Specialized Propero III with ANGI helmet

The mid-range Specialized Propero III with ANGI helmet provides a firm and comfortable fit alongside impressive ventilation and some innovative tech. It's not the lightest lid out there for the price, but its inclusion of many of the best elements of the high-end Prevail go a long way to offsetting that.

• Pros: Strong fit and security, good ventilation, innovative technology
• Cons: ANGI sensor is a little big

The Propero III has many similarities to the £175 S-Works Prevail at a lower price point but an extra 112g of weight. Aesthetically there are only minor differences – it looks like the Prevail, with the two distinctive vents on the forehead – and without closer inspection or comparing the two side-by-side it would be difficult to tell them apart.

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It's not just looks, though, some of the best elements of the Prevail can also be found on the Propero, with impressive ventilation being one of them. Throughout the review, I found that air passed nicely over my head regardless of whether I was riding at full pelt or soft-pedalling home.

As with the Prevail, the Propero has a relatively low profile, which helps with aerodynamics and also helps in keeping the strap close to the face. Helping the straps to sit comfortably under the ear are the tri-fix brackets; they hold the straps neatly in place, and add to the overall comfort of the helmet.

Comfort generally is a big part of this helmet, with good sweat management through the pads and a MIPS system that sits more comfortably than many I have used; you can't really feel that it's there at all, which is testament to the thought put into the design by Specialized.

The fitting system is a harness with a dial at the back of the head which tightens around the majority of the head, and creates a more secure fit than some. It is also more comfortable as it shares pressure across the back and sides of the head rather than concentrating it at the rear.

One innovative element with this helmet is the ANGI system, which is a smart crash sensor. It connects to your phone, which then allows you to record your ride or call your designated emergency contact in the event of a crash. It works pretty well and has some good elements, like how it will notice when you have a slight bump but will track your GPS signal and establish if it's something you've ridden away from or whether to alert your emergency contact.

The sensor itself is about the same size as an anti-theft tag for clothing, which isn't huge, but being attached to the harness makes it a little obvious. In order for it to work you also need to connect it to your phone and tell your phone that you've started a ride. It then checks the phone app every five minutes.

One element of the helmet that does clearly separate it from the S-Works Prevail is the weight, with the Propero coming in at 313g, compared to 201g for the Prevail. This is respectable given all the tech that's packed in, but similarly priced helmets such as the Sweet Protection Outrider and Salice Ghibli are both around 50g lighter, though neither includes MIPS or ANGI.

Both those helmets are £5 more than the Propero's RRP of £95, so it's not bad value, and it does have many of the hallmarks of the more expensive Prevail while including some innovative tech.

> Buyer's Guide: 18 of the best high-performance helmets

Overall, I enjoyed using the Propero. It might not be the lightest, but it has excellent ventilation and the inclusion of MIPS and ANGI is a real highlight.

Verdict

Keeps many of the best elements of the high-end Prevail with more tech and more weight but a lower price