Bell XR Spherical Road Helmet

£209.99 Generous coverage makes this a multi-terrain contender

THE ECLIPSE SPHERICAL FROM

Bell’s sister brand Giro was one of our very best new helmets of 2022, its fresh approach to the MIPS system and Giro’s aero pedigree making it a surefire winner for cyclists seeking both speed and safety. As the name suggests, Bell’s XR Spherical Road Helmet also offers that Spherical MIPS tech, but the titular ‘Road’ limits the broader appeal offered here.

What’s the Spherical tech? It’s essentially a helmet within a helmet, with two layers of EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam held together by elastomer ‘anchors’ to create a ball-and-socket effect. The proprietary idea is to allow the outer liner to rotate around the inner during a crash and redirect impact forces away from the brain. The Giro Aether Spherical was awarded a five-star safety rating from the influential Virginia Tech institute, and there’s nothing here to suggest the Bell won’t follow in that vein once tested, but it did take plenty of tightening from the Float Fit retention system to make the helmet feel secure, and I never quite got my preferred fit (and scored some serious helmet hair into the bargain when commuting).

There’s no denying there’s a lot of helmet here, and the brow can still be visible if you’re down on the drops or aerobars, and that frontal area did jostle for forehead space with my oversized cycling eyewear from SunGod. That deep coverage extends to the rear, with additional EPS tabs behind the ears taking this into the gravel riding territory that Bell also promotes this helmet for. The XR Spherical All-Road Helmet would be a more suitable title as it was away from the blacktop where I enjoyed this most – it’s a helmet that I never forgot I was wearing on the road, but a reminder of that extra security was welcome when cutting through woodland tracks.

Despite the ample coverage, the weight is a relatively lean 283g (M) and the finishing details high quality. The polycarbonate shell neatly covers much of the exposed EPS foam, the ratchet dial offers a resolute click, while the Fidlock magnetic buckle on the chin is a joy for anyone wearing thick gloves or triathletes seeking a speedy transition. The straps sit flush, while the 18 ventilation channels provided enough aeration on autumnal rides. I just question whether the only adequate on-road performance warrants that sizeable outlay.

“The Spherical tech is essentially a helmet within a helmet with two layers of EPS foam held together by elastomer ‘anchors’”