Cycling Weekly | July 25, 2019 | 47Like Bollé’s The One helmet, the Furo
includes removable panels that
convert it from a vented to a more
enclosed aero helmet.
Like The One it has an elongated
shape and a sharp cut-off at the rear that
Bollé says helps improve aerodynamics.
Of the 11 vents, fi ve face into the wind.
Two of the three, which can be closed off ,
run the length of the helmet, with just a pair
of reinforcing bars traversing them. This
leads to good airfl ow over the head when
the vents are not closed.
The robust outer shell fully encloses the
polystyrene foam liner so that there’s
little chance of the cosmetic damage
that the Mavic suff ered in
day-to-day use.HJC Furion £149.99
Korean brand HJC specialises
in motorcycle helmets and has
only recently branched out into
the cycling market, sponsoring
Lotto-Soudal since last year. HJC
claims superior ventilation and
drag for its helmets relative to
three unnamed competitors.
The Furion helmet is certainly
lightweight, with a size XL/XXL
weighing only 234g and smaller
sizes below 200g.
The padding sits on raised sections on
the inside of the helmet shell, allowing
pretty good airfl ow from the fi ve front
vents to the six rear vents through thechannels in between. There are a total
of 15 vents, some of which appear to
direct the airfl ow over the top for
improved aerodynamics.
HJC has also performed
extensive analysis of head shapes
to ensure a good fi t. The Furion
is comfortable, designed to be a
unisex helmet and to fi t people
from all ethnic groups. The
padding is treated with silver
ions to help keep odours at bay
too. There’s no MIPS option in HJC’s
helmets, if that’s something you’re
looking for.
At £150, the HJC Furion isBollé Furo MIPS £179
Mavic has tested its aero helmet in
the wind tunnel and says it will save
you three watts and 14 seconds
at 40kph relative to its Cosmic
Pro helmet.
Despite the enclosed
side-on profi le there was
good ventilation in even
the hottest conditions.
There’s a wide rear
vent and side slots
towards the rear.
The rear vent has a
reinforcing carbon-
fi bre fi n across it,which Mavic says has allowed it to
increase the aperture.
Mavic says its EPS-4D
construction method improves
impact protection by 30 per cent over
a standard helmet. However, it
acquired a few dents and
gouges while testing.
Memory foam
pads add extra
compressibility
and a more
comfortable
fi t than many
helmets andWeight
234greasonably priced for an aero
road helmet used by a
WorldTour team, many of
which head well over £200.
http://www.extrauk.co.ukHowever, that does make it a bit heavier
on paper but in use it has a comfortable,
secure fi t with a large adjustment wheel
at the rear. The cradle can be moved up
and down for a good fi t around the rear of
the head.
In summary, the Bollé is comfortable
and well ventilated, with the option to
close off three of the forward-
facing vents. It’s well
fi nished, but a bit heavier
than the competition.
http://www.bolle.co.ukWeight
376gBEST FOR
VAL UEwe found they relieved pressure well. It
comes with MIPS for £240.
Another nice feature is the small, grippy
rubber pads on the front side vents to keep
sunglasses in place.
In addition, the cylindrical rather than
fl at straps are more comfortable and less
likely to get twisted or in the way of your
sunnies. They’re attached to a fl at chinstrap,
to help distribute pressure well.
The Mavic is a well ventilated
and comfortable helmet
but it’s a bit prone to dents
and scuffi ng.
http://www.mavic.com9
Weight
250gMavic Comete Ultimate £225
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