Giro Ionos

Price Paid:  $200.00 at McGhie's-Las Vegas

Favorite Ride:
Red Rock/Summerlin streets

Bike Setup:
(1)Seven Elium SG with SRAM Red,Fulcrum Zero's
(2) Cervelo SLC-SL with SRAM Red, LEW rims/Sapim bladed spokes/White H2-Enduro ceramic bearing hubs custom handbuilt wheelset

Summary:
I had previously worn the Giro Pneumo for over 5 years, and I chose to wait on the Ionos and skip upgrading to the Atmos as the Pneumo was a very comfortable helmet. I love the Ionos as it is very comfortable and cool. It does not feel like you are wearing a helmet! It is also very light. I am sure the Atmos is an excellent product as well and I am not sure the Ionos deserves the price hike, but I can't put a price on the safety and comfort this helmet provides. I highly recommend it if $ is not a problem. Stay safe!

Strengths:
Comfort, design, technology, and style.

Weaknesses:
Price is higher than comparable helmets, and Giro Atmos is cheaper and 95% as effective.

Similar Products Used:
Giro pneumo

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Direct

Favorite Ride:
Fermi Lab

Bike Setup:
BMC Phonak SLT01, SRAM Rival, Fulcrum 7, Crank Bro pedals, Selle Italia Gel Flite w/cut out

Summary:
I initial bought the Atmos from a recommendation from a friend. I bought him the Ionos as gift and told me I had to get one too. So I did. The biggest difference I noticed between this and the Atmos is that I hear less wind. With the Atmos, I felt like I was in a wind tunnerl. With the Ionos, it's like somebody turned off the fan in the wind tunnel.

Strengths:
Looks fast and less wind noise while riding.

Weaknesses:
At little pricy, but worth it. The Roc-Loc is not as smooth as my Atmos. It may need to break in more I guess.

Similar Products Used:
Atmos, cheap Schwinn MTB helmet

Price Paid:  $225.00 at South Maui Bicycles

Favorite Ride:
Hunterdon Co., NJ

Bike Setup:
Litespeed Classic, 9 sp Dura Ace, Turbomatic saddle, handbuilt tubular wheels.

Summary:
This is my fourth GIro helmet in 20 years. I never would have spent this much on a helmet at home, but I got hit by a car while on vacation in Hawaii, fell and cracked my Giro Pneumo, which saved my skull. I needed an immediate replacement, and the Ionos only cost about as much as a dinner at Mama's Fish House, so I splurged.
The helmet is very comfortable, due to thicker padding in the front. The ventilation is noticeably better than my old Giro. It really feels as cool as a bare head, like the old ads claimed. They include a spare set of pads, and a silly liner to block the wind in cold weather.

Strengths:
Very solid construction seems like it will do the job. Hopefully, I won't find out the hard way like before.
Great ventilation.

Weaknesses:
None, except the exorbitant price for a piece of styrofoam, but, as they say, how much is your head worth? Seems like everything bike these days is overpriced.

Similar Products Used:
Three previous Giro models, since 1988.

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Activesportkit.co.uk

Favorite Ride:
Herts, Beds, Bucks, UK

Bike Setup:
Madone 5.2 pro, Full Dura-ace, Mavic R-Sys wheels, Michelin Pro race 2 tyres, Look KAO Ti pedals, Deda newton o/s stem and bar, Selle italia SLR Ti saddle.

Summary:
I’ve worn Giro helmets for 12 years now, replacing them every 2 to 3 years. When I saw the new Ionos helmet had came out I had to get one. The style of the helmet is great, Very aggressive and fast looking even when your standing still. The technology used is also first rate. The carbon inserts look classy and built for the job. The retention device is still the tried and tested Rock lock 3 that’s been around years now, but is easy to use and comfortable. Now does it have better air flow than a Atmos or Pneumo? I really can’t tell the difference. It is certainly lighter, but even that isn’t noticeable after 4 hours of wearing it. If your in the market for a great helmet at a price, go for it. If your cash doesn’t stretch that far an Atmos/Pneumo is just a good.

Strengths:
Great looks, easy to adjust retention system, quality and crash replacement programme.

Weaknesses:
Price. Can’t really tell if my head is any cooler than with other Giro helmets.

Similar Products Used:
Giro Exodus, E2, Pneumo, Atmos etc. etc.

Price Paid:  $109.00 at Parker International

Favorite Ride:
Lauttasaari to Siikajärvi and back (Helsinki)

Summary:
After some initial reservations I love this helmet. It looks very slightly bulkier on the head than the atmos or the Bell sweep, but I think this is because it has a more even thickness of foam. The atmos in particular had some very thin bits in some places. I strongly suspect that the ionos would offer better protection in a crash, although I can't back that up with data and I'm sure that giro won't either as long as they are still selling the atmos... The best thing about this helmet is the ventilation, however - you can actually feel the wind in your hair, almost as if you weren't wearing a helmet at all. It's a very comfortable helmet once you are on the bike. My biggest gripe is that the poppers at the front of the "roc-loc" that attach it to the shell have a habit of coming out, and it seems that most helmets have a quality control issue with these that makes the problem worse. Basically, once you have decided on the setting for the roc-loc attachment at the back (the up/down one underneath the pad) you can superglue the ones at the front in place. Solves the problem, although it's annoying that you have to do it.

The tension adjuster at the back takes a bit of getting used to (squeeze the narrower bits to push it in, pull up under the edges of the broader bits to loosen), but once you've got the hang of it it's fine.

A very cool helmet in more ways than one.

It's very annoying that the price paid field doesn't accept currency symbols. You'll just have to guess, I guess...

Strengths:
Amazing airflow, comfortable, looks cool, feels as if it would offer plenty protection.

Weaknesses:
The attachment of the roc-loc band at the front may need the superglue fix.

Similar Products Used:
Met Stradivarius, Met Inferno, various Bell helmets.