Aero Helmet

[C36]

They do have ABUS sponsor on the kit, so there is some sponsoring relationship there.

[Lelandjt]

I'm pretty torn between the two Gamechangers. The new one looks sleaker with a lower rear upper area but you guys are saying the original is slightly slimmer. I need to see them in person but to do that I might need to order both and return one. I always need to try Med & Lrg so will need to order 4 helmets.

[joesch]

I'm pretty torn between the two Gamechangers. The new one looks sleaker with a lower rear upper area but you guys are saying the original is slightly slimmer. I need to see them in person but to do that I might need to order both and return one. I always need to try Med & Lrg so will need to order 4 helmets.

Are there any reviews that compare the two - ideally with some of the competition such as the Evade 3 and Giro Eclipse?
Personally, I am currently riding the Gamechanger Gen1 as my team was sponsored by an Abus dealer until last season - the fit is OK compared to a Prevail 2 I use for training, the ventilation is an issue in the summer. I tend to overheat in temperatures above 20-25 degrees Celsius with this helmet. Also, I am not sure how 'aero' it really is compared to the competition.

[scapewalker]

Cycling news released a aero helmet wind tunnel test including the new Poc Procen Air.

Credits to reddit user Lopsided_Prior3801 for posting the data.


Helmet | CdA average | Power at 40km/h | Speed at 250w (km/h) | 40km TT at 250w

1. POC Procen Air w/Visor 0.3501 288.15 38.15 01:02:55

2. Specialized S-Works Evade III 0.3523 289.96 38.07 01:03:02

3. POC Procen Air w/out Visor 0.3529 290.45 38.05 01:03:05

4. Scott Cadence 0.3531 290.62 38.04 01:03:05

5. Van Rysel FCR 0.3531 290.62 38.04 01:03:05

6. Giro Eclipse 0.3541 291.44 38.01 01:03:09

7. Trek Ballista 0.3542 291.52 38.00 01:03:09

8. Trek Velocis 0.3549 292.10 37.98 01:03:12

9. Julbo Sprint 0.356 293.00 37.94 01:03:16

10. Kask Utopia Y 0.3563 293.25 37.93 01:03:17

11. Lazer Vento Kineticore 0.3564 293.33 37.92 01:03:17

12. MET Manta 0.357 293.83 37.90 01:03:19

13. Smith Ignite 0.3572 293.99 37.90 01:03:20

14. Sweet Protection Tucker 2Vi 0.3573 294.07 37.89 01:03:20

15. Kask Elemento 0.3574 294.16 37.89 01:03:21

16. Limar Air Atlas 0.3577 294.40 37.88 01:03:22

17. ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 0.3581 294.73 37.86 01:03:23

18. Oakley ARO7 w/out Visor 0.3586 295.14 37.85 01:03:25

19. Carnac Evo 0.3588 295.31 37.84 01:03:26

20. Specialized S-Works Prevail III 0.3588 295.31 37.84 01:03:26

21. Rudy Project Nytron 0.3589 295.39 37.84 01:03:26

22. Oakley ARO7 w/Visor 0.3607 296.87 37.77 01:03:32

23. Uvex Rise Pro 0.3621 298.02 37.72 01:03:37

24. POC Ventral Tempus 0.3624 298.27 37.71 01:03:38

25. POC Ventral 0.3656 300.91 37.60 01:03:49

[TobinHatesYou]

Nice result for the Procen w/visor. The Evade continues to be generally fast generation after generation while the Eclipse, Cadence, RCR and Trek helmets put in a good showing too. The only irony here is that the Velocis worked just about as well as the Ballista with this protocol. Basically pick whatever helmet fits best.

Looks like they also tested the new unreleased Kask, but can’t report their findings.

[TheBelgian]

I have the new Scott Cadence. Pretty happy with it.

[aeroisnteverything]

Nice result for the Procen w/visor. The Evade continues to be generally fast generation after generation while the Eclipse, Cadence, RCR and Trek helmets put in a good showing too. The only irony here is that the Velocis worked just about as well as the Ballista with this protocol. Basically pick whatever helmet fits best.

Looks like they also tested the new unreleased Kask, but can’t report their findings.

Yeah, it's a weird looking lid but at least it works.

Apart from that, it's a very clustered set of results - the Evade indeed is the one that really stands out given that it's a fairly normal looking and well ventilated helmet.

The other thing that must be stated is that helmet testing will be extremely position and rider dependent. Head above shoulders and looking straight ahead vs head tucked in and looking 45 degree, helmet size vs shoulder width, etc.

[GaBa]

Nice result for the Procen w/visor. The Evade continues to be generally fast generation after generation while the Eclipse, Cadence, RCR and Trek helmets put in a good showing too. The only irony here is that the Velocis worked just about as well as the Ballista with this protocol. Basically pick whatever helmet fits best.

Looks like they also tested the new unreleased Kask, but can’t report their findings.

Yeah, it's a weird looking lid but at least it works.

Apart from that, it's a very clustered set of results - the Evade indeed is the one that really stands out given that it's a fairly normal looking and well ventilated helmet.

The other thing that must be stated is that helmet testing will be extremely position and rider dependent. Head above shoulders and looking straight ahead vs head tucked in and looking 45 degree, helmet size vs shoulder width, etc.

Do you think Evade is much better ventilated than Procen Air? It is true that while looking a bit out of place taking Procen Air into the mountains that is not the case with Evade (in my opinion at least). But if they are equally well ventilated, then one might as well go with Procen Air? To me it does not look as an all-rounder though. But I like its looks quite a lot.

[TheBelgian]

Yeah, it's a weird looking lid but at least it works.

Would never wear it unless on a TT bike, TBH.

Apart from that, it's a very clustered set of results - the Evade indeed is the one that really stands out given that it's a fairly normal looking and well ventilated helmet.

Did you check the Scott one?

[cleanneon98]

Nice to see the Velocis I use is not far behind the Ballista at all

[tymon_tm]

Gamechanger's result is disappointing... first gen. had the best numbers amongst non-TT helmets, the new one's just, well, average

[gloscherrybomb]

Van Rysel faster than a Kask Utopia

[Lina]

Nice result for the Procen w/visor. The Evade continues to be generally fast generation after generation while the Eclipse, Cadence, RCR and Trek helmets put in a good showing too. The only irony here is that the Velocis worked just about as well as the Ballista with this protocol. Basically pick whatever helmet fits best.

Looks like they also tested the new unreleased Kask, but can’t report their findings.

Yeah, it's a weird looking lid but at least it works.

Apart from that, it's a very clustered set of results - the Evade indeed is the one that really stands out given that it's a fairly normal looking and well ventilated helmet.

The other thing that must be stated is that helmet testing will be extremely position and rider dependent. Head above shoulders and looking straight ahead vs head tucked in and looking 45 degree, helmet size vs shoulder width, etc.

Do you think Evade is much better ventilated than Procen Air? It is true that while looking a bit out of place taking Procen Air into the mountains that is not the case with Evade (in my opinion at least). But if they are equally well ventilated, then one might as well go with Procen Air? To me it does not look as an all-rounder though. But I like its looks quite a lot.

All of the visored helmets I've riddern have been ovens in mountains. If you have the visor on you get no airflow on the upper part of your face. The Procen stores the visor behind the helmet if you want to take it off for climbs which is better than what Giro for example has done with their visors where the visor not in use blocks all airflow into the helmet. So it might be that they've taken cooling in the mountains also into account. Also another problem with visor helmets is sweat on the visor. Not that big of an issue but every single drop of sweat will drop onto the visor.

All that said I'm still intrigued by the Procen Air. Not that my Evade II is bad in some way. But if the claims of being quieter are true then I'd use it just for that reason alone. My main complaint with helmets is the noise. If I can get a quieter helmet that's also more aero I'll wear it on a road bike with no shame.

[robeambro]

Maybe it's me, but I'm a tad disappointed by the Procen. Like, it's a good result, but from the looks you'd expect a much higher saving rather than less than 2w vs Evade, less than 3w vs Eclipse..

Yes, in a sprint it'll probably become a massive advantage (in theory), but I would wager that for some, the lack of cooling may end up resulting in overheating (let's wait and see how many EF riders use it in warmer races). If one either races crits, or races TTs and doesn't want to buy a specific helmet, then this is a great helmet, otherwise I'm not sure the gains are worth the potential trade-offs (looks and heat management).

[rowdyyy]

As mentioned in many interviews the Procen starts to shine from 55 kph onwards. The tested 40 kph are just to slow to reveal a bigger difference.