HJC Ibex 3

The HJC Ibex 3 is a comfortable, well-vented helmet that wraps quite deeply around your head for a palpable sense of protection. It’s very adjustable, and the finishing is impressive all over, though if you like a featherlight sliver perched high on your head – or something cheap – this isn’t for you.

While the looks here are subjective – by which I mean I like them and you’re wrong – anybody peering closer at the Ibex 3 has to agree that it’s very nicely made. Every component is well-styled, the materials are top-notch, the joins are extremely crisp and all its various surfaces feel plush. There are no rough edges or ‘that’ll do’ elements to be seen.

Despite the way your head fits deep inside this, rather than the helmet perching upon you like a robin on a spade, the Ibex 3 doesn’t dip low enough to interfere with glasses. I ride with fairly large-framed prescription shades (Bolle Lightshifters) and never had any issue with the frames interfering.

At 292g it’s not the lightest lid – there are plenty in the 250-275g range – but there’s hardly more than a bag of crisps in the difference, and this never feels heavy. Given the inclusion of a rotational impact dampening system (SLID), three different adjusters for the cradle and those big slab sides, it’s also entirely reasonable.

The adjustments are comprehensive. The lower rear line adjusts fore and aft across five mounting points above your ear, while the entire rear section ratchets up and down to cup your skull to a greater or lesser degree. There’s also a micro-adjuster wheel for getting the tension just so, which is a new addition to HJC’s ‘SELFIT’ system that makes it SELFIT PRO. Presumably it was amateur before.

SELFIT simply means that, whereas most helmet bands won’t budge once adjusted, this one is free to expand against a spring. HJC seems to think that helmets need adjusting each and every single time you put them on – even after a cafe stop – and that this springy strap solves that. Personally I don’t find that true, and beyond getting a severe haircut or adding a hat, for me they’re set and forget. Also personally I wonder how a strap that expands easily to come off your head doesn’t affect safety in a crash.

But then, what do I know? HJC is a long-established maker of serious helmets – from MotoGP to F1 to the Tour de France – and I’m just this devastatingly successful yet humble adonis. So it’s safe to assume it doesn’t work the way I think… except for the cafe thing, as even the biggest cakes don’t instantly make your head fat, and lord knows I’ve researched it.

In normal use, this cradle feels just like a regular one, and once adjusted it sits comfortably and reassuringly securely. I never found myself tipping the helmet up or down because it had crept out of position the way some can. I’d say it will suit those with rounder heads best, as I can feel a little extra forehead pressure in the centre of my narrower headbone, but it’s marginal. Importantly, I could still find a comfy fit here, whereas I find strongly rounded helmets pretty much unwearable.

Should you want more pizzaz – should I say ‘rizz’? – for your £250, there are eight other colours, several of which pick out various sections in a second or third colour. They’re pretty striking. News just in: I am over 50 and should not say ‘rizz’.

The 18 vents work well, at least as far as I could tell during a wet, cold and windy test period where I didn’t want much cooling anyway. It’s not the airiest helmet ever thanks to the substantial sides/top and enveloping fit, but it was still a long way from getting hot or stuffy even on milder rides and long climbs with me still wearing a hat beneath.

The logo on the adjuster and the bars on the straps are reflective, by the way, for a bit of extra visibility.

The Ibex 3 comes with a spare set of pads for the day your cake-inflated bonce finally crushes the originals into salt crackers, and a soft helmet bag. The world is full of ‘free’ helmet bags and I’ve never found use for a single one. Here’s another.

Value

At £249.99, this is at the top end of the market, which means it’s competing with the very best. The ‘road.cc recommended’ Met Trenta Mips scored 9/10, for instance, thanks to its low-profile fit and useable balance of aero and cooling. It’s £20 cheaper at £229.99.

The Uvex Surge Aero Mips also got 9/10 and an official recommendation; it’s a pro-level lid with fantastic ventilation, rotational impact protection and an aero cover. It’s also a bit cheaper at £219.99.

At the other end of the market – near the trailer selling tea like molten lead and burgers with hoof in them – you can get a well-ventilated, Mips-equipped helmet like the Van Rysel Road Bike Helmet RCR MIPS for £79.99. The Van Rysel even competes on weight, being slightly lighter at 279g.

This isn’t to say the Ibex 3 is especially pricey – witness the Poc Procen Air helmet at a chunky £370 – but it does mean you can expect to find no real issues with it at all.

For more options, check out our best cycling helmets buyer’s guide.

Overall

I found no real issues with this at all. It’s comfortable, ventilates well and has a lovely crisp construction that makes you feel better about the price. You can get lighter and less enveloping designs, but if you’re after a cosseting and high-quality feel this is a great choice.

Verdict

Well-specced and well-made lid with a reassuringly deep and secure fit

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