Cannondale has launched a new premium road helmet, the MIPS-equipped Dynam.
The Dynam isn’t Cannondale’s first road cycling helmet, but it’s the first that breaks the £100 barrier and puts the bike brand up against more established helmet rivals.
The helmet features a new fitting system, magnetic Fidlock closure and MIPS’ latest Air Node protection.
We’ve got one in for testing, so let’s take a closer look at the new Cannondale Dynam helmet.
Lightweight venting
On the face of it, the Dynam design features plenty of venting, with three vents that run pretty much from front to back, broken into sections by three transparent polymer strips that Cannondale calls ‘PolyRail’ supports.
Cannondale says these act like a skeleton to reinforce the EPS liner. It’s a similar design to that we’ve seen recently on Giro’s range-topping Aries.
Cannondale claims that by using the PolyRail construction, it has been able to improve the venting air flow, reinforce the structure and lower the weight. The brand claims 320g for a medium helmet, with our size-L sample tipping the scales at 362g.
Fine-tuning the fit
The fit and sizing options have been changed from Cannondale’s previous helmets, which came in only two size options (S/M and L/XL).
The Dynam is now available in three sizes – small, medium and large – and uses what Cannondale calls BioMap fit.
By using a range of rider data, rather than standard head forms, Cannondale claims the shape of the Dynam will suit more head shapes.
MIPS-equipped
The Dynam also uses MIPS, which is claimed to offer improved rotational impact protection.
On the Dynam, it’s the new MIPS Air Node system, which uses multiple anchor points.
An elastic polymer anchors the internal pads to the EPS shell, allowing, MIPS claims, for independent movement compared to a standard helmet. It’s the same system as that used in Specialized's S-Works Prevail III helmet.
Cannondale has also opted for Fidlock’s magnetic closure for the straps.
In our experience, this user-friendly clasp is easy to operate single-handedly.
However, because it adds a bit of weight over a standard push-fit clasp, until now it’s been seen mainly on urban commuter helmets (Nutcase’s VIO, for example) and mountain bike helmets (such as Fox’s Proframe).
Pricing and availability
The new Cannondale Dynam is available now in five colours (Starry Night Black, Blue Ribbon, Electric Yellow, Polar White and Green Marble).
It’s priced at £150 / $180 / €199.99.
