MTBR.com Giro Xen Mountain Bike Helmet Review

I originally posted a review of the Giro Xen mountain bike helmet ealier last week.  While writing my review I came across one written by Kalikiano Kalei on MTBR.com, it was an amazing (far better than mine) review and I asked Kalikiano if I could post it on MTOBikes.com for our readers to view (which he approved).  The review by Kalikiano Kalei is below.  Enjoy!

Strengths

Structurally strong design with good shell integrity and satisfactory shell/foam bonding. Easily adjusted suspension and fastener. Excellent occipital coverage (rear of skull) for protection of brain’s visual lobe. Very adequate cooling for most applications. Most important positive feature is rounded external rear shell design that lacks sharp “swoopy” protrusions that can snag during a fall and cause hyperextension of neck (causing severe cevical spine injuries)–kudos to Giro for this feature! This is a greatg helmet for those with heads that are longer (”watermelon” shape, as opposed to roundheads) in fore and aft dimensions and slightly narrower side-to-side. Helmet stays on head securely in almost all situations. Summary: an excellent and much overlooked and underrated helmet for both MB and street aps.

Weaknesses

Lack of high visibility shell colors to choose from. Visually bright orange, red, or lime green colors should be available! Yeah, I know: dark is “cool”, but being easily seen while using a helmet on the street is healthier (stay alive longer, brah!). Hotheads might want a bit more cooling, but a sweaty head is far better than a busted one, brahs!

Similar Products Used

Most other helmet designs (Bell, et al) over a 15 year period. Few are better for a wide range of bicycle protective applications than the GIRO Xen, in my professional opinion (as a specialist in military aviation life support technology and crainial protection safety). 

Bottom Line

The Giro Xen bicycle helmet was designed originally for mountain biking and cyclo-cross applications, but it is actually also one of the very best designs obtaininable for street and bicycle commuter applications as well. Protective helmet studies have shown that today’s ‘aero-styled’ bicycle helmets, with their stylish “swoopy” protrusions at the rear, are actually potentially unsafe in crash situations wherein those same jutting protrusions may snag during a fall and traumatically hyperextend the wearer’s neck. The result of such a circumstance is easily (and usually) a broken neck (cervical spine fracture or complete separation–i.e. paralysis). Helmets that have a more rounded rear section with a smoother external aft shell surface are far less prone to such catastrophic accident circumstances during falls and other serious dumps. This is generally not a well known fact among bicylists who would rather look ‘cool’ than ’safe’ (few want to look like a ’safe dork’, understandably–it’s human nature). Those of us who specialise in protective helmet design for all applications (aviation aircrew, automobile racers, bicyclists of all persuasions) understand the need for more smoothly rounded shells that offer less opportunity to snag during vigorous activities. Although I use my Xen for serious mountain biking on Hawaiian volcanos (cyclo-cross, too), I also have a Xen I use exclusively on the street (for both road-racing and commuting). I feel it is one of the best overall bicycle helmet designs to come along in a long time and I heartily recommend it to anyone ionterested in maximising personal safety on any kind of bicycle activity! Giro really got it right with their ‘XEN’ design!

Related Posts

• August 25, 2008 -- Giro Xen Mountain Bike Helmet Review
• September 26, 2008 -- Going the Distance…The Tools and Gear to Bring With You on Your Next Long Distance Journey
• September 25, 2008 -- Interbike 2008 Expo: Xtreme Sports ID Bracelet
• September 11, 2008 -- What You Should Have in Your First Aid Kit
• September 2, 2008 -- Safety in Mountain Biking