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review

Limar Ultralight+ helmet

9
£89.37

VERDICT:

9
10
A lightweight, very comfortable helmet with enough features to justify its price tag
Weight: 
215g
Contact: 
www.todayscyclist.co.uk

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Limar's Ultralight helmet range contains a mixture of road and MTB lids under the title 'The world's lightest helmet' and with the Ultralight Road coming in at just 160g (medium) that could well be true.

The one we're looking at here though is the Ultralight+, still light at 175g (medium) but this has an extra fairing at the rear to aid air flow through the rear compared to the standard Ultralight. It also makes the '+' look a bit more aggressive if you like that sort of thing.

Manufacturing starts with the in mould construction, the foam interior is 'blown in' to the hard shell while it is still in the mould rather than taped or glued in, effectively creating a single construction which allows 22 vents to get the ventilation up while keeping the weight down.

Getting the right fit is a simple procedure whether pre-ride or on the fly; a quick twist of the dial to adjust the cage round your noggin and then quick release cam dividers allow you to tweak the clearance around your ears.

The pads are removable for washing and are also anti bacterial cutting down on whiffy helmet syndrome. Bug mesh is added as part of the in moulding process for the frontal vents, plus included in the box is a padded section for the rear if you want all over protection.

All good so far but nothing really groundbreaking compared to other helmets in the £130 price range (although we've found the Limar cheaper online), so it all comes down to how it feels on your head. The only issue there, you can't actually feel it on your head it's so light and comfortable. I probably only wear a helmet 50% of the time, mostly as I don't enjoy the feeling of having something strapped to my head but with the Limar I was happy to ride for hours with it on. The pads have plenty of cushioning and once the dial is tightened they spread the load well without any pressure points and the padded chinstrap is a nice touch as well.

The three large front vents really scoop the air in over your forehead keeping you cool at speed but even when things get warm on the climbs the sheer number of vents stop any excessive heat build up. The shape of the shell itself is quite shallow, starting quite high up the side of your head - which does at least allow plenty of room for the arms of your sunglasses between helmet and ears.

The Limar is tested to CE EN 1078 so you should be protected to the same level as pretty much every other helmet on the European market. If you do deck it, there is a 50% crash replacement policy (providing you register the helmet within 8 days of purchase) as long as the helmet is less than 3 years old.

Now a hundred and thirty quid is a lot of money for a lump of polystyrene whichever way you look at it but comparing the Ultralight+ to its competitors, it's worth it for both the low weight and comfort.

It is one of the most comfortable helmets I've worn. It's a viable alternative to Giro's Prolight and a choice of five colours and two sizes (M, 53-57cm & L, 57-61cm) should see plenty of options for most people. If you're in the market for a lightweight lid the Ultralight+ is worth considering.

Verdict

A lightweight, very comfortable helmet with enough features to justify its price tag.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Limar Ultralight+ helmet

Size tested: Medium, Silver

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 Ultralight range is Limar's top end and is aimed at the racing end of the market.

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

In mould construction containing 22 vents with removeable pads.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Looks well put together.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Good venting, lightweight and comfortable.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

It looks to be holding up fine around the clamps and straps.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
10/10

One of the lightest out there.

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

very, very comfortable.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

I think the price reflects the performance against its opposition.

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

Very well, it ticks all the boxes for what a helmet should provide - admittedly I didn't crash test it though.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The price is possibly the only small sticking point,

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? No, the price is too high for what I'd pay for a helmet.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 180cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Ribble Gran Fondo

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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2 comments

Avatar
belgravedave | 11 years ago
0 likes

Have this new ultralight and the old one and as far as I'm concerned the oldie is better. The whole low profile minimalist/racer X look has been lost with no real improvement in cooling. As other companies are finally going for the low pro look Limar seem to be going the wrong way. Save yourself a load of cash and go for the original which is still excellent.

Avatar
ArAr | 11 years ago
0 likes

I own one for some years now (claimed weight 200g for L size) and it is a great helmet. Almost as light as a hat but much more airy. The front pads which absorb most of the sweat wear out but Limar sent me a new set of pads. You can sew them around to increase their life. Fellow cyclists favourite also.

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