Up until very recently, the Giro Ionos was easily the most poplular helmet in the professional peloton. We test it to its limits and report back. . .

Giro's Ionos - silver carbon on matte black

• Model: Giro Ionos, 2009, TCR Special Edition, Size Medium
• Price: Giant distributes Giro in China and have not returned emails or calls on M.S.R.P.
• Weight: 304g with standard pads
• Competitors: Catlike Whisper, Bell Volt, Lazer Helium

This season Team Trek China was supplied with custom Giro Helmets that were seen in the peloton around China. We got our hands on one to see how it performed.

The following review covers Giro’s most popular Helmet – the IONOS. Many of you have seen this helmet as a brain bucket for Elite level riders such as Li Fuyu, Alejandro Valverde, and Fumiyuki Beppu. Go to most any professional level event in Asia and it is likely that at least ONE person on the podium will have worn this helmet.

For a brief introduction and history on Giro, let’s start by copying from their website:

“Giro, based in Santa Cruz, CA, U.S.A. is a worldwide leader in the design, development and marketing of premium, high performance protective gear and accessories for action sports and active lifestyles. We are an innovative, consumer focused brand, with a mission to create products on the leading edge of inspired design that help you to look and feel you best.”

Marketing speak at its best. Let me translate that:

The guys at Giro work in California, dude. They have a lot more market share than most companies because they make consistently brilliant stuff that works. It also looks good.

Side view Giro Ionos - stylish in black

Giro Helmets started in the garage of founder Jim Gentes in 1985. Jim had an idea, and started working some pretty late nights with his friends from NASA who assisted in helmet shape and vent placement (I’m impressed already . . . .NASA?!!). They designed, what was at that time a revolution - the GIRO Prolight. This helmet was typically regarded as being better looking, offered better support, fit better, and was literally half the weight of the competition. It also did what helmets need to do: Make sure your head stays in one piece. The business grew relatively quickly and was made even more famous when in 1989 a certain cyclist you may have heard of (GREG LEMOND) used a Giro helmet and aero bars to make up one of the largest deficits in tour history to win the tour de France in its final stage. LeMond erased 50 seconds on Laurent Fignon in the final time trial to win the stage and snatch the yellow jersey by a mere 8 seconds! Ouch – must have been the helmet.

Greg LeMond racing into history in a Giro Helmet. Photo credit www.greglemond.com

Marketing blurb

Ionos is the most ventilated and technologically advanced road cycling helmet Giro has ever created. Our proprietary in-mold composite sub-frame (I.C.S.™) provides the strength to support 21 of the largest vents ever carved into a helmet. These massive vents, coupled with an intricate network of internal channels, create a cooling system we call Wind Tunnel™ ventilation, making Ionos the coolest, best-ventilated helmet available. Perfect for keeping Grand Tour champions like Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador cool on the hottest days and over the most tortuous Alpine climbs.

Reality
This helmet will keep your head really cool and extremely safe. (if its good enough for Lance and Alberto Contador it’s good enough for you. . . )

Look
Giro has come to be associated with the best - the best riders, the best looks, and the best aerodynamics (when considering their Time Trial Helmets). This helmet certainly continues with this trend. The IONOS has a clean look, hints of carbon, and the Team TCR graphic which is a little Louis Vuitton if you ask me. It certainly goes with their team motto to “Win, but win with style”.

Similar to shoes, there is an ongoing debate on what colours are best for helmets. Some say they should always match your kit, some say white is always best, I will leave it for you to decide. If the measuring stick is how well it matches your team or club kit – the Giro is a 10/10 match with the TREK China Racing Kit.

Full frontal - lots of material to keep your head safe but lots of vents to allow air flow

One thing I have noticed over the years is Giro helmets seem to be getting slightly larger and look bigger on top of my head (who knows, maybe my head is shrinking!). A minor note to those of you who like a low profile helmet and may have a skinny head like me. Try one on before you buy at you authorized GIRO dealer. **NEWS FLASH** Please note that cycling is a dangerous sport, please don’t ever buy fake helmets, or helmets from an un-authorized dealer – your head is worth more than saving a few kuai! We here at Cyclingnewsasia have seen some serious accidents, and some very badly hurt cyclists after product failures on ‘fakes’ - just think of the cost of replacing your eye or teeth when you think of saving some cash and buying a fake.

Feel/Fit
Having always worn a Medium helmet and this continues with the Giro. The Roc-Loc retention system works very well as it always has and is very easy to adjust while riding. It keeps the helmet very stable, and prevents it twisting or flopping around even with extreme body maneuvers. I even undid the straps, bent over, and shook my head and the Giro IONOS stayed attached. The helmet comes with a good set of pads to adjust the fit slightly if need be.

See the Roc-Loc retention system at the base - easy to use

We have been racing this helmet at all local club events this year. We started with some very cold races at the beginning of the season (where riders were wearing two jerseys, leg warmers, arm warmers, vest, and shoe covers) but our heads were never cold. At the height of the China summer with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius, we completed a 120km, 5 hour ride in the hills around Moganshan and it was HOT! with average temps of 37 degrees Celsius without taking the humidity into account. We can report that while our heads were definitely hot, our entire bodies were as well! The helmet did its best, despite the temperature, to keep air flowing through. To get more ‘numeric’ on you here, the helmet features 21 vents. However, the number of vents has become somewhat irrelevant in recent times due to the huge variation in design – let’s just say that ‘not all vents are created equal’. The Giro vents are very well designed and seem to grab air and push it towards your head. Basically the helmet does what the marketing blurb above says it will!

For a great visual on the Giro process for determining vent placement and aerodynamic design check out this VIDEO

The Ionos isn't as minimalist as some designs - but it provides substantial protection for your head

There were no pressure points or parts of the helmet that caused discomfort at any point on my head.

Features
Giro has recently added the new antibacterial, anti-odour X-Static pads which are designed to reduce odours and prevent germs from growing inside your helmet. This is a really nice feature as no one wants to have a head that smells! As well, if you consider you may be wearing this helmet every day – it could make a big difference.

As previously mentioned, one of the main features of the top end Giro helmets is the Roc Loc 4 retention system. Giro has patented this design for helmet fit and stabilization. The Roc Loc nicely grabs on to your head and really stops the helmet from moving forwards or backwards. The design offers adjustable tension that is independent of the helmet straps.

The Roc Loc 4 retention system continues to impress. The white cross also stands out in races when looking for team mates

The Roc Loc 4 fit system is what really stands out for us. On the current market there are more high tech retention systems, but the Roc Loc system is what has kept us in Giro’s for the better part of 10 years. It has separate tensioning and positioning adjustments plus a soft rubber belt that keeps the helmet in position without irritating your head or scalp.

Pros!

•    Giro has a long history of properly and safely designing, and supporting their products
•    Fit – versatile adjustability in the Roc Loc 4 retention system, good pad selection for a perfect fit
•    BLING! – recognized as one of the top products in the dirt and in the peloton
•    You’ll forget you’re wearing it
•    Possibly the most researched helmet on the market

No so pros . . .

•    One of the most expensive helmets on the market (but c’mon it’s your head)

Bottom Line
If you are on the market for a new helmet and want one that looks good, vents well, and protects your head, buy the Giro IONOS.


The rider:

Height: 185cm                    Weight: 67kg
Gender: Male                    Years riding experience: 13 years
Type of riding done mostly: Mountain biking, road racing, road training and CROSS!

Our reviewer has previously worn helmets from Catlike, Specialized and Giro. Over the years he has found the fit of Catlike and Giro to be most comfortable for his head shape.

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