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Giro Gila

Average Rating 4.55/5
# of Reviews 101
MSRP $ 70.00
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Description:
  • 23 Vents
  • Coolmax Pads
  • 2XS/XS, S/M, L/XL
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    Submitted by ho mo a Cross Country Rider from greensboro
    Date Reviewed: October 22, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:choo choo stripe
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $25.00
    Purchased At:ebaynator
    Strengths:Customer service, fit quality, weight, value
    Weaknesses:colors...but thatsa-personal thing right...? Really a great lid for the price, maybe best one ever value-wise.
    Similar Products Used:special ed, bell, troxel
    Bike Setup:like I want it...SS with afterburners
    Bottom Line:Helmets are a personal thing...what fits you doesnt fit me but what is as or more important is the company behind the product. These crazy Giro people sent me a new visor for my helmet after I got one used on without the visor.....now is that not awesome...for free direct from I-ta-ly....I will certainly always stick with giro from now on...some companies are worth allegencies ya know? Oh, and the helmet is a great fit and lite-ish for da dough.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Dirk a Cross Country Rider from Mishawaka, IN, US
    Date Reviewed: October 13, 2003
    Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
    Price Paid: $70.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:Looks, namebrand, shell and cover has held up well
    Weaknesses:Fit is horrible (for me anyway), velcro for Rocklock came off on both sides, pads came off
    Similar Products Used:Giro
    Bike Setup:Ellsworth Truth - decked to tbe max
    Bottom Line:This is for a 2000 model with Rocklock 2 (I believe).

    For the price, this should have fit better. Shame on me for not trying on other helmets. Shame on my LBS for carrying such a limited selection.

    Padding and rear strapping is held on pretty weak. Maybe I sweat too much.

    Try the helmet on and make sure it fits well. The new Rocklock system maybe held on better. If so, I would buy.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Phil a Weekend Warrior from Fargo, ND
    Date Reviewed: September 10, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:Maah-Daah-Hey
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $46.00
    Purchased At:Nashbar
    Strengths:Looks, fit, comfort.
    Weaknesses:Poor ventilation, cumbersome strap adjustment.
    Bottom Line:I replaced my cheap Schwinn helmet with this Giro supposedly worth $70 retail. I bought the white one. While I love the fit, looks, and comfort of the Gila, the ventilation stinks for a helmet in that price range. It is a very warm helmet, and the pads are placed so sweat drips into my eyes. So while it is overall proabably a better helmet than my old Schwinn, it is just too hot to wear on warm days. In fact, it has proven to be warm on 65 degree days. My head roasts while the rest of me is chilly! I think it's not so much the amount or size of vents as it is the poor placement of them. Inexcusable for a $70 lid, luckily I got mine on closeout for much less. For a recreational rider it should be fine. But if you ride hard, look elsewhere.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by jim a Cross Country Rider from ont
    Date Reviewed: August 28, 2003
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $27.00
    Purchased At:bike show
    Strengths:molded plastic,light, comfortable, cheapprevents getting hurt
    Weaknesses:i could of got a larger one
    Bottom Line:just a super and afortable lid
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Isaac Smith a Cross Country Rider from Marquette, MI, USA
    Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:still lookin
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:pricepoint
    Strengths:looks good, cool, light, comfy, easy to get it to fit
    Weaknesses:straps twist a little and the velcro things come undone sometimes
    Bike Setup:kona blast, raceface good n evil grips
    Bottom Line:only a few problems, still worth it.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Yo a from North CA
    Date Reviewed: January 12, 2003
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $70.00
    Purchased At:REI
    Strengths:Good fit, the RockLock thing get's it snug without feeling restricting.
    Weaknesses:Stupid graphics
    Similar Products Used:old Bell
    Bottom Line:Best helmet I've had so far, but i've only owned two in 13 years. If i buy another some day, it will be because I crashed and broke it.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Juan a Weekend Warrior from Anaheim, CA USA
    Date Reviewed: January 5, 2003
    Favoriate Trail:Fullerton Loop
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $34.00
    Purchased At:Ebay
    Strengths:Looks, ventilation, adjustability, fit, price.
    Weaknesses:The velcro straps, on the '02 model the rocloc uses velcro, this was fixed on the '03 model.
    Similar Products Used:Bell stuff.
    Bike Setup:Mongoose Pro Sommet '02 XT Drivetrain
    Bottom Line:The helmet is great for anyone who wants a cool helmet and yet doesn't want to pay an arm an a leg for it. The only draw back of the '02 model is that the rocloc system use velcro for retention, and the glue on the velcro come off the helmet, this becomes an even bigger problem in the summer, but I found that a little supper glue fixed my problem. The '03 model uses a push button style of retention, I haven't tryied it yet but we'll see in the future. Anyways other than that it is a great helmet.

    I like the way it looks with the graphics, and I also like the inmold shell, I will never buy a taped on shell ever again. Also the rocloc system works great on pony tails. My finace has the same helmet and she loves the fact that her pony tail can be put trough the rocloc.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Andrew a Weekend Warrior from UVA
    Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:Walnut Creek
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $60.00
    Strengths:Great ventilation. Protects your head if you fall (haven't fallen on my head, yet). Non-obtrusive when riding.
    Weaknesses:Sometimes is too cool in how it directs air against cetain parts of my head.
    Similar Products Used:Just my hair - doesn't work os well.
    Bike Setup:Kona Caldera, wellgo pedals, Bontrager Race FS+10 saddle, Kore chain reactor, Oury grips, Cane Creek ergo control barends, Cateye enduro 2 comp
    Bottom Line:Great helmet. I don't really have a basis for comparison, but so far I love it.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Peter a from Brussels, Belgium
    Date Reviewed: October 4, 2002
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Price Paid: $70.00
    Strengths:A good looking, well ventilated helmet for relatively little cash.
    Weaknesses:The visor can get twisted out of shape and looks a little cheap. A bit more strap adjustability would help.
    Bike Setup:Trek 4500 very much customised for urban riding.
    Bottom Line:Two days ago this helmet saved my life. The side of my head hit the road too hard to keep brains in my skull and though the helmet has gone to the big MTB graveyard in the sky with a huge crack, I didn't follow.

    As the car driver who mowed me down paid for a new helmet I upgraded to an Exedus, but if it was my own money, I would have bought the same.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Bill a Cross Country Rider from Hoboken
    Date Reviewed: September 17, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $39.00
    Strengths:Looks good
    Weaknesses:weal glue on the roc-loc straps
    Similar Products Used:bell image pro
    Bike Setup:Yeti ASR, Rock shox Psylo race
    Bottom Line:The glue on the Roc-Lock straps is junk. My buddy is haviung the same problem.

    If you ride alot and sweat a good amount the glue will unstick in no-time, mine lasted about 2 weeks.

    After a number of unsuccessful attempts to re-glue the velcro pads my self, I am going to try to find a new lid.
    Value Rating:3Overall Rating:1

    Submitted by Chris Westall a Weekend Warrior from Asheboro, NC
    Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:at my house
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $50.00
    Purchased At:SouthPark Cycles
    Strengths:Great look, excellent fit and sufficient ventilation. Removable pads make for easy cleaning after each ride
    Weaknesses:The fabric on the removable pads comes apart rather easy
    Similar Products Used:first bike helmet
    Bike Setup:'02 Kona Cinder Cone (stock)
    Bottom Line:I haven't gone down yet hard enough to wear my melon has taken a blow, but I feel more than confident that this helmet will do it's job when that moment comes (and it will). Everything else I mentioned above makes this a great buy.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Rob Leibold a Cross Country Rider from Toronto, Ontario
    Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $20.00
    Purchased At:eDiscountbikes.com
    Strengths:Nice and light, looks cool, Roc Loc system, fits like a dream, sweat pads are nice too
    Weaknesses:a bit hot (but my own fault for buying a black helmet!)
    Similar Products Used:Bell
    Bike Setup:Gary Fisher Kaitai
    Bottom Line:Great helmet! I got mine off ebay from eDiscountBike.com for $20.00!!!! I have had trouble with helmets fitting on my head (cause I have an abnormally small head) but this helmet fit right out of the box with no adjustments!!! A word of wisdom though, don't buy black helmets! They may look cool but they get way to hot in the sun!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by David a Cross Country Rider from Ringwood, NJ
    Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:Looks, Price, Protection , Roc Loc
    Weaknesses:None
    Bike Setup:Intense Tracer, Sid 100, XT/XTR mix, XT Disc...
    Bottom Line:I had this helmet for just about a year. Besides being one of the better looking helmets, it feels very comfortable. The RocLoc feature keeps the helmet snug. And its very cool with lots of air flow.

    I had an incident that wasn’t directly related to product defect where I had to send the helmet in for repair. Not only did they send me out a new helmet, it was delivered to me within a week of sending it out. That is customer service that you don’t get much anymore. If I could give it more then five flames, I would.

    The only choice should be which color!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Inga a Weekend Warrior from Missouri
    Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:Pricepoint.com
    Strengths:Looks, fit and PRICE
    Weaknesses:Straps want to twist
    Similar Products Used:Bell (had mine rung a few times before I started using a helmet)
    Bottom Line:This is a great helmet particularly for the price. The helmet has plenty of vents to keep your head cool and the coolmax pads don't get too hot and are extremely comfortable. The helmet looks fantastic and it's only about 1 oz. heavier than Giro's best models, not much of a noticeable difference for most of us.

    There may be better helmets out there but none come close without spending at least three or four times what I paid on Pricepoint.com. This helmet is a best buy for everyone.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Andy a Weekend Warrior from TO, On, Canada
    Date Reviewed: June 29, 2002
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Purchased At:Gears
    Strengths:looks great, confortable, Giro name,
    Weaknesses:hard to get helmet to fit right, chin straps get twisted easily, wish they had a size between small and medium....
    Similar Products Used:Bell something or other
    Bike Setup:2002 Kona Stuff
    Bottom Line:Got the helmet for free with my bike so I guess that makes it a pretty damn good deal. Haven't had to find out if it is good for safety yet, hope I never do....
    Good helmet if you want to look good but would rather spend money on your bike than a light helmet, but if your really loaded then I wouldn't be getting this helmet.... and if you are really good then I would recommend a full face helmet
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:3

    Submitted by Joel W a Cross Country Rider from Tulsa,OK
    Date Reviewed: June 19, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $50.00
    Purchased At:JensonUSA.com
    Strengths:Looks expensive, nice retention system, cools well.
    Weaknesses:None so far.
    Bike Setup:Cannondale Jekyll
    Bottom Line:Great helmet, much improved fit over my old helmet. While no bike helmet looks cool, the Giro helmets certainly look better than the rest.

    This helmet has done a great job of keeping sweat out of my eyes when riding, and I like the removable pads so I can wash them off after a long ride.

    Great product, especially for the price.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jeffrey Lemon a Racer from Bracebridge, On, Canada
    Date Reviewed: June 16, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:corkscrew
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $55.00
    Strengths:good looks, strong, good venting for short rides, Roc 3
    Weaknesses:long rides it gets too hot, the front pad falls off, the velcro attachments for the roc 3 suck
    Similar Products Used:giro
    Bike Setup:Kona Caldera, mavic crossride wheels, all race face, ultra light
    Bottom Line:good for once a week riders who want the technology without the price. during a race your head gets too hot. but it is the best helmet for the price, and has saved my head many times, thank you Gila.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by shifterboy a Cross Country Rider from canada
    Date Reviewed: June 14, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:wrandees
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Strengths:Great helmet, yellow rules, protects your head very well
    Weaknesses:needs better venilation
    Similar Products Used:giro hammerhead, mojave, transit, Bell X-Ray
    Bike Setup:2000 Kona Kula
    Bottom Line:Had a little accident the other day. This helmet perrty much saved my brains from being spladered all over the road. Although it busted, it did its job and I am very thankful for that, who cares about the rest, perfect marks for the Giro Gila!
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Matt Leonard a Cross Country Rider from Belfast
    Date Reviewed: June 13, 2002
    Duration Product Used:3 months
    Price Paid: $70.00
    Purchased At:Halfords
    Strengths:Fantastic helemt-loks class(mine is black and orange) and the weak is appreciated.Comfy fit is helped by skeleton inside helemt which is ajustable with giros special technology
    Weaknesses:None
    Bottom Line:U dont need to go OTT in helmets.only if ur a d/h maniac so for this type of money this helemt is unbeatable .........looks........price...........saftey.........ajustability...and of course the Giro logo is always worth the extra$$$$.
    Brillient helmet
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jake Maedke a Weekend Warrior from Ephrata, WA, USA
    Date Reviewed: June 12, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:dirty ones
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:Skagit cycle center
    Strengths:Great fit, fairly light, looks good, a quality helmet at a inexpensive price.
    Weaknesses:I wish it had a better pad for catching sweat before it drips in your eyes and glasses.
    Similar Products Used:old bell
    Bike Setup:Cannodale jekyll
    Bottom Line:This helmet does just what it's supposed to do. It is a inexpensive helmet that feels like an expensive helmet. My only complaint is having sweat drip on my glasses on hot days, but maybe a head band will cure that. Overall I would recommend this helmet to anybody who wants a good helmet that doesn't cost fortune.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Circe a Weekend Warrior from Plano,TX in the USA
    Date Reviewed: May 24, 2002
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $35.00
    Purchased At:Oshmans' Sport Center
    Strengths:fit & durability. I have a smallish head size (6-1/4) and it fits pretty comfortably. I think the straps in front of the ears make the tempal feel a little tight.
    Weaknesses:strap positioning - somehow the straps that go into the helmet from the chin strap seem to get twisted alot.
    Similar Products Used:1st helmet - I have no other to compare it to.
    Bike Setup:GT Outpost
    Bottom Line:I can testify that it is durable through an "endo" and roll into a tree on a steep downhill. The only thing that happened was that the tape came off a bit at the back.
    It seems to stay fairly cool, but it has a slightly tight feel at the temples for me. I do not understand how the strap gets twisted on the front strap going up from the ears. I have never loosened the chin strap unless it is to fix the twisted one. Now I just move it around my ears because it's a bit of a bother to straighten it all the time. The material in the chin strap has a tendancy to loosen on long rides.
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Mark a Weekend Warrior from Seattle
    Date Reviewed: May 15, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:Tiger Mtn
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:REI
    Strengths:Good Fit and Looks
    Weaknesses:Velcro pad near temple that holds on crucial straps pulled off on second ride! Pad will not stay reattached and helmet moves around without pad
    Similar Products Used:Bell Image Pro
    Bike Setup:several
    Bottom Line:Giro should have a more secure attachment methhod for a necessary strap
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:2

    Submitted by adam hammerman a Weekend Warrior from huntingdon valley, PA, USA
    Date Reviewed: May 9, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:any good, hard riding
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $60.00
    Purchased At:guys bikes
    Strengths:-23 vents
    -retension system
    -pads
    -visor
    -looks
    Weaknesses:-a little heavy for the price
    Similar Products Used:bell image pro, bell vector or something like that
    Bike Setup:(alredy reserved) trek 6500 w/ judy sl, shimano clipless
    Bottom Line:great buy! my old helmet shifted during a jump, blinding me with the visor, causing me to crash onto a rock, thus shattering my helmet. so it screwed me and saved me. but this helmet fits so well i dont think it is capable of shifting. the color scheme is great, so is everyhting else....get one
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Dave S a Cross Country Rider from St. Louis, Missouri, USA
    Date Reviewed: April 24, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:Urban
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $50.00
    Purchased At:Sun & Ski
    Strengths:Protects head, good number of vents, great price, comfortable and fits great.
    Weaknesses:A little heavy.
    Similar Products Used:Bell, a baseball cap, my own head.
    Bike Setup:'02 Kona Stuff stock, '01 Fisher Kaitai w/ Shimano DX-30 & Time Atac Aluminum pedals, WTB Velociraptor tires.
    Bottom Line:This helmet will protect your head. It may be a little heavy and I have seen helmets (like the E2) that are just as strong with more vents and less weight, but I am not a racer so I don't really care about that stuff. My head has stayed cool enough so far and I haven't hurt it yet, so that's all that matters. If you don't want to spend too much on a helmet and you're not a racer, buy this one.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Jet Black a Cross Country Rider from SJ
    Date Reviewed: April 3, 2002
    Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Bottom Line:Got the '02 for half off. Nice helmet... don't pay full price and its a great value. Nice fit, looks, doesn't get that much better in terms of ventelation, and not trying to make a 'gucci on E' statement.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Desmond -- a Cross Country Rider from Singapore
    Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002
    Favoriate Trail:Any XC
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $120.00
    Purchased At:T.H.H
    Strengths:1. More vents
    2. Stiff enough
    3. light
    4. Good look
    5. Fit comfortably
    Weaknesses:BREAK when exert a big IMPACT. Of cuz then why it should call safety helmet, without it ur head will like him. Most are the same.
    Similar Products Used:Giro
    Bike Setup:Giant ATX 890, XT cranks n brakes disc Xtr drivetrains, SID 100 fork.
    Bottom Line:Buy this helmet at its price. Its not so costly compare to the E2 or Exodus. So what its a Top two model helmet, for juz paying in the design and more ventilation. I think that GILA is the best. Its had more than enough 23 ventilation to keep ur head cool. However Giro should sell cheaper somemore for those top end helmet
    Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by weather expert a Weekend Warrior from iowa
    Date Reviewed: December 21, 2001
    Duration Product Used:6 months
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:jenson
    Strengths:fairly light, fits well (get one size bigger than advertised), good ventilation
    Weaknesses:er...if you take time to adjust it, there shouldn't be any weaknesses.
    Similar Products Used:riveria
    Bike Setup:does this matter?
    Bottom Line:nice, inexpensive helmet. haven't crashed on it yet so can't comment on the crash protection.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by Chris a Cross Country Rider from Mountain View, CA
    Date Reviewed: December 21, 2001
    Favoriate Trail:Braile, Saw Pit. Old Cabin
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $45.00
    Purchased At:LBS
    Strengths:Price, Looks, Design. Does what it should, protects you skull.
    Weaknesses:Pads, Visor
    Similar Products Used:Bell, Specialized
    Bike Setup:2000 Fisher Kaitai
    Bottom Line:1 month after I bought this helmet the large pads which hold the side straps in place came loose. I called Giro. They sent new pads within a couple weeks and instructions on how to install them. They didnt ask for a receipt, proof of purchase, nothing. No fuss, no muss. Fast forward a few months. I thwacked my helmet on a branch and my visor popped loose. The visor is a fixed one not the removable moto visor the more expensive helmets have. I called Giro last week, and they said that they'd send me a new one right away, No proof of purchase, no hassles, and no charge. The customer service at this place cannot be overstated. No matter how good a deal another helmet manufacturer may appear, nothing can compare with the amazing customer service of Giro. I will never buy a helmet from any other company. If I could give them 100 chilis for customer service I would.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

    Submitted by weekendwarrior a Weekend Warrior from Longmont, CO
    Date Reviewed: November 4, 2001
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:REI
    Strengths:Giro quality
    Weaknesses:Visor fit, fiddly straps
    Similar Products Used:Other Giro products
    Bike Setup:Specialized Hardrock FS, Schwinn Rocket88
    Bottom Line:Giro once again comes through with a stylish and functional helmet. The 23 vents do a good job of cooling. Their latest padding is slicker lycra-like instead of the older terry-cloth style.. and doesn't retain sweat as much IMHO. The strap is a pain to adjust but once set, stays put; although excessive length sometimes means you get strap-flap on fast DH's. The visor fitting means you don't want to remove it often. Overall a great value.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by Jerico a from Daly City, CA
    Date Reviewed: October 9, 2001
    Duration Product Used:1 Year
    Price Paid: $40.00
    Purchased At:Perf Bikes
    Strengths:Confortable, snug and stylish.
    Weaknesses:difficult to tighten the strap. Velcro that is stuck to the helmet comes lose and has to be stapled (this happens in damp weather.)
    Similar Products Used:None like it that I've used, but the Bell Nemesis Pro is a bit similar when comparing other brands. (I did fit this on in the shop.
    Bike Setup:'99 Cannondale F-700 frame/fork
    Bottom Line:I broke this helmet twice. My dad repaired it the first time (which is not recommended, you should replace the head bucket after impact). It has saved my skull twice. It was a good helmet, I'm sorry to lose it, but it has fulfilled it's purpose, and I'm thankful. This is recomended for anyone who wants to be a racer but don't want to pay the racer price.
    Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

    Submitted by david hinters a Weekend Warrior from Tokyo JApan
    Date Reviewed: September 27, 2001
    Duration Product Used:2 Years
    Purchased At:79
    Strengths:fits head. is a helmet. has holes. has visor
    Weaknesses:Pads fell apart the first time I washed them. more expensive than Bell'S to replace
    Similar Products Used:Bell--forget which one.
    Bike Setup:Two wheels, pedals, seat w/post
    Bottom Line:23 vents. WOW. Cannot tell the difeerence between this and my 19 vent Bell. It is ok. Relatively cheap. Good enough if you don't want to pay $150 for a peice of foam and plastic wit