AERO ROAD HELMETS

The popularity of aero road helmets has exploded in triathlon, sending the long-tailed TT helmet towards the margins as savvy triathletes have realised that aerodynamics, comfort and ventilation could come in one package.

While the weight of an aero road helmet is typically higher than a standard road lid, our wind-tunnel tests at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH) in May 2024 showed an aero road helmet can be four minutes faster than a vented lid over a 180km Ironman bike leg. Of course, much of this depends on an athlete’s ability to keep their head in the same aero position.

For this test, we took 11 aero road lids into the wind tunnel at SSEH. There, we were joined by aero expert and bike fitter Stephen Roche (thebiketailor.​com) and wind tunnel engineer Nick Richards. Together, we put each helmet to the test at speeds of 30km/h and 40km/h, using a yaw angle (simply, the amount of crosswind on your bike) of 7.5°, which is regularly used as a real-life baseline as it’s consistent with what you’ll often find out on the road. To maintain consistency, our model used the same tri-suit and sunglasses throughout testing, and stuck to the same position by using guides projected onto a live feed in front of him.

Aside from speed, other key criteria we used during testing included ventilation; the effectiveness of the retention system for comfort and fit; the ability of the buckle to be unclipped (especially with cold post-swim fingers); and the helmet’s often-overlooked modus operandi, safety. All of the helmets here have passed the relevant European safety tests, but also look out for added safety features such as the MIPS system and a rating from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, which carries out substantial testing.

For longer reviews and more in-depth wind tunnel info, head to 220tri.​com.

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