The new helmets from Bontrager have arrived in store. You might have seen our Instagram or Facebook stories on them and what they look like. However we all know that looks can be deceiving so we brought them out for a test ride to see how they actually perform. But before we go and tell you our experience, let’s breakdown the new changes to the models starting with the Velocis.
New Velocis MIPS Air
New Ballista MIPS Air
Weighing only 260g’s, The Velocis is now Trek’s Lightest Road helmet. And boy has it had a bit of a redesign to its predecessor. From the unboxing you can instantly feel the difference.
When we first unboxed the helmet, we instantly noticed that the tag was heavier than the helmet itself. If you compare the old model to the new one, you can see where Trek have made these weight saving changes.
Starting off with the shape of the helmet, Trek have slimmed down the design. Keeping things more tight, aero and lightweight. They’ve replaced the traditional wire or nylon skeleton with an OCLV Carbon that has been developed through computational fluid dynamic Modelling and wind tunnel tests.
New design using OCLV Carbon Structure
Old design using a traditional nylon skeleton
With an addition of the lightweight MIPS Air, the helmet’s safety system helps reduce rotational forces during a crash that can usually lead to a concussion. The helmet has earned a 5 star rating from Virginia Tech, the leading helmet testing company at the moment.
Trek have focused on making the helmet more ventilated allowing for a 38% cooler ride whilst making it more aero. Thanks to the BOA system, the Velocis is one of the most adjustable helmets on the market, catering to pretty much all head shapes and sizes.
It’s great! We rode out on a usual route aimed at setting some new PB’s so you know the efforts were real and hard going. We found that the widened ventilation slots helped to really keep us cool and keep us fresh during the recovery sections. The weight of the helmet really does stand out. Wearing it almost feels like wearing a much safer and much more aero, vintage Cinelli helmet.
The adjustable BOA system mixed with the MIPS padding makes for an extremely comfortable wear. At times we found ourselves questioning whether we were wearing a helmet or not. It’s a great helmet for some hot summer rides or some insanely paced road races. If you want to shave off additional grams whilst racing, this helmet is a must have for any uphill courses.
Moving onto the Ballista, which has been labelled as Trek’s fastest helmet to date. The slicker re-design is capable of helping riders save some crucial watt gains. The front three vents have been redesigned thanks to the CFD modelling, helping riders save 10.1 watts, over a bike length in a final sprint. Trek equates these gains to a 32-second advantage over an hour of riding at 300 watts.
The helmet incorporates the same MIPS Air technology used on the Velocis while also earning a 5 star rating for impact protection from Virginia Tech. Another key feature in the re-design of the helmet is the shallow trench that helps increase the pressure behind the helmet to reduce drag. The helmet is slightly heavier than the Velocis coming in at 275g. However it still makes up in the aero and speed department.
While the Velocis feels like it's not there, you can definitely notice the Ballista because of its aero design rather than weight. It serves the purpose it's designed for and that is speed. The helmet is very comfortable thanks to the BOA system and MIPS Air padding that’s also used in the Velocis. The big benefits definitely come on fast descents when you’re tucked in or in an aero position or if you can maintain a 300 watt output over an hour. (We can't so we'll stick to the descents) If you're looking at some flat stage finishes, you know you best have a helmet that will help you deliver.
