SH+ Shabli

SH+ is an Italian helmet manufacturing specialist with over 30 years' experience, and this £99 Shabli is its top-end road helmet. It's a comfortable enough lid, but the one-size-fits-all approach means some people at the extremes of the 55-60cm size range might struggle with the fit.

Provided you fall neatly into the size range, though, you'll find it's a reasonably comfortable helmet. I must be at the larger end of the range as I only needed a couple of clicks of the rotary retention dial to get a secure fit.

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> Buy this online here

I found it a close-fitting helmet but it didn't prove uncomfortable, and you soon forget you're wearing it. It doesn't allow much space for an, obligatory for me at this time of year, skull hat or cycling cap to be worn underneath.

There's generous padding lining the inside of the helmet, and the chin strap padding ensures no irritation under the chin.

The retention system comprises a large rotary dial that's easy to operate with winter gloves when on the move. There's vertical adjustment too, by clipping the retention cradle into one of the two available holes at the side.

You get enough vents to ensure that it both looks like a more expensive helmet and keeps your head cool. Regarding safety, the helmet complies with the EN1078 standard and is manufactured in Italy.

The Italian colours of this helmet will likely only appeal to fans of Italian cycling, but don't worry, there are other more muted colours available – the website lists 14 different options, so there's something for all tastes. (The buying link above is for a red/white helmet.)

> Check out our guide to the best cheap cycling helmets here

With so much quality now available for under £100, and even less, it's getting difficult to justify spending £200 or more on a top-end cycling helmet. Weight can be a drawback, but here the Shabli really impresses at 222g, which is comparable with helmets costing a lot more – such as the Lazer Z1, twice the price but 238g.

So if you want a light, comfortable and well-ventilated helmet and you've fixed your budget at £100, this is worth a closer look [if you can find it at RRP – our search brought one up at £110]. Provided you fall within the size range, the SH+ Shabli is a comfortable and easily adjusted helmet with good ventilation, in a large range of colours to suit all tastes.

Verdict

Light helmet for the money, but one-size-fits-all might-not-suit-all