With racing underway and motivation gathering momentum, now’s the time to take a look at the new products hitting the cycling world. Earlier this month, the revamped S-Works Evade II was unveiled in Australia, providing us with the perfect opportunity to revisit our road helmet range. Whether you’re a climber looking for a feather-light lid or a sprinter hoping to slice through the bunch to cross the line first, we’ve got something for you.
Evade II
The pro cycling season is officially underway, kicking off proceedings in the southern hemisphere with stage races in Australia and Argentina. Lots of new kit and equipment has been launched in the past few weeks, including new S-Works shoes and helmets exhibited so beautifully by Bora-Hansgrohe and Quick-Step Floors.
Ventilation was a key focus in the development process for the new S-Works Evade II, losing two of the larger vents on top of the helmet while improving the channelling of air from front to back, all the while retaining its famous aerodynamic performance. It’s also lighter than its predecessor by approximately 10%, and, like the Prevail II, has a more trim aesthetic, not just proving to be faster, but looking it too.
As indicated, the Evade II has had a pretty star-spangled introduction to the world stage, worn to stage victories at the Tour Down Under and the Vuelta a San Juan. While we wait for the Evade II to hit the market properly, let’s take a look back at the Evade, worn to countless victories since its launch in 2013, and which has passed down many of its best features to the new iteration.
The Evade proved immensely popular with amateurs as well as pro riders; the helmet of choice for Peter Sagan in each of his three historic World Championship titles as well as numerous other team victories. Cycling Weekly’s Oliver Bridgewood was a big fan of the Evade’s aerodynamic features:
“I can report that this helmet feels fast and is very quiet at high speed, with noticeably low wind noise than other helmets.”
Prevail II
Launched in 2017, the S-Works Prevail II is a refined version of the Prevail helmet, favoured by climbers and general classification riders, with its familiarly exceptional ventilation and aerodynamics making it perfect for training and racing at any level. Constructed around a hidden aramid skeleton from a multi-density EPS polystyrene, the design minimises bulk without compromising strength and impact protection. The weight is reduced even further thanks to the Prevail’s unparalleled shell design, updated for the new model with a greater number of smaller holes, channelling air more efficiently over the scalp. The recognisable Mega Mouthport remains a key feature of the helmet’s famous ventilation system and aids the cooling effect.
In a direct comparison between the two models, the first thing you notice is the considerably more compact profile of the Prevail II, so none of that so-called mushroom aesthetic! Weight-wise, the updated helmet trims a handy 30g off the original Prevail which might not sound like much but could make all the difference in stage racing where every second counts.
Of the women’s Prevail II, different from the men’s only in aesthetics, Aoife Glass of BikeRadar, said:
“For me, this is by far the most comfortable helmet I've tried and it's the one I return to again and again.”
Commenting on the ventilation, CyclingTips’ James Huang said:
“This was my go-to helmet on ultra-hot days this past summer when I valued airflow above all else.”
Looking for something else?
You might be pleased to hear that our range of helmets does not start and finish with the top-of-the-line performance lids described above. Whatever features you might be looking for, we’re sure to have something to suit your riding and lifestyle.
The Airnet, for instance, is a great option if you want to get the best of lightweight aerodynamics – and, if we may say so, stylish aesthetics – without breaking the bank. Taking the aero Evade as a template, the Airnet is a low profile, highly-ventilated helmet that promises gains in the speed department. You get a lot of bang for your buck in a comfortable package.
For the commuters amongst you, you can’t go far wrong with the Propero 3. Modelled on the S-Works Prevail, this helmet provides incredible fit and tremendous value for the road cycling enthusiast. The Echelon goes a step further, wrapping up a fast-looking and compact helmet with a modest price tag that should suit any budget.
