SPECIALIZED PREVAIL VS. GIRO AEON

Heads you win!

Have you heard the old saying, “If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet”? It’s true. A helmet is one area where cheaping out is not the best option. A lightweight, well ventilated helmet is worth every penny. But 25,000 pennies? That’s what we tried to find out by taking two top helmets and comparing them head to head.

Tech Features Specialized Prevail: The Prevail is intended for cross-country riding or for riders who don’t care for visors. The Prevail features a Kevlar-reinforced inner matrix, which allowed designers to take many liberties with the helmet’s ventilation. We counted 31 vents, the most unique being a massive horizontal vent that allows air to circulate past your forehead. Specialized’s Mindset retention system features a ratcheting dial to fit the helmet to the circumference of your head and has five height-adjustment notches. Specialized claims that their 4x DryLite webbing won’t stretch out from sweat or water. Specialized utilizes dual-density EPS foam to optimize impact performance. The Prevail helmet meets both CPSC and SNELL safety standards. The Prevail tips the scales at 7 ounces and sells for $230.

Tech Features Giro Aeon: The Aeon features a thermoformed internal roll cage for added reinforcement. Twenty-four vents utilize internal channeling to keep the air flowing over your head. Giro’s Roc Loc 5 fit system uses a ratcheting wheel to fit the helmet to your head and features three height-adjustment notches. Giro’s Slimline webbing is designed to minimize bulky helmet straps. On the inside, the Aeon features X-static padding that has been treated with an anti-microbial treatment. The Aeon conforms to safety standards set by the CPSC. The Aeon weighs in at 7.7 ounces and sells for $250.

SPECIALIZED PREVAIL


GIRO AEON

Field test results: While spending over $200 on a helmet seems crazy, it can be justified. A high-end helmet gives you a better fit, lighter weight and more advanced ventilation. After spending months alternating between the Prevail and Aeon, both helmets deserve a minimum four-star rating. The weight of both helmets is remarkable; it barely feels like you have anything on top of your head. Both fit systems were very comparable and worked well; neither helmet disappointed us with uncomfortable pressure points. One helmet did stand out, however. We preferred the Specialized Prevail for a few reasons: The Prevail provided slightly better coverage than the Aeon, and, on a hot day, it kept our heads slightly cooler. We prefer the straps on the Prevail, as they are a bit thinner than on the Aeon. Finally, the way the straps fit around your ear on the Prevail is nothing short of genius. The helmet straps don’t twist or make contact with your ear. Keep in mind that every rider has a slightly different head shape, so when considering a new helmet, always purchase what fits best. The better the fit, the better the protection.

Reprinted from the October 2011 issue. Like us on Facebook