Limar Ultralight+ helmet

Limar's Ultralight helmet range contains a mixture of road and MTB lids under the title 'The world's lightest helmet' and with the Ultralight Road coming in at just 160g (medium) that could well be true.

The one we're looking at here though is the Ultralight+, still light at 175g (medium) but this has an extra fairing at the rear to aid air flow through the rear compared to the standard Ultralight. It also makes the '+' look a bit more aggressive if you like that sort of thing.

Manufacturing starts with the in mould construction, the foam interior is 'blown in' to the hard shell while it is still in the mould rather than taped or glued in, effectively creating a single construction which allows 22 vents to get the ventilation up while keeping the weight down.

Getting the right fit is a simple procedure whether pre-ride or on the fly; a quick twist of the dial to adjust the cage round your noggin and then quick release cam dividers allow you to tweak the clearance around your ears.

The pads are removable for washing and are also anti bacterial cutting down on whiffy helmet syndrome. Bug mesh is added as part of the in moulding process for the frontal vents, plus included in the box is a padded section for the rear if you want all over protection.

All good so far but nothing really groundbreaking compared to other helmets in the £130 price range (although we've found the Limar cheaper online), so it all comes down to how it feels on your head. The only issue there, you can't actually feel it on your head it's so light and comfortable. I probably only wear a helmet 50% of the time, mostly as I don't enjoy the feeling of having something strapped to my head but with the Limar I was happy to ride for hours with it on. The pads have plenty of cushioning and once the dial is tightened they spread the load well without any pressure points and the padded chinstrap is a nice touch as well.

The three large front vents really scoop the air in over your forehead keeping you cool at speed but even when things get warm on the climbs the sheer number of vents stop any excessive heat build up. The shape of the shell itself is quite shallow, starting quite high up the side of your head - which does at least allow plenty of room for the arms of your sunglasses between helmet and ears.

The Limar is tested to CE EN 1078 so you should be protected to the same level as pretty much every other helmet on the European market. If you do deck it, there is a 50% crash replacement policy (providing you register the helmet within 8 days of purchase) as long as the helmet is less than 3 years old.

Now a hundred and thirty quid is a lot of money for a lump of polystyrene whichever way you look at it but comparing the Ultralight+ to its competitors, it's worth it for both the low weight and comfort.

It is one of the most comfortable helmets I've worn. It's a viable alternative to Giro's Prolight and a choice of five colours and two sizes (M, 53-57cm & L, 57-61cm) should see plenty of options for most people. If you're in the market for a lightweight lid the Ultralight+ is worth considering.

Verdict

A lightweight, very comfortable helmet with enough features to justify its price tag.