REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Excellent ventilation
Lightweight
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
No Mips
Limited protection in the back
Giro Hex Review
Giro designs solid, stylish and well functioning helmets, the Hex falls right in line
Credit: Competitive Cyclist
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Our Verdict
An excellent value for price-conscious riders looking for a rugged all-mountain helmet, the Giro Hex is loaded with premium features and has great style as well. This sleek brain protector fuses progressive style with the versatility of an all-around trail riding helmet. Not just a stylish shell, the Hex comes stocked with some of Giro's most coveted features. This helmet is for riders of all ages; it won't break the bank, and you'll still look as fast as the rider wearing a helmet costing twice as much! We like the way this helmet fits, feels, adjusts and looks.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Giro Hex is an excellent helmet for riders on a budget. It's an exceptional all-mountain helmet with loads of features and has earned multiple awards over the years.
Performance Comparison
The Hex gettin' after it!
Credit: dustin schaad
Comfort
The Hex combines progressive styling with the versatility, functionality, and comfort that you require for trail riding.
Giro's in-mold construction offers lightness and durability, while the 22 vents keep you comfortable no matter how much it heats up out there while climbing that 3,000-foot grinder.
The rear-adjustment system.
Credit: dustin schaad
Adjustments
Giro's Roc Loc 5 retention system ensures that the Hex is secure on gnarly descents, while the P.O.V. adjustable visor allows you to have confidence that the sun won't deter you during your rapid descent.
The bottom line is that the Giro Hex will hold its own on any given day.
Weight
Adding Mips to any helmet will raise the price by 25-35% and add 3-5% to the weight of the helmet. Mips (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is a leading slip-plane technology inside the helmet designed to reduce rotational forces that can result from certain impacts.
Our testers believe that MIPs is necessary for any rider that feels like they take big chances and head over the bars (OTB) a bit more often than the everyday rider. Our testers crash less often than they did when they started riding, yet feel the Hex is sufficient for any style/type rider today — including more experienced riders. Its lightweight feel, compared to say the Giro Montaro or Chronicle is noticeable. Not that the Giro helmets are heavy, but when a helmet is designed with Mips, it flat out adds a bit of weight.
The Hex has a number of well-placed vents.
Credit: dustin schaad
Ventilation
The Hex competes equally with all other brands that we tested and is much lighter on the wallet. The lightest helmet in the test plus the ventilation beats most as well.
The Hex has a non-adjustable visor.
Credit: dustin schaad
Protection
Here's the thing — every lightweight, half-shell bike helmet on the market is a one-time use product. Regardless of whether or not it has MIPs, if you smack your helmet once, you should toss it in the trash.
No Mips here, the Hex is old school.
Credit: dustin schaad
Best Applications
The Hex compliments the XC riders who start on a hardtail and move on to a more forgiving full suspension bikes. Green and blue riders will enjoy the Hex during their progression to rollable drops or rocks. The Enduro rider will embrace the Hex just as well as those long grinding climbs allowing the goggles to sit below the P.O.V. adjustable visor. Giro's Roc Loc 5 retention system will keep your skull locked and loaded for the more technical trails interspersed with jumps and bigger drops. The Hex IS NOT a downhill helmet; be sure to purchase a full-face for that style of riding.
Value
An attractively-styled trail helmet, the Hex features moderate coverage, effective ventilation, four distinct sizes, and a very reasonable price tag. Mips or similar systems are very common on modern helmets. This is one feature that the Hex is missing. Otherwise, this is the budget-conscious rider's dream!
Conclusion
The Hex has a stylish design, excellent ventilation, comfort, adjustment, weight, features, ventilation, and durability. This helmet is for all riders, of all ages that won't break the bank. You'll still look as good, if not better, than the riders wearing the 150 dollar Smith Rover or 180 dollar Troy Lee A2! We are truly impressed with the way this helmet fits, feels, adjusts and looks. Our testers dawned the Hex many mornings with confidence, knowing it would not only keep their skull safe and secure but look stylish as well.
—Dustin Schaad
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