There’s one piece of gear that every mountain biker has, but most of us rarely think about: a helmet. That is, we rarely think about it until we really need it.

The Giro Hex is a beefy lid intended for all-mountain, trail, and marathon applications. It features an in-mold EPS liner, polycarbonate shell, P.O.V.™ visor with 15 degrees of vertical adjustment, Roc Loc® 5 fit system, and 21 vents.

According to Giro, the in-mold EPS liner allows them to create a lighter helmet with better ventilation and more durability. The special moldability allows them to create their Wind Tunnel ventilation system, which scoops air in on top and around the front of the head and pushes it out the back of the helmet along with excess heat.

The Roc Loc® 5 fit system provides easy one-handed tension adjustment as well as vertical adjustment, allowing the rider to easily adjust the fit on the go.

The Hex is available in numerous color combinations and designs (click here to check them out).

Photo credit, upper right: Sydnah Swails.

The Test

The first thing that struck me about the Hex was how rugged and no-nonsense this helmet looks. It may have something to do with the “matte brown lines” design, but the Hex just looks like it is durable and ready to protect your head, and it’s not going to be too finicky as it does it. I threw it on, adjusted the chin strap, tightened down the Roc Loc system, and I instantly felt as if I had been wearing this helmet for months. It has a natural, intuitive feel to it that takes no adjustment time.

Photo Credit: Sydnah Swails.

The 21 massive vents and Wind Tunnel ventilation system function as advertised: they will cool you down in a heart beat. In fact, during the late fall and early winter months that I have been using this helmet, the vents functioned almost too well: I had little excess heat, and I didn’t want to give it away! However, once things start really heating up in the spring, the massive scoops on top of the helmet will provide welcome relief while bombing down the mountain after sizzling climbs on the way to the summit.

The Roc Loc system worked great and it is almost as completely intuitive as the rest of the helmet. I still haven’t quite figured out what my favorite setting is in regards to vertical adjustment–probably because I’m not used to having a helmet that allows you to adjust that setting on the fly. However, the ease of adjustment allows you to play around with it even while rolling down the trail, allowing you to fine-tune to your heart’s desire!

Photo Credit: Sydnah Swails.

If I had to have a quibble with this helmet, it would be that the design and position of the vents makes it difficult to mount a head lamp or a helmet camera in the sweet spot. It’s difficult, but not impossible: with a little practice I was able to find the best vents to thread the straps through, and while I had to route them far down the sides of helmet, I had just enough strap on my mounts to successfully latch on to the helmet.

Bottom Line: The Giro Hex is an attractive looking lid that offers excellent protection, cooling, and adjustment in a no-nonsense package. MSRP is $90.

Many thanks to Giro for sending the Hex down for review!

A couple of months ago I received a cache of Giro gear in the mail for my reviewing pleasure. Among the goods were a pair of Xen gloves.

Photo by Sydnah Swails.

Specs

The Xen is a heavily ventilated glove that is designed to breathe well and ride comfortabl,y even in the hottest temperatures. Along with ample ventilation, the back of the hand features knuckle protection in key locations in case something goes awry. The “Super Fit” palm has minimal padding, and is made of “Clarino” that is “tailored to minimize excess material, so you get maximum control and comfort,” according to Giro.

The Test

I have used the Xen gloves in a variety of riding conditions from cross country to all mountain to downhill. In all cases, I can honestly say that I have been very satisfied with these gloves!

Giro’s description rings absolutely true. The palms have very minimal material, and despite the minimalistic approach, these may be one of the most comfortable pairs of gloves I’ve used this year. The comfort provided by the Zen vastly outdistances the most recent pair of full-fingered gloves I reviewed here on the blog.

The index and middle fingers have extra grip for the brake levers. Photo by Sydnah Swails.

As for comfort in high temps, I haven’t had the chance to test these during the extremely hot months but I have worn them into the 70′s and down into the 40′s with no problems. These gloves are definitely designed for the summer months, though, so going any lower than the upper to mid 40′s will probably be uncomfortable.

Ventilation and Knuckle Protection. Photo by Sydnah Swails.

It is important to note that while these are aggressive full-fingered gloves, they aren’t specifically designed with downhilling in mind. While there is a little bit of knuckle protection, if you are looking for a full-on DH glove you might want to try something with a little more padding. If you are an aggressive all-mountain rider, though, these gloves split the difference between XC and DH perfectly!

Cons

The only question I have when it comes to the Xen gloves is, “How durable are they?”

I’ve had a small issue with some stitching coming out on one of the fingers. I’m not sure if I snagged it on something and tore a stitch out, allowing it widen into this hole, or what exactly happened.

I also have a much smaller hole forming on the knuckle of the thumb of the same hand. It is highly unlikely that I caused this one to happen in any way:

Bottom Line

This is a great glove that offers incredible comfort and great ventilation, and while it can work great for almost any style of mountain biking, it seems to be intended for all-mountain riders. While the durability of these gloves may be questionable, at an MSRP of $39.99 they are worth a look.

Many thanks to Giro for sending out the Xen gloves for review.

Behold the Xar! I bet right now you’re imagining some big burly guy with tons of power and wealth overseeing his Slavic minions. Actually that would be a Czar. Even so, when you strap on Giro’s Xar I guarantee you’ll feel like an Emperor.

A while back I wrote about the release of Giro’s new Roc Loc 5 fit system which is featured in the Xar helmet. After testing the Roc Loc5 on my own noggin I’m ready to give you my thoughts on how I think the Xar fits and feels.

The Xar is the next generation premium all-mountain (AM) helmet from Giro. Taking some of the styling cues from the hugely popular Xen helmet, Giro set off to take this helmet in a slightly different direction. Sporting a bit more of an angular shape, Giro applied all their technical know-how to build the Xar for the more aggressive rider. A lot of time went into making this helmet comfortable, and comfortable it is.

The Roc Loc 5 system as I mentioned in previous articles takes up less space (making more room for eye-wear) while firmly holding the helmet in place. To me, a secure fit is the most important factor in making a helmet feel comfortable. The micro dial adjuster operates easily with one hand and is great for making sure the two rear pads position themselves evenly on the back side of your head just below the occipital lobe (back side of the brain just where the skull rounds itself towards the spine).

The pads are also adjustable up and down to ensure maximum comfort and fit (something that many lower-end models do not have and are not required by the CPSC ). The last thing mountain bikers want is a helmet that bobbles around while sailing over roots and rocks. What you don’t see in this helmet is the Dupont Nylon reinforcements molded right into the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) liner for added protection without added bulk. So basically you won’t look like the Toad character from Mario Bro’s video games, unlike some other economy helmets out there. With the Xar you get a low-lined helmet that adds a measure of protection to the sides and lower half of your cranium. At a cost of $130 MSRP, the Xar is the top lid in the AM price range because you’re paying for the fit, finish, and technology in it.

Fitting the Xar took just a few minutes, dialing the Roc Loc 5 system and chin strap to the way I like it. Once adjusted it was a very nice fit. The sides of the Xar helmet are set in a bit so that the space is more ovalized than round (for those of you who have a very round head, try before you buy) but this suits me just fine.

Riding on the trails I found it an enjoyable experience knowing the helmet is there but not feeling uncomfortable or overly hot. I guess the time spent making sure that this helmet keeps you cool paid off. For an added measure I noticed the full width brow pad absorbed any excess sweat and moved it to the sides.

When you have a chance take a look at Giro and check out the Xar and the other helmets in the line up. They have something for everyone!

I’d like to thank the folks at Giro for providing the Xar for review.

Congratulations to the February Forum contest winners, Dorado and kvnrbrts. Dorado’s post, “urban riding??” received 59 replies during the month of February, earning him the sweet Giro XAR helmet and matching DJ gloves. kvnrbrts’ post, “Random trail sightings…” received 42 replies which means he snagged the Crankskins 12 mil frame protection kit.

Thanks to Giro and Crankskins for sponsoring the contest – we saw a big increase in the quality and quantity of forum conversations during February and are stoked to see things continue into the spring and summer!

Stay tuned for a BIG trail contest announcement later this month…

Giro and Crankskins are sponsoring a February contest to help “Pump up the Forums” here on singletracks. Since this contest involves posting to the forum, we won’t give you the details here – head to the forums to get the deets. Talk to ya soon.

Here’s some exciting news for your noggin: Giro just released the redesigned Roc-Loc retention device on selected helmets, like the Athlon MTB helmet. Roc-Loc has been around for a while so you may be wondering why Giro changed things up. Well, Giro works to provide riders with the best equipment and there’s always room for improving their products, no matter how great the original design. And with Roc-Loc, improve it they did.

Giro’s new Roc-Loc 5 promised and delivered on many key features such as a new level of comfort and fit like no other. Not only did they make the Roc-Loc 5 more adjustable by means of a new micro adjust tension dial in back, they also added 15mm of vertical adjustment to reduce pressure points. And recognizing that most mountain bikers also wear eye protection when they ride, Giro made the arms that attach the strap system to the helmet smaller, allowing for more room for sunglasses temples .

At this point you may be picking up on the word “smaller” in this review. While some may think smaller means less protection, rest assured that Giro went through a lot of testing. From what I gather, Giro ran these helmets through around 6,600 cycles which is like riding 3 times a day, everyday, for 3 years. Now that would be a lot of singletrack! Not only is the retention system smaller but it’s also 40 percent lighter than the previous version, Roc-Loc 4.

After wearing the Athlon with the new Roc-Loc 5 I have to say it is one of the most, if not the most, comfortable lid I’ve worn to this day. For one thing, this helmet feels lightweight and breathes like no other brain bucket out there. The two new pads on the inside back conform nicely to the shape of my head without that annoying feeling like something is pressing back there. On the trails of 3-Stages near Collingwood, with its mix of fast rocky singletrack and über technical switchback descents, I didn’t get any movement from the helmet. Keep an eye out for the new Giro helmets with Roc-Loc 5 which are available now!

The Athlon retails for $135 and comes in three sizes and 6 cool color choices. Thanks to folks at Giro for sending the Athlon down for testing. Visit Giro for more information and pics on the new colors.

Have you ever found yourself hitting a whole bunch of roots or rocks and noticed your hands were going numb? Or have you ever ridden through heavily wooded areas and noticed those trees getting closer, praying you don’t hit one? Well Giro has the “Remedy” for these situations and more. The Giro Remedy gloves ($42 MSRP) feature the Giro Super fit treatment which tailors the entire glove from the palm to the fingers to reduce bunching while boosting grip.

The Remedy also feature a strategically placed d30 heal pad. Your next question, if you haven’t heard about d30 is: WTF is that? D30 is a special material which remains soft under normal conditions but instantly stiffens upon impact. Essentially the d30 molecules are free to move around but become locked together in a web when the material is hit. Amazing.

The Remedy is a heavy duty glove with plenty of finger and palm protection. The outer two fingers have a neoprene-type base material with sonic welded armor points to help absorb impact from the trail. The two inside fingers and remainder of the upper surface of the glove features a moisture-wicking air mesh material. As I mentioned earlier, the palm sports the d30 crash pad plus a durable Pittards leather 3 piece construction. All of this ensures a super long lasting glove.

On the Trail

Much like the Xen glove I tested a while back, I instantly noticed the Remedy’s comfortable feeling and lack of pressure points due to misaligned stitching (which some brands have). The pre-bent fingers also lend a great fatigue free-feel to this glove. I am a full finger kind of rider and even though some may say that a full fingered glove is hot, I can tell you these didn’t roast my mitts. I did sweat but fortunately my hands weren’t swimming in the gloves nor did they lose grip when others might have started to slip.

For the heavier-duty rider who doesn’t want a glove with hard points (ie carbon knuckles ), the Remedy glove should be one of your top considerations. Available in three color combinations (white/lime , white/black/red, and all black) I am sure there is one that will match what you’re wearing and riding. Check out the Giro website for further details.

Thanks to the folks at Giro for providing these gloves for review.

Cross-country and road riders are already familiar with Giro bike helmets – they’re typically high quality, lightweight, and comfortable. But did you know Giro also offers bombproof lids for those who love pointing their bikes down steep slopes? If you’re someone who steers toward massive drops and stunts while friends are on the phone speed dialing 911, a Giro full face bike helmet and goggle combo is for you.

This year Giro really turns up the heat with eye-popping graphics on helmets and gloves plus high quality optics on their newest goggs. I recently got a chance to test the new 2010 Giro Remedy CF ($270 MSRP) in white/gold/green which happens to match the singletracks DH jersey perfectly. I also got my mitts on the Root goggle (MSRP $129) in matte titanium with the Gold Boost 75 lens and the new DJ glove (MSRP $34) in white/green. These three items are a must if you’re planning on pushing your limits on the slopes or jump parks this season.

The Giro Remedy CF shell is made entirely of carbon composite and weighs a scant 910g (about 2 pounds) which makes it up to 30% lighter than similar helmets. The CF stands for “carbon fiber” and the overall shape of the Remedy CF is identical to the plain Remedy. The Remedy CF boasts 14 intelligently-placed vents to encourage proper air flow through the helmet as you’re bombing the trail. The internal EPS (expanded polystyrene) liner is molded to fit your head comfortably while channeling air from the exterior vents out the four rear vents.

The front chin bar is lined with EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) which is a great shock absorbing material for those times when you take a face-first approach to things. Just in case you’re wondering, the Remedy is only certified for pedal bikes and carries the CPSC and CE endorsements. Even though it looks and feels strong as a motorcycle helmet, it’s not actually DOT certified.

Overall, the Remedy fits on the loose side of things around the chin and cheek compared to other models I’ve tested. For those who prefer the feel of freedom inside, this is the helmet for you. Remember, it’s important to choose a helmet that doesn’t cause any “hot” spots (areas of higher pressure) on your head or face (this will depend on the unique shape of your melon).

One of the things I really like about the Remedy is the ability to remove the liner for cleaning. Just unsnap the material and rinse out your sweat – then snap things back together in a jiff. I also really dig Giro’s Super Fit system which makes pairing goggles with this helmet easy and comfortable.

Speaking of goggles, check out the Root. The Root it is a bit spendier than the popular Station MTB goggles but packs in way more cool stuff. Right off the bat you get to choose from 10 different lenses and 9 stock color ways.

The Root lenses are spherical in shape rather than cylindrical like conventional lenses. It turns out spherical lenses are shaped to match the contour of your eyes so that there is no perceivable distortion – super helpful for picking the right lines at high speed. The True Sight spherical lens is designed to rest at a constant distance from your eyes both horizontally and vertically (cylindrical lenses only keep distance constant horizontally). The lenses also offer 100% protection from harmful UVA, B, and C radiation. To top it all off, the lenses also feature an anti-fog finish and scratch resistant coatings.

The goggle surround is made of two-stage, soft foam which feels both comfortable and firm while ensuring no dust and debris may enter. The surround is also vented to allow body heat and moisture to exit which prevents fogging. The frame features extended band tabs to fit the helmet opening like a glove and keep the goggle firmly in place even on bumpy, jarring terrain. The band is 32mm wide and sturdy, though for some reason it doesn’t have anti-slip silicon strips to help prevent sliding. On a wet day it just may do exactly that.

Finally, if you want to look like a pro, your kit has to match and the Giro DJ glove offers a nice compliment to the Remedy and Root. The DJ is a durable, full-fingered glove meant to take whatever you can dish out. It’s basically a beefier version of the successful Xen glove with the major difference being the wrapped Clarino finger tips and extra padding across the knuckles. The palm features a Super Fit 3 panel and is enhanced with Clarino synthetic leather and a section of EVA padding. EVA is the perfect material for absorbing shocks and helps relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve and the abductor digiti minimi muscle (didn’t know you were getting an anatomy lesson today, didya?).

Performance on the bike

Put these three together and you have a full house. The Remedy and Root are a great match: I didn’t notice more than about 15° of peripheral vision loss which is pretty solid for a full face / goggle combo. Out at the slopes and indoors at Joyride 150, I never got overheated or noticed my lenses fogging up.

When riding outside I found the Root lens to be perfectly balanced. It really enhanced the contrast of everything, especially on overcast days when trail details tend to muddle together. I also found the tint was just right even in lower light areas, like in the shadows of trees, and I didn’t need to slow down to let my eyes adjust. At the end of the day the Root goggles are far and away better than any others I own which is saying a lot!

The DJ gloves fit a bit on the tight side for size large so I needed a few days to get them broken in. Inside, the gloves felt comfortable – no stitches digging in and the glove basically stayed glued to my hand without moving around. Overall grip was great on the bars and the added silicon on the index and middle finger helped reduce the amount of grip I needed to hang onto the “chicken switches.” At the end of the day my hands felt fairly fresh and blister-free.

Giro offers a full range of DH-ready gear to protect your assets without harshing the ride on the way down. Just remember, this stuff won’t make you invincible, even though it feels like it does!

Thanks to the folks at GIRO for the equipment we reviewed. Another big shout to the guys and gals at Joyride 150 for hosting our indoor tests.

A mountain bike helmet is the type of thing that you expect to do its job but really don’t want to think about too much. In the case of a helmet, its “job” is to protect your head and a poor fit or uncomfortable design can limit its effectiveness (as in, if you don’t wear it because you don’t like it, it won’t work). Fortunately I found a helmet almost any competitive mountain biker can love in the Giro Athlon.

Design and technology

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you know I’m into lightweight bike gear and up until now I’ve been wearing an expensive road-specific helmet on the trails because it was the lightest lid I could find. The Athlon (without visor) is a scant 8 grams heavier than my fancy road helmet and would probably weigh the same if my old helmet still had all its padding. At 330 grams with visor, I barely notice the Athlon is even on my head.

The Athlon features something Giro calls “In-Mold Technology” which means the outer shell is fused with the liner. This exo-skeleton design makes the helmet more durable than helmets with similar weight and ventilation characteristics. There are 3 sizes to choose from which makes it easy to find the right fit (some manufacturers only offer 2 adult sizes).

Speaking of ventilation, the Athlon has 23 vents and internal channels to route air flow. If you look closely at the inside of the helmet you can see the internal channels that route hot, stale air away from the head and out the back of the helmet. Even riding in the hot desert outside Las Vegas I found the ventilation to be more than adequate and my head and hair were virtually sweat free after taking off my helmet.

The Athlon sports a removable “low profile” visor that can be adjusted 15° up or down to adjust for changing lighting conditions. Giro uses a unique mechanism that limits rattle no matter what position the visor is in and in my experience the visor stayed put even through rough terrain. I’m still not completely sold on the utility of a helmet visor but the good thing is that it’s easy to pop on and off.

Performance on the trail

I’ve been wearing this helmet for a couple months now and I have to say it’s the best fit I’ve probably ever had. The Roc Loc 4 fit system can be adjusted with one hand and felt super comfy even on long rides. My old helmet felt like it fit well but after reviewing helmet cam footage I could clearly see the difference in stability between the two helmets (more on that later).

Padding inside the Athlon is strategically placed and did a decent job at sweat management. Fortunately the pads attach with velcro and are removable making them easy to rinse out after a particularly hot ride.

In addition to protection and comfort, mountain bike helmets these days need to serve as a mounting point for various electronics like lights, cameras, and for some, MP3 players. Although I don’t think the Athlon was designed with this in mind, I found that mounting my Stella 120 light & battery on top was a breeze. Mounting the VHoldr Contour helmet camera was not quite as smooth since the included mount is designed for helmets with flat surfaces. I’m hoping helmet designers will keep these types of uses in mind for future revisions – perhaps a simple flat mounting surface could be added to one side?

Appearance and replacement

On the surface it might seem like a helmet’s appearance shouldn’t matter but if you think your helmet is ugly, you’re less likely to wear it. The Athlon is offered in 6 color schemes including “lime green flames” and “gloss titanium” so there’s really no excuse for not finding a style you like.

Helmet manufacturers like Giro recommend replacing cycling helmets every 3 years, even if they’re not involved in a crash since the protective properties of the helmet can break down over time. And just so you know this recommendation isn’t some clever marketing ploy to get us to buy new helmets, Giro offers a free helmet inspection for your old lid (for details contact Giro at 800-456-2355 or Feedback@giro.com).

Overall impressions

The Giro Athlon is a solid choice for anyone who likes to ride light and fast. I found the Athlon to be stable and comfortable in a variety of conditions and give it high marks for aesthetics. Although I didn’t crash test this one (yet), I rest assured knowing this helmet is durable and meets or exceeds US CPSC Safety Standards. A helmet you don’t even notice wearing is the most effective helmet of all!

Thanks to Giro for providing this helmet for review.

The Xen helmet, Xen gloves, and Filter sunglasses from Giro go together almost as well as the #1 combo at McDonalds (stickers to the first commenter who can id the sandwich in that combo). Now I am 100% sure you’ve heard of Giro and the great helmets they make; heck, I’m sure many of you already have one. But did you know that Giro also makes sweet gloves and glasses? Giro may not be as well known for accessories beyond the lid but will change very soon!

To make things easier Giro uses the same names from the helmet line for gloves. The Xen glove (MSRP $38.00) and Xen Helmet (MSRP $130.00) sport similar graphics and color schemes and are both optimized for all-mountain riding. All mountain riders will ride near or through overgrown brush, tree strewn singletrack, and the not so occasional rocky path so it’s important to have a helmet and glove that can take the abuse.

The Xen Helmet is offered in several color choices for 2010 including matte gold, matte white digi camo, and matte olive fade. It took me just a few minutes to get my Xen comfortable using the straps and buckles. When adjusting your helmet you typically want to set the under chin strap just with enough space so you can open your mouth without interference. I also recommend adjusting the buckle on the sides so that they are about an inch below your ears.

The Xen cuts a lower profile that most helmets and sports an extended back side to cover the back of your head. The 17 massive air vents keep things cool even on hot summer rides and the cushioned brow pad does a good job managing dripping sweat. The included POV visor allows you to change the angle of the visor without rattling it out of position.

The Xen Gloves are super comfortable and allow great hand movement without any pinching. Unlike some gloves out there, the Xen features a clarino palm (a durable synthetic leather) and strategically placed technogel support padding. The padding allows you to ride longer with less pain from impact and vibrations associated with bombing rough trails.

Overall I would have to say that these gloves performed really well. The three silicon-patterned finger tip grips came in handy and allowed me to use just one finger to grip the brakes. I also didn’t have to worry that my finger would slip on the shifters, even when my hands got wet.

Having a great helmet and gloves is just part of the equation so I also decided to give the Filter suglasses from Giro a whirl at the same time. The Filter is designed to fit comfortably with Giro helmets, utilizing what they call Super Fit. Basically Super Fit glasses are designed to hold securely to your face without interfering with helmet straps, minimizing distractions during the ride.

Not only do the Filters fit well but the optics are pretty amazing as well. These sunglasses use Zeiss lenses which are very clear without any noticeable distortion. Filter lenses are also 100% UVA, UVB, and UVC filtering. My Filter sunglasses came with two sets of lenses – grey tint 18Z and the rose silver 18Z. For the trails I would have preferred an amber or brown lens as well – perhaps this is something Giro will add in the future.

The Filter sunglasses also feature Pop Top which allows you to flip an integrated lever to release the lens from the frame without having you grip the lens with your hand. This helps keeps lenses clean and scratch free even with frequent lens changes.

All and all I have to say that Giro has a great thing going with these three products and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend other Giro helmets, gloves, or sunglasses to anyone. You want fries with that?

Just a couple quick shouts on new 2009 MTB products we’ve seen (and liked) at Interbike:

Giro Athlon Mountain Bike Helmet

Giro Phase Mountain Bike Helmet

Camelbak elixir – We sampled a couple new flavors at the outdoor demo (Berry and Lemon Lime) and the stuff tastes really good. It’s not very sweet at all, more like ‘flavored water’ and I’m guessing it’s just enough to cover up the plastic/vinyl taste from your Camelbak on hot days. Bonus: electrolytes included