Bang for your buck helmets are one of the biggest upgrades you can make in the gear you ride with. Like your kit, there’s a fashion element but unlike your kit, you can expect years of use out of a good helmet. If performance is more your game, then a helmet costs a fraction of what a wheelset costs but offers as much aero savings. Of course you might also opt to give up a few watts and get better ventilation. Whatever works for you, there’s a great helmet available.
What about the pro peloton though? Are the helmets in the 2024 Tour de France reflective of the brands that consumers choose? I wanted find out so I went through every team taking a look at what helmet sponsors they are working with.
The final tally is surprising. The brand with the most sponsored teams is Ekoi who sponsors Lotto-Dstny, Israel-PremierTech, Cofidis, and Arkéa-B&B Hotels. Number two with half that is a tie between Specialized and HJC each with two teams. Then the rest are one off sponsorships for another fourteen brands. Some of these are helmets I’ve ridden with extensively and some I’ve never seen. Keep reading to see if there’s something you haven’t seen before.
Team Visma-Lease A Bike – Giro
At the top of the model lineup Giro has the Aries Spherical Helmet and the Eclipse Spherical helmet. As evidenced by the name, both use an exclusive technology from MIPS called Spherical. It’s a ball and socket design that does well with Virginia Tech with the Aries currently sitting as the number one helmet.
Although both helmets are still technically current, the Eclipse looks like it’s not long for this world. It’s been out for two years now and is currently on deep discount. Instead, the Aries is the option that’s seeing promotion by Team Visma-Lease A Bike.
The Aries is also a helmet that represents something like what’s happening in the world of aero frames. Although it’s technically not an aero helmet, Giro touts the aero credentials. It’s also light, at 280 grams, as measured in size medium, and an excellent helmet for the hottest days. If you happen to love Team Visma-Lease A Bike there’s even a replica version available.
UAE Team Emirates – Met
Although we are talking about helmets in the 2024 Tour De France, Met is still remembering the Maglia Rosa. To my eye, the Giro Black and Yellow is maybe not the most exciting thing but bright pink certainly sounds fun. You can choose the Met Trenta 3K Carbon or the Met Manta the Maglia Rosa pink if you think you can pull it off.
If you do want either the ventilated Trenta 3K Carbon or the aero Manta, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. If pink is what you’ve got your heart set on, it’s not available in the US right now. Even if another color is more to your liking, and there is also a UA Team Emirates Edition, they run small. If you are at all close to choosing between sizes, pick the bigger one.
More details are available at met-helmets.com
Team Jayco–AlUla – Giant
Unlike almost every helmet brand on this list, Giant only has a single top model called the Giant Rev Pro. Like the Giro Aries, it seems to be straddling the line between aero and ventilated. Our review of it notes that the main use of CFD during design wasn’t to make it the fastest helmet but rather to make sure that it’s both vented and aero enough. Given that I’ve never touched this helmet, check out the full review for more info.
Ineos Grenadiers – Kask
Unlike Giant, Kask has more top-of-the-range helmets than anyone else and they are all aero optimized. The most expensive helmet in the lineup, and most lineups, is the Kask Elemento which uses a carbon fiber plate. Instead of the typical EPS of most helmets, there’s a 1mm thick carbon plate that will shift and move to absorb energy in the event of an impact. It’s a system that seems to work given the 5-star Virginia Tech rating but Kask is also using it to up airflow through the helmet. Although this is an aero helmet, temperature regulation is the big focus.
If you prefer something a bit more traditional, and cheaper, then the Protone Icon or Utopia Y are the typical vented or aero options. The Protone Icon is virtually unchanged since the days of Team Sky dominance so it’s got good visual recognition as the all-around choice. The Utopia Y meanwhile is less recognizable but still does a good job moving air through it while being fast.
You can check out more info on the Kask Elemento in our full review.
Lidl-Trek – Trek
Not to pick favorites here but Trek has a pair of helmets that I wear more than any others. The Ballista MIPS is a helmet that feels among the fastest I’ve ever worn while also being among the lightest at 260 grams in size medium. It does a decent job staying cool even on hot days but the long tail lets you know when you aren’t in an optimal position on the bike. I recently had to replace it after a crash and I opted for the beatle-esque “purple flip” color.
The only problem with the Ballista is that it’s a bit outrageous. It looks out of place on any ride where you aren’t pushing the pace and I tend to also include gravel rides in that. Instead the Velocis MIPS offers a less dramatic silhouette but still has aero credentials plus even better ventilation. It’s the helmet I used to ride the Traka 360 and I’m a huge fan of the angled brow that gives better visibility.
Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale Team and Total Energies – HJC
I’ve heard of HJC because it’s my job to hear of such things. Otherwise, it’s not a brand I have ever seen anyone wearing and I’ve never touched an HJC helmet. Part of that is undoubtedly because the brand isn’t available in the US and isn’t well known for cycling helmets even abroad. Although HJC dates back to 1971, and makes over a million helmets a year, the vast majority of them are for motorcycles.
Despite that HJC is sponsoring two teams this year and there are replica edition helmets available for both. You can read more details at HJCsports.com
Bahrain Victorious – Rudy Project
Rudy Project is an Italian company with the Rebel and Nytron at the top of the lineup. Of the two, the Nytron is better known partly because it’s been around for a while. Although the Nytro aero helmet is comfortable, it’s also heavy and it appears that this year Rudy Project is adapting.
The latest helmet to break cover is the Rudy Project Rebel. The Rebel drops a bit of weight, though it’s still not challenging for the lightest helmet out there, through the use of carbon fiber. Just like Kask, Rudy Project is using the carbon to reduce the need for EPS but then Rudy Project leans into sustainability. According to the brand, “the Rebel’s shell is crafted from recycled polycarbonate, with straps and padding also made from recycled materials.” You’ll also notice a new Fidlock buckle not yet seen on other helmets.
You can read more about the brand new Rudy Project Rebel at RudyProject.com
Soudal Quick-Step and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe – Specialized
Specialized is a marketing machine and I’m surprised to learn that the brand is only sponsoring two World Tour teams. Despite that, the two teams have either the S-Works Evade 3 or the S-Works Prevail 3 as options for aero or vented helmets. In both cases, the light and narrow straps are noticeably different from other brands.
Of the two, the aero focused Evade 3 is the most unique because, despite being an aero helmet, it didn’t come to market focused on aerodynamics. The Specialized point of view is that the Evade 2 was already one of the fastest helmets on the market so making it cooler would be the best use of the brand’s design energy. In my own experience, I’d say Specialized was right to lean that direction as one of the most noticeable features of the S-Works Evade 3 is how much air that top vent flows. Every time I put it on I’m amazed at the feeling.
You can read more about Specialized helmets in our launch coverage of the Evade 3 and Prevail 3.
Groupama-FDJGroupama-FDJ – Julbo
If you noticed a Julbo helmet among the helmets in the 2024 Tour De France and wondered why you’d never heard of it, you aren’t alone. I didn’t know that Julbo made a helmet and it turns out that’s not an oversight. The Julbo Finisher Evo is a brand new helmet announced a week ago. As expected from mid-priced glasses maker Julbo, an integrated eyewear storage system is one of the few bullet point features.
Other than the glasses storage, the Julbo Finisher Evo looks to be more of a ventilated helmet than an aero play. Julbo calls it the “most aerodynamic road helmet on the market” but includes an asterisk. In order to see those aerodynamic advantages you’d need the “modular speedshell” installed and UCI rules are very specific when stating that “Adding a removable cover is not allowed…” and “No material of any kind may be added to the helmet (tape, surface treatments, etc.).” Still, most of us aren’t governed by the UCI and those kinds of covers are great in the winter.
Adding to the speedshell and glasses storage, the other details are fairly standard. Julbo is using MIPS Air Node for rotational impact protection plus there’s language discussing a 360-degree fit system. What you won’t find, yet, is a price and given that Julbo is often about exceptional value this number could be quite low when it’s revealed.
Check out Julbo.com for more information.
Alpecin-Deceuninck and Movistar – Canyon and Abus
This is a bit of an odd one given that there are two teams with two sponsors clumped together. What’s happening is that Alpecin-Deceuninck is a Canyon sponsored team who uses the Gamechanger 2.0 helmet. Movistar Team on the other hand is an Abus sponsored team who uses the Gamechanger 2.0 helmet. Notice anything odd? Yeah the two teams are both using an Abus helmet called the Gamechanger 2.0. There’s no difference between them despite the Canyon branding on one of them.
In terms of the actual Gamechanger 2.0 helmet, this is one I’d always written off. I’d thought that it was playing at aero looks without any actual aero credentials. Then I spent time riding with one at Sea Otter this year. I also had a chance to talk with Abus about the helmet and I got quite a lesson on the obsessiveness that the designers applied to the aero credentials. The top vent alone went through over a dozen 3D printed prototypes to get it just right. The end result is a comfortable and aero helmet that’s reasonably light as well. The look won’t be for everyone but it’s at least designed that way with purpose.
Check out Abus.com for more info on the Gamechanger 2.0
EF Education-Easypost – POC
POC has been getting a lot of press recently for new and innovative helmets. Lachlan Morton was on the top step of the Unbound 200 podium with the POC Procen Air and I wrote a follow up article about what it’s like to ride in the Proceen Air. This time though, the Proceen Air isn’t getting much use. Instead there’s a brand new helmet from POC that hasn’t seen a wide release so far.
Although my colleague Alvin Holbrook was on-site looking for unrelease tour tech, he wasn’t fast enough to catch a shot of the new POC helmet. The only thing we know is what we can see in pictures that show a slight update to the older POC design language. If you take a POC Ventral MIPS and change up the vents a bit plus add some carbon fiber, you might have something close to the new helmet. Whatever it is, we can only guess for now.
Lotto-Dstny, Israel-PremierTech, Cofidis, Arkéa-B&B Hotels – Ekoi
French brand Ekoi is the company with the most teams sponsored this year. Is that because they are the best helmets around? Hard to tell but the top helmet in the lineup is the Helmet Aerodinamica that came to life with design help from Pininfarina.
This is a helmet that in some ways seems to reference a similar design language as the Trek Ballista MIPS but the two are also quite different. While the Trek is all angles and numbers, the Pininfarina design language is closer to a mid-century modern interpretation of a similar long tail TT ancestor. Ekoi doesn’t give any aero details but is clear that it’s a result of extensive tunnel testing. In my experience wearing it, it’s less likely to catch air with the turn of your head and it’s heavier with more focus on comfort details. The thick straps and magnetic buckle don’t save weight but they do make it a pleasure to wear.
It’s also worth noting that Ekoi is a reliable budget option despite high quality. An aero helmet for the $250 price point that the Helmet Aerodinamica is currently selling at is basically unheard of.
You can find more info at Ekoi.com.
Intermarché-Wanty – Uvex
Don’t tell anyone but I’ve been wearing a Uvex Rise Pro MIPS a ton over the last few months despite it’s lack of availability in the US. If I’m honest I grabbed it initially because I don’t have a lot of white helmets to match white sunglasses. I’ve kept using it because it absolutely does not move on your head. This is similar to the Kask Elemento but without the rather odd front pad that the Kask has. As good as that helmet is though, I suspect it’s not that fast. Get moving quick and it makes a lot of racket in the wind.
It would seem I’m not wrong in that assessment as Intermarché-Wanty has actually been wearing a brand new Uvex helmet called the Uvex Surge Aero MIPS. This is another helmet that seems to run afoul of the UCI rule preventing add-on shells and yet there are pictures with the vents covered. Perhaps there’s some loophole I’m not aware of but either way, the new helmet looks very similar to the Rise Pro.
It would seem that the Surge Aero takes the Rise Pro design and pairs it back plus adds the shell. The Rise Pro uses a bridge through the center which presumably makes it more aero but also less vented. If you reduces that to the bare minimum then added the optional shell, you’d likely end up with the Surge Aero. Given how good the Rise Pro is, I’d call this a good thing. It’s also a bargain if you don’t live in the US and can actually purchase it.
You can find more info at uvex-sports.com
Team DSM Firmenich-Post NL – Scott
The latest Scott helmet you will find lurking with other helmets in the 2024 Tour De France is the Scott Cadence Plus. It’s an aero helmet with a price that even undercuts, slightly, the previously unheard of $250 price point. One of the best features though, isn’t something you’ll see in the tour.
The Scott Cadence Plus is one of only a few helmets available with a quality light that doesn’t get in the way. In the recent review, Alvin Holbrook does a great job summing up the positives and negatives but the arc of the story meant not many words about the light. That happens when you are trying to tell a concise story so I’ll just highlight it here. For the rest of the details, jump over to see what Holbrook has to say in his full Scott Cadence Plus review.
Astana Qazaqstan – Limar
If there’s any helmet among the helmets in the 2024 Tour de France that stand out as special it might be from Limar. Marc Cavendish was wearing the Limar Atlas when he pulled off his historic 35th Tour de France stage victory. It’s a little hard to recognize it because of the Monster energy paint scheme but it’s definitely the one on his head as he raised his hands in victory.
I won’t try to tell you that Cavendish was successful because of the air atlas but it obviously didn’t hurt. For those of us not trying to put our names in the victory books, the Air Atlas is still a great helmet. The most notable detail is the “UFO” which is a clip on tail that extends the rear of the helmet and transforms it from the lightest aero helmet on the market to not quite lights but faster. You can see Cavendish has it installed as he got caught for drafting so it would seem that it is useful.
I’m kind of joking about the UFO. In real life, you likely won’t ever remove it. It takes away nothing from the air flow when it’s installed and while it weighs 26 grams, it only puts the Air Atlas 7 grams over the Trek Ballista MIPS. Limar would likely save more weight getting rid of the padding on the strap and the magnetic buckle but both are details that make this helmet a comfortable aero option.
You can read more at Limar.com.
Uno-X Mobility – Sweet Protection
Whenever I think about Sweet Protection it tends to be in relation to Alexi Vermeulen, who I tend to end up riding with somewhat often, or Pas Normal which makes some of my favorite kits. For most people, Sweet Protection immediately brings visions of uhm… Spaceballs (the kinder shape reference) aero helmets. Sweet Protection doesn’t just make weird TT helmets though. The brand also has an excellent pair of top-shelf road bike helmets.
The Sweet Protection Falconer 2Vi and Falconer Aero 2Vi are really the same helmet. One of them has a number of the vents covered and one of them leaves them open but otherwise, there’s no difference. In both cases, the Sweet Protection helmets fly a bit under the radar. They don’t have standout details in any one specific area and yet the whole design comes together in a cohesive way. They are #2 on the Virginia Tech rankings, do an excellent job at holding glasses stashed on your helmet, and are overall great all-around helmets.
If you care about color choices, that alone might be enough to have you check out the Falconer variants. Sweet protection offers 8 color options and Pas Normal offers another 3. You can check out more details at SweetProtection.com or PASNormalstudios.com