Review on 🚴 Giro Vanquish MIPS: The Ultimate Aero Helmet for Adult Cyclists by Ruben Saunders

Last year my go-to bike helmet was the Giro Aeon. This is the basis for the following review and comparison. I only bought this helmet for the visor so I have never worn it on any ride without a visor. I've done 4 rides of 100+ miles, one of which included an 889ft incline at a respectable 4%. I've been an avid cyclist for over 20 years and can be a bit critical when it comes to my cycling gear. Overall, I give this helmet 4 stars out of 5 because it's not perfect out of the box. Aerodynamics (5 out of 5): Winds in my area have been 5-10mph this summer hence the desire to buy a helmet. My first ride with this helmet was during the day with wind speeds of 10-15 m/s. About two miles into the ride I noticed that the drag was significantly less compared to the Giro Aeon. I hit 41 mph in a full sprint on the 45 mile road between my house and my favorite bike trail. As this is my first aero helmet I am very happy with the drag reduction. Airflow (3.5 out of 5): The videos on the Giro website showed some interesting airflow and wind tunnel tests that made me feel optimistic about the cooling effect. In fact the Giro Aeon is noticeably cooler and I will wear a helmet on hot days when no wind is forecast. In July and August mostly 85-100 degrees with a humidity of 75%+. Very bad conditions for cycling. The deflection of the wind visor also blocks part of the airflow that can escape under the helmet. When riding with a visor, you rely solely on the four ventilation openings for air supply. I found that I had to hold my head at a very specific angle to maximize airflow. In autumn, winter and spring there are no problems. I expect to love this helmet fall through spring. If there is no snow or ice on the road/path, I continue to drive up to 20 degrees. Reduced airflow would be a boon. Style (3 out of 5): Giro usually makes their helmets with pretty nice color schemes. For a $275 helmet, the designers could have put a little more effort into the looks. The color choice was very difficult for me. I didn't like black for safety reasons. I prefer helmets that help riders see me on the road. White was very easy. I chose white and spent a few days retouching some silver metallic strokes with a translucent black transition. I'm not the best airbrusher so it's not perfect and might not stand the test of time, but at the same time it looks a lot better. Lens (4 out of 5): Overall I'm happy with the lens. Haven't had any problems with sweating so far. So far, the magnetic closures work quite well. The visor has a good field of view and doesn't interfere with my peripheral vision too much, which was a big issue. I would have preferred polarized lenses but so far the glare on roads and trails hasn't been too bad with the lens included in the kit. I wanted to order clear lenses to wear my polarized photochromic cycling glasses underneath, but replacement lenses are expensive and hard to find. Buyer's Attention: Giro does not sell interchangeable lenses. When I contacted Giro to ask for a replacement, they sent me a link to a separate website (Revain won't let me post the website). Replacement lenses are $59.99 plus a $5 processing fee for orders under $100. It would be nice if the helmet could be ordered directly from Giro with a choice of which lens you want with the helmet. In dark and low conditions, especially in winter, I don't need the lens that comes with the helmet. I need to order clear lenses so I can wear my polarized photochromic cycling glasses. Winter will put anti-fog protection to the test. I wear a balaclava under my helmet. Cycling goggles fog up as soon as you stop breathing. I hope the lens is far enough away that this doesn't happen.