I've put about 15 hours into this helmet at the time I'm writing this - on warm spring days and colder days, some with some pretty stout winds and I've been very happy with this helmet throughout.
Number one, for me, is that it is incredibly quiet. There is very very little wind noise from this helmet, which is a great relief. In the last year I've ridden a Rudy Windmax and a Giro Air Attack and this is decidedly the quietest of the bunch.
Secondly, it's amazingly light - to the point that after a while on the bike I stop noticing it. The retention system has a nice fine adjustment on it so you can dial it in to prevent hotspots and pinching and it holds its position very well.
Third, it's very wind-stable. This is a variable I hadn't really appreciated until I got the Air Attack and noticed how stable my head felt even at high speed (40 mph) or in a strong headwind. The Synthe is at least as stable as the AIr Attack if not more so.
Lastly, it looks nice. I liked the science of the Air Attack but it was too mushroom-like on my head and i just never really enjoyed wearing it. The Synthe looks sharp and the glasses port in the vents is fantastic (one of the best parts of the helmet actually).
All in all I can confidently say that if I crashed or broke this helmet I would replace it in kind without a second thought. I crashed my old Windmax and decided to try something else. The Air Attack was good but not the complete package. The Synthe is just that - an excellent combination of high end features and good looks. Well worth the price for a serious cyclist.
After a couple thousand miles with the Synthe I have one complaint...the design of the adjustment wheel needs to be changed. For whatever reason I always need to tighten the fit after I've worked up a sweat. The tiny little hard plastic adjustment wheel is difficult to get a grip on while riding especially with sweaty fingers and is difficult to turn. Note to Giro...change to a larger diameter adjust wheel with a rubber edge so it can easily be adjusted at speed. Other than that I stand by my initial review...excellent helmet.
I bought this helmet a couple of months ago and I have to say, I am very disappointed in it. Knowing that all helmets sold in the US need to pass the same safety checks, I really expected something better from a high end helmet.
It's possibly true that it is more aerodynamic, I am not going to do wind tunnel testing on it to prove disprove it.
I find the minimal padding it has to be uncomfortable. I have a large, and this is the size the chart says I should have.
Also, the straps are terrible. My wife has a Specialized Prevail and it has a really nice three way &8203,connector for the straps so that they lay flat against her face. Mine has a really cheap sliding connector that make the straps stick up and dig into my face. This is my biggest complaint.
I must say this was my first Giro helmet, and it will likely be my last. For what it cost I really expected more.
Great fit, sits low on the head. Nice oval cut!
My Giro and Limar are both more than a few years old so it was time to replace. The Synth promised aerodynamic efficiency and cranial cooling (I prefer my cranium chilled). It looks cool, too. Or at least it did on the cranium's of the BMC squad in last year's TdF.
So I ordered the large and when it arrived I was pleased with the shape, design, and retention system. i was NOT pleased with the Death Star Fire Control Operator look.
I took the advice of another reviewer on here and ordered the Large - Mistake. I exchanged for a medium and the fit is low and close without being a vise. So order whatever size you normally wear.
It looks pro, seems light, and it far more venty than it appears in the glamor shots. I really like the Roc loc 5 suspension retention system. Very lightweight yet secure. The x-static material in the straps are a nice touch.
Minor gripe Finish was less than perfect. I found quite a few ragged edges where the shell material wasn't trimmed with care. I'm sure they are cranking out a ton of these somewhere in China but for this price, take an extra 30 seconds per unit for QA checks and reject sloppy trim.
The most comfortable Giro helmet I've owned. Great combination of aero, cooling vents and weight (it's light!) feature to hold sunglasses is nice but with a lot of bouncing (if you use it for mtb'ing) they might slight slide out... overall a great comfortable helmet.
The helmet had the strap by the temple folded over with the fold on the side facing my head, rubbing my temple. Very bothersome and uncomfortable. Besides that it looks like a good helmet.
I have both the Synthe and Aeon. What I like better about the Synthe is there seems to be better airflow than Aeon. I also like how there is much better place to put my glasses on the Synthe without me worrying about them falling off. My only complaint about the Synthe is I prefer one color on the helmet than multi-color. They are both great helmets.
This is a terrific, snugly-fitting helmet. I can't verify the aero claims, but this helmet has to be cooler than most aero alternatives.
I got this at a fairly steep discount with an additional store credit so I couldn't pass it up. Unlike some of the other aero helmets out there this one far exceeded my expectations. You can barely feel it on your head as it has really only a couple touch points and it is extremely comfortable. Very light and a great upgrade to make you feel fast even if you aren't! Would buy several if I could to have backups if it gets destroyed somehow.
This is my first helmet purchase..I decided to buy one now that I am a senior citizen.
I got the RED,WHITE and BLUE one so people won't run me off the road...
Look Bobby, there is a 'merican.....
I've worn many different Giro helmets over the years and the Synthe beats them all for comfort, weight, style, and supposedly, aerodynamics. The helmet's inner retention system slightly lifts the shell off the top of your head, which gives it a floaty feel, and might also facilitate air flow inside the shell. I've worn my Synthe on several rides in humid 80 degree weather and never felt like my head was overheating. The Synthe also feels light, I can't report actual weight compared to claimed weight, but you certainly won't notice any neck or shoulder fatigue from it during or after a long ride. Lastly, the Synthe's curves and compact profile make it look really nice, regardless of whether or not all this helps you cheat the wind.
Synthe is a comparatively reasonable deal. If you put aside the cost issue, it's just a great all around helmet, on or off road.
Not sure if it makes me faster but it's very light and comfortable. I think it's a bit more quiet than my last Giro helmet.
A Giro Atmos saved my head in a crash two years ago, so that is the only brand of helmet I use. I really like the new Synthe. It is well ventilated and very light.
Lightweight and comfortable. Size seems to fit true - I'm normally a medium and this helmet fit great.
Great idea to make a helmet that is comfortable enough to wear on every ride yet gives you the same, if not better, aero qualities that are found in a TT helmet!
Giro was able to reduce the number of vents but increase the cooling abilities of this helmet. I have a Giro Aeon helmet that I have used for 3 years and love the ventilation, the Synthe is just as comfortable. Sizing was a bit smaller than my Aeon so double check your head circumference before ordering!
This helmet is as light as my Aeon feels like I'm not wearing a helmet feel more aero than my air attack unlike the aeon and air attack feels bulky this helmet hugs around my head. Size is smaller than my Aeon and Air Attack helmet perfect for my 51 cm head and ventilation is good.
I wrecked and had to replace my Giro Aeon. First of all, I have to comment on how great the Aeon protected my melon. While laying on the ground bleeding here and there, my first thought was how great the helmet protected me. It worked like a charm. However, I hated my Aeon. My biggest complaint was that there was no place to put my Oakley Flak Jackets. How could the top of the line Giro Aeon not address sunglasses? Well, the Synthe solved the problem with its sunglass specific design. My second complaint about the Aeon is that I sweat like a dog in it...and right in to my eyes. Something about the way that it vented and the way it sat on my head seemed to guide the sweat to my eyes. My Giro Ionos that I had before the Aeon did not do this. Again, the Synthe saved the day. The RocLoc Air lifts the helmet slightly off of my noggin and the sweat issues are gone due to much better venting than the Aeon ever had. The Synthe is everything you would expect from a flagship helmet.
This is a very different helmet from Giro. I have used the Atmos for years and the Prolight for quite a while.
The Synthe has the Roc Loc Air fit system which it nice to have to dial in the fit of the retention system. The Prolight has just straps with no dial adjust so it can not be tightened. That is good for weight but not good for securing the helmet to your head for shooting video.
The Synthe is noticeably quieter than the other two when you turn your head while riding. You can hear that the air is moving more smoothly over the helmet. Does that make you faster? I have no data to support that, but any reduction in noise is a nice think on a windy ride.
The Synthe costs more than the other two but it has some nice features with the aerodynamics and the fit system holding the helmet off the head so that more air can travel between your head and the inside of the helmet.
Wears and feels like a lightweight helmet and well ventilated. I am trusting the aero benefit which is needed in windy Kansas.
