Arai Profile-V Helmet

RRP: £379 / Tested by: Ross Mowbray / www.whyarai.co.uk

Let me come clean. I’ve never owned an Arai helmet. Over the years I’ve worn mid-range Sharks, Shoeis, Bells, HJCs, LS2s, Givis and even a few lids from a selection of slightly less reputable brands, but up to this point I’ve never got my hands on and head in a helmet from the iconic Japanese factory.

I’ve listened to the hype – with a number of my colleagues espousing the comfort, quality and crashability of Arai’s helmets – but up until relatively recently I’ve never taken the leap. Then back in May 2019 Arai launched its Profile V and I took the opportunity to get one in for testing and see what all the fuss was about. That was over six months ago, and since then it’s become my go-to lid for all of my road-based riding.

Yes it’s that good.

At the time of its launch, Arai was pitching the Profile V as the perfect introduction to its extensive range, and although we could argue that its price is far from entry level, there are a handful of nifty features to make it easier to get on with than your typical Arai helmet.

One of the main differences for the Profile V is its wider base, which (supposedly) makes it easier to put on than some of the rounder Arais in the range, and I’ve got to say, it is easy to put on and take off.

With its plush internal lining, it’s probably the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn.

The Profile V’s lining’s also partially removable, with just the skull section permanently fixed to the lid’s interior.

It also comes with Arai’s re-designed Facial Contour System (FCS), which works to re-focus the pressure from your cheeks to your jaw, resulting in a comfortable, but extremely secure fit. It’s not the quietest helmet I’ve ever worn though, and even with a set of earplugs in, there’s a noticeable amount of wind noise that works its way through. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not a problem, and if a bit of wind noise is my only criticism, it’s not doing bad at all.

As with all Arais there’s no internal sun visor, but I don’t really see that as an issue.

I’m happy to carry a second visor and swap from clear to tinted when necessary.

The ventilation’s spot on, too. The chin vent opens pretty wide and squeezes a constant flow of fresh air through, while the built-in brow vents and smaller vents on top work to keep the top of your head cool.

After six months wearing this lid religiously, I’m a convert. I finally understand why everybody bangs on about Aria. The Profile V’s comfortable, well equipped, lightweight and it looks great, too. Alright, so it’s not cheap, but in the grand scheme of things it’s not an unreasonable price for a seriously sophisticated bit of kit from one of the most well respected players in the game.