Filippo Ganna and the INEOS Grenadiers give us a sneak peek on the subsequent era reshaping of the Kask Utopia aero street helmet. Its secret to extra pace seems to be extra protection. Much less further protection for further protection for improved security. However as a substitute, a cowl that smooths airflow over the rider’s ears, plus reshaped consumption & exhaust vents….
Sneak Peek: New Kask Utopia aero street helmet, coming quickly
Kask has not but given us any new details about a design reboot to their top-tier Utopia aero street helmet. In actual fact, they simply up to date the traditional Utopia Y final spring, after half a decade of professional racing.
However the INEOS Grenadiers workforce has been prominently exhibiting off an all-new iteration of the aerodynamic lid throughout social media since they unveiled their new colours on January 1st. And the variations are fairly excessive.
Most notably, ear cowls.
What’s new? And is it actually a brand new Utopia?
Formally we don’t know for certain that the brand new aero street helmet will retain the Kask Utopia identify. However the total profile – each from instantly in entrance or the aspect – is analogous sufficient, that I might exit on a limb and predict it will likely be nonetheless be a Utopia, possibly with a unique letter tacked on the top. Assume Utopia X, possibly?
What Kask modified are: upgraded aerodynamics and smaller exterior vents. The brand new standout function is a small fairing that drops down a bit on the sides to cowl the highest of the rider’s ears. Presumably, the objective like on their Bambino Professional TT helmet is to easy airflow off the bike owner’s face or sun shades, because it passes your bumpy ears. Curiously, SunGod eyewear sponsor INEOS, not Kask’s personal KOO. So maybe KOO may even debut particular sun shades designed for even smoother aerodynamics.
Wanting on the varied positioning on a couple of of the workforce riders’ heads, these with a better match of the helmet seem to have this cowl urgent their ears a bit again in opposition to their heads. Whereas riders which may have sized up on their helmet appear to have extra room for his or her ears.
We’ll definitely be curious to see how snug that is. And the way massive the aero positive factors are, as soon as the helmet formally launches.
What else do we all know?
The ear covers are probably the most placing change. However Kask actually fully modified the vent structure, as nicely.
The three decrease front-facing vents are principally unchanged. However Kask shifted the highest vent additional ahead. And so they fully eliminated the two higher aspect vents. This fully shales up Kask’s ‘Hyvent’ idea. However presumably means a lot smoother aerodynamics, particularly because the rider adjustments head place.
On the again, there may be nonetheless a pointy pointed tail. However now unsurprisingly, the three rear exhaust vents have been pinched right down to a a lot smaller peak, matching the diminished consumption vent space on the entrance. Kask presently charges the Utopia Y as 4/5 for air flow. We’d guess this new one is extra like a 3/5.
The INEOS workforce are additionally seen within the fully-vented all-rounder Elemento which debuted final summer time promising most aero advantages and 5/5 air flow. We additionally simply so occurred to publish a full evaluation of that lid at the moment, as nicely.
From a closing particulars and security viewpoint, this new model of the Utopia nonetheless makes use of an analogous 2-piece in-mold building like the present helmet. And it appears like the identical adjustable Octofit+ dial retention. And there’s a spherical purple WG11 sticker on the again. So it meets Kask’s personal rotational affect safety customary, too.
How quickly is coming quickly for a brand new Kask Utopia?
As for when it will likely be accessible, how mild it will likely be, or how a lot it’s going to value? We don’t have any concrete information.
We’ve reached out to Kask for remark, and can replace right here as soon as we hear again in additional element.
