Limar 555 Road Helmet

The Limar 555 helmet offers a decent blend of comfort and performance. It’s the sort of lid that’s inexpensive enough for everyday, general riding, yet light and airy enough for training and maybe more competitive riding too.

There’s a lot of choice at this price point, which is generally good news as it means you tend to get more for your money. The specification here is what I’d expect, although I was pleasantly surprised by some subtle touches.

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Like most lids, it’s an in-mould mono-shell design, which basically means the EPS liner and polycarbonate shell are moulded together simultaneously, resulting in a lighter, theoretically stronger helmet.

Standards of construction and finish met my expectations, although I prefer shells to cover the rim. Manufacturers would argue this adds weight, but I’d rather a few grams and greater protection from everyday wear and tear, but there we are. In terms of protecting your head, it’s compliant with CE1078.

The 555 also follows a trend for fewer vents. On paper, 15 sounds firmly in commuter territory – not long ago, 22 was the going rate for racier lids – but their design here seems very efficient, and arguably more welcome during a British winter. Limar doesn’t refer to inlet and outlet ventilation but this seemed pretty consistent with those that do. Belting down a 1-in-4, tugged by a blustery wind, or winching up the other side in the blazing sun, I remained temperate.

Anti-bacterial pads are there to mop up what isn’t vented away. Limar doesn’t say whether they’re machine washable, but I took the risk and no problems thus far.

Mips technology – a cradle system designed to mimic a roll cage, theoretically protecting the head’s occipital region from the twisting forces experienced during a nasty crash – hasn’t trickled down this far, yet. Instead, Limar relies on its Competition + system which ensures a good degree of adjustability so the helmet cradles the head securely. It’s dialled in via the familiar knurled thumbwheel, intuitive to use and a cinch to set up and adjust, even at speed, so no qualms there.

It seems to me that helmets have become slightly heavier in recent years, and 300g is not that uncommon. Our large (57-62cm) came up 2g lighter than the 285g cited, which is always pleasant, and with the fitting system fine-tuned, I wasn’t conscious of it.

Some designs seem prone to wind roar, which can hamper awareness and conversation. On really blowy rides in the Limar there has been some low-level “swoosh”, requiring more focus, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Angry insect invaders can really ruin a ride, so I was pleased by the inclusion of a bug net. I like the padded chin-strap, too; even though they can turn a bit funky given a few weeks’ summer riding, they’re a small touch that can make a surprising difference on longer rides.

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Used daily for the past few weeks, the 555’s matt finish still looks good, although given a few long, wet rides it’s benefited from a quick lick of matt ‘polish’. And if matt black finishes aren’t your thing, fear not – the 555 is offered in several alternative colours.

Last but not least, there is the option of a universal aftermarket light, which sits within the thumbwheel. It looks a little dated, especially compared with integral designs such as Giant’s, but in fairness, the Giant is close to twice the Limar’s asking price. More importantly, trial and error confirmed several full-blown 20-lumen lights could be tethered to the vents, for arguably better effect.

Conclusion

The Limar 555 is very well equipped and feels very safe. Aside from my usual moan about exposed EPS rims, it’s well finished and feels comfortable and unobtrusive. It does face some strong competition – most notably from the Oxford Raven, which is a tenner cheaper and nearly 30g lighter.

But overall, the 555 is a good choice for everyday road-biased riding, whether commuting, training or even racing – though I’d spend a bit more for serious competitive duties.

Verdict

Comfortable and well designed everyday or entry-level race/training lid

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