Product Review

Giro Aeries Spherical Helmet – Long-Term Review

This is Giro’s newest top-of-the-line highly-ventilated helmet. This latest model, the Aeries, improves upon the previous model, the Aether. Giro didn’t hold back on this helmet, packing it with all the sexiest features modern helmets can offer. They also didn’t hold back on the price tag. Coming in at $300, this helmet is definitely not a budget option. Do the features and performance of this helmet justify the steep price tag? I have been using this helmet for a little under a year now and will share my thoughts.

The design

The design is a noticeable improvement over the Aether. The Aether has a boubous frontal lobe. This design is sleeker and more streamlined. The overall appearance is quite formidable in the realm of cool looking helmets in the market, and something you have likely been noticing in the pro peloton for a while now. In my opinion, this is one of the coolest designs available. I also appreciate they have an all-white version of the helmet this year, and a few other nice-looking colors available. Style baby.

The Vents

I think the vents on Aeries are its standout feature. The ventilation this helmet provides is second to none. The vents allow for fast, cooling airflow over the top and sides of your head, helping keep you cool on the hottest scorchers. I have a bald head, so cooling isn’t a big issue for me, but regardless, I do enjoy the additional cooling this helmet provides. It is noticeably cooler than other helmets I have used. The cooling efficiency is thanks to a few large vents that travel the length of the helmet, and possibly these plastic fins, which may help direct air downwards towards your head and smoothly through the helmet.

Comfort

Another excellent attribute if this helmet is its comfort. It is fantastically comfortable. The newest version of Giro’s retention system, (Roc Loc 5+ Air), does a great job holding your head in all the right places, snuggly, but not overly so. I haven’t felt any pressure points or noticed anything I’d improve comfort-wise after using it for the last year. The medium fits my medium/large sized head perfectly, and I have just enough room when using a head-warmer in the colder months of the year. However, one thing I will mention, when I first received the helmet, there was a sharp spot from the molding in the rear of retention plastic. It rubbed against my head and was very irritating. I sanded it down with some sandpaper and it was perfectly fine afterwards. With such a premium helmet though, I do think that sort of thing should have been caught and corrected. I am sure I’m not the only one having to make the fix.

Sunglasses

The only negative I have to say for the Aries, is the sunglasses holder. For my Oakley Radars, it is pretty horrible. It pokes into your head, it is difficult to use, it doesn’t seem secure at times, and sunglasses lose all attachment when the helmet is removed, making dropping your sunglasses a serious issue to keep in mind every time when removing the helmet. The problem roots from the vent design. The vents to hold the sunglasses are very widely spaced. An unfortunate snag in an otherwise perfect helmet.

Safety

The Giro Aeries is one of the safest helmets out there. I always take safety very seriously and don’t believe in cheaping out when it comes to protection while riding. Featuring best in class Mips Spherical technology, you can ride in comfort knowing your dome is protected as possible in case of the unexpected.

Aero

While this is not an aero specific helmet, it does do a great job slipping through the air. Giro claims the Aeries is 5% more slippery than the Aether. And, from my own subjective experience, I do believe that claim. Descending hills and having the helmet at angles, this helmet seems to me like there is less drag. If aero is your top priority there are a lot of other more aero oriented options on the market that would be better suited for you, albeit, with much less ventilation.

Final Thoughts

The Giro Aeries is an excellent helmet. After using it almost daily for the better part of a year, I can say that overall, I’ve been very happy with my purchase. The $300 price tag isn’t easy to swallow, but given the features and safety of this helmet, I do think the price is justified. The appearance, comfort, ventilation, safety and aerodynamics of this latest model is all top-quality work by Giro. And the sunglasses issue on the helmet is something I can live with, hopefully they will improve in a future model. I have had some small quality issues with Giro products in the past and their warrantee service has been first class. Which is always comforting knowing the company stands behind their products in case any problems arise. If you are looking for one of the most ventilated helmets out there, this is a top choice, and you won’t be disappointed.