Product Type: Helmet - Aero - Road
Product Brand: Ekoi
Product Model: AR14
Size Tested: Small
Tester Details: I haven’t measured my head’s diameter but safe to say I’m on the small/XS end of things.
Overview: Over the last couple of years Ekoi has made an effort of penetrating the Australian market but sending a brand rep around all the major races and trade shows. I was at an event a couple of years ago killing time so decided to try the AR14 on. It was the last show on the tour so they were trying to sell the helmets for a steal. Unfortunately they only had black remaining.
Anyhow - As soon as I put the helmet on I realised it was the best fitting helmet I’ve ever tried. I have a small head so helmets and sunglasses are challenging purchases. The AR14 was snug, didn’t look silly on my head and was overall quite comfortable. I decided to get one but wanted a white one.
About a year later the Ekoi website had a massive sale. Shipping prices were silly so I bought two helmets to get free shipping and sold the second one on marketplace. I’ve been using the helmet since and have become quite the fan.
Pros: The fit is great for someone with a smaller head. The helmet looks good. It’s pretty light (previous helmets include a POC Ventral Air and a Kask Valegro). Despite being an aero helmet I was able to wear it all through summer without issue.
The helmet ships with 3 pad sets of different widths. The thinnest one was installed but I swapped that out for the medium one for a bit more comfort. The straps are lightly woven for more airflow and this does actually make a difference. The magnetic clip is a nice addition but not essential.
Cons: Most obviously, the helmet doesn’t have MIPS. This is likely a deal breaker for many, understandably. However I’m okay with it. I’ve ruined two helmets through crashes and neither had MIPS. In both cases the helmet has still done it’s job.
Also the straps are WAY too long out of the box. I had to trim them down and melt the ends to prevent fraying. I also modified the little helmet strap pad that adds some comfort and keeps excess straps under control. It was too long. It’s designed to be cut into pieces though.
Rating: 4 out 5 - would be a 5 if the helmet had MIPS.
