collegeboymike

I have always used crappy non bicycling helmets when I rode, if I even used a helmet at all. Usually (95% of the time) I have always just never worn one. Pure stupidity IMO, so I finally decided to go ahead and get a bicycle helmet for as much as I like to ride.

Picked up this Giro Ionos helmet for $160, and I must say after my first ride with it, it is great. Even with the current heat in Texas, the ventilation of this helmet was great, the fit was dead on, and I can honestly say I'll never ride with out it. Keeping my brain safe never felt so good. As an added bonus it matches my bike perfectly too! =)

theREEDeffect

Your bike is awesome, and that helmet looks like it's meant to go with it.

NathanC

When you say non-cycling helmet, what is that?

AMRD V

Uuuggghhh.... I ordered that same helmet on Monday (sexiest helmet IMO) and after reading this thread ur making the wait sooooo agonizing ( damn you shipping!) .... but I'm glad your liking it, makes me feel like I made a good choice.

jsmonet

viking helmet with beers for horns.

+1 on the giro love. apparently i have a head made for atmos, and just in time for the triple digit weather, too.

383

awesome bike and helmet

2ndGen

Get the fudge outta here!
I was going to post the exact SAME thread!
I just ordered a Giro Prolight.

So, I'll just piggy-back on yours CBM!

Anyway, I never tried on the Ionos or Atmos everyone seems to rave about.
Did try on the Prolight which INSTANTLY felt perfect.
Tried on the much lusted after LAS Sqaulo and managed to find another lid I liked, The Louie Garneau Exo Nerve.
But, I settled on the Prolight. It just made sense in every way.
Got it at a reasonable price ($153, delivered).

I loved the weight (of course) & it fit me PERFECTLY.
I loved the comfort of the shell and the strap system.
I loved it's low key compact look.

While the consensus is that the Ionos is superior in ventilation,
I went with the Prolight because it was 100% perfect in the areas I cared about most
(weight & comfort) and probably performed at about 90% of what an Ionos/Atmos did venting-wise.

Again, I was going to post the same thread almost word for word "Got my first real helmet today...".

Congrats on your Ionos. It was my runner up. But, I managed to get a two-fer.
I satisfied my needs to be reasonable with my lust factor in the Prolight.



(And now...on to The Sidi Ergo II's!)

2ndGen

And...Nice paring up!

BTW...your bike needs something red on it to tie it in to the Ionos!

pigmode

Just got an Ionos as well. Its huge external size-wise compared to my Bell X-Ray, but it has the best acceptable fit compared to the Atmos, Volt, Sweep R.

KD5NRH

Having the lightsaber on the bars really helps keep drivers from passing too close.

collegeboymike

I always have used bern skating helmets. They work, and IMO do look more fashionable when actually wearing them (not while riding a bike though since they are so out of place), BUT they are not as light, do not ventilate at all almost etc. I'm happy with my purchase.

WHOOOSSHHH...

I bought the exact same helmet. The GIANT holes on the front let in allot of crittters. Never had that problem with my LAZER of my LAS helmets!

wrr1020

I just received my Bell Volt in white/silver and its a really nice looking helmet. Was either the Volt or the Ionos, got the Volt for $40 less so i went with that.

Menel

Volt is a fine helmet, really like mine.
If it fits you good and comfortable, a Giro probably wouldn't. The two brands are generally shaped for different heads.

Basil Moss

Oh, you mean the ones that actually cover most of your head, and are tough enough to provide some degree of protection against injury?

Menel

These?
https://www.bernunlimited.com/2008/g.html
I see nothing there that would come anywhere close to "fashionable" off the bike.
Sounds like they don't work well as a bike helmet, by your own admission (don't vent well, heavy), and still look completely dorky and out-of-place, yet you'd give them a :thumbsup:?

collegeboymike

No, I said I was happy for finally buying a dedicated bicycle helmet.

383

+1. I can't for the life of me fit well in a Giro but Bell is a perfect fit. They're the same company in the end so it's just a label.

M-Ward

Can I ask where you got it for $160, i have been wanting to get one.

AMRD V

I got this same helmet for 170 off of eBay with free shipping, so check eBay

2ndGen

Ionos' starting in the $140. range...

https://www.google.com/products?q=gir...=99&price2=150

https://www.qbike.com/cgi-bin/find.cg...&auct=on&auc=1

I did an exhaustive search for my Prolight. The cheapest I've seen them is $129. but sizes and colors were all unacceptable.
Still, I managed to finagle one for a reasonable "during peak riding season and TDF fever" $153. delivered.
Nobody could beat that for the color and size I wanted.

Seems like Prolights are love 'em or hate 'em items. Hard to find anybody lukewarm about them.

Personally, I don't know how I'll ever go back to a non-strap method for securing it to my noggin.
It's true what is often said about them, it's like wearing a baseball cap and that after a few minutes,
it disappears from your head. Even when I tried it on, I noticed immediately how "not there" it was.

If Giro was smart, they'd adapt the Prolight strap system to the Ionos/Atmos
(and anything else they produce) and they'd knock off something like 40g off of it.

M-Ward

competitive cyclist has them on for 160 btw only a matte black/red size large