POC Omne Air Bike Helmet - Whether cycling to work, exploring gravel tracks or on the local trails, the helmet gives trusted protection

Product Information

The slim and streamlined profile keeps weight and bulk to a minimum while large vents and ventilation channels create a cooling airflow over the whole head. A lightweight 360-degree size adjustment system gives you precise control of the fit while easily adjusted straps ensure the helmet remains perfectly in place no matter what. What's actually most striking is just how light the helmet is. Although it has a long profile, a size medium weighs in well below the Trek specs at only 260 grams. The effect is that of disbelief when held in your hand and it comes in partnership with an innovative rear cradle design that likely contributes to the low weight. Instead of using plastic connections to the front, Trek has gone with only thin string. Not only does it help lower the weight but it also means the rear cradle folds flat for ease of storage and travel. Although there will always be government safety testing, Virginia Tech goes further. Certifications from agencies like the CPSC only state that a helmet meets a minimum requirement. They give no indication of how that performance ranks compared to the competition and impact testing only covers a specific type of impact. Virginia Tech has emerged as the only unbiased organisation to use a standardised and comparable test to rank helmet performance compared to other models. Virginia Tech is also a pioneer in the idea that off-centre impacts are different. comfort and functionality on longer rides. By taking our whole-helmet approach to the creation of the Omne Air MIPS, 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,

Outside of safety, you are going to want to look at comfort and style. Budget helmets will tend to give up some features such as lightweight or aerodynamics but you still want a helmet that feels good on your head. You also don't want to neglect style. It might seem silly at first but if you don't like the way your helmet looks, it won't see much use. How important is a Virginia Tech rating?

Read more details in our Giro Escape MIPS commuter helmet review. How to choose the best road bike helmet The Omne Air Mips is made from a standard polycarbonate shell with an EPS – expanded polystyrene – liner with Mips Integra crash protection. There is no Virginia Tech rating for this helmet, though others from the brand scored 4 out of 5. The Kask Elemento might be the definition of an all-around helmet. It's aero-optimised but isn't going to compete with the best aero helmets. It's also lightweight and even beats the Giro Aries on that score. On top of that, it's got 3D printed pads and uses a carbon fibre exterior panel to increase airflow and aid in heat management. It doesn't hurt that the style somehow seems to work as well on a road bike as a gravel bike.

The front vents are also good for storing glasses. They technically miss POC's 'Eye Garage' feature, but this is just a small bit of extra high friction material. Not having it feels cheap, but it is ultimately unnecessary. as there's plenty of room to store them and the dozens of options from various brands I've tried all stay put fine. There are a lot of great features about the Giro Agilis MIPS helmet. Right away, as with most Giro helmets, it's relatively light. Budget helmets don't tend to match the lightest helmets on the market but at only 293 grams for a size medium, it's on the lighter side. That lightweight scale reading is even with extended coverage in the rear. For less than a third of the flagship product price, you get a lightweight helmet that is stylish enough to work on a gravel or road ride but still uses Kineticore. You also give up features, though that is only a consideration if you miss them. One detail that's changed for the worse though is the material used for the straps that's now a lot heavier. This leaves you free to decide on your helmet based on the type of riding you actually do. It has to be comfortable, but for some that will mean light and airy while others will prefer to aero optimise. Whatever makes sense to you, I've tried to include a standout item and maybe even two. There are options at different price points and features that cater to different types of riders. The other thing you get is an understated style that perfectly captures a smart commuter look. Pair it with something from our list of the best commuter bikes and you will feel right at home. What you don't get, unfortunately, is a score from Virginia Tech, and you will have to dig out one of your old micro USB cords if you need something longer than what comes in the box.Any company that wants to make a highly ventilated helmet has to figure out how to get the material that keeps you safe out of the way. Giro uses transparent "bridges" in the Aries while Specialized takes a different approach by building an internal frame using woven aramid “cables.” The cables anchor into carbon fibre side panels and the whole system helps "distribute localised forces" in the event of an impact. The side effect is that the incredibly strong cables are thin and stay out of the way of airflow. Sure, I'll admit to hopping on a rideshare bike from time to time without a helmet — but whenever I can, I strap on a bike helmet. I've been riding road bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes for multiple decades now, not to mention a few healthy years of bike commuting. Never once did I regret having a helmet on. The other piece to consider when it comes to MIPS is that it is so completely dominant in the industry. That leaves a brand to decide if a helmet coming to market should pay the license fee to MIPS and in return get a technology most other helmets have. For some brands the equation makes sense because consumers have come to understand that MIPS adds safety. Some people will not buy a helmet without MIPS and there may be good reasons to make that choice. Over the last few years, the best road bike helmets have started to split in the same way that wheels or frames have. There are climbers helmets and there are aero helmets. The Giro Aries Spherical Helmet falls into the climber's helmet category meaning it's aimed at being lightweight and highly ventilated. Don't like wearing a bike helmet? Guess what: nobody does. But we all really should be wearing one any time we hop on our favorite man-powered, two-wheeled transportation. (If your favorite two-wheeled transportation is a motorcycle, I double down on my point.)

The vertical adjustment requires an internal plastic ratchet to be rotated 90° and slid along a channel to change, which can’t be done while wearing the helmet. Even after several attempts, I found this function difficult to use as the plastic pieces are so small. It’s not an ideal system but this isn’t an adjustment you’re going to be making frequently. There is a difference between budget and value. The Bontrager Circuit Wavecel is not the least expensive helmet out there and it's not even the least expensive helmet on this list. This helmet offers a different kind of value though. If you just need one helmet that doesn’t cost much the Lazer Tonic Kineticore will fill that role. On the other hand, if you have a little more money to spend but want something that fills both recreational and commuting roles, that’s where the Bontrager shines. Regardless of the reason for the missing rating, when it's missing it leaves a question. I've highlighted that question when appropriate and I've included the rating when I have it. You will have to decide what that means for you. How do I find the most comfortable road bike helmet? Even without the ANGi certification, you get a great helmet. For one thing, this is one of the few helmets on this list that carry a five-star Virginia Tech test result. It's great to know that even a budget helmet lets you choose something that's scored as high as some of the most expensive helmets on the market. You can also count on a comfortable strap system that is easy to adjust and should you need room for a ponytail, Specialized leaves room in the rear cradle.

The POC Myelin is a helmet unlike any that's ever been on the market in the past. From a style standpoint, it's a commuter helmet and it's unique even if you don't go farther than that. The outer shell uses a fabric covering and there's no adjustment to the rear cradle. The look would pair well with something from Chrome or Mission Workshop but there's a lot more to it beyond what you can see. There are two parts to consider when it comes to a helmet. The first is the technical side. Said simply, you need a helmet that is safe. This might sound obvious but it's worth consideration because there is a lot of confusion surrounding what that might mean. You'll find lots of claims but remember, every single helmet on the market will have gone through testing as mandated by the location you are buying it in.