Rivale's shape is more rounded than most aero helmets. The internal padding is minimal yet well placed, and the micro-adjust dial offers plenty of tensioning to keep it securely on your head. We especially loved the 4cm vertical adjustment in the retaining cradle, which enables you to situate it in just the right spot. Its MIPS system adds to the cost, but for that you are also getting great reassurance, and along with the super-adjustable Roc Loc 5 cradle is an excellent fit. Four internal pads keep things comfortable and five pronounced internal channels ventilate the majority of the head very well at all speeds, making this model an attractive, safe and great-value choice.

The Z Alpha is less specific than some aero lids and all the better for it, with great ventilation and classy looks. You can opt to have MIPS or not, but a little extra outlay for enhanced head protection is a no-brainer in our book. Catlike Vacuum The Lazer Tonic is an excellent budget road helmet that looks and feels like a much more expensive lid. At 230g for a Medium, it weighs the same as helmets more than twice as expensive, such as the Specialized S-Works Prevail or the Bontrager Velocis.The Giro Foray MIPS pays more than a nod to Giro's range-topping Synthe aero helmet, with a smooth, rounded compact shell and truncated rear to maintain efficiency in all head positions.

Adding MIPS increases the weight — the large now weighs 282g — but the increase is just 20g more than the standard ARX. And frankly, low weight is not the first thing we look for when it comes to safety. I’ve worn a Giro Synthe Mips on and off for a few years now; it’s my go-to road helmet. Being au fait with its Roc Loc closure system and Mips interior – designed to rotate with the helmet in the unfortunate case of any ejector seat moment, rather than digging in and jarring the skull on impact – pulling the Giro Foray on to my head for the first time felt satisfyingly familiar. At almost any speed and head angle there's a remarkable through-flow of air. It also comes with plugs (for winter rides or even faster aerodynamics) that go into the five frontal ports.

Conclusion

The fit should suit most head shapes, with the Mindset rear cradle offering plenty of vertical adjustment and the dial allowing you plenty of adjustability around the circumference of your head. Specialized S-Works Prevail This lid's aero emphasis means ventilation is reduced to a single central vent, which is helped by internal channels that begin at the brow. In normal conditions it's very comfortable, with a constant flow of air across the head and no obvious hot spots, but it probably wouldn't be our first choice for a summer Alpine assault.

A continuous pad across the forehead is suspended slightly away from the wavy EPS inside of the helmet, allowing for a little ventilation and some conformity to various head shapes. The removable, antimicrobial pads do their job well. In days of sweaty riding without washing in between, the helmet never smelled bad.

Value

The first thing you notice about this road bike lid is the streamlined sporty design of the Foray. Plenty of venting at the front and big exhausts at the rear offers a great through flow of cooling air, even on the hottest summer rides. It's superbly comfortable and secure, and despite the MIPS system touching much of your scalp, manages to stay cool. Two central internal channels, plus the gap between the MIPS cradle and EPS shell, ensure good air movement even with the cover installed. Super-Fit - A great helmet is so comfortable that once it’s on, it virtually disappears. Giro’s proprietary three-size Super Fit system is based on “human scale factors” data and over 20 years of crafting helmets for the best bike riders in the world. The result is pure Skull Hugging Luxury, a helmet that fits 98% of the world’s population, yet looks (and fits) like it was custom made just for you.

Chain reaction Cycles and CRC are trading names of Wiggle Ltd (In Administration) registered in the United Kingdom at 1000 Lakeside, Suite 310, Third Floor N E Wing, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EN, The occipital cradle of Scott's Halo Fit System has three heights and circumference adjustment is via a rotary dial. A clever separator keeps the straps far apart so they don't clash with your ears, all helping to make the Cadence Plus one of the best fitting and most secure helmets we've tried recently. The price for a top-flight lid with MIPS [Multi-directional Impact Protection System] additional protective technology is good. Le Foray reprend les codes esthétiques de notre audacieux casque haut de gamme Synthe et offre de nombreuses fonctionnalités clés. Notamment avec la construction In-Mold durable et le système d'ajustement Roc Loc 5. Le design fin est très léger offre une excellente ventilation. Il est disponible en trois tailles parfaitement ajustées afin que vous puissiez obtenir un casque qui a de l'allure et vous va comme s’il avait été fabriqué sur-mesure. Les modèles Mips® sont disponibles avec le système de diffusion des forces exercées sur le casque en cas d’impact. The MIPS system, or Multi- Directional Impact Protection System, employs a slim, flexible plastic cap that's perforated to match the helmet's vents, and four elastic fixings allow it to float within the inner EPS foam shell, creating a slip-plane, much like the brain's own, to slow or reduce rotational energy transfer. Kask Protone The in-mould construction means that the polycarbonate outer shell is fused to the EPS core for strength, but it doesn't extend to the underside.The ventilating aero mesh on either side of the silicone-edged sunglasses ports has been replaced by a finely ribbed plastic. The Giro logo and aero mesh covering the truncated tail's central port have gone too, and the only branding on the helmet is a single Rapha logo on the very top. The industry benchmark in comfort, stability, adjustability and weight savings. In addition to enhancing the fit and comfort of helmets, Roc Loc® 5 allows you to easily custom tune the fit tension and the fore-aft tilt of the helmet in seconds using a single hand. And it’s lighter than comparable systems too, making it the ultimate in skull-hugging luxury.