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review

HJC Furion helmet

8
£149.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Awesome looking, very comfortable aero helmet that might be too hot for some
Weight: 
217g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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HJC has created the Furion using its knowledge of motorcycling race helmets and its very own wind tunnel to perfect the aerodynamics and ventilation. We can't measure one of those and the other isn't all that great, but what I can tell you is that this is one very cleverly made, comfortable skid lid.

  • Pros: Comfort, clever internal skeleton, good price for an aero helmet
  • Cons: Not the best airflow

First off, I like the look of the Furion – which is probably the main reason any of us choose a helmet in the first place, followed closely by budget, another place where the HJC impresses.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Aero helmets are inherently expensive, and at £149.99 the Furion could be considered good value for money against the opposition. It's £30 less than the recently tested Abus GameChanger at £179.99, and cheaper still than others: the Smith Overtake at £220, Uvex EDAero (£189.99) and the Giro Vanquish (£239), although you do get a visor with that one.

It's no good being cheapest if that compromises performance, but the Furion delivers in most areas, if not all.

hjc_furion_helmet_-_front.jpg

Weight-wise this M/L (57/59cm) model measures 215g on the road.cc Scales of Truth, which is competitive against others in its field. It certainly doesn't feel heavy on the head.

Helmets, like saddles, are very rider-specific. What suits some people can be an absolute bane for others, but I found the Furion to be very comfortable indeed. It's more of an oval shape than round, like some, with the cradle inside starting just back from the temples, so as you adjust it for size you have quite a lot of this matching the shape of your bonce too.

hjc_furion_helmet_-_inside.jpg

The pads HJC provides are soft without being squishy, so they don't flatten out when you put on the helmet, plus they incorporate silver chloride particles, a natural ingredient which has the capabilities to eliminate bacteria and fungi. I've had quite a few sweaty miles in the Furion and I can safely say it ain't whiffing yet.

The reason for all of those sweaty miles is the fact that the ventilation isn't that great. It's better than wearing a full-on time trial helmet but it is noticeably warmer than my benchmark, the Met Manta, which is still my go-to helmet nearly two years after testing it.

> Read more: Should you buy an aero helmet?

What I like the most about the Manta is its ventilation; it feels like it's literally sucking the air in and you feel just as cool as if you are wearing a normal vented lid. It has a similar number of vents as the HJC too.

I counted 15 vents on the Furion, which includes five at the front – three vertical and two horizontal above the forehead – but you don't really feel much from these even in cold weather. You don't feel the chill against your skin.

For removing the warm air HJC has included two scoops on the sides, one either side above the ears and two above the back of the head, followed by a cluster at the rear.

hjc_furion_helmet_-_back.jpg

According to HJC, 'In order to achieve maximum ventilation, a technical adaptation of Bernoulli's principle is applied to aerodynamically enhanced models. In motion, the rate of surface flow in general increases towards the rear progression. Through pressure differences, cool air from the frontal intake is exhausted through the rear vent for internal heat dissipation, giving the cyclist optimum ventilation while riding.'

As the weather has warmed up I haven't felt like I'm in a sweatbox, but I haven't felt exactly cool or refreshed either.

Safely say...

When it comes to safety, the Furion has a CE EN 1078 certificate to allow its sale in Europe, and a KC one for its native country of Korea.

Secondary impacts are always a concern in crashes, and while the EPS (expanded polystyrene) is moulded to the outer shell to try to keep the helmet intact after the initial blow, it can't be guaranteed. HJC has incorporated an internal skeleton which criss-crosses its way around and over the helmet to help keep it all intact.

hjc_furion_helmet_-_top.jpg

Overall, I really like the HJC Furion. It's a well-designed helmet with great comfort and weight, at a decent price, but while its venting isn't exactly bad, it's not as good as some of the others out there. It comes in about seven different colours too, if this one doesn't grab you.

Verdict

Awesome looking, very comfortable aero helmet that might be too hot for some

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road.cc test report

Make and model: HJC Furion

Size tested: Medium/large

Tell us what the product is for

HJC says, "Helmet FURION is built from motocycle helmet design experience. Helmet like FURION has integrated with Venturi Dynamics to balance the air resistant force with exhaust ventilation function. Furion is aerodynamic enriched conceptual design that gives optimal ride, strengthening the speed and air flow."

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

HJC lists:

Wind Tunnel Tested

Aerodynamic Design

Reinforcement Structure

In-Mold Construction

Advanced Air Channel System

Venturi Dynamics

3D fit system

15 Ventilations

Super Lightweight 190g

Polygiene

CE EN 1078 Certificate

KC Certificate

XS / S54-56 cm21.2-22'

M / L57-59 cm22.4-23.2'

XL / XXL60-63 cm23.6-24.8'

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

A bit on the warm side but other than that it's a great helmet.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and looks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Ventilation not as great as some.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, for cooler days.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Aero helmets often sacrifice venting and many would say that the Furion is totally acceptable, but I know there are others out there like the Met Manta that perform better. The HJC is cheaper, though, looks cool and is lighter than most with great comfort levels.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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1 comments

Avatar
STATO | 5 years ago
0 likes

As stated in the article fit is a personal thing. I tried a Furion recently and it was miles off fitting me, HOWEVER, i did also try the HJC Ibex and its the best fitting helmet ive found yet!  So even in the same brand fit is different.

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