Specialized S-works Prevail II Vent helmet
£240, specialized.com
Specialized’s Vent line of products are essentially airier versions of the company’s regular top-tier products. So, just like the S-works Vent shoes aim to offer more ventilation than the regular S-works 7 shoes, the Prevail II Vent helmet promises better airflow than the regular Prevail II.
It achieves this by incorporating ‘robotically spun aramid ropes’ in place of seven EPS foam bridges in the helmet’s shell. The reduction in surface area effectively turns what were 10 regular vents into three huge ones that run the length of the helmet. According to Specialized, this allows air to move 18% faster across the rider’s head, removing heat more effectively.
Elsewhere the helmet is broadly similar to the regular Prevail II. The
Vent has the same Mips SL technology and is near enough the same weight, with a medium claimed to be a competitively light 219g.
The Vent’s purported extra airflow does command a £20 premium over the regular Prevail II, but the extra cost may be worth it if you believe that cooler heads prevail.