NEUROSPORT

ok its about time i get a helmet while i still have a head.

i narrowed it down to those 3.

i am partial to the Prolight because it both the latest high quality helmet and the least gimmicky.

but it doesn't seem like this helmet has been "embraced" by the cycling masses or the pros alike ?

by the way i have stores nearby carrying all 3 and i have held all 3 in my hands but i still can't decide !

help me out guys !

SalsaPodio

I've heard that the Prolight has less ventilation than the Ionos.

Edonis13

volt.

NEUROSPORT

what do you mean by that ? do you mean it has smaller vents or is it less cool to wear ? the two are not the same ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=escGyEyrGUs

this video explains how prolight has smaller vents outisde but bigger air channels inside.

ericm979

I've seen the Prolight on the heads of pros.

Having needed to use my helmet (30 mph face plant which smashed in my teeth and left me concussed) I am more concerned with coverage than light weight. Specialized seems to have decent forehead coverage.

How does one adjust the fit on the Prolight? When it is cold I ride with a fabric skullcap under the helmet to keep my head warm. Once I started doing that I realized that being able to adjust the fit while riding (and with full gloves on) is very useful. That way when it warms up I can take off the skullcap without stopping.

NEUROSPORT

what makes you think specialized has more protection ?

recon455

Well of course the salesman says that it's equal to the Ionos. That doesn't really prove it one way or another. With that said, I think the Prolight probably ventilates just fine for most conditions. Also, if you can get one from Europe like from PBK, they are lighter than the American versions.

Ygduf

Prolight has 3 different snap-in settings and then elastic band that works with those. I think the elastic has more than enough stretch to compensate for a skull cap, or even a wool beanie. If you went really thick headgear you might have to stop and adjust the snaps (10 seconds, but tough to do while riding).

NEUROSPORT

i don't care about a few grams. i just want an overall good helmet with good fit, good ventilation, good protection and good looks

supposedly the prolight appeared on the pros briefly during some stages of the last TDF and then they went back to Ionos. i am just trying to figure out WHY ?

if they both ventilate equally well and one is much lighter than another - why would they use the heavier one ?

have they been ordered by Giro to use the more expensive helmet for marketing reasons ?

they obviously can't make prolight more expensive than Ionos because there is no carbon in it - it was courageous enough on their part to make it more expensive than Atmos LOL

Cdy291

Nothing has protected my head better than a Bell.

wannaride

+1 on the Ionos. I have two and love 'em. I think that you get better coverage with one than a Pro Light and I'll take a few grams more weight. You should also be able to pick them up cheaper these days. I don't know anything about the Specialized except that the design and construction hasn't seemed to change for some time now but I like the brow vent.

NEUROSPORT

why do you think it has more coverage ? i heard that point before but i don't understand why ?

brianappleby

Has anything protected your head more poorly? And whilst you get all brand loyal, you should know that Bell and Giro are made by the same company.

I recently switched from the Bell Sweep to the Giro Prolight. The Ionos and Atmos never seemed to fit my head right, but the prolight is snug and comfy. Forgettable really.

The Prolight is quite noticeably lighter than any other helmet when you pick it up. When you consider the difference between $100 in pedals is sometimes 15g, then a 100g difference on your head becomes quite noteworthy. Honestly, anybody who cares about weight at all should be on a prolight once the $/gram math gets compared to other components that are part of the bike.

The fit is accomplished as mentioned above. I wear a medium Bell Sweep, and a med Prolight with the snaps in the middle of the 3 positions.

I haven't noticed a difference in ventilation, but I always wear a thin skullcap to keep sweat out of my eyes, so it may be like a raincoat in the shower...

To me, the prolight looks subjectively dorkier than the sweep/Ionos/Atmos/Volt options, but lots of the stuff we wear is dorky.

kergin

FWIW, the Prolight straps are super uncomfortable if you're bald or shave your head and don't wear a cycling cap. Fortunately, baldies (myself included) are likely to wear the cap to avoid funny tan lines.

kergin

No internal roll cage is sketchy as hell. My Monza came up on its 5 year anniversary yesterday, so in celebration, I took a metal pipe to it. That internal plastic re-enforcement adds much more strength than you might think.

bmw5nkj

Levi (a baldy) was powering up the hills at the ToC wearing a Prolight. So was Dave Z, but he's not bald.

Anyway, the Prolight always seemed cheap to me. It looks like the Giro Transfer, which is one of their cheap helmets.

With that said, I'd go with the Ionos or the S-Works if you've got the extra cash. The weight savings isn't that big of a difference.

ColorChange

I have both the Ionos and S-Works. Fairly similar helmets with a few relatively minor differences. The S-Works has a nice vent at the front that does keep the forehead drier with fewer sweat drips, and is noticeably lighter. The Ionos has slightly better overall ventilation. I most often reach for the S-Works for whatever that's worth.

Ygduf

How much would people pay to save 70g on any other component? And the pro light costs less than the Ionos, and presumably they both meet the US standards the Catlike Whisper helmet still doesn't (or can you buy that in the US now?).

ericm979

Totally unscientific I am afraid- it looks like it goes farther down on the forehead than the Giro I had.

It would be nice if there were more detailed CSPC or Snell ratings than "pass", but there's not.

NEUROSPORT

i was just browsing the net and another concern surfaced - noise.

i actually care about this A LOT because i intend to listen to music when i ride.

any ideas which helmets have less wind noise ?

Crash716

LAS helmets rock...having crashed in both Giro's and LAS i'll take the LAS all day.

recon455

I was going to continue in this thread, but this is a Neurosport thread. Probably his most subtle troll yet.

^oZ

How would we know, it's your head it has to go on

CrimsonKarter21

I've raced the S-Works for a season, and I've got 6 months in on my Ionos. The Ionos fits better and has better ventilation, IMO. The Prolight looks cheap, doesn't have that good of ventilation (less than the S and the Ionos), bujt it feels great on my head.

If it were me, I'd go for the Ionos.

v70cat

I have had the Prolight for over a month any really like it.

The light weight is a big plus for comfort and the vents seem fine.