Giro Fixture MIPS Open Face Helmet

It’s sunny out and pretty warm, seems like a great day to go for a ride. After an hour-long drive, I unload my bike at the trailhead, set up everything, then look around for my helmet… I guess it’s still on the countertop at home.

I call the local bike shop to see if they rent some and the owner says, "Come over I'll set you up with something!". I drive over there, he hands me this brand-new Giro Fixture and says we'll sort it out when you get back. I try it on, it fits well, and I head back for the trails. The fit is great, better than my forgotten-at-home POC that cost much more than this 50$ lid. It turns out that the helmet is one of the most comfortable I’ve bought, I don't sweat much even if it's 30C out, and I quite like the color. I get back to the store and ask him hum much for the helmet rental and he says 5$. Turns out I bought it and I'll keep my old one as a backup helmet at home for friends.

The finish is one of the best I've seen on all the helmets I have bought over the years: the matte paint doesn't scratch easily, the visor is sturdy and does not obstruct the view, and the foam and plastic are nicely finished from all sides. I like the fact that the straps are fixed on the shell, and I prefer a classic snap buckle instead of magnetic closures that are the new trend. The rear retention system stays secure and is easy to adjust with or without gloves.

The only negative for me is the bulky side looks. It looks a bit like my last Giro Feature which was also pretty round, but the dig diagonal line that runs from the top to the rear makes it look bulkier than it is. Maybe that's because this one is one-size fits all helmet, they made the shell a bit bigger to accommodate more head sizes. In my opinion, I think that adding a vent in that big diagonal surface would have made the helmet look better.

The rear head coverage is very good, and I don't see why this wouldn't be standard on most helmets. It is becoming more popular on all kinds of helmets.  After wearing my road helmet on a road ride, the moment I put the Fixture on I felt more protected right away. It gives more confidence on the trails versus a regular XC lid.

CONCLUSION

For around 50$, this helmet is still awesome and I’ll happily wear it until it’s due for replacement. At that price, there are not many options that fit well, have as much lower head protection and look good. Compared to competitors, the Bell 4Forty has linear side vents that seems to make the helmet look less bulky on the sides, and fits just as well for me. My next one will probably be a Bell for that reason, as both companies' helmets fit me well. And both brand’s models are available with MIPS, an option that I would have taken if the store had this version in stock.