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Though biking days for this season are limited for me, I’m still trying to crank out a few last road rides before the weather totally turns and the roads become skating rinks. Before heading out on a ride, I grab my Specialized Prevail Biking Helmet to protect my dome from anything from flying debris to the unexpected spill.
Specialized S-Works Prevail Helmet Details
- Dual Density EPS Foam
- Kevlar Inner Matrix reinforcement
- Mega Pouthport and 4th Dimension Cooling System for ventilation
- Ultralight Mindset micro dial fit system with height adjustability
- Tri-Fix web splitter, Instrap webbing attachment and 4X DryLite webbing on straps
- MSRP $230
Specialized S-Works Prevail Helmet Review
Along with using the Prevail for my daily rides, I used the Prevail this summer on my biking epic from Seattle, WA to Eureka, CA so it definitely saw a lot of use. Part of the daily biking ensemble, the Prevail spent a lot of time on the job this summer, protecting my head from all sorts of maladies. Fortunately, the biking trip was relatively incident free, so no reports on how it functions in a major collision. However, I can report that I loved the Micro Adjust system, which ensured that the Prevail sat comfortably on my head for thousands of miles. I can also report that the venting system is awesome, and my head never really overheated. I liked the lightweight profile of the helmet as well- more often than not, I’d forget it was on my head and be traipsing around camp, hours after getting off the bike, still donning my helmet. Yes, I am that girl. However, the steep price tag of the S-Works Prevail make that lightweight benefit a bit less justifiable for the casual cyclist. Since I’m not a “shave my arms to get rid of extra drag and weight” kind of cyclist, the ounces saved, while a nice bonus, was not enough to tip the scales and suddenly make me think that the $200 plus price tag for a biking helmet should become the norm for everyone. That being said, the features, profile and weight of the S-Works Prevail are fantastic. If you’re a dedicated cyclist who looks to shave weight off wherever you can, the S-Works Prevail is definitely the top of the line, lightweight helmet. Just as anything within Specialized’s S-Works line, you’ll get the best available technology on the market.
The Good
- 4th Dimension Cooling System and exhaust ports do a great job ventilating- I always had a nice breeze going on my head.
- Mindset Microdial is easy to adjust, and, for you ladies out there, easy to wedge a pony tail around. Still room for your hair and the adjustment system.
- Light, light, light! I promise, you’ll forget it’s on.
The Bad
- A steep price tag makes these top of the line features less accessible to your everyday cyclist.
- I found that the Tri-Fix adjustment didn’t sit exactly on my head as I would have liked it to, and since it’s not adjustable, I couldn’t change that. A downside to the fixed webbing system.
Bottom Line
A top of the line racing helmet with top of the line features and a top of the line price tag. If you’re looking to save weight, manage your ventilation better, adjust easier, and, hey, match your S-Works Team Jersey as an added bonus, the S-Works Prevail is the helmet to consider.
;)
