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Home > Product Reviews > Helmets > Giro Xen Reviews

Giro Xen

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Giro Xen
More about Giro

Average Rating: 4 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 10
RRP: £99.95
Year: 2005 - 2006

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Description:

17 vents.

Wind Tunnel technology.

Upper and lower are moulded in hardbody Roc Loc 4.

Straps exit side of helmet to avoid tangles.

REVIEWS

1 to 10 of 10 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.

John Griffiths 1

Posted: 23/04/07

'YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR'

Strengths:
Strength, Fit, Looks, Weight, Protects back of you head very well

Weaknesses:
Maybe cost, but I think its worth every penny.
Can be a bit warm. but we do ride bikes up hills on summers days.

Overall:
Like most things you buy for safety you don't know how good it is until you use it. Well I used my Xen this weekend in a pretty big way. Got off my bike at speed, used my Xen as a brake and skidded for a good 5m on it. All on a hard rocky surface. Hit the Xen at the back were alot of helmets dont offer much protection. The Xen is smashed up pretty bad, but my head isn't. Thanks to the perfect fit, it stayed were it should be. And thanks to it being light and looking good it was were it should be, on my head. If it wasn't for this helmet I would have considered myself lucky to have been in hospital. You only get one head and you can pick these up under £70 if you shop around. Get one, cos if you needed it you'll thank me. Just ordered my new one.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

Rob Midgley

Posted: 28/03/06

'TOP NOTCH'

Strengths:
great looks and protection

Weaknesses:
slightly impaired ventilation - but xc lids look rubbish!

Overall:
Best helmet so far - and loads of colour choices

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		80%

Overall Rating

93%

anyhojoe - *not* El Presidente

Posted: 28/03/06

'THE DOGS DANGLIES.'

Strengths:
To be very cliche, everything.

I love the fit, far better for me than any other lid (bar full faces) that I have tried. The venting is quite adequate for me, as I sweat like theres no tomorrow anyway. The extra protection over a full on XC lid is always welcome though thankfully I have yet to try it out! And the looks are great too, I've had non cycling mates comment on how it actually looks really rather good and they thought they would never see a lid they could say that about!

Weaknesses:
I can't really see any, I paid £60 for mine on CRC and even at full price I would buy another if I totalled the current blue one. I think it is worth every penny, simple as that.

Overall:
I have three bikes, an XC bike, a streety/DJ bike and a FR/DH bike, and I feel that I can wear this lid on any of them. Its got enough protection for the more extreme stuff and its comfy even when I'm on the bike for 5+ hours.

I really cannot fault this helmet, and I feel justified in giving it 100% in everything, as it really is that great in my humble opinion.

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

100%

dave langley

Posted: 09/07/03

'SUPERB FIT VERY COMFTABLE'

Strengths:
this helmet looks great its fairly compact fits like a glove.i like the colour coded peak flashy.

Weaknesses:
to new to say at the moment but could be a bit cheaper,but saying that you get what you pay for and the finish is excellant.

Overall:
the best looking and most comfy helmet i have worn.

Performance		100%
Reliability		80%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

80%

Dr.Feely-good.... Nurse,the screams!

Posted: 23/07/03

'E-XENTIALLY EXCELLENT HEAD PROTECTION'

Strengths:
Looks and fits wonderfully,really good peak,massive venting,light,easy to adjust,no more tangled straps,good all round protection!

Weaknesses:
Price,but now discounted on Wiggle and also Chain Reaction.

Overall:
After being forced to look for a new helmet by white van man,I wanted something different from my previous essentially XC lid.
Quite liked the Giro Semi but thought the venting looked inadequate.
Tried the Xen at MBWC Fort William and was hooked!
I ride anything from 6 to 20 miles and this helmet has felt comfortable and cool even in the recent hot weather.
I love this lid!

Performance		100%
Reliability		100%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

87%

Ian Leitch

Posted: 12/08/03

'THE PRICE OF FASHION - LOOKS GREAT - SWEATS LIKE A....'

Strengths:
I bought the Whiskey one and Race XC and Enduros - I wanted a fresh style to replace my battered Exodus.

Weaknesses:
Problem is the lid has no ventilation between he main front pad so in the recent heat - you ride for 30 mins if that and you have a rain shower of sweat dripping from the full pad. A

Overall:
Great looks needs bigger vents - perhaps for Expert XC the Exodus would have been better - but there simply is nothing mroe satisfying than being surronded by shaved legs whlst I am in my XEN

Performance		60%
Reliability		80%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

67%

mundo traveller

Posted: 11/03/04

'LOOKS GOOD, FEELS SNUG AND TERRIFICALLY SECURE'

Strengths:
Superb fit (on my head anyway) roc loc 4 system quick & easy to operate,far superior to the S1, and colour matches my bike.

Weaknesses:
Wider than the Specialized S1, and does not have the forehead vent the S1 has, but needs this badly. In a hot climate (I have been in South Africa for a few summer months) when much of the riding is done in heat 25-35c), the band around your forehead soaks up the sweat until you start exerting yourself when it all gets squeezed out to run like a river down you face and into your eyes. I have 'solved' this by using a pimpy looking bandanna under the helmet.

Overall:
I am sure that in the tepid English climate this would do fine except on really hot days. For my money it is the best fitting helmet of all (regardless of cost, I tried all the others I could find). The fit is most important and easily overcomes the objection of overheating/sweating despite large vents, through which you can also get sunburnt...or very wet whenit rains.
Incidentally,in S Africa the helmet costs an extorionate equivalent of £180 . Please explain that GIRO.
So, if you buy one of these, either use a good F35 sunscreen,or look like Andre Agassi.

Performance		80%
Reliability		100%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

80%

Michael Williams

Posted: 11/03/04

'NICE LOOKING, BUT FLIMSY'

Strengths:
It looks REALLY good & is feather light. As it's mostly made of holes, you'll get lots of ventilation.

Weaknesses:
The Matt black shows up the slightest greasy stain, and the RokLok4 is very flimsily made. My first one was faulty, and had to go back to Wiggle. Come summertime, you'll need sunscreen - those vents are MASSIVE! Also, the visor isn't even slightly adjustable, unlike my winter helmet, the Semi MX, which is oddly lighter, despite having less than half the number of vents. Weird.

Overall:
I like it. I've got the sweatiest head in England, so this oughta keep my forehead fountain in check during the summer. The lack of hair up top also means i'll need some sunblock if i don't want to come out looking like a zebra. Not painting the most attractive picture of myself, am i?

Performance		80%
Reliability		40%
Value		60%

Overall Rating

60%

Al Darwin

Posted: 31/05/05

'Very comfortable'

Strengths:
Snug fitting, extremely comfortable helmet. Nice range of colours available. Good price.

Weaknesses:
can be a bit warm and padding tends to hold sweat.

Overall:
Very nice helmet, the heat aspect is a minor niggle compared to all the plus points. This is a very well put together helmet and so comfortable you actually forget you are wearing it. Chainreaction Cycles sell it for £80 !

Performance		80%
Reliability		100%
Value		100%

Overall Rating

93%

David Westwood

Posted: 30/07/05

'YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.'

Strengths:
Looks, fit, finish.

Weaknesses:
None discovered yet.

Overall:
I've just bought mine but initially I can't find a single thing to criticise. £90 is a lot for a crash helmet, but you get what you pay for I guess.