Giro Quarter helmet

The Giro Quarter is a good option for a range of riding. It's primarily marketed by Giro as a mountain bike/jump helmet (as you can see here) but it's a useful lid for city cycling too, especially if you're on an e-bike (or it's flat round your way) and you're not working up much of a sweat.

• Pros: Good coverage, pretty comfortable
• Cons: You'll get sweaty if you ride too hard

Construction-wise there's an ABS shell and an EPS liner, with a polyurethane coating on the exposed bits to protect it from damage. Eight vents let a bit of air circulate. The straps are riveted onto the outer shell, and there are two sets of pads to adjust the fit; three sizes are available. You should be able to dial in a decent fit, although it's not as adjustable as a road lid, for example.

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The white lid we had was a bit prone to picking up marks; one of the darker colours (six colours are available) would probably be a better option.

In use, the Quarter is pretty comfy. It extends a fair way down at the back and the pads do a good job of keeping it in place in the absence of any formal retention system. Other than the straps, or course.

The two air vents at the front do let in a bit of breeze when you're riding at a cruising pace, and there are four vents in the top to allow rising hot air out, and two at the back too.

Obviously it's not the breeziest of lids and if you're working hard you'll soon get a bit of sweat build up, especially in the front pad. But if you're cruising around town, or you're on an e-bike and not working that hard, you'll stay cool and comfortable. On the flip side, it's warm enough for cold weather and offers plenty of head protection if it's raining too.

It's very good value at £35, but you can go cheaper: B'Twin's 500 road helmet, for example, is £29.99 (and its 500 mountain bike lid is just £17.99). Have a look at more in our buyer's guide, linked below.

> Buyer's Guide: 8 of the best cheap cycling helmets

At 425g the Quarter isn't as light as a road helmet (the B'Twin 500 mentioned above is a claimed 270g) but it doesn't feel like too much of a burden. It's a good option if you're looking for something that doesn't look too sporty for city riding. Or if you want to go jumping down the woods.

Verdict

Good option for leisurely city riding. And dirt jumping