Rudy Project Egos Cycling Helmet
Wrapped in stylish safety
Review by Robert Thorpe
Rudy Project is renowned for producing great cycling safety products. They’ve been doing so for a long time, from their base in Italy, and are trusted across the global cycling community. Their latest Egos ‘road cycling helmet’ typifies their adherence to excellence, and has that unique Italian styling too. When it arrived here for testing, I immediately liked the aesthetics – which as you’ll understand, is an important part of the equation for cyclists looking at new products.
Rudy project have set out to bring riders that golden trilogy of improved performance, safety and comfort, delivering it to professional levels, and using everything that they’ve learnt from working with the world’s best riders in the pro peloton. The Egos helmet cut its teeth on the Tour de France, with Bahrain Victorious, before the humble cyclists such as you and I got to benefit from all that research and design work; and yes, there’s a lot that goes into the design of cycling helmet, if you want safety, comfort and performance in equal measure.
Get with the flow
The placement of the air vents, and how many to design and where to site them. How the air is pulled in, flows across the head and leaves the helmet. These are all key aspects of the design, and they’re something that Rudy Project have got just right with the Egos cycling helmet. The multitude of vents at the front are stylish and draw the air in well, whilst the large vents at the back help the air to exit the helmet, without themselves looking bulky as some helmet brands do. Having worn this helmet throughout the warmest months of summer, I can say that the airflow is spot on, keeping me comfortable under the sun. Rudy Project spends considerable time on design, and the inner shell of the Egos is distinguished by its main features, and the DUAL DENSITY technology, which provides the helmet with a double function. The shape enhances ventilation at the top of the head, guaranteeing superb rider comfort. The top part, on the other hand, is characterized by a smoother density for great impact absorption and helmet weight reduction.
Comfort, performance and style in perfect harmony
Inside of the helmet, the Egos is fitted with the RSR 11 anti-slip system for an optimal fit, and it also thanks to a wraparound structure and micrometric fit for height and width. It’s not just marketing either, as the helmet fit is super comfortable. It’s one of those rare cycling helmets that you almost forget you’re wearing – and that has to be a great recommendation for comfort. The AIRFRAME BAND, a hidden flap on the front of the helmet that is in contact with the forehead, to channel airflow to the inside of the helmet, works to enhance that all-important ventilation and cooling of the head.
At the important end, the fastening and adjustment; the strap fastening has been designed for quick and safe release, thanks to a practical and safe magnetic FIDLOCK attachment system. It works really well and is easy to lock and unlock, even with gloved hands and on colder days. Alongside the high-quality and suer soft, padded inner cradle, they’ve placed some mesh to help keep the insects at bay too. If you’ve ever had a wasp enter your cycling helmet – which I have – you’ll know how welcome this additional mesh is.
Quality that comes as standard
Best of all, it’s all designed and created in such a high quality package too – it really is. It looks and feels like it ought to feel for a cycling helmet at this price point. The inner cradle cushioning comes away with ease for washing, meaning that it won’t become smelly either!
The helmet colour options are as you’d expect – stylish, modern, simple and with just the right degree of logo additions. We tested the steel blue helmet, which had subtle pink pastel in some areas, which nicely matched our Pedalnorth kit and logo – style is never optional with Italian design! What more can I say. Thankfully, I haven’t tested the Egos helmet in anger, and hope not to do so. I am however happy to say that the Rudy Project Egos has become my first choice of road cycling helmet, in a short space of time – and that’s a praiseworthy recommendation. It’s most definitely kit that we like. It’s well worth the investment, and will keep you stylishly safe and comfortable for many miles to come.
Rudy Project
