Uncomfortable Giro Helmets!

Mr Plum

I tried to take advantage of a great deal from Cycle Surgery where they're currently offering the Giro Saros helmet for half price at £45. I measured myself up and I was right on the boundary of a medium and large so I ordered the large thinking that I'd always be able to tighten it a bit...

So the large arrived and generally felt a bit awkward on my head and when tightened I could still slip my thumb up the side of the helmet near my temple despite it fitting snugly at the front and back. I decided that this was no good so I ordered the medium...

The medium arrived and just feels really uncomfortable. It fits but just feels really uncomfortable at the front as if it's digging into my forehead - the large also felt like this but it wasn't as bad.

I've just tried another Giro model (Monza) and it feels exactly the same and equally uncomfortable. The good thing about this situation is that I now know that my (odd shaped?) head isn't compatible with Giro helmets, but I'm still left with 2 helmets that don't fit and need sending back for a return.

I'm surprised that they're so uncomfortable for me as they seem like a really popular make and I've never had this problem with other brands. Has anyone else found this with Giro helmets?

londonlivvy

Yep. Me too. It transpired when I was looking that you either have a Giro shaped head, or a Specialised shaped head. Giro ones I can slide my hands by my temples when it's pressing hard front and back.

Go for a specialised and you'll be absolutely fine.

nation

Different people have different shaped heads.

Giros fit me perfectly, but I can't get Specialized helmets to fit properly, regardless of size.

It's why helmets and shoes are still things I buy in person rather than online (unless I'm getting the same size from the same manufacturer).

Andy!

try the Bell Uni-size ones as they span the medium/large cut off of Giro and normal Bell helmets.

Mr Plum

I'm using a Specialized one at the moment but it's 2 years old now and getting a bit bashed up, but it fits really well. Definitely going to try before I buy next time...

meanredspider

Yup - I'm a Giro-headed person (Spesh ones don't fit - Bell are pretty good) as the Xen fits me like a glove. That said, I tried the Ionis and didn't much like the fit.

Medders

londonlivvy wrote:

Yep. Me too. It transpired when I was looking that you either have a Giro shaped head, or a Specialised shaped head. Giro ones I can slide my hands by my temples when it's pressing hard front and back.

Go for a specialised and you'll be absolutely fine.

strangely my two favourite helmets are a spesh and a giro respectively. both fit fine. I guess my head shape must be very average.

godders1

Must be a head shape thing. I started wearing a Giro Stylus in the last couple of weeks and it's way more comfortable than the bell I was wearing before.

dilemna

Me thinks your pursuit of a bargain has clouded your primary purpose of choosing a helmet that fits properly. You can't do this shopping from a keyboard Unless of course you are buying a helmet or a pair of shoes you know will definitely fit eg replacements. But you're right, you have a weird head shape. I have a Giro Navigator which fits fine whether I am wearing a fleece hat or not. It's fully adjustable with a cradle, lots of pads, vents and easy to mount a head cam to. It cost £23 (reduced from £29.99 three years ago) from Halfords. You don't need to be a fashion victim and spend shed loads on a helmet as they are all made in the same factory in China.

Mr Plum

dilemna wrote:

Me thinks your pursuit of a bargain has clouded your primary purpose of choosing a helmet that fits properly. You can't do this shopping from a keyboard Unless of course you are buying a helmet or a pair of shoes you know will definitely fit eg replacements. But you're right, you have a weird head shape. I have a Giro Navigator which fits fine whether I am wearing a fleece hat or not. It's fully adjustable with a cradle, lots of pads, vents and easy to mount a head cam to. It cost £23 (reduced from £29.99 three years ago) from Halfords. You don't need to be a fashion victim and spend shed loads on a helmet as they are all made in the same factory in China.

cheers for the reality check.

shouldbeinbed

I'm another that can't wear a spesh helmet, they're all like instruments if torture on me. Giro & Met are hit and miss but I get on best with Bell & Raleigh.

walkingbootweather

Have had a couple of Giro models, I thought the first was OK so Mrs wbw bought another Giro for my Birthday (from the interweb). Never really got on with it, so bought myself a Scott Karma which has been a revelation. Easily the most comfortable lid I've ever had. But, as others have said, we are all different and it pays to try first.

Pufftmw

LOL

In motorcycle helmet terms, I'm an Arai head - Shoei just press on my forehead & feel terrible. I've got friends who feel the opposite.

Giro Hex does me just fine

ddraver

My head is too big for any Met Helmet - I fit nicely in Giro and Bell (have nt used a spesh for a while but I used to have one I liked)

Dudu

Mr Plum wrote:

I tried to take advantage of a great deal from Cycle Surgery where they're currently offering the Giro Saros helmet for half price at £45. I measured myself up and I was right on the boundary of a medium and large so I ordered the large thinking that I'd always be able to tighten it a bit...

So the large arrived and generally felt a bit awkward on my head and when tightened I could still slip my thumb up the side of the helmet near my temple despite it fitting snugly at the front and back. I decided that this was no good so I ordered the medium...

The medium arrived and just feels really uncomfortable. It fits but just feels really uncomfortable at the front as if it's digging into my forehead - the large also felt like this but it wasn't as bad.

I've just tried another Giro model (Monza) and it feels exactly the same and equally uncomfortable. The good thing about this situation is that I now know that my (odd shaped?) head isn't compatible with Giro helmets, but I'm still left with 2 helmets that don't fit and need sending back for a return.

I'm surprised that they're so uncomfortable for me as they seem like a really popular make and I've never had this problem with other brands. Has anyone else found this with Giro helmets?

Either:

Don't wear a helmet (they're not compulsory)

Or:

Wear a good-quality racing cap under it.

This will also soak up any sweat.

Clank

I have a Giro ski helmet and its fabulously comfortable.It's the same construction as a bike helmet, with no more padding. Yet Giro cycling helmets are a terrible and painfull fit on my head. The two are clearly modelled on different skull shapes.

Always strikes me as being a little odd.

I ended up with a Fox Flux for pedelling duties.

Headhuunter

I went for the same offer on the Saros but I've already got a Monza which I find very comfortable, it seems to "grip" my head round the back, which is comforting. The medium sized Saros turned up (after a bit of an issue with my address not being passed to the courier properly) and it too has that comforting "grip" on my head.... I guess I have a Giro Head...!

Headhuunter

dilemna wrote:

Me thinks your pursuit of a bargain has clouded your primary purpose of choosing a helmet that fits properly. You can't do this shopping from a keyboard Unless of course you are buying a helmet or a pair of shoes you know will definitely fit eg replacements. But you're right, you have a weird head shape. I have a Giro Navigator which fits fine whether I am wearing a fleece hat or not. It's fully adjustable with a cradle, lots of pads, vents and easy to mount a head cam to. It cost £23 (reduced from £29.99 three years ago) from Halfords. You don't need to be a fashion victim and spend shed loads on a helmet as they are all made in the same factory in China.

More expensive helmets though, tend to have a larger number of bigger vents. Outwardly my Giro Monza and Giro Santos both look the same but on closer examination I've realised that the Santos has much more space between the framework of the helmet. I suppose that's what you're paying for, it must be more difficult to make a helmet which adheres to EU or whatever standards when there is less helmet there! Also both the Monza and the Santos feel much lighter than other brands of helmet I have...

kja

Pufftmw wrote:

LOL

In motorcycle helmet terms, I'm an Arai head - Shoei just press on my forehead & feel terrible. I've got friends who feel the opposite.

Giro Hex does me just fine

Funnily enough, when I was into bikes I had 2 Shoeis and found them very comfortable, I never got on with Arais at all.

I just picked up a good used Giro Hex for a bargain tenner and cannot get it comfortable, I've faffed for ages with the straps and pads. I went out for a long ride with it on and it was awful. So I've given up and gone back to wearing my old Salomon helmet which fits perfectly. Tempted to try out a Spesh Tactic givenwhat a few people have said here.