Bontrager Oracle Helmet

Although a touch weightier than much of the competition, Bontrager's new high-end Oracle helmet - the one being used by the Leopard Trek pro team this year - is among the most comfortable I've ever used.

It's really well vented. Bontrager use an in-moulded carbon fibre skeleton to provide the strength and load dispersal needed for such large vents (which is very similar to what Giro do with their airy Ionos lid). You get a huge central port at the front and sizeable ones towards each side and over the top. Just as important, internal channelling distributes the air all over your head for maximum cooling, and funnels it out the exhaust ports at the back. If your noggin gets uncomfortably hot in other helmets, it's worth giving the Oracle a go; it will certainly help you stay cool. It's comparable with the Ionos in that respect and I'd struggle to tell them apart.

The Oracle manages to combine improved ventilation with a pretty low profile - again, much like the Ionos - so you don't look like a Mekon when you put it on. Bonty's Headmaster retention system is neat too. You get three different height positions on the cradle to set how far down the back of your head it reaches. I'd have preferred one more for a slightly lower position, but fit is always going to come down to the individual.

The diameter of the cradle is controlled by a rotatable ring on the back. You twist it one handed to either tighten or loosen it - easy peasy, even in gloves and while you're riding along. Unusually, there's no clicking as you turn - but that's neither here nor there. The main thing is that it feels perfectly secure. Silicone rubber pads hold it comfortably in place and the retention device starts at the temples and adjusts to all kinds of head shapes.

A note on the sizing: I usually take a medium, and the medium review model (54-60cm) fitted okay, but only with the retention device dialled right in. So there's a possibility you'll want a size smaller than normal. The only way to tell for sure is to try one for size.

The straps are easy to adjust, although you'll probably want to get busy with the scissors and lighter afterwards to stop the ends flapping around. Once everything is set up right, the strap dividers lock firmly in place so it stays that way.

The internal padding, like the helmet itself, is low profile, but it's still very comfy. The AgIon (ag as in silver, ion as in atom) pads wick moisture well. They're antimicrobial to inhibit the growth of nasties in there after a long, sweaty ride. The front pad extends right around your forehead too, which stops any sweat dripping down and getting into your eyes or, just as annoying, onto your glasses and distorting your view.

The only issue I can see anyone having with the Oracle is that it's not ultra-light. Although Trek claim 295g, the test model hit the scales at 314g (compared to 304g for the Giro Ionos that I tested last year). Bearing in mind that the lightest helmets weigh less than 200g, and that many are around 250g, that's pretty beefy for a top-end helmet.

Having said that, in the overall scheme of things 100g is negligible. And sacrificing a few grams in return for increased ventilation makes a lot of sense, especially in hot weather.

Oh, one more issue: the price. The Oracle is far from cheap as helmets go, but for a high-quality helmet with this much venting it's not mega-expensive either.

Naturally, it meets the EN 1078 European safety standard. As well as this Leopard Trek version, the Oracle comes in white/silver and black, and in three different sizes: S (50-56cm), M (54-60cm) and L (58-64cm).

Verdict

High-quality helmet with a low profile and masses of ventilation