LAS Helmet review (LONG POST WARNING).

For decades, I was a GIRO head. I had one back in the day when there was no outer shell, only the white foam helmet and a removable elastic cloth cover and had several other models since. Well when it was time for a new helmet, I did not want to spend much so bought a Giro Stylus. After about 4 months, I admitted to myself that I had bought the wrong helmet. Yea, it fit (typical Giro) but it was kinda heavy, and the ventilation was not so good. The straps that went down in front of my ears irritated me and I had to stop riding on more than one occasion to adjust it.

I went to the LBS I bought my MTB from (Agoura Cycles, CA- GOOD SHOP) to look around. They had Giro, Bell and LAS. They had some Bells on sale, but the ones I tried on (Sweep and Volt) just did not fit. There was pressure right at the very front and back. The Giro Atmos and Ianos fit fine but I kept looking anyway and tried LAS, the Istrion. As light as Atmos but much more comfortable. There is a mesh inner liner, to keep stuff like bees away from your noggin. The rear tension device uses wide straps, unlike the thin plastic that looked so frail on the Bell, and the whole tension device can be lowered or raised to match the shape of the back of your head to keep the helmet snug. The straps sit flat on my head, unlike my Stylus where they twist and rub uncomfortably. No pressure points; I guess the helmet shape is much like the Giro but the adjust ability and inner mesh liner (and the large vents) swayed me over.

It has been several rides since purchasing the Istrion and I am thrilled with it. The 27 large vents pull in lots of air and vent it well, and yes I already had a bee doink me in the head yesterday but it was unable to get inside the helmet due to the mesh. Yes it was almost double the price of the Stylus I bought 4 months ago but it is so much more comfortable. It sure helps to have a good relationship with the local LBS since the store had a good price on it already, but still gave me a discount.

Yes, all helmets have to pass the same tests but that does not make them equal.

hm, mesh is a good idea! I wonder why all helmets don't have something like that!

Update:
I can now say the helmet works. :(. Crashed last week and smacked my head on the concrete then slid some on my back. Felt great (not). Everything except my head hurts :rolleyes:. The helmet looks ok except for some scrapes but of course, I know it is toast and have ordered another (the local LBS is out of them now). When my head hit the ground my first thought was oh S@!T but then in the same instant realized the helmet worked and I did not feel anything bad above the neck. I also wished I had a helmet for my back and elbow... And for the bike... It's toast. Oh well.