Giro Savant MIPS helmet review
Giro’s mid-range helmet comes with a MIPS liner and a reasonable price and weight
The Giro Savant MIPS gives you MIPS technology and a reasonable weight in an economical helmet. But airflow isn’t as good as some competitors and the straps are a bit wide and stiff.
-
+
Reasonably light
-
+
MIPS liner
-
+
Comfortable and adjustable
- +
-
-
Airflow isn’t great
-
-
Straps are a bit stiff
- -
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
The mid-range Giro Savant helmet brings Giro’s tech to a mid-price design. It’s available as a non-MIPS version for £84.99 and as this MIPS variant. MIPS adds a thin plastic insert inside the helmet. This is loosely coupled to the helmet outer and designed to slide in the event of an oblique impact, helping to protect the brain from rotational forces.
The MIPS liner has venting holes aligned with the 25 vents in the helmet body. It only contributes a few grams to the helmet’s 286g overall weight, which is reasonable for a helmet at this price point.
Giro has been increasing its range of aero road helmets, but the Giro Savant, which has been in the brand’s range for a few years, retains the classic vented road style. It uses the in-mould construction process, in which the polystyrene protective shell is bonded to the plastic outer during the production process, leading to a tight bond between the two.
Although the Savant has plenty of vents, they’re a bit smaller than on some lids, and the front-facing vented area is lower. This means that the airflow over the head isn’t quite as good and I felt a bit warm on hot days when climbing at lower speeds. The straps are also a bit wider and firmer than on some helmets – not uncomfortably so, but it is noticeable.
But I did find the Giro Savant MIPS a comfortable fit around my head. There’s quite a broad section of padding around the brow and a couple of small pads over the crown of the head. The height-adjustable, dial-equipped Roc Loc 5 rear cradle allows easy fit adjustment too.
>>> Eight best bike helmets 2017
So overall, the Giro Savant MIPS helmet is a good option for the price, although you’ll get some nice upgrade features if you spend a bit more.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1