Catlike Vacuum

giant_man
giant_man Posts: 6,878
edited April 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi - thinking of a new helmet for the summer and noticed the Catlike Vacuum for about 80 quid.

Anyone got one and if so, any good? Thanks

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    I'm sure it will be great, Catlike are a reputable brand.

    I just chose my helmet on looks...
  • djb1971
    djb1971 Posts: 565
    Not much help on the vacuum but if you can try it on. I find Catlike helmets an odd size fit from other manufacturers.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I used to like Catlike Helmets. I had a Catlike Whisper which fitted amazingly well, often felt like I didn't have a helmet on my head, but unfortunately I crashed in February whacking the helmet pretty hard, so I ordered the Catlike Whisper Plus in the same size as a quick replacement.

    But it's a totally different helmet - it's smaller, polystyrene, no where near the same quality as the Whisper I broke. It leaves red marks on forehead, and is pretty annoying. I thought I'd found a helmet that fitted perfectly, but they went and screwed the design up, as soon as I have money again I'm going to have to go hunting for a helmet that fit's well again (perhaps the Spesh 2D)
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Forgot to say, try them on before poichasing, I ensured the one I liked the look of fitted well before buying it!
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    I have a Catlike Kompact Pro 2008 model and it is excellent! It is really light and well built and it does indeed cool your head pretty well. Looks good IMO too. Bought it for £50 last year so can’t complain. I like the Whisper Plus (as wore by Euskaltel Euskadi, Cervelo Test Team and Julian Ablason) but it is a bit too pricey for my liking – I have seen it around and it does indeed look good (better than mine ).

    It is made of polystyrene but the quality of it is much better than their equivalent Bell or Giro equivalents I have found, seems much more compact and moulded. They are indeed a bit smaller than normal but again, I have got a large and fits me like a glove (better than the old Bell I crashed!).
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  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I have a couple of Catlikes - I like the fact that they feel they sit over your head, rather than on top of it, unlike a couple of major brands. I've also gone off Giro due to a couple of quality / warranty problems. I'm not sure that there's any difference between the Whisper and the Whisper plus apart from the name.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • akkers
    akkers Posts: 140
    I also like the Catlike Whisper. Im currently using a Giro Ionos but thinking of changing to the Whisper having tried one on in Condors a couple of months ago.

    But does anyone know of anywhere that stocks them? They seem elusive to find unless you go for the nasty Euskatel colour?
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Depends where you are of course, but there are a few dealers in the UK.

    Best thing is to give the distributors Nemesis Active a ring, 01870 777 5530. Their web site is down at present.
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    Prendas.co.uk has got the Whisper Plus in white and the Vacuum an Kompact Pro.
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
    Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
    Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
    Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Akkers, Cervelo Test Team use them in a less glaring hue, I'm sure a version will be out soon...
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Monty Dog wrote:
    I'm not sure that there's any difference between the Whisper and the Whisper plus apart from the name.

    There's a massive difference between them. I've got a Medium Whisper, and a Medium Whisper Plus. The Plus has loads more material - with the original I couldn't see the helmet when it was on my head, but with the Plus the polystyrene is miles thicker at the front so I can see it.

    The Plus is also a far smaller fit, even though they are both supposed to be the same size.
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