The Best Bike Helmets for Protecting Your Noggin

Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Much like the Persist, the Giro Aeries Spherical takes the MIPS system a bit further, combining it with the brand's new Spherical technology, which is a ball-and-socket design system that redirects energy away from the brain during certain impacts. Basically, think of the helmet as two attached pieces, where the upper dome it able to lightly rotate over the lower part—the part that's attached to your head—giving you another level of protection. It also boasts Giro's new proprietary DryCore system, which redirects sweat away from the forehead (and therefore out of your eyes), toward your temples, where it evaporates more quickly. Over the same route I tested the other road helmets, I marveled at the Aeries' barely-there light weight. Weighing in at 275 grams, it felt like I was riding sans helmet. Thanks to the helmet's massive and numerous vents paired with Giro's DryCore system, my head never came close to overheating on another hot, sunny, humid day. Like the Kask, the sticker price might be way too high for many. However, if helmets are something you don't mind dropping coin on, the Aeries is worth every single penny. Specs Weight: 275 g (medium) | Size Range: S, M, L | MIPS? Yes
Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani According to megabrand Specialized, their new Propero 4 combines their most aero road helmets with their most ventilated ones. Now, I don't have access to a wind tunnel, so I can't confirm Specialized's claims that the Propero 4 is fifteen seconds faster over 40 kilometers than one of its predecessors, the S-Works Prevail 3. But I can say that the Propero 4 provided an easy and comfortable fit, with a simple adjustment system that allowed me to find a great fit in a matter of seconds. It also boasts, in addition to three massive front vents, two smaller vents that are dedicated for sunglasses storage. In other words, an exacting place to stick the arms of your riding shades when the sun dips behind the clouds. And, as looking cool is paramount, I'm happy to report that the test model I tried came in a super interesting blend of matte and gloss white that was only noticeable when viewed up close, which is always a factor in racking up cool points. Specs Weight: 295 g (medium) | Size Range: S, M, L | MIPS? Yes

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