Throughout the year, Gear Institute faculty field tested and reviewed scores of helmets and helmet accessories. From those, we’ve rounded up the Best in Class in a helmets and helmet cams.
Giro Aeon Bike Helmet
With a near-perfect score of 98 out of 100, this A+ road cycling helmet proffers the best fit, protection, comfort, and ventilation of all the models we wore this year. The lightweight shell—a mold of polystyrene and polycarbonate—affords strength without added weight, and it’s so airy that the helmet literally disappears at certain angles when you look down at your shadow. Read full review here.
GoPro Hero 3 Helmet Cam
One of the first, and still the reigning king of POV cameras, the latest GoPro provides pure and excellent video clarity with a ton of settings and mounting options. Footage can be recorded from WVGA all the way up to 4K–the highest resolution available in a POV cam when we tested, and this new edition also boasts a more streamlined body and a longer battery life. Read full review here.
Trango Zenith Climbing Helmet
Lightweight, with easy adjustments and thorough protection, the Zenith qualifies as the go-to helmet for rock and ice—but its low cost (the least expensive of the foam lids we tested) also makes it a tempting choice for our Best Value category. Consider that a double blessing. The nine generously shaped holes provide good breathability, and it weighed in at a feathery 9.3 ounces. Read full review here.
