Bontrager Velocis MIPS Helmet

The Bontrager Velocis MIPS road bike helmet is reckoned to pair pro peloton performance with all-day riding comfort, which seems like a strange remark given that stage races commonly last a day. That said, it's a really well made and very airy helmet, which is fast becoming a favourite.

As I'd expect from Bontrager and this price point, the Velocis is very well finished, with some lovely detailing. The in-mould construction, where EPS liner and polycarbonate shell are fused together simultaneously, saving weight and improving strength, is top notch. Regular readers will know that one of my bugbears is where the EPS liner is exposed, leaving it vulnerable to damage. The Velocis shell looks as if it's been drizzled over and baked on – beautifully executed.

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Large vents bode well for airflow and the design allows easy exit for pony tails. These will also entertain LEDs, so long as their rubberised straps/O-rings have sufficient give, which comes in handy for winter and night riding. The relatively flat top and graceful side profiles are also surprisingly accommodating of some action cameras, assuming you don't mind the Teletubby aesthetic.

MIPS (Multi directional impact protection) is essentially an internal 'roll cage' that protects the brain from twisting forces during a crash. This is another technology creeping into helmets from around the £80 price point. Bereft of laboratory testing facilities, it's impossible for me to make qualified comment on whether higher end versions are genuinely more effective, but the Bontrager's looks and feels very precise.

There's also a crash replacement warranty, covering the first 12 months. Ideally we'd dodge this bullet, but if you do have a nasty spill during this period you'll get a replacement, free of charge.

'Visibility' yellow is great for the murkier months but if it's not your bag, there are black, red and white alternatives. Bontrager also provides stickers, should you fancy decorating yours. The glossy shell is extremely easy to live with; periodic squirts of beeswax furniture polish and lint-free-cloth buff-ups are all that's needed here.

Setting up the helmet is beautifully simple, and it adjusts via the Boa system: a sleek, knurled thumbwheel, conducive to minute tweaks and at speed. It also makes it simple to accommodate a cap or similar headwear, though the Velocis does come with a 'NeoVisor'. This slots between the pads and shell, supposedly offering the benefits of a cap without the bulk.

I can see the logic, except sometimes caps are used to protect against cold, wet stuff, not just the sun. Talking of sun, though, there's also a sunglasses port for easy storage, say when things turn cloudy during a ride.

Performance

I was expecting very special and the Velocis didn't disappoint. Devoid of wind tunnel testing, I'll have to take claims of improved aerodynamics at face value. Subjectively, I've been less conscious of this lid than other mid to upper end models after 70 miles, especially riding my tubby tourer, which has a more upright stance.

The MIPS cradle caresses the head securely without feeling intrusive, and the ventilation is genuinely superb. Most lids scoop decent amounts of cooling air through the follicles, the Velocis feels like it rams it in – brilliant on a muggy day, even when grinding up the climbs, though almost too efficient at times, inducing some rather painful 'ice cream' headaches when temperatures dropped 15 or 16 degrees. I might have expected this when hurtling downhill on a cool autumn morning, but not cruising along the flat at 18mph. Stuff a Buff or cap in your jersey pocket during cooler periods, just in case!

The shallow clip-in peak sits just the right side of unobtrusive, offering decent protection from unexpected sunlight, dust from fields and similar airborne particulates. Like any traditional cycling cap, the brim will eventually turn soggy after an hour's persistent rainfall, but it dries in similar time at room temperature and isn't something I've been negatively aware of.

Wind roar, though obvious on very blustery outings, never becomes intrusive, hampering group conversation or general road awareness.

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Over the years, I've tended to find pads – even the anti-bacterial type – much of a muchness, but the 37.5 pads seem genuinely better than most. They guzzle that rider-generated coolant efficiently, and to date aren't emitting any funky odours.

While not a trail lid, in this mode and zipping along forest trails on my 'crosser it's offered surprisingly good defence from vigilante branches, thorns and other unruly foliage.

Conclusion

There's no doubting the pedigree of this helmet and it would be high on my list were I regularly riding on the Continent or further afield – at home, the NeoVisor is unlikely to spell the end of caps/similar headwear, especially during the cooler months. Aside from being airy and secure, it feels lighter than 279g would suggest, and the detailing is top notch. An excellent helmet deserving of its price tag.

Verdict

High quality helmet with excellent features, and one of the best ventilated I've used