Retailing at £25, we expected the Vela to be… well… very basic. It surprised us; pleasantly.
With removable visor, easily adjustable, clip-in chin strap, 'ergo dial-fit' cradle for the back of your head, and ample padding, you'd guess that it weighed as much as your bike. But at 257g for the one-size-fits-all, it undercuts many helmets four or five times as expensive.
The vents are narrower, and it's not the most aerodynamic, but unless you're shaving seconds off your 25-mile time trial, that shouldn't matter. It even sports mesh covers for the front-most vents, preventing those panicky moments when a wasp decides to nest in your hair.
The white flowers colourway was subtly trendy, and would be as at home on a race bike as a commuter or mountain-bike. To complete the package, replacement parts such as visors and inner padding are readily available.