Giro Montaro MIPS Helmet, Unisex

Product Information

Another handy feature is the Hydrophilic X-Static padding. The X-static padding is anti-microbial, which prevents odor build-up, regulates temperature, and eliminates static. It is soft to touch and very absorbent. You are able to remove the pads from the inside of the helmet to give them a wash, or replace them entirely if need be. Final Remarks The Chronicle was designed as a mid-tier helmet that has all the basic features you need. The design is simple and doesn’t have anything fancy like a camera mount or goggle grippers on the rear of the helmet. However, it does have MIPS, an adjustable visor and very comfortable padding. Personally, I would go with the Montaro. It looks good, and it feels less bulky on your head. The fully wrapped shell is definitely a winning feature, as exposed EPS foam tends to deteriorate much faster.

The Montaro, being the top-tier helmet has been kitted out with a few features. It has an integrated breakaway camera mount. So, if you want to catch some cool footage of you shredding, but you’re worried about the safety implications of having a camera on your head, this is a great feature for you! Non-integrated camera mounts are not considered as safe as they generally do not have a breakaway feature if they come under pressure (see more on helmets with camera’s here). The Chronicle stands out in the open-face helmet market for having extended coverage around the rear of the head. Design and Construction Comparison The Montaro also only has three positions for the visor, but the length of the visor is shorter than that of the Chronicle. This means it doesn’t hinder your vision when it is in the lowest setting, though it doesn’t really make much of a difference, and is really up to personal preference on this one. Safety Comparison For the more experienced cyclist, the Montaro will be more comfortable for longer rides as it is lighter and better ventilated. It is certainly the more premium helmet with the features like a camera mount and goggle grippers. The ventilation of the Source is somewhat mid-range. While it is better than the Chronicle, the 16 vents don’t quite compare with the breezy Montaro. However, it does have internal channeling, which helps flow the air over the rider’s head to keep them cool. Visor ReviewUnfortunately, the padding on the Montaro doesn’t have a long lifespan. Some riders have mentioned the padding only lasts around 6 months before it needs replacing. While this might only be for the hottest and sweatiest of riders, it isn’t a huge issue, and replacement pads can be easily and cheaply. Firstly, it has a MIPS liner (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), which reduces the rotational energy transferred to the rider in an angled crash. Slip plane technology (such as MIPS) is considered essential in today’s market, and personally, I would never ride without it! The Source has ability to stow goggles beneath the visor when they aren’t needed, but has neither the goggle grippers nor the integrated camera mount. While the Montaro is highly regarded for its protection, it doesn't provide the same level of coverage as the "full cut" Giro Tyrant or Fox Dropframe. We also found that the Montaro's less-expensive sibling, the Chronicle provides a bit more coverage at a lower price, though it doesn't include the same molded roll cage technology. The Montaro scored equally in this metric to other helmets with similar levels of head coverage and protective features like the Smith Session, Oakley DRT5, and Bell 4Forty MIPS. Comfort

Who’ Shouldn’t Buy: If you ride a couple of times a year, and prefer the rails to trails, you likely don’t need the Mips technology, or the amount of thought and design that has gone into this helmet.The Montaro weighs around 370g for a size medium, while the Source weighs a little less at 340g for a size medium. Considering the price and target market of the Montaro, it does weigh a fair bit more than it should. The Source, on the other hand, is reasonably lightweight, consider the additional coverage it supplies, and its price. The fitting system of both helmets is REALLY good when considering the Giro Montaro vs Giro Source. The Montaro uses the slightly higher spec model of Giro’s Roc Loc system, called the Roc Loc 5 Air. This differs from the Source’s Roc Loc 5 as it keeps the shell of the helmet slightly away from the fitting system. This is done to allow air to flow over the top of the rider’s head and give a bit more flexibility in sizing as there is room to move between the retention system and the shell. The helmet is also equipped with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), a thin plastic liner that sits between a rider's head and the inner portion of the helmet. In the event of a crash, the liner is designed to allow the helmet to slide along it, a movement that's claimed to reduce the amount of rotational energy that reaches the brain. As far as the actual construction of the Montaro goes, a polycarbonate, in-mold shell is formed around an EPS liner with Giro's Roll-Cage reinforcement, an internal skeleton that's used to add extra strength to the finished product. For the casual cyclist, who doesn’t spend more than a few hours per week out on the bike, the Chronicle will more than suffice. All of the basic features are there, it is a very safe helmet, and you will not be unhappy with the choice!

The visor on the Montaro is a little longer than the visor on the Source. This isn’t really a good nor bad thing, so it is really up to personal preference as to whether you like the look or not ( see our post on visors here).The benefits of having a longer visor include having greater protection from the sun or low hanging branches, but it does catch a little more wind if you were worried about being aero! Fit Comparison The original Giro Montaro MIPS helmet developed a following and established itself as one of Giro’s best selling trail helmets of all time. When I reviewed it earlier this year, I noted a handful of its excellent traits, but it wasn’t perfect. With the launch of the Giro Montaro MIPS II, nearly all the features that made the original great are retained. And the flaws? Well… some of those are retained too. While the Montaro MIPS II may be a sequel, the plot is very much the same, in good ways and bad.In all, you can tell this is a high-quality helmet. From the extensive protection technologies to the durable design, everything on the helmet is well finished.

After the accident I realized how important it is to get the right helmet. I tried on every helmet I could and got the one that fit best which for me was the poc trabec race. I really wanted a full face but it just can't work for my xc style riding. I took my family to the same stores for an excruciating full afternoon of helmet fitting. Kids and wife all ended up strongly preferring the TLD (which was too small for me so not a candidate.) Both helmets feature the slip-plane technology MIPS. MIPS stands for Multi directional Impact Protection System, which reduces the possibility of brain damage occurring to the rider following an angled impact. Both helmets have 16 vents in total. However, the ventilation on the Montaro is ever so slightly better. This is due to the smaller shape of the helmet and the fitting system, which holds the shell slightly away from the rider’s head, allowing more air to flow. Overall, the ventilation is good, but not great. Helmets such as the Fox Speedframe, Troy Lee Designs A2, or the 100% Altec do have better ventilation systems, but it still beats the Troy Lee Designs A1 out of the park! I personally didn’t find the limited ventilation much of a problem (and I have a fair bit of hair!) so it is up to personal preference, or where you ride for this one. How it Looks If I'd been wearing a Bell Super2R with the face guard the side of my head would have been protected. BUT that helmet doesn't have anything close to adequate ventilation for me. Yeah the facebar is removable but I was riding in a flat section when I fell.The visor is slightly longer than the standard styles, but it doesn’t really stand out, and I find it quite useful when you have the sun glaring into your eyes while descending in the open sections. Features Review Camera & Light Integration Testers found the Montaro to be a relatively comfortable helmet. Again, it scored well in this metric but was bested by several other competitors. Its comfort starts with its fit, and Giro seems to know how to shape a helmet after all these years. It's offered in four sizes, Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large, to fit a huge range of head sizes. Assuming you get the correct size, the width and length seem pretty average and should please a huge range of head shapes.