by Lars Hundley
I’ve been riding the new Bontrager road aero XXX helmet with WaveCel technology for several weeks now, after purchasing it at full retail price at a local bike shop. Here are my first impressions of the helmet.
The reason I chose this helmet specifically is that I had been shopping for a road aero helmet for several months already, and was only considering the safest rated models that were MIPS certified. Safety is the most important aspect of a helmet to me, and that is how I choose them. I was riding a POC MIPS standard road helmet for the last several years, which I have been very happy with.
When I saw that Trek was claiming that WaveCel helmets were 48 times more effective in preventing concussion and had tests from Virginia Tech’s third party testing facility to prove it, I decided that this would be the road aero helmet for me. Even if Trek is exaggerating its safety claims, I wanted to support a new technology and competitor to MIPS, which would only drive further improvements in helmet safety through increased competition.
The MIPS organization is already arguing that WaveCel can’t be as good as Trek claims, which tells me that they are paying attention and won’t be able to remain complacent with current designs. This is good news for all of us, because I believe it will drive more advances with bike helmet safety tech.
First Impressions
The helmet is easily adjustable, with a Boa knob that allows you to quickly tighten or loosen the way it fits your head. I wore a medium, which fit similarly to other medium helmets I have worn in the past. When I tried it on in the bike shop, fit perfectly.
On the first ride with the helmet, however, I quickly saw some issues that I hadn’t noticed in the bike shop.
First, it felt like the front of the helmet came down much further over my forehead than my POC helmet, to the point where my visibility was not as good. It wasn’t a deal killer, but I could tell the difference. I’ve been compensating for this by slightly changing the angle and tightening with the Boa knob, which brings the front edge up a little bit so that I don’t notice the helmet line above my glasses anymore.
Second, the helmet is hot. My first ride was a sunny afternoon with very nice 78 degree weather, and my head was noticeably warm and very sweaty compared to my POC. But here’s the question I can’t answer, since this is my first road aero helmet. Are all road aero helmets noticeably hotter because of the aero designs and reduced venting? Or is the XXX hotter than a regular aero road helmet? I don’t know the answer.
So far, the helmet is not so hot that I can’t deal with it. It’s just the first time I’ve even noticed a hot helmet in many, many years, because all my previous standard helmets had very good ventilation. We’ll see what happens as the Texas summer arrives, and if it’s still a reasonable choice all year for people like me who live in hot climates.
Already a Price Cut? What’s Up with That?
I bought my helmet days after the initial announcement. The XXX was priced at $299, which is far more than I’ve ever spent on a helmet before. But as I checked the Trek web site to look up some details about the helmet to write this article, I noticed that they have already dropped the price to $239. I feel a little bit cheated, as if they never really intended to sell it at the $299 price and took advantage of the early adopters who rushed to buy one like I did. The $239 price is much more reasonable, and I wish I had gotten that price.
Trek offers a helmet return policy, but I feel that it would be taking advantage of my local bike shop to do that. I’d rather the bike shop have the extra money than force them to take any loss instead of me. Returning it over a price change didn’t feel reasonable, when I intend to keep the helmet.
UPDATE: A commenter pointed out that the Trek Spring Sale is going on, and this is the reason for the price break. So it turns out that it’s just a good deal right now if you want to buy this helmet and this price is not the new price.
It’s Expensive and Hot, But Is it Fast?
I have ridden the helmet on one fast group ride so far. Although maybe it’s placebo, I felt that the helmet was noticeably faster when the speeds picked up. Supposedly, a road aero helmet saves you somewhere around 10 watts when you hit 25 mph, which can be the difference between riding over the limit and blowing up or hanging on when the pace gets fast.
If I had not been specifically shopping for a road aero helmet, I think I would have probably chosen the considerably cheaper $150 (selling for $119 right now on the Trek site) Bontrager Specter helmet, which has the same WaveCel technology.
I’d really like to try a Specter for a few rides to see if the ventilation is good for that helmet, or if WaveCel means that your helmet is going to be hotter, period. If anyone is riding the Specter, let us know in the comments what you think about ventilation so far!
There is another issue – it is heavy (roughly 1.5 times heavier than my current C-Bolt). For me such weight is intolerable as my neck start to hart immensely.
I bought the less expensive version for $150. I agree that it is both heavy, and especially front heavy. I have adjusted it as much as it would allow to stay up on my forehead, but it constantly hits my glasses after a minute or two of riding. Buy a MIPS helmet that is lighter and more comfortable instead.
I have the specter and love it. It is cooler than my Smith helmet with Koroyd. The fit is good and I don’t have any issues with it being too low on my forehead. I especially like the magnetic latch.
Initially specter helmet set too far forward and hit glasses. Took it back to the bike shop and found out there is a tilt adjustment underneath the rear pads. Also, shortened the rear helmet straps by opening the clip where the straps meet on each side of the helmet. This solved the problem for my noggin.
Terrific tip! I’m going to check my XXX and see if it has a similar tilt adjustment.
Thanks for mentioning it.
Trek Fest sale 4-15 April, 20% off Bontrager products
I bought a Spectre Wavecell helmet, but found that the ventilation is not as good as my current Giro helmet.
I live in Florida and it gets very hot here. So I am going to return it.
Just got my Wavecell helmet last month. Personally I’m please with the ventilation, but I have an issue with size. Thanks to my Dad’s family I have a large size head. Got the large helmet and it barely fits. Have maybe one or two clicks and it’s tight. Any thought to making an XL helmet?
Bought the Spector, very heavy and Hot. Took it back and bought a Giro Synthe MIPS, I’m very happy with the Giro!
Recently needed to replace a damaged helmet. Not a fan of spending big bucks on a helmet when there seem to be many good ones in the range of $100 or less. Bought the Spector and had the same initial problem with tilting forward. Adjusting the strap in the back (under the pads) solved that problem. Previously used a very light weight Limar and a Giro Aero (not so light). Haven’t noticed any real difference when riding. I am not particularly sensitive to heat, but have not found it to be hotter than a helmet with a bug mesh (wavecel provides bug protection). I ride 10 to 15 hours weekly year-round in Chicago. At a price point of approximately $150, I have found this helmet to be an exceptional bargain without compromising safety and comfort.
I really wanted to like this helmet when I bought it. But, after several rides I have noticed that the straps loosen over the duration of the ride. So much, that at nearly every stop, I have to pull the strap to re-tighten. I have never had this happen to me with any other bike helmet. I bought 2 of them, and this happens with each one. I not only find this annoying, but to me I think it may be unsafe. I will be returning the helmets and getting a helmet with MIPS and straps that don’t loosen as I ride.
I’m having the same problem. I just bought this helmet in November and The straps are loose within 5 minutes. It sucks.
In addition, that expensive light I bought for it falls off if you breath on it. We started super gluing it to the helmet, and it still won’t stay.
Other than the fact that the straps and lights don’t work, it’s great!
I succumbed to the published hype and bought the Bontrager XXX WaveCell. Like others, I wanted to like it. Between adverse weather and virus, I went over the 30 day return window, so am stuck with this thing. It is heavy. It is hot and it does sit way too low in the front. I did find the adjustment, in the top of the helmet, under the pads, that another reviewer mentioned. It did help, a little. But, it still rides low, but is tolerable. However, with a Trek Madone and Emonda, with the H2 geometry, I am forced to crank my neck to an awkward angle, to get a clear view under the front edge, especially when going uphill. That, and the weight, result in head and neck ache after about 25 miles. I do really like the Velocis, but I cannot recommend the XXX WaveCell.