This year our 3athlon.be editors received a selection of aero road helmets to test for your amusement. For starters there is the Team Sky approved Kask Infinity. To opt for an aero road helmet is not illogical in the eyes of the triathlete: no pointy end on the backside making training a pain in the back but aero qualities nevertheless and thus suitable for racing. It might just be that the aero road helmet becomes the new standard in triathlon…
The Infinity stands out by his (seemingly) fully closed frontal area. Initially, only two small vents are visible, making it a very aggressive looking helmet. The most remarkable feature is the plate on top of the helmet. In no time and no effort you can switch from a fully closed aero design to a more ventilated helmet. All this while not looking like a mushroom on your head, thanks to the pointy front of the helmet, even small heads look somewhat acceptable in it.
There are lots of color to choose from. 10 different combinations make that everybody will find something they like. It’s a shame there is no 3athlon.be orange among it.
The available sizes are a bit of a let down. The scope covered by M (52-58cm) and L (59-62cm) seems disadvantaging for those with smaller heads. Being among them, I must confess I didn’t look like Toad. Nintendo fans will get the picture.
It is mentioned before, there is a choice between an open and a closed helmet. One with only two small inlets, another with two small and three large inlets. Test rides in January and February showed that with the plate closed, there is no additional need for an isolating cap. Even more, during intensive blocks the closed slit proved a bit too hot (not that I’m a reference, I stop functioning at 25°C). The opened design gave enough of a draft to cool me down, without fearing for my hair. This implies that during summer, the ventilation will probably not be sufficient.
The inner lining of the Infinity is 3D Dry Padding. Speaks for itself, so we never got the feeling of having a wet rag put on our heads during the ride. Hygiene is provided by the Sanitized Treated Fabric.
Very little to remark on this subject. It’s a standard clips as you can find on a lot of helmets. Remarkable however is the Eco-leather Chinstrap. This chinstrap is a simple out-and-back design fixed by a rubber band. But the material itself is top! Smooth and comfortable as we have never seen before. Around the ears there is no adjustment possible.
The helmet includes the standard twister to adjust the inner liner to your head. In addition to that, they have fitted the Octo-Fit. It is a sliding system making it possible to adjust to inner liner to the curve of the back of our head. For the ladies this has some implications: depending on the shape of your head, you might not have enough space to fit your ponytail. Our beloved assistant showed us that the race-braid is no problem. Even more, the helm fits even that bit more comfortable with the braid.
It’s a helmet to love, but consider your T1 actions before buying it! There are no vents placed in a way that they can fit sunglasses. It would be a shame to pay €190 if you’re not willing to change your routing.
