Submitted by
SR92
a Cross Country Rider
from Mars, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2009
Strengths: Great ventillation, strong helmet, decent visor. Overall a great helmet for trail or road protection. Rocloc adjuster fits the head comfortably.
Weaknesses: Haven't found any yet...
Bottom Line:
Great all around helmet, particularly if you are looking for ventillation. Now that Giro has moved on to teh Hex helmets for MTB, some bike stores will have these E2's discounted. All around I have enjoyed it and it is in great shape, despite very regular use.
Bike Setup: 2007 Gary Fisher Tassajara 26" hardtail with 100mm front travel.
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Submitted by
spotjasper
a Cross Country Rider
from Arcata, CA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2009
Strengths: good ventilation, light weight
Weaknesses: RETENTION SYSTEM FAILED. I crashed in a rock garden this weekend, and the retention system blew out, leaving the helmet flopping on the back of my head. What good is a helmet that moves out of the way during impact? See similar "Roc-Loc" complaints at bottom of page.
Bottom Line:
THIS HELMET IS NOT SAFE.
What good is a retention system that easily pops out of the helmet? It provides a false sense of security.
The helmet should stay in place & take the impact. My helmet has a small scratch & my forehead has 8 stitches...
Don't skimp on safety, get a helmet with a decent retention system...
Submitted by
Hans Konig
a Weekend Warrior
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2009
Strengths: Great Safety, comfort, fit & retention system, excellent ventilation, lightweight, very strong, design/colour/graphics, manufacturing quality + finishes, durable hardware.
Weaknesses: A tad pricey, interior cushioning & straps prone to perspiration soaking, otherwise none I can think of.
Bottom Line:
I'm a regular weekend and often midweek road and XC/tech Trail rider on local pathways, local off-road single track, and Rocky Mountain trails.
The Giro E-2 is the best Trail/XC/AllMtn helmet I have owned.
Like its predecessors, it survived my occasional endos and wrecks on tech single track & fire road washout ruts with no visible damage to shell or foam.
It was recently destroyed following crash while on a mountain ride when my left handlebar was grabbed by bush branches while avoiding a huge mud puddle across the whole fire-road on a fast downhill descent. Oww..! I'm still digging dirt out of the rash on my right elbow!!
The shell material remained intact with some gravel dents and scuffs; the foam inner was broken in numerous locations above the right ear location. The helmet did its job perfectly in protecting my head from a potentially serious concussion..or worse. At least so far.
The E-2 gets my top recommendation, if you can still find one, unfortunately it's been discontinued and superceded by the Giro Athlon, now my replacement.
Buy it, love it, trust it, full kudos!
Bike Setup: Custom K2-5000 alu frm; XTR/XT fr/rr der; self built M517-32s rims, Stan's NoTubes, Pana-FireProXC fr/rr, DT15/16db spokes, XTR rhub, XTdisk frhub, Shimano 185mm ctr lock disk, Avid Juicy7 fbrk, Avid 2.0V rbrk, Easton CT2 23"str hbar, RaceFace 100mm/10d Deus stem; RockShox 100mm XLC dtrclmp fork w EKO TotalAir cartridges, RaceFace Deus X 175mm Cranks w 44,34,22 Ch Rings, XT 11-34 cassette, Cane Creek Cloud Nine 200mm e-e rear shock on custom upper adapter, RaceFace XT alu seatpost, Specialized Rival Mtn seat, Oakley M frame eyewear.
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Submitted by
ricardovn
a Cross Country Rider
from Quito, Ecuador
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2009
Strengths: Light, durable, comfortable, doesnt move a bit once adjusted, looks nice and saves you from getting a serious concussion
Weaknesses: must adjust rock lock system with both hands in order to fit right.
Bottom Line:
Grat helmet, love it, i´m looking for another e2 as a replacement because i crashed very hard after failing a 6ft drop and broke it. It absorved the impact very well, i really thought i was gonna get a concussion! i´ve got it on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSHFusA07o at that time i was riding a gt avalanche bike
This helmet kicks butt! It's way more comfortable than my cheap GT helmet that puts intense pressure on my temples. This one feels more comfortable and the ventilation is great! I biked up Grand Avenue in Covina and I didn't feel like passing out unlike the GT. Didn't come w/ a chin strap but it feels comfortable nonetheless. I would definitely buy this again. Do they still make these?
Similar Products Used: Specialized, Bell, Trek, more giro helmets
Bike Setup: Klein Attitude Race with a sic racin' setup.
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Submitted by
Timmy
a Weekend Warrior
from Phoenix Arizona
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
Strengths: Lightweight, great ventilation, snug fit, great moisture control, very cool looking.
Weaknesses: Visor doesn't stay in place very well, best just to leave it alone for fear of breaking it somehow.
Bottom Line:
I bought the 2007 model, which is key, because Giro has changed many things between when they first came out, to the one I now own. I got it on sale, which is the only way I would buy this helmet, which is awesome nonetheless. Giro has improved the Roc Loc system from using velcro and such to hold it in place, to being stuck in the styrofoam of the helmet by some kind of ball pivot thingy. It stays in place, which is all ya need to know. It seems like a great cross country helmet, but could be used for anything except for where a full faced helmet is needed. The visor thing doesn't bother me because I've never needed a visor that needs to be moved, or removed at all, I'm not that picky about the sun. If that bothers you, just get some cheap sunglasses to go along with it.
Similar Products Used: Bottom of the line Trek garbage helmet, great for first start, but soon grew out of it.
Bike Setup: 2005 Cannondale Prohpet, lefty and all.
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Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from London Canada
Date Reviewed: March 9, 2008
Strengths: Light weight, easy to adjust, great air flow, and ventalation.
Weaknesses: NONE
Bottom Line:
I myself am prone to concussions thanks to good ol' hockey. I've had 3 bad ones.
This helmet saved me from my fourth this past summer. I took a hard wipe, and smacked my head hard. The helmet broke virtually at every vent, but I got up and was able to finish, and more importantly, remember the ride. I am truely convinced that this helmet has it where it counts.
It sucks that I wreaked a nice helmet, but hey...they can be replaced. I have since bought my second, and I am at ease, knowing this helmet can take a hard lick.
Hope this helps anyone look to buy a helmet. Keep the rubber side down!!
Submitted by
Bill
a Weekend Warrior
from Memphis, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007
Strengths: Fit was good - not 'special', but very good. Got a great value on it (no way should you pay even half of the MSRP listed at the top of this review screen - like $200 or something??). It works well for the purpose intended, and I am glad about that!
Weaknesses: Pads soak up sweat to the point that they start dripping down the front on most rides. This is a problem I have with every helmet I have had, so I probably would not hold it against the E2.
Bottom Line:
This helmet served me well both on the trails and on the road. I had no complaints and I am extremely happy to say that it stood up to the ultimate test.
On a solo ride at Stanky Creek mtb trail yesterday I suffered a freak (and spectacular) crash at high speed. I landed, in this order, on my head, left elbow, and left torso. Usual bruises and abrasions, but after a very hard head impact on compacted gravel/rock, I was able to get up and start worrying about my bike. Only a lingering headache the next day, and the need to puchase a new lid. The helmet split/cracked in about three places on the left side right above my ear. Exactly what it is supposed to do.
If I had not had it on (or maybe if I had a lesser helmet), I might still be in the creek righ now mumbling for help...
Bike Setup: Mtn: Santa Cruz Blur (classic) with XC setup Road: Specialized Roubaix
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Submitted by
Brendan King
a Cross Country Rider
from Sewickley PA USA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2007
Strengths: Light weight, great ventilation, looks cool
Weaknesses: the most expensive MTB helmet I found
Bottom Line:
I went head-first into the dirt at seven springs DH course this summer and hurt every part of my body except my head. I have no doubt that Giro deserves credit for for making an exceptional helmet. You cannot know just how much protection this helmet gives you until you break one of these in a crash!
Bike Setup: wheels, fork, seat, drive chain, brakes and handlebars
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Submitted by
BikeMe
a Cross Country Rider
from OC, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2007
Strengths: Great fit, easy adjustment, lightweight, cool to wear, adjustable visor (a key feature for me)
Weaknesses: Straps don't fit flush against skin by ears like I'm used to with old helmet(s). More of an appearance thing, I don't feel anything weird while wearing the helmet.
Bottom Line:
Great helmet! Solved the neck pain I had from helmets that don't have adjustable visors--had to hyper extend my neck to get a good look down a trail. Fits waaaay better than my Bell Paragon. I forgot I was wearing a helmet with the E2. Yeah, it's $130 but I think it's worth it for the killer fit, lightness, cool head and no neck pain.
Strengths: Light weight, good looks, lots of vents to keep your head cool.
Weaknesses: Mine is broken...But wait
Bottom Line:
This helment saved my life yesterday. I had a head to head crash with another guy who was going probably 20+mph. He was knocked out and I was dazed. Both went to the hospital my helmet was cracked like an egg (on only the 3rd ride I had it). Difference is that he was wearing a cheap old helmet and I had my brand new E2 on. He had a concussion, I have a few scrapes, and am sore but no brain injury!!!! Bottom line...get this helmet I am ordering another "crash replacement" today.
Not as nice as my old Giro Exodus. The padding has a tendency to soak up sweat like a sponge...then release it all at once down my forehead onto my glasses. It makes it nearly impossible to wear glasses when I do endurance races because they almost immediately get gunked up when I wear this helmet. My old Exodus never did this.
