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review

Apex City Helmet

5
£39.99

VERDICT:

5
10
Potentially excellent commuter lid spoilt by modest ventilation
Weight: 
260g

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At 260g, the Apex City helmet is a surprisingly svelte, civvies-friendly commuter lid for shorter hops at a moderate pace. However, longer, faster outings revealed that its relatively modest ventilation couldn't keep up.

Conforming to CE1078/A1 and available in a choice of graphite, white or yellow, the City's standard of in-mould construction is as tidy as we've come to expect these days, though there's an exposed expanded polystyrene liner that theoretically leaves it more vulnerable to everyday, accidental carelessness.

The Apex CIty's styling clearly takes its lead from the urban/skate/BMX school. Its angular profiles match both business and casual street clothes better than either 'Cromwell' or road racing and trail helmet designs. Its greater coverage also improves protection to the wearer's neck in the event of a spill.

Initial adjustment is s a cinch: thirty seconds or so's work thanks to the intuitive strap and oversized thumbwheel system.

An integral peak is another useful feature. The City's modest offering does a surprisingly good job of keeping wind, rain, dust and other nasty airborne particles from the eyes.

Initial impressions were favourable, then. Our medium-size sample trumps many a race lid weight-wise and I barely noticed it in cooler conditions at a leisurely 14mph and distances of three to five miles.

More is generally better when it comes to vents. With the fashion for inlet and exhaust vents, a mere 12 small slots had me worried. On the plus side, this greatly reduces the likelihood of arriving at work or social venues looking like a drowned rat.

Spirited 15 mile commutes called its bluff though and on occasion threatened to saturate the pads and boil my brains.

Summing up, the Apex City is by no means a bad choice for someone wanting a helmet that complements street clothing and who's looking to scoot a few miles round town but there are much better options for longer, faster rides.

Verdict

Potentially excellent commuter lid spoilt by modest ventilation

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Apex City Helmet

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Apex city helmet seems to be aimed at commuter/utility/leisure audiences and complements street attire better than most-if that's important to you.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

IN MOULDED COVER

DIAL FIT HEADING RETENTION SYSTEM

BLACK EPS LINER WITH SEALED PADS

10 VENTS

CONFORMS TO EN1078 SAFETY STANDARD

SIZES: M (54 - 58CM) & L (58 - 62CM)

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
5/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Very light for a lid of this genre.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
5/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall, this is a stylish, lightweight and in many respects likeable helmet for commuting/utility riding spoilt by modest ventilation.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Lightweight and complements street attire well.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Ventilation too modest for speedier/longer commutes.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? On balance probably not.

Overall rating: 5/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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