Giro Eclipse Spherical helmet
£240, giro.com
As one of the first things to hit the oncoming wind, a helmet can have a disproportionately large effect on overall aerodynamic efficiency. Consequently, Giro has poured a lot of effort over the years into designing aerodynamically efficient helmets, starting with the bowling ball-esque Air Attack in 2012.
Ten years on, the new Eclipse Spherical is thankfully much more elegant than the original Air Attack, but the manufacturer still claims this is the fastest helmet it has ever tested.
Using its own Aether Spherical helmet as a baseline, Giro says the Eclipse Spherical saves 163.5 seconds over 160km, based on measurements taken at 40kmh. The Eclipse’s admirably svelte form undoubtedly contributes to this efficiency, but Giro also credits the Eclipse’s 14 ‘Wind Tunnel’ vents. It says that, in combination with internal channelling that helps to pull air through the helmet, the vents improve aerodynamics and cool the rider. Just like Giro’s other top-tier designs, the Eclipse uses the Spherical version of Mips, where the helmet is effectively two shells with one sitting inside the other. The company says this lets the outer shell move independently of the rider’s head under impact, adding rotational force protection in the event of a crash.
As well as being fast, cool and safe, the Eclipse is relatively light too – 267g in a size medium. If it could be made to dispense coffee and cake as well, it would be just about the perfect ride partner.