Giro Agilis Mips helmet

I recently treated myself to a brand new cycling helmet and another one from the extensive Giro range of products.

As a cycling enthusiast and regular commuter, I continually seem to choose Giro helmets. After owning a few helmets in the past Giro still feel a great fit for me, and their helmets remain a quality product. 

In this impartial cycling product review find out what I thought about the Giro Agilis Mips helmet.

There is no doubt the Agilis is a well-made helmet and one that looks great in its appearance. It is light, very comfortable and is ideal if you have a less rounded head shape.

Key attributes:

• The Agilis helmet provides a great fit, especially for narrow heads.

• This helmet has lots of vents and provides excellent air circulation, especially when the weather is warmer.

• It is relatively lightweight, and the weight of the helmet is hardly noticeable when it is in use.

• The helmet is stylish and looks good.

• MIPS protection (inside the helmet) is well worth the extra expense.

• Giro has a long history of making reliable products.

WEIGHT: 

The helmet weighs in at 350g.

Size

As a size 59, I can often find myself choosing between helmet sizes, as the 'medium' size usually means 52-58cm and a 'large' 59+. So to achieve the correct fit, it is essential to consider the size guides carefully and if you don’t buy online, find an opportunity to try it on first.

Giro's size guide shows a medium as 55-59cm, and this is too small for me, especially during the winter months, when I would usually wear a skull cap, under the helmet. As a result, and due to it being a tight fit, I opted to buy the larger size, and this seems to fits perfectly, with an excellent snug fit and not tight around the head.

When choosing a helmet, like with most other pieces of cycling equipment, it is all a matter of choice, and the preference towards the shape of your head is essential to consider. If you find rounder helmets fit you well, this may not feel the right choice for you.

The look

I liked the look of the helmet when searching through various models on the internet, with the whole of the expanded polystyrene 'cage' encased in an attractive and sturdy outer shell, which enables higher levels of safety. 

The lower part of the helmet is wrapped into a shiny, stylish finish and this then conveniently wraps around to the inside of the brim. The boundary between the glossy and matt shell looks elegant too.

Also, I particularly like the way the lower part of the helmet is sculpted to swoop down behind the ears. The exceptional design also allows the back of the head to be covered very well, and this enables extra protection in an essential area of the head.

The fit

The fit of the helmet was perfect for me, and by adjusting the straps slightly, the fit can refine even more. The strap system is excellent, and it is Giro's Roc Loc 5 which works exceptionally well for me, with the adjustment being changed by a single wheel at the back of the head. 

You can also reduce the volume of the helmet with the three-position adjuster inside the rear. It works well, it is a bit fiddly, but you only need to do it once for it to lock into position.

Colours

Like the majority of helmets on the market, the range of colours can either entice or deter you from making a potential purchase. The Giro range of colours is pretty extensive. I found seven colours available, and they are all subtle in their overall colour combinations. After much deliberation, I eventually went for the white one, as I have never owned a white helmet before and I thought it was about time for a change.

It not only looks good! It fits nicely with the majority of my other cycle clothing and also provides significant benefits when outdoors cycling in the dark, especially during those early morning cycle commutes.  

MIPS technology

This version of the helmet comes with MIPS technology. MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, which is a leading slip-plane technology inside the helmet designed to reduce rotational forces that can result from specific impacts.

Despite paying a little more for the MIPS version, I thought it was important to do so, as I always want to stay safe out on the bike. No matter what time of day it is and the conditions that I might be riding in.

MIPS protection derived from Sweden and was founded back in 1996, by Swedish neurosurgeon Hans von Holst who began evaluating the general construction of helmets. Following several years of study and work related to head trauma for the World Health Organization in Geneva, he determined that existing helmet technology provided inadequate protection against brain trauma, often with devastating consequences for the victims of brain injuries. You can read more about MIPS protection here: https://mipsprotection.com/

Verdict

I paid around €90 for the Agilis helmet and overall I think it has been money well spent. You get a good helmet for your money, as it is not only well made, it looks good. It is light, and it is comfortable. It has proper ventilation, and on warm days there is a definite cooling breeze blowing through, which certainly helps to keep you feeling fresh.

Where to buy?

You can buy the helmet from a wide range of cycling websites or from various high street stores. Here are a few you could choose from:

Wiggle - Giro Agilis MIPS

Evans Cycles - Giro Agilis MIPS