Giro Synthe MIPS Helmet Team Wiggins Limited Edition White/Gold

The Giro Synthe is a top of the range aero road helmet. We have been testing it throughout the year and have ridden it in pretty much all conditions imaginable. Adorning the heads of Katusha, BMC and now Team Wiggins, the aerodynamic Synthe has quickly become the go-to helmet for a number of pro teams, and we can understand why. Having worn the Synthe on the climbs of Majorca in 25°C heat, even when gassing it to the top of Sa Calobra, I felt no overheating or discomfort.

The venting is superb and there is no penalty compared to a conventional helmet, despite the added aerodynamics. In comparison, the Synthe is considerably cooler than all the other aero road helmets, such as the Specialized Evade and Kask Protone. Many of the new aero road lids divide opinion with their looks, but despite resembling a clutch of bananas, the Synthe is a great-looking helmet that seems to suit anyone who wears it. It is expensive preventing a perfect score, but it is the best helmet I have had the pleasure of testing.

As is the case with most aero helmets, Giro makes big claims with regard to aerodynamic credentials of the Synthe, citing that “our extensive testing reveals that the Synthe is nearly as efficient as the fastest time trial helmets”. In the absence of a wind tunnel, we cannot verify the aero claims, but this helmet certainly doesn’t feel like it slows you down. The Giro Synthe scores high marks for looks, comfort, quality, weight, venting and the huge range of colours.

Read the full review at cyclingweekly.com.

This is Giros top end helmet that debuted on the heads of riders from BMC, Katusha and IAM Cycling at the Tour de France earlier in the year. They call it the Synthe because they reckon it synthesises all the features youd want in a high-performance road helmet: a low weight, plenty of ventilation, a good fit and aerodynamic efficiency.The easiest of those to quantify is the weight, so lets deal with that first. Our medium sized test model hit the road.cc Scales of Truth at 223g which, in a radical break from tradition, is actually lighter than the manufacturers own figure of 234g.

Thats impressively light, just 27g more than the non-aero Giro Aeon and considerably lighter than Giros Air Attack aero lid. The last place youd want to get involved in a grams arms race is in safety equipment, but the fact that the Synthe feels so light certainly adds to the comfort.Speaking of comfort, the Synthe has plenty on offer. Thats largely down to the use of Giros Roc Loc Air fit system which is adjusted via a clicky wheel. The Roc Loc Air is a flexible plastic cradle that attaches to the helmet body at the back (where you can choose from three different height positions) and the temples, continuing right across your forehead and then backwards across the top of your head.

In terms of ventilation, this is one of the best helmets Ive ever used. Giro reckon that using a heat-sensing headform reveals the Synthe to be cooler than the existing Aeon and nearly as cool as a bare head. After using it extensively over many weeks since August, including a stint in the South of France, I can certainly believe that. As Ive mentioned, the Synthe is designed with aerodynamics in mind – like pretty much everything else in the road bike world at the moment – and its aero considerations that have led to the distinctive aero mesh perforated panels on the sides of the helmet.

Giro reckon that these reduce drag by covering the edges of the side vents. They also say that the holes in the panels alter the boundary layer of air in this area by slowing down the movement of air from the inside to the outside of the helmet, improving the aerodynamic efficiency.

"Using Wind Averaged Drag, a formula that takes into account 72 different yaw angles and calculates a single drag measurement for a standard head angle of 30 degrees and speed of 25mph, the Synthe is more aerodynamically efficient than any road helmet [we] tested, including the acclaimed Air Attack," say Giro.

Those large holes at the front of the aero mesh panels are for docking your eyewear. I tried a whole load of different models in there and they all fitted fine although some were more rattly than others. My Oakleys sat in there a treat – absolutely rock solid even when climbing out of the saddle.

Read the full review at road.cc.

The Synthe falls into the semi aero category that aims to extract a few free watts by cheating the wind, while still maintaining a high level of ventilation. It performs as promised, with more than adequate ventilation, and it feels and looks fast. It impressed us with class-leading comfort and great adjustability. In addition to being a great helmet for road racing and training, we love it for cyclocross. A MIPS liner and the awesome Roc Loc Air fit system put this award winner in a league of its own.

The Giro Synthe is hands down the most comfortable helmet we have ever tested. It is the only helmet in the Giro lineup that uses the Roc Loc Air fit system. The EPS foam of most helmets sits directly on the head. It is designed to suspend the foam structure of the helmet slightly above the head to provide a more comfortable fit and to increase cooling. This award winner is also the only helmet we tested that has a circumferential tensioning system that wraps completely around the head.

Other helmets such as the Bell Gage have a tensioning system that is fixed at the temple, so when the helmet is tightened it pushes the forehead into the front of the helmet. The Synthe design provides even pressure around the head and eliminates pressure points. Padding is minimal compared to helmets like the Specialized Airnet, but the positioning of the padding is excellent. We feel that the padding, while sparse, is more than adequate, and does not deter from the comfort of the helmet.

Giro is banking on consumers being willing to sacrifice a small amount of weight for aerodynamic benefit. Is it worth it? We say yes. We can not measure the reduced drag, but Giro claims that the Synthe actually performs better in the wind tunnel than the Giro Air Attack, their full aero helmet. Even if the aerodynamic gains are very minimal, they will likely outweigh the increased weight for the vast majority of riders.

It certainly is a great looking helmet. It looks far less dorky than most full aero helmets, and for the rider who only wants to buy one helmet, it is far more functional than an aero helmet. The Roc Loc Air Fit System used on the Synthe is the best internal fit system we have ever used. The Giro Synthe MIPS is a premium road biking helmet with a semi aero design. Class-leading comfort and adjustability make it a standout in a sea of high-end products. Solid overall scores in every rating metric add up and leave the Synthe firmly at the top. It is the winner of our Editors Choice Award and our favorite all-around helmet for training and racing use.

Read the full review at outdoorgearlab.com.