This is by far the most comfortable helmet I have ever tried on. I tried on several from other major competitors and none could compare. The cushioning is minimal but provides just what is needed, and the cinching system adjusts nicely to create a supremely comfortable fit, while benefiting from the MIPS technology. I do wish Giro had included extra cushioning strips as they had with previous helmets I have owned.
I've had two of these helmets. Bought the first one in 2015 and about a year after purchasing went down on some train tracks it the rain. My head bounced of the track pretty good and the helmet took the brunt of it. Got a replacement through Giro's crash replacement program, which at 40% MSRP. Went over the bars today landed hard, and cracked the second one in two places. Can't say enough about this helmet or Giro in general. I have been wearing them from 25 years as they just fit my head really, really well right out of the box so that's huge as far as protection is concerned. I have probably owned 20 Giro helmets (road and mountain) since 1992 and the Synthe is a great helmet, not noticeable when you wear it, very comfortable. I've wanted to check out POC and Kask but have had such good luck with Giro, there's really no reason for me to switch. Typically I'll average between 3-4000 miles a year on a bike, depending. Going to get another one of these or maybe an Aether.
Have been riding for 30 plus years and have had prior Giro helmets. This product is very light, almost to the point where when wearing it is not noticeable, does not move around the perimeter of the head, has little to no interference with the rider's view from side to side. The enclosure is very snug and well fitting, though without any need to overtighten to bind to the rider's head shape. Giro has finally figured out how to create a helmet that even after long rides of over two-plus hours, the unit does not feel heavy, cumbersome, or need continual adjustments - something I have had with other high-end helmets and gear. The straps are not too long and are easy to adjust, the same for the dials to set the inner enclosure.
I'm on my third Giro Synthe Mips. They fit me really well, are incredibly lightweight, and protect your head really well. I've had a couple of serious knocks in the head, serious enough to warrant a new helmet, and the Synthe Mips protected me head really well.
After 5years of use had to retire my trusty GIRO Atmos...Hello Synthe! Lightweight, good aero profile while very well vented and MIPS tech upgrade are all quite welcome. The interior is well cushioned and the straps are snug and comfy on your face. the dial ratchet is really adjustable and works better than the Atmos press-on system. Color schemes of all types avail..my white red orange gets plenty of nice lid remarks during training rides.
I ride between100 and 150 miles a week. My helmet is very comfortable and extremely light. The airflow helps keep my head cool. The interior lining is comfortable and the helmet can be easily adjusted. I recommend this helmet wholeheartedly.
This is the second Synthe I have owned. I tested my first one and competitors for cooling in a makeshift way at the Portland warehouse store. Cooling was a high priority for my selection since I ride hot in the summer. I use a Giro cap under it for cooler weather. On my first ride while going down a fast hill I had descended many times before, I had the distinct sense that my head felt more free in the passing air. My speedometer confirmed a small but noticeable gain. The other reason I chose this helmet was the very comfortable fit. The best I found for me.
So why am I on my second helmet in two years? It was the other reason for selecting the Synthe that I simply took for granted. I crashed at 18-20 mph. It seemed like a perfect 5 point landing and had the bloody scrapes on my knees, elbow, hip and shoulder to prove it. I thought I might have glanced my head, but the helmet seemed to have only minor cosmetic damage. I wore the helmet on the next ride and laid it on the table at the break. One of my fellow riders noticed that the helmet was now split at the back. It likely saved me from a concussion or worse, and I did not even know it. I am sold on this helmet!
I had been using a Savant MIPS, upgraded to the Synthe MIPS when there was a sale, and love it. It's so comfortable I hardly even think about it while riding, other than occasionally adjusting the micro adjuster, which I can do on the bike. The micro adjuster is extremely handy to compensate for the change when I put a skullcap on or off in the winter. I also like that the height of the rear band mount is adjustable, easy to get the fit snug but not tight. The sunglasses dock seems mainly useful for pros (who have sunglasses sponsors) or folks who wear cheap sunglasses. Me, I need glasses to see where I'm going so (a) I'm not going to take them off while riding and (b) even if I did, they are Transitions Progressive lenses, which are FAR too expensive to risk leaving perched on the helmet where they might fall to the ground if I forgot they were there when I removed my helmet. And if they fell off and broke, finding my way home would be a problem! So I just keep my glasses on and fasten the helmet straps over them.
I have a Bontrager Solstice, which is an an entry-level MIPS helmet, but wanted something lighter and more aero. I looked at Poc, Kask, Bell, Specialized...watched hours of reviews... TBH the Synthe wasn't my first choice but I couldn't justify paying $100+ more for my top pick. The Synthe is definitely lighter than the Solstice but it feels like it might come at the expense of coverage. The fit is good and there's plenty of ventilation. For the price I'd buy again.
When I purchased this helmet a couple of years ago, I spent a bit more than I was planning to spend on a helmet, but I have no regrets. For starters, the Giro Synthe MIPS Helmet is a good looking helmet, and it feels great on. But this summer I realized the true benefit of buying a helmet at this level. I was doing my usual daily ride on the Burlington bike path, a beautiful, paved 7-mile stretch that parallels the shoreline of Lake Champlain. I'd ridden this route hundreds of times on my road bike.
At the north end of the route, where the bike path merges with a neighborhood street, there's an optional curb cut that puts you right onto the street. I always take it. But if you approach that curb cut from the street side, there's a 3/4-inch-high curb you have to get over. There were a couple of other riders approaching me on the bike path that day, so I took that curb cut at a sharper angle than I normally do. I was out of the saddle at the time. The curb caught my front tire and threw the bike toward the pavement. My head struck the ground with enough force to crack the interior of the helmet. But remarkably, I didn't suffer even a minor concussion. MIPS did it's job beautifully. When I got home, I ordered two more Giro Synthe MIPS helmets in different colors.
This helmet Is as good as advertised, the ventilation is superb and you barely notice you're wearing it. Of course it looks really nice as well, great design all around.
Been using Giro for years very good helmets.. nice lightweight. Saved me from a concussion several times.
I am a 72 year old road and trail rider and have been riding 31 years. After using several helmets over the years and noticing many improvements I purchased a Giro Synthe. On the second ride I had a road accident where I hit my shoulder and then my head. The shoulder pain was excruciating but my head did not hurt and it was later in the day when I found two big dents in the temple area of the helmet. Without the Synthe I do not know how bad the injuries would have been. Thanks to Giro for making SAFE products.
I crashed last March (2019) and that pretty much destroyed my old expanded polystyrene (EPS) helmet. While the EPS mostly did its job (I wouldn't be here to write this review had I not been wearing it), I did end up with a concussion. Needless to say, safety and overall protection for future crashes (yes, they WILL happen) was foremost on my mind. But I also wanted to get a helmet that was comfortable, had great cooling, and was reasonably lightweight. For an independent look at safety, I studied the Virginia Tech Bicycle Helmet Ratings (httpswww.helmet.beam.vt.edubicycle-helmet-ratings.html). The Synthe MIPS is among their five star helmets (their highest rating). For other features, I read many reviews (best helmets of 2019, etc.) and the Giro Synthe MIPS helmet seemed to be one of the top picks in several of them. I've been back on the bike now for about two months and have worn the Synthe MIPS for every mile. So far it's everything I had hoped it would be - lightweight, comfortable, and cool. I hope never to test its protective features to their full extent, but if I do, I'm confident it will do its job.
This is a great helmet. I have an older version as well. My Smith glasses fit perfectly.
I spend 300 hours a year on my road bike. We've had a number of crashes in my club this year and it made me think about the MIPS technology. I'm in right on the cusp of medium and large. Did the measurement and went with medium, which turned out great. Have just enough room for head cover if needed.
I stick with Giro helmets as they always seem to fit me well, and this was an upgrade from my last helmet. It's light, fits great with or without hatsheadbands underneath, keeps nice and cool, and the color scheme I bought is a great match for my bike. Only has a couple of the removable inner pads, which frankly I like as there is less to lose, and there is no compromise in comfort. I couldn't be happier with this one!
I am sold on MIPS after crashing and seeing how the impact force was distributed. Broke the helmet and didn't feel the impact as much as I had expected. I immediately replaced the helmet with a new Synthe MIPS. My prior helmet was a Giro Pro-light which was not as heavy as the Synthe, but I consider this a fair trade-off, though I do miss the lighter helmet.
This is a great light helmet with excellent ventilation and improved safety utilizing the MIPS system. This is my everyday helmet and I recently wore it while racing at the National Senior Games in Birmingham, AL finishing on the podium twice.
Hi, I've had this helmet-in all black-for a few months and I've really enjoyed it's quality. It's very breathable and comfortable. If you happen to be considering buying one, I have no regrets with my purchase of it, and if you do get one, you shouldn't have any regrets either.
