Giro Boreas

Price Paid:  $100.00 at lbs

Bike Setup:
I have a Trek Fuel 100 and a Merlin XLITE road bike.

Summary:
This helmet has saved me in one crash on a road bike, and several endos, washouts, and tree contact many times on my mtbike. Only some marks remain, no dents or deformities. I have been real happy with the ventilation. I've bought a Limar due to it's compact size and looks though. You can get great deals on these right now on the internet for the price of lesser quality helmets, used to be top of the line Giro before the Pnuemo. I bought it on sale.

Strengths:
Light 270 grams I think, alot of air, you can get a good deal on one now, durability. Feels comfortble.

Weaknesses:
It's not very compact which is my biggest complaint, the glue for the pads comes undone (easy to fix) and the Roc Loc doesn't adjust as well as it's claimed so it can be a pain if you like to wear headbands when it's colder.

Similar Products Used:
many others

Price Paid:  $150.00 at REI

Favorite Ride:
American River Bike Trail at night

Bike Setup:
Serotta Rapid Tour/Ultegra triple/open pro rimscontinental GP3000-20 tires

Summary:
For me this is the best helmet available. I use to hate wearing helmets. After (sparsely) using several bell helmets over the years I finally decided that in order for me to wear a helmet through the 105 degree summers here it would have to feel like I was wearing no helmet at all. I went to REI who had one huge wall of helmets and literally tryed on every single (small-med size) helmet to see which felt best. The Giro stuck out, by far, as the most comfortable, lightest and "invisible" on my head. I love this helmet and wear it frequently.

Strengths:
Comfortable, ventilated, fit, looks good.

Weaknesses:
The Roc Loc hooks in back sometimes come undone.

Similar Products Used:
Various Bells

Price Paid:  $140.00 at Bicycle Outfitter

Favorite Ride:
Cycle Oregon

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200

Summary:
The Boreas is a great helmet with superior ventilation. Being able to
adjust the tension on the fly is a great feature. However, like every
other helmet, the velcro pads for the harness will come off all too
quickly. The stick-on velcro is readily available at any hardware
store - there only seems to be one company that makes the stuff.
Bell recommended cleaning the helmet area with alcohol before
putting on the new pad. Giro recommended sanding instead. I did
both, and the new velcro has held well for over a year. The real
solution is to find a helmet that doesn't use velcro to hold the
harness, like the newer Giro's with Roc-Loc 4

Strengths:
Good fit
Good ventilation
Good looks
Adjustable on the fly with Roc-Loc 3

Weaknesses:
Velcro harness pads

Similar Products Used:
Bell EVO