Specialized has launched three new S-Works level road bike helmets – the Evade 3, the Prevail 3 and the TT5.
The Evade 3 is the brand’s aerodynamically optimised helmet and the Prevail 3 a lighter-weight option for the mountains, prioritising maximum ventilation. The TT5, as the name suggests, is dedicated to time trial use.
Both the Prevail and Evade 3 have earned 5-star ratings in independent tests conducted by Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab.
All of the helmets use MIPS’ Air Node technology, which the brand says is integrated directly into the helmet padding, with a “sleek, low-friction layer designed to dissipate rotational forces”. The brand has also added perforations in places to maximise ventilation and comfort, and save weight.
The Evade and Prevail 3 will retail for £275 / $300 / AU$475. European pricing is to be confirmed, as is pricing for the TT5.
Evade 3
Specialized sought feedback from its pro riders, who said they wanted a helmet that was in line with the Evade 2, but with added ventilation to increase its versatility across race stages.
As a result, Specialized says it has increased the ventilation of the Evade 3 by 10 per cent over the Evade 2, while virtually maintaining its current aerodynamic credentials.
It claims to have sped the helmet up by 1 to 1.5 watts, but the brand is downplaying its aerodynamic credentials because the ventilation is the most significant improvement on this third-generation helmet.
Specialized says it tested its Evade 2 helmet in its own wind tunnel and via computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tests. The brand found there was drag at the top and rear of the helmet.
It says it achieved an overall aerodynamic equilibrium by incorporating a diffuser into the rear of the helmet. The diffuser has larger vents and is said to make up for the aerodynamic loss from the added ventilation.
Specialized has also opened up the front of the helmet to increase ventilation.
The helmet retains the brand’s ‘adjustable tri-fix web splitter’ found on its other helmets for ease of adjustment.
| Size | Claimed weight (g) |
|---|---|
| Small CE (51-56cm) | 250 |
| Medium CE (55-59cm) | 260 |
| Large CE (58-62cm) | 300 |
| Small CPSC (51-56cm) | 280 |
| Medium CPSC (55-59cm) | 290 |
| Large CPSC (58-62cm) | 320 |
Prevail 3
Specialized says the Prevail 3 is the “ultimate all-round helmet that excels in hot conditions, strenuous climbs and mountainous stages”.
The brand has achieved this by removing the foam bridges from the centre, effectively creating through-air channels.
Specialized says the increase in surface area ventilation represents a 24.5 per cent improvement over the S-Works Prevail II Vent.
The ventilation of the Prevail 3 is not only an improvement over its predecessor. The brand claims it's also the most ventilated helmet it has ever made.
When a helmet is impacted, its job is to dissipate the negative energy. Typically, brands will use more EPS foam, but Specialized is employing a new system called ‘Air Cage’.
‘Air Cage’ sees woven aramid cables traverse the helmet that are anchored to carbon fibre side panels.
The helmet also features the ‘adjustable tri-fix web splitter’, as well as ‘occipital base adjustment’, a feature said to further optimise comfort and provide a storage solution for the best cycling sunglasses.
The helmet is also compatible with the ANGi Mindset fit system, a small node that fits to the back of the helmet and sends an alert to a pre-designated contact should you experience an impact.
| Size | Claimed weight (g) |
|---|---|
| Small CE (51-56cm) | 250 |
| Medium CE (55-59cm) | 260 |
| Large CE (58-62cm) | 300 |
| Small CPSC (51-56cm) | 280 |
| Medium CPSC (55-59cm) | 290 |
| Large CPSC (58-62cm) | 320 |
S-Works TT5 helmet
Specialized is also launching a new time-trial helmet called the TT5.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl riders Remco Evenepoel and Kasper Asgreen have reportedly both logged many hours in Specialized’s own wind tunnel before the brand could arrive at the final design.
Once again, Specialized used CFD modelling in its testing. The rear of the helmet has been repositioned to be closer to the rider’s shoulders – the brand says this reduces drag.
Specialized claims the new TT5 helmet saved Evenepoel 26 seconds on an unspecified 40km time-trial race.
Specialized has engineered a head sock designed specifically for the helmet, which the brand says is an integral element to help “maintain an optimal position on the head while riding and mitigate rotational forces during impact”.
The helmet comes with a Class 1 Optics shield that is claimed to have zero distortion. The shield is said to have a hydrophobic coating to clear moisture away if the weather turns, as well as anti-fogging.
