Giro Source MIPS Helmet review

The Giro Source MIPS helmets should definitely be at the top of your try-on list. It’s one of few helmets that I’m not in a rush to remove.

This product was selected for our Editors’ Choice Awards 2022, as published in Singletrack Magazine Issue 146

• Brand: Giro
• Product: Source MIPS helmet
• Price: £129.99
• From: Giro UK
• Review by: Benji for 9 months

This is fundamentally a real ‘Goldilocks’ type of product. It’s not too heavy. It’s not too hot. It offers decent back-of-head coverage. The retention band is easy to adjust. The straps are comfy and don’t drift out of setting. And the whole thing looks pretty stylish.

Sure it has a bunch of high-tech safety features (which is very important and everything but I tend to take it as read that £100+ helmets do the job well these days). The absolute key thing is: it’s just very, very comfortable.

Giro has a long history of producing cycling helmets, with the company launching almost 40 years ago in 1985. With nearly four decades of experience under their belts, Giro have no excuse not to produce the best mountain bike helmets on the market. But still, although ‘Giro make good helmet’ news will come as no surprise to anyone, it’s nice to be reminded of their knowhow.

Tech-wise, the shell is perforated with 16 large vents that allow cool air to enter the helmet run over your head then exit through the rear. Internally Giro has also included large air channels to promote airflow and increase the capacity for cooling on the trail. The vent size and position is large enough to ensure air can come and go but doesn’t leave your head so exposed that you might worry about injury in the event of a crash.

Giro uses a Cool Fit padding system. This gave me a nicely snug fit without any unwanted pressure points. The Cool Fit pad material does a decent job of wicking sweat away but it’s not the quickest-to-dry-out compared to other brands (it’s still pretty good though to be honest). And the pads do an excellent job of… you know, padding. They’re no doubt a small but vital component in the whole comfort package.

The pad system can be removed for cleaning and the Antimicrobial properties will hopefully prevent any undue odours. Each of the pads is installed on a moulded cradle that wraps around your head for optimum fit. This internal cradle uses Giro’s Roc Loc 5 micro-adjust fitting system.

The cradle itself is fastened to the EPS liner via signature-yellow MIPS elastomers. MIPS was created to reduce rotational forces in the event of a crash, which intern can ensure better brain protection in an accident. Another surprise benefit of MIPS is added comfort and enhanced fit, for me at least.

Giro has included an adjustable visor to the Source MIPS. The visor is screwed into position and can be simply lifted or lowered to suit your preference. To be honest, I very rarely adjust it because I don’t wear goggles very often (especially with open-face helmets) but I have stashed goggles up there with the peak in its raised position and can confirm that it works just fine.

The Giro Source MIPS helmet is available in sizes S, M, L and XL and there are 6 colours to choose from including Matte Black Fade, Matte Chalk, Matte Portaro Grey, Matte Trim Blue, Matte Trim Red and Matte Warm Black.

Overall

I don’t know about you, but what I want from a helmet is three things. Comfort. Decent ventilation. Looks good. At this point in mountain biking technology, the safety aspect of helmets is something of a given, so I am just taking actual bonce protection as read. Having said that, I do think a MIPS liner is pretty must-have these days if you can afford it.

At the end of the day the simple truth is that this Giro Source MIPS helmet just fits my head really well. I can’t honestly say it will fit yours. That’s bonces for you. What I can say is that the Source should definitely be at the top of your try-on list. It’s one of the very, very few helmets that I’m not in a rush to remove once the riding has finished.

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Review Info

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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