This helmet from the Basque country has been around since 2005 and while the design is showing its age a little, it still provides plenty of ventilation and some clever features.
Things can get awfully hot in Spuik’s Pyreneean home so it should come as no surprise that Spiuk outfits its top-end Nexion over two dozen vents to help keep your noggin cool. Longer vents are placed throughout the front to channel air in while the rest of the openings act more as exhaust ports.
Unlike other premium helmets the Nexion has no internal reinforcement structure so while the number of vents is impressive, they’re also necessarily a bit on the small side in order to maintain structural integrity during a crash.
The Nexion’s air conditioning is very good and feels ample enough in most conditions but its relative lack of interior channeling highlights the competition’s ability to provide better cooling on really hot days.
The cooling issue is further exacerbated by the unique one-piece removable pad system whose mesh panels effectively shield the vents from intruding bugs but also partially block incoming airflow and restrict it from circulating once inside. On the plus side, the one-piece insert is easily removed for washing and makes for superb comfort, especially on close-shaven heads.
More comfort points are gained with Spiuk’s Compactfix retention system which never produced any hot spots throughout testing. Two fingers are all that are needed for adjustments and the system provides an impressively wide range of fit, a good thing since the Nexion is available only in a single M/L size shell. About the only issue we had with the Compactfix system was some interference with most sunglass arms.
What the Nexion lacks in sizing options, though, it more than makes up in aesthetic variety. Spiuk caters to the fashion conscious with no less than 21 color combinations including the 3 team designs.
In spite of its aging design, the Nexion still ranks as one of the most comfortable helmets we’ve tried to date. Air flow is decent, the fit system works well and the one-piece liner proved to be a surprisingly appealing feature especially for those living in buggier climates.
While Spiuk could push forward with a little new technology in the construction, the Nexion makes for a well rounded helmet that fits great, looks good and is more than likely to land you a unique look at the next group ride.
