Submitted by
StinkyPete
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2010
Strengths: Very lightweight.
Very well-ventilated.
Weaknesses: Interior plastic wore out very quickly (not impacts either), rendered helmet useless after one year. Padding at forehead could have been better too.
Weaknesses: -High MSRP...but when it comes to saving your brain bucket- cost is no object.
Bottom Line:
Saved my life TWICE:
1) 30mph night time crash(dim lights), broke collarbone and impacted head.
2) Struck by car six weeks later and re-injured collarbone, broke rib and shoulder blade too. Second hard head impact on asphalt rendered helmet unsafe.
Always make sure you get Giro's 30% off crash replacement discount, when the helmet is toast. I used the $13,000 insurance settlement to get a new carbon-reinforced Giro Atmos...which already survived two small crashes, without damage.
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET...even when test-riding. People have actually DIED in crashes less than 5mph!!!
The first one I purchased was great until I found that the inner shell had cracked. I quickly took it to my LBS who sent it away and got a replacement, September 2006. While I was waiting for the replacement to come I purchased a LAS which is awesome. So when I got the replacement I didn't use it often because the LAS was a better fit. The other dday I was cleaning the new Giro, after a ride, and found it had cracked in the same place as the first one. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH am trying to get another replacement wil let you know what happens latter.
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC, Mecklenburg
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2007
Strengths: Light, plenty of ventilation,doesn't interfer with vision when riding aero position.
Weaknesses: Thin pads separate from velcro backing, plastic adjuster snaps off easily, poor quality control
Bottom Line:
Great all-around helmet for price paid (on sale plus coupon plus free shipping.) If I were paying retail, I'd buy a Spuik with full inner pad and netting, or a LAS Haxial. Pnuemo worth $90 but not $160.
Submitted by
Claro Evangelista
a Weekend Warrior
from Woodside NY USA
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2006
Strengths: It breaths! Extremely comfortable. I'm happy with this purchase.
Weaknesses: Although this product looks really good, upon close examination, quality control personnel in China took a day off. For a helmet that cost over $100, it could definitely be better. There was a lot of imperfections on the gray material. I hope these imperfections will not affect the product's performance when the time comes when I bang my head to a tree or pavement.
Bottom Line:
It was a windy day today and the helmet made some noise similar to a slight opening of the car's windsheild or something like that. It keep my head cool and dry. Definitely comfortable and the fit is exceptional. However, quality control is not acceptable at this price range. The gray materail of my $20 Schwinn was better in the area. But I will still recommend this product because of looks, comfort, and fit.
Strengths: Incredibly light and airy; looks small and not at all dorky or trying-too-hard-to-be-cool as most helmets do.
Weaknesses: Incredibly expensive, but... with this one, you will never be tempted to just not wear it.
Bottom Line:
Everybody says how light this helmet is, but I always take reviews with a grain of salt... on my first downhill ride with this thing, I thought "whoah!" It's completely true. The aerodynamics are just unbelieveable. Now I can never go back to anything else. Also, having grown up immediately before the days that bike helmets became common/obligatory, it's hard to shake off the "dorkiness" feel of them - but this one takes care of that completely. The fitting system is easy to adjust and hugs my head well. I never have the feeling it's going to slip or rattle around. Finally, this thing is almost absurdly expensive, but I just broke down and shelled out the cash... I figure with this one, I will resist the temptation to go without a helmet!
Submitted by
Ernie
a Weekend Warrior
from Valrico, Fl, USA
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2006
Strengths: light weight, good venting, great fit
Weaknesses: not cheap
Bottom Line:
I've used this helmet for both road and XC. I have had it since 1999. Fit look and everything have been great. Even better......busted my first helmet today. Did a full endo into a shallow swamp. Hit my head on a rock and busted the helmet in 2. The Pneumo did its job and saved me a ride out on a helecopter. I have had no problems with it for 7 years and when called upon it performed. I am a Giro customer for life!
Submitted by
Robert
a Racer
from Scipio, Indiana, USA
Date Reviewed: March 8, 2006
Strengths: Customer service is impeakable; even off warranty!!! Comfortable even after 10 hour endurance rides! Breathes very well. Protective (what else is a helmet for?) and durable. Very well balanced performace.
Weaknesses: Sweat pads wear out every 6 months (probably because of my high-and-tight hair not the product). Little costly but aren't your brains worth it?
Bottom Line:
This is the best helmet on the market for the money! There are less costly helmets but the don't fit or protect as well. I wear out the sweat pads (probably with my short hair style) but Giro always sends new ones for free, EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AND I'VE TRIED TO TALK THEM INTO CHARGING ME, THEY'RE STILL FREE!!! YOU CAN'T TOP THAT KIND OF SERVICE!!! This helmet has been with me for about 3 years and over 35K miles and I still love it every time I put it on!
Similar Products Used: Low end Trek and Bell helmets
Bike Setup: 06 Trek Madone 5.2 Team sock other than Selle Italia SLR saddle, 05 Trek XO1 custom with full Ultegra, 05 Trek 5000 custom with mostly XT and custom Stan's ZTR Olympic wheels
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Sprocketeer
a
from Astoria, Queens, New York City
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2005
Strengths: Even standing still, I can feel the air on my scalp--a first while wearing a helmet. No more positioning my head to get a blast of cool air while riding.
Weaknesses: If you have a problem with this helmet there must be something wrong with your head.
Bottom Line:
I'll try to highlight what no one else has in this review.
It doesn't take more than a few rides to realize this is the best helmet you could buy--maybe there are 1 or 2 other Giro helmets that fit the bill but I believe this must be the best.
Just to add to the verasity of my statement below, my first day wearing this helmet was on a 100K ride, on a mountain bike, in 90 F weather.
Most any certied helmet will save you're skull in a bad crash--that's what they're made to do--but this helmet wont cook your brains.
Normal human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Farenheit (about 36 C). And in humans, the head is the chief place for body heat to escape.
Now imagine what temperature it is inside a badly or even fairly well-ventilated helmet. It has to be at least 110 degrees on in 90 degree weather in there--if your body hit that temperature, it would kill you in about 30 minutes.
This helmet does what very few helmets do, though many make the claim. It cools your head, and hense your entire body. That means less sweat, less water to carry and consume, less exhaustion from heat and sweat, and less throbbing headaches from both the heat and resulting discomfort.
Even standing still, I can feel the air on my scalp while wearing the Pneumo.
Favorite Trail: Bloomberg, you have to do something about trails and bike paths in this city--the lanes are useless
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$109.00
Purchased At: Online at www.performancebike.com
Similar Products Used: Giro (old styrofoam helmet with nylon cover), Selev Alien 2000 (Italian, bought in Japan, probably not available in the States, great helmet)
Bike Setup: Relative facts: I'm a sweater. I sweat buckets. Way more sweating than more than a handful of other people I know. Must be genetic, cause they're all white.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
dale
a Cross Country Rider
from santa cruz
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2005
Strengths: Fits Great,light weight,excellent retention with new Roc Loc. lots and lots of ventilation
Weaknesses: none at present
Bottom Line:
This a great helmet,light weight,and the fit is excellent with the new roc loc,
Weaknesses: Fragile head retaining system. Head retainingg system that snaps to the shell of the helmet jars loose on bumpy roads! Had to superglue the snaps in!!!
Bottom Line:
For the price paid I would expect a higher quality well made product without wimpy little snaps.
Submitted by
Jason Littleton
a Cross Country Rider
from 488B Cape Haitian Drive, Beaufort, sc
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2004
Strengths: great fit; incredible ventilation
Weaknesses: pricey
Bottom Line:
This helmet is great- the first I can actually feel air blowing through. The fit is amazing and it looks sharp. The price is a little high, but compared to the new Atmos- it's manageable.
