Specialized S-Works Evade II helmet

Aero helmets are all the rage with performance-obsessed cyclists and the Specialized S-Works Evade has been a popular choice since it launched in 2013. The new S-Works Evade II is a substantial improvement, offering better ventilation, improved aero, less weight and frankly, in my opinion, much better looks. It's a top contender in the competitive aero helmet market.

• Pros: Improved weight, ventilation and aerodynamics (claimed), comfortable, looks good, choice of colours
• Cons: Aero claims tricky to validate, non-adjustable side straps

Pretty much every helmet brand now offers an aero road helmet and most are on their second generation designs, given how rapidly aero understanding has advanced in a few short years. The original Evade was good enough that it has taken the US company five years to update it.

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Since that first helmet was launched, Specialized has invested in its own wind tunnel which certainly makes it easier to test and develop aero focused products. Being able to test development changes without the usual high cost of booking a wind tunnel must certainly give the Big S a clear advantage.

The result of that time in the tunnel is a new and improved helmet, with Specialized claiming a six-second improvement over the old Evade, and 50 seconds at 40kph compared to a regular helmet. As with all aero claims, we have to take them at face value. I do wish road.cc had a wind tunnel to be able to independently benchmark these sorts of claims.

From a change you can't visualise outside a wind tunnel to one you can with your own eyes, the Evade II looks very different. Different as in better, in my humble opinion. The original Evade wasn't a looker, but a 2.5cm shorter tail and lower profile have improved things considerably.

That shorter tail also nets about a 20g weight saving. This size medium helmet pictured here weighs 254g, compared to 201g for a Prevail II. You can spot the difference between the two helmets in a side-by-side comparison, but the Evade is light enough that once you're out on the bike it doesn't feel heavy in any way.

Specialized didn't just use the wind tunnel to focus on the shape of the helmet, the vents were also designed for optimum aero and ventilation performance. Specialized reckons air flowing through the helmet not only makes it cooler but also decreases aerodynamic drag.

'If it ain't broke don't fix it' hasn't stopped Specialized replacing the conventional buckle with a magnetic closure system. It's lighter, which is good, but it's a bit more fiddly to use at first – years and years of conventional buckle use is to blame – but it quickly becomes second nature.

The same thin and light straps as used on the Prevail II sit comfortably next to the face, but I sometimes wish the Tri-Fix splitters were adjustable so you could position it perfectly beneath the ears.

A minimalist retention cradle securely clamps the helmet to head, with a small rotary dial making adjustments easy even on the move.

Drylite pads do a good job of staying dry and not ponging badly after cumulative rides and can be removed for washing. I must commend the design of the 'Gutter Action' brow pad as it does an impressive job of preventing sweat dripping down your forehead into your glasses.

When it comes to construction, the Evade is made from multi-density EPS foam with an aramid-reinforced skeleton that ensures structural integrity during an impact. It passes all the usual safety standards. There's no Mips option – Specialized, oddly, is one of the few brands that hasn't gone down the Mips route, which may or may not bother you.

Performance

The Evade II is an immediately comfortable helmet, with easy adjustment making it a cinch to get a good fit. I've got one of those heads that feels comfortable in most helmets, and I've always found Specialized helmets a perfect fit. The same is true here.

I can't really quantify Specialized's aero claims without spending time in a wind tunnel, so as with all aero claims you can only really take them at face value. I tried using a power meter and the same stretches of road but couldn't get any meaningful data without eradicating all the variables involved in such testing.

Testing ventilation is much easier, and on this front the new Evade II is a massive improvement over the old. Ventilation is the Achilles heel of many aero helmets, but the combination of redesigned vents, exhaust channels and, most importantly, big internal channels has massively improved how well the Evade manages high-intensity riding and warm weather.

> Buyer's Guide: Should you buy an aero helmet?

Granted, it's not as airy as the Prevail II, a helmet I consider to be one of the best vented, but the changes mean the Evade II can be worn comfortably every day without fear you're going to sweat buckets.

I'll admit it took some time to get used to the new magnetic buckle, and I'm still not sure I'm fully onboard with the change over a simple closure system. I'd trade it in for adjustable side straps, personally.

Although £200 is a lot of money to pay for a helmet, especially when the quality of entry-level and mid-range helmets has improved massively in recent years, if you want a state-of-the-art aero helmet that is the result of hours of testing, then you do need to pay for it.

It's cheaper and better looking in my opinion than the Giro Vanquish, but for less money there's the Kask Infinity, Giro Cinder or Bontrager Ballista to consider.

If you've really got to have an aero helmet, the new Evade is as comfortable, ventilated and sleek as they come, and rather than just save for races, it offers everyday comfort. While not a massive update, it's enough to ensure the Evade sits near the top of the aero helmet pile.

Verdict

Lighter, better ventilated, more aero (if you believe the claims) and better looking than the original