Giro Atmos II Helmet Review

Giro Atmos II Helmet

A good helmet provides active and passive protection, comfortable carrying characteristics and easy handling. A simple assessment of the safety is also not possible for the technically skilled buyer. Not only the stability of the helmet shell is important, but also the damping of the impact so that the cyclist does not suffer permanent damage during a fall

This highly adjustable Giro lid is more air vent than helmet. The 2013 edition of Giro's doing well Atmos does not let down. With easy adjustability and huge cooling vents, the Latest incarnation of this high end offering gets the job done.

Aesthetically speaking very little has changed from previous models. The Atmos is still a compact helmet that sits tight to the head and does well at avoiding the dreaded 'mushroom' look. The particular black, white and blue model that I tested might not be to everyone's taste, covered as it is in what looks like text from a promotional poster.

If you take the time to look you'll find the words 'Easter Sunday' and 'Proudly Presents' scattered around the top of the Atmos. Why? I have absolutely no idea, and I feel it would be a bit too geeky to email Giro and ask. Personally I like the look of it. From a distance especially, the flecks of white and blue jump out and look great.

As we would anticipate for a helmet at this price spot, it's reasonably light. Giro list the weight as 280grams but our test model (in medium) came in under that at 256 grams.
It's easy to see where the weight savings have been made. For starters, most of the helmet is air. The vents that keep your head wind cooled and supposedly make it more aerodynamic are enormous. The buckles are super light, the strapping is very thin and Giro's Roc Loc 5 fit system continues the minimalist theme.

There are lighter helmets on the market for this budget, but the weight of the Atmos is more than respectable. This is not a helmet for true weight weenies though. They will be looking higher in the Giro range to shave more unwanted grams.

Once it's on your skull, the Atmos' adjustability is very fine. Giro provide the Atmos with ample chin strap slack for its customers to find their ideal fit. The Roc Loc 5 system is carried all the way through into 2013 from earlier Giro helmet ranges and it continues to do an admirable job of allowing one handed changes to the fit of the helmet while in the saddle.

Lateral correction is made with a twist of the 'micro dial', a small rotating disk placed at the back of the helmet. With exposed fingertips you have no problem making changes on the fly but it might prove difficult to adjust whilst wearing full fingered winter gloves. However that is a problem shared by the majority of helmets.

Vertical movement is slightly more awkward. There are three settings to choose from and they are best selected while the helmet is off your head as it is hard to determine which setting you are using without looking at it.

You are far less likely to need vertical adjustment when you are riding though. I haven't moved it since I initially put the helmet on and set it up for my head. Any changes I have made were to the width of the fit, to accommodate for a cap.

With the range of sizes (small/medium/large) and the built in adjustability of the Atmos, Giro have designed a helmet that will be a reasonable fit for most people. Added to that, there is a women specific version, the Amare, that will be added to the Giro range for 2013.

Despite the range of fit, everybody's head is a different shape. Some people find that the top of the helmet sits too low in the centre and presses to some extent on the top of the head in one small spot. For me it's as though there is a lump in either my head or the helmet.

You don't feel it when riding though, only when you initially place it on your head. It is particularly noticeable if you are wearing a cap as the bunched seams and material exaggerate the problem. At first I thought this would upset if you were to collapse in the helmet, but as I would find out on numerous occasions during a very wet and slippery cycle race, it doesn't.

In fact the Atmos performs admirably at its primary objective, protecting your head when you and bike part company. Despite repeatedly crashing on it, there was very little wear on the helmet, a small dent in the back and a lot of mud, but nothing that would worry me.

Review:
Rating: 8/10
The Giro Atmos II Helmet is just great. Well-made, also visually appealing helmet. The Giro Atmos II stands out from the competition. I like it very well, therefore quite suitable for round headforms. Because of the low weight and the good wind tunnel, it is hardly noticeable even on hot summer days. Visually, I also find it very appealing.

With a not overpriced price, he can, in my opinion, also compete with far more expensive models. It can be quickly adjusted to the head shape and is very light. In the summer the head gets enough cooling and everything is good.

Seats perfectly and is well adjustable. Also the price is right. The setting of the tapes is just a longer gimmick.

On the whole a top helmet.