The Specialized Airnet helmet is a good option if you're looking for a mid-priced helmet that offers all the features of its more expensive counterparts. It's comfortable, offers great ventilation, and most importantly looks great too.
Reasons to buy
+
Comfortable
+
Slim fitting
+
Good ventilation
+
Reasonable price
Reasons to avoid
-
Fiddly adjustment system
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.
The Specialized Airnet helmet is the latest addition the American’s company’s extensive range of helmets, slipping in roughly at the midpoint below the more performance-orientated Evade and Prevail.
>>> Buyer's guide to bike helmets
Despite the name and the undeniable visual similarity with the semi-aero Giro Synthe helmet, Specialized isn’t making any specific aerodynamic claims about its new lid, instead selling it as “the ideal blend of functionality and performance for riders seeking both adventure and style.”
We liked the slim looks of the Specialized Airnet helmet
Certainly, the Specialized Airnet helmet is one of the most comfortable helmets I’ve had the pleasure of testing. It has quite a long and narrow shape that will suit some more than others, but you do get a choice of three sizes as well as a dial adjustment system to make sure it fits well.
Road helmet vs aero helmet: which is fastest?
That Mindset dial adjustment system is the same as is found on Specialized’s more pricey helmets, and can be moved up and down as well as being tightened and loosened. However, the one negative of this helmet is that the dial is very small, meaning that it is really hard to adjust while wearing heavy winter gloves with plenty of insulation.
The dial to adjust the helmet is a little too small to use on the fly
Adding to the comfort of the Specialized Airnet helmet are the numerous Merino wool pads on the inside of the helmet, which also help to stop the helmet from smelling too bad after a handful of uses. Not that overheating is a big problem, as this is also one of the better ventilated helmets you can buy, especially at the middle-of-the-road £100 price point.
It also looks good. If this blue and red number won't go with the paint scheme of your bike, then the Specialized Airnet is also available in plain white or plain black. It also has a very slim appearance, and doesn't stick out at the side of your head like many other helmets.
The Merino wool pads add to the comfort of the helmet
Apart from the fiddly adjustment system, the only other slight problem I could find with the Specialized Airnet helmet is that the two pieces of plastic which bring together the two halves of each chin strap could not be moved up and down, meaning that for me they hung a long way below my ears.
However, the bonus features of this helmet, things that are not normally found on £100 helmets, make up for this slight slip up. You get grippers for your sunglasses in vents at both the front and rear (a serious oversight in many, much more expensive helmets), and there are also reflective patches, helping with low light visibility if you’re using the Specialized Airnet helmet to commute to and from work.
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
