Tech specs: Ekoi Aerodinamica
Worth: $248.49 / £195.99 / £195.99
Accessible colors: Black and pink / White and pink
Rotational Affect expertise: Koroyd
Weight: 334g as measured in measurement M
On this planet of contemporary biking aerodynamics are king and the greatest aero helmets supply as a lot aero financial savings as a wheelset. In brief, if you wish to go quick, helmets matter and an aero helmet is an effective way to cheat the wind. Aerodynamics can also be an effective way so as to add worth to the shopping for proposition. For all these causes, there are a whole lot of aero helmets hitting the market.
Regardless of all of the choices on the market, when the Ekoi Aerodinamica appeared final summer season it nonetheless managed to make a splash and seize consideration. It might be that Ekoi is a typical title in WorldTour racing or perhaps it was the selection to make use of an extremely eye-catching black and white “camouflage” design when the Aerodinamica first appeared. It actually would not harm to have the well-known Pininfarina title connected to a helmet design for the primary time ever. When you aren’t acquainted with the model Pininfarina is a specialist Italian automotive design agency who’ve designed automobiles for the likes of Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. Regardless of the motive although, hype doesn’t suggest you should purchase one thing.
Pininfarina designed a motorcycle helmet for the primary time, however that does not imply it is good. The Ekoi Aerodinamica appeared within the WorldTour however, once more, that does not imply it is good. In case you are contemplating a brand new helmet, you want one thing that is value your cash. Aero helmets could be a little bit of a black field however a helmet is a helmet and you need to put on it. I took the Ekoi Aerodinamica out on a motorcycle to check what it was like to really put on. Divorced from sponsored racing and hype, do you have to take a leap on this new helmet? That is the query I’ve requested throughout my time with this helmet. Maintain studying to see if that is the suitable helmet for you.
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Design and aesthetics
There is a sort of collective understanding that aero bikes all look a bit the identical. My colleague Will Jones did a little bit of a deep dive into the reality, or not, of that notion however to date helmets have discovered refuge from sameness. Aero helmets have proliferated however, with fewer UCI guidelines concerned, the silhouette of the completely different manufacturers has remained pretty completely different. Maybe that’s altering although because the Ekoi Aerodinamica does look remarkably just like the Trek Ballista that got here to market in early 2023.
The similarities doubtless come from the truth that each Ekoi and Trek helmets seem to tug a sample from a full-force TT helmet. Additionally, regardless of the passing similarities, the 2 designs differ greater than you may first suppose. As you look at the 2 aspect by aspect you may discover that the Ballista is an extended design that factors the exhaust air down whereas the Ekoi is shorter. Though there are similarities, the 2 helmets look to really pull patterns from various kinds of TT helmets.
If I go away the comparability behind a bit and as a substitute give the Ekoi Aerodinamica an opportunity to face alone, the very first thing you may discover is how few vents there are. Airflow for the entire helmet comes down to 3 vertical slots within the entrance paired with a big, divided, rear exhaust. The outer two vents have a curve to them in addition to a small assist brace within the centre. The central consumption lacks each a divider and a curve however nonetheless matches the bulbous curve of the helmet as the attention travels in direction of the again.
Visually the mixed impact of the weird curve and the restricted venting feels a bit mid-century fashionable to me. That is additional helped by the slight peak within the centre of the underside entrance edge and the pink/white color scheme. Driving it house is the Pininfarina emblem with its golden age script that seems on the rear backside edge on both aspect plus the centre part. I believe the impact would diminish barely in black nevertheless the black and pink colorway drives the purpose residence additional with using repeating strains and a stripe of pink on high. It appears Pininfarina is making a reference to vehicles just like the 1935 Alfa Romeo 6C Pescara or the 1971 Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer that the model is legendary for.
Though the outside may lack in the way in which of venting, the actual story of airflow reveals itself once you flip the helmet over. Paired with the three massive entrance vents there may be intensive inside shaping to effectively transfer the air throughout your head and out the quick rear vent. It seems much more wind tunnel optimisation went into shifting air by means of the helmet in comparison with over it.
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What you may additionally discover on the inside is using Koroyd. Koroyd is a fabric that replaces EPS foam in a helmet with what appears to be like like a sequence of plastic straws bundled collectively. As a result of the centre of every “straw” is open it is potential to make use of Koroyd as a manner so as to add airflow however on this case, Ekoi is simply utilizing Koroyd “plugs.” The fabric is inset into the EPS beneath the raised channels the place the padding touches your head. That covers 4 sections on the highest and sides of the helmet and EPS covers the outer floor of the Koroyd.
Though this association removes any airflow benefit it does, presumably, let the Koroyd act as an angular impression expertise. This helmet lacks each acknowledged particulars on that entrance and Virginia Tech testing however the capacity to crush and shift throughout a collision is among the major benefits that Koroyd has. One other benefit that Koroyd enjoys is weight discount nevertheless at 334 grams in measurement medium, the Aerodinamica will not be a light-weight helmet. What’s offsetting any Koroyd weight saving is probably going the retention system.
When helmets just like the current Lazer Z1 Kineticore lean into weight financial savings, it is regular for designs to undertake tips like light-weight straps. Within the case of the Aerodinamica, Ekoi appears to have shifted in the other way. The straps on this helmet are thick and heavy materials that resists bunching and flapping within the wind. There’s additionally a comparatively heavy Fidlock magnetic buckle and heavy strap dividers. The rear cradle is a bit much less weighty utilizing an ATOP Lacing System that pulls in opposition to wires and floats freed from the rear of the helmet. It is an association that’s once more paying homage to the Ballista.
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Efficiency
In terms of aero helmets there are a whole lot of issues I’ve to take as a right. I am unable to check impression safety so I’ve to depend on Virginia Tech testing to get a way of relative efficiency. I can also’t check aerodynamic efficiency and should take an excellent greater leap of religion by accepting the phrase of the corporate promoting a helmet. So when the Ekoi Aerodinamica arrived and Ekoi did not have any declare of efficiency or a Virginia Tech outcome, I needed to suppose by means of what that meant.
Security is pretty easy. Though Virginia Tech gives third-party rating of helmets a scarcity of rating would not essentially imply something in any respect. Each helmet you should purchase has handed the required authorities security assessments for the placement the place they’re obtainable on the market. Through the years I’ve examined helmets I’ve seen a wide range of authentic causes {that a} good helmet lacks a Virginia Tech rating and I’ve additionally seen good helmets that do not supply any motive for not having a check outcome. For years Kask helmets lacked the rating due to a disagreement in regards to the methodology and none of the present POC helmets have a rating both.
Then there are aero efficiency claims. They nearly at all times come from the corporate promoting the helmets. I doubt they’re unfaithful however there is a 100% probability that these statements spotlight the nice and pass over different particulars. Ekoi would not supply any for the Aerodinamica and once I pushed all I obtained was “a claimed 3-watt financial savings and a couple of.6% higher cooling in comparison with main aero helmets” however that does not say a lot.
In each circumstances, it leaves a query of what the absence of these particulars means? Most likely not a lot in the long run but it surely does make my job a bit more durable. I prefer to have clear claims to measure in opposition to and spotlight. Ekoi provides none for the Aerodinamica. There are a number of platitudes like “Sculpted to perfection by the magic of the wind tunnel” and there are a number of revered names concerned however concrete claims are missing. As a substitute of measuring in opposition to particular claims, I needed to take the Ekoi Aerodinamica out on my bike and see what got here to the forefront.
In the long run, what stood out to me was a mix of trend and luxury. On the consolation aspect of issues, there are a number of strap particulars that I lined above as doubtless weight contributors. I personally like to make use of the lightest helmet potential however I’ve to concede that the magnetic buckle and thick webbing are very snug. The rear cradle is straightforward to regulate and versatile sufficient that it eliminates any stress factors and the mixture of the straps and the cradle do a fantastic job protecting the Ekoi Aerodinamica secure in your head. The thick padding additionally feels luxurious, and I really like how little it strikes round on a day-to-day foundation. I am much less in love with the rear dial although.
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Not like BOA, ATOP would not regulate in each instructions. When tightening the helmet down there are indentations that click on and it is similar to BOA. On this specific case, the outer fringe of the dial makes use of rubber that additionally helps it really feel quick and exact. When it is time to loosen the dial although, it is not exact in any respect. As a substitute of clicking indents it takes roughly half a rotation to loosen the grip on the cable then the dial stops. To get any adjustment you pull the cable out of the dial then cease and tighten it once more. It is not troublesome when carrying it but it surely’s a trouble if you wish to loosen all of it the way in which up earlier than placing the helmet on over a cap.
The opposite side of this helmet is the style. Style is a matter of opinion however I am a giant proponent of being truthful about how vital it’s. Efficiency would not should drive each alternative and in case you just like the fashion of this helmet it is value permitting that to be a deciding issue. Asking Pininfarina to design a helmet and highlighting that reality is a trend play so go forward and take into account it. As I mentioned, I see a little bit of a golden age affect and a reference to Pininfarina vehicles.
There’s one other side to trend although and that’s the manner a helmet integrates with sun shades. On condition that I check a whole lot of helmets each time I’ve a brand new one, I spend a whole lot of time discovering sun shades that complement the fashion. To my thoughts, some helmets solely work properly with just a few pairs. The Aerodinamica appeared to buck that development and it labored properly with nearly each pair of glasses I attempted. As I check in the midst of winter, I am spending a whole lot of time within the Smith Flywheel and people glasses, with the marginally excessive centre, are a few of the greatest. I additionally tried quite a lot of my summer season glasses, together with my favorite POC Propel, and all of them did a fantastic job hugging the entrance fringe of the Aerodinamica for a seamless look. Even the Assos Donzi glasses, which have a thick white rim and are notoriously laborious to match with a helmet, match the Aerodinamica like a glove.
Bear in mind although that I am speaking a few trend match between glasses and helmet. I am not one to stash my glasses however in case you are this isn’t going to be a fantastic helmet for you. The entrance vents aren’t all that extensive and whilst you can flip your glasses and stick the arms into the vents securely, they stick out. There’s not sufficient room to get your lens again in opposition to the helmet so whereas I suppose it is not unattainable to do, it is a comical look.
The opposite massive query with a helmet is at all times warmth administration. It is winter so I haven’t got direct expertise with sizzling climbs within the Aerodinamica but it surely’s not laborious to inform this isn’t a extremely breathable helmet. Like different fashionable aero helmets, so long as you’re shifting the air strikes by means of the helmet however I would not need to select this one for a day of climbing. Then again, in case you are in search of a winter helmet, there’s a set of plugs for the vents coming quickly so this might be choice for quick summer season rides in addition to wet winter rides.
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Verdict
I am repeating myself however I prefer it when an organization offers a transparent and concise aerodynamic assertion for an aero helmet. Smith lists a number of helmets and the way a lot sooner the Ignite helmet is as compared and wheel firm Hunt is wonderful at offering white papers for its wheels. Most corporations aren’t doing that although. Giro claims the “Eclipse beats the closest aero street helmet competitor by 14 seconds over 100 miles at 25mph” and that is one in all my favorite helmets. The truth is that till I take a bunch of helmets to a wind tunnel. I will not be 100 per cent certain about any particular helmet aero claims. I do consider that the EKOÏ Aerodinamica is extra forgiving of a turned head than the Trek Ballista due to its form on the rear.
Since efficiency evaluation is off the desk, that leaves your sense of fashion and the way snug a helmet is. The Ekoi Aerodinamica is among the extra snug helmets I can keep in mind testing. I really like the soundness and thick pads and it is very nice that the webbing is heavy sufficient that it is not finicky. The rear cradle folds down and out of the way in which for storage but it surely would not come aside and it is simple to regulate. When you additionally obsess about the way in which your glasses work together with the forehead of your helmet then you’re doubtless going to like this helmet so long as the remainder of the silhouette works for you.
The draw back of the consolation although is that this can be a heavy helmet. On condition that some folks do not thoughts lights and equipment on their helmets, not everyone seems to be as delicate to that element. If heavy helmets bug you although, there are higher selections.
| Design and aesthetics | It feels a bit visually cumbersome to me however the way in which it integrates with sun shades makes the look extremely adaptable. | 8/10 |
| Consolation | If solely it was a bit lighter this may get an ideal rating. It’s nonetheless greater than common. | 9/10 |
| Air flow | My recommendation is that you just keep shifting while carrying this helmet to maintain cool. | 7/10 |
| Security | No Virginia Tech rating and no add-on mild for passive security. There’s nothing egregious given it passes the required assessments but it surely’s additionally not a standout. | 8/10 |
| Worth | Most aero helmets are costlier though the Giro Eclipse Spherical can also be the same worth. | 9/10 |
| Total | Row 5 – Cell 1 | 82% |
