Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet review

The Canyon Disruptr CFR is a new high-end, all-rounder road and gravel helmet, featuring the innovative HighBar retention system.

Although it offers enticing claims of improved safety and performance, the HighBar system isn’t without its drawbacks compared to traditional webbing straps.

Likewise, the Disruptr CFR helmet shell doesn’t look, feel or perform as well as its premium price tag (£289.95 / €299.95) would suggest.

Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet specification and details

The Disruptr CFR is one of two new HighBar-equipped helmets in the Canyon CFR range. 

Initially available in the UK and Europe only, Canyon says both helmets will be launched in the USA “towards the end of the year” (pricing TBC).

Canyon pitches the Disruptr CFR as a well-ventilated, all-rounder model, suitable for road and gravel riding, while the Stingr CFR (also £289.95 / €299.95) is a dedicated aero helmet.

Despite its relatively high price, Canyon hasn’t incorporated any flashy materials or innovative construction methods into the Disruptr CFR’s shell. Instead, it’s a fairly standard affair, with an EPS foam core paired with a polycarbonate outer layer.

In contrast, Trek’s Velocis MIPS (£230 / $300 / €300) helmet incorporates carbon fibre inlays to help shed weight, while Specialized’s S-Works Prevail 3 uses woven aramid fibres to support its huge ventilation channels.

Similarly, Kask’s Elemento (£335 / $400/ €375) uses a composite technopolymer called Fluid Carbon 12, to help it balance cooling, weight and aerodynamic performance.

Some might argue such ‘exotic’ materials only contribute marginal improvements to performance, but at this price it’s not unreasonable to expect high-end materials and construction methods.

This shows on the scales too, with the Disruptr CFR coming in at a relatively heavy 275g in a size medium. This compares to 247g for the Trek Velocis MIPS, 258g for the Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 and 271g for the Kask Elemento (all in a size medium).

Kask’s Protone Icon (£245 / $299.95 / €275) is even lighter at 239g for a size medium.

It’s also heavier than some of the best aero helmets, such as the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 (272g), the Kask Utopia Y (258g) and the Trek Ballista MIPS (268g).

Of course, 20 or 30g makes little difference to performance, but – again – at this price it’s fair to expect class-leading specs in all areas.

At the rear of the Disruptr CFR is a standard retention system operated by a rotary dial. It has a high-quality feeling action and four levels of height adjustment.

As well as reflective detailing on the exhaust vents, there’s also a magnetic port for a rear light. Disappointingly, though, this isn’t included with the helmet and instead must be purchased separately for £28.95 / €29.95 (US pricing is again TBC).

Inside, a MIPS Air Node padding system is claimed to help protect your brain from the effects of rotational impacts.

There are three colours available – white, black and grey.

HighBar retention system

One arena in which the Disruptr CFR distinguishes itself is its use of the HighBar retention system.

This replaces the traditional Y-shaped webbing straps and buckle with a flexible plastic strap and a rotary dial.

Similar to the helmet’s rear retention system, designed to tighten the fit around your head, the rotary dial on the HighBar system tightens or loosens it.

There’s no denying it looks ‘different’, but it’s fair to say there’s nothing amazing about how traditional webbing straps look either – for the most part, we’re simply used to them.

While I wonder if the HighBar system could be made thinner, lighter and less noticeable, I quickly became accustomed to how it looks (especially because you can’t see it while riding).

To operate it, you put the helmet on with the system flipped up (it rotates around a fixed point near your ears), then lower it under your chin and tighten it until it’s snug.

As we noted in our how to wear a bike helmet guide, it’s critical to ensure a helmet’s chin strap is adjusted and tightened correctly, otherwise it may not offer as much protection in the event of a crash or incident.

Indeed, Eric Horton, a product director at HighBar, says: “Peer-reviewed studies have shown loose straps can result in a 50 per cent decrease in head protection.”

The HighBar system, then, is designed to make the process of ‘correct’ helmet setup more foolproof, because it only needs to be tightened correctly once under your chin.

In use, it largely fulfils this laudable goal, but it's not without its drawbacks compared to traditional webbing straps.

Safety aside, the HighBar system promises performance gains such as greater aerodynamic efficiency, improved cooling and reduced wind noise.

The aero and noise improvements stem primarily from the fact that traditional webbing straps can flap in the wind, creating turbulence and noise.

In contrast, the stiffer arms of the HighBar system don’t flap, even at high speeds.

HighBar says its own wind tunnel testing shows a 7-watt aero gain at 50kph, translating to a saving of 16 seconds over 40km, along with a sound level reduction of 6 to 7.5 decibels.

In terms of cooling, HighBar says it has measured skin surface temperature reductions of 4.8ºC (40.6ºF) compared to webbing straps, because its retention system is designed to sit proud of the rider’s face.

Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet performance

In use, the Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet puts in a solid if uninspiring performance.

As advertised, the HighBar system is easy to operate. Given there’s nothing to adjust but how tight it is, getting it in the right ballpark is simple.

In theory, then, the HighBar system has the potential to improve safety in a general sense.

It’s worth noting HighBar acknowledges that properly adjusted webbing chin straps can be just as safe as its new system. However, it’s also reasonable to question whether rider education will ever reach a level where most will get it right.

Though I generally pay close attention to setting up the straps of a helmet correctly, it’s also fair to say that even some experienced riders don’t always get it right. To hammer home the point, Canyon even shared images of WorldTour professionals with poorly fitting chin straps during a presentation prior to the helmet’s launch.

The downside, however, is that the stiff arms of the HighBar system feel generally more noticeable than the flexible webbing straps of other helmets.

This is especially true when trying to talk or eat while riding, where I often felt my chin hitting the strap.

Of course, the rotary dial adjustment system means the strap tightness can be adjusted or optimised while riding, but a lack of such adjustment has never troubled me with flexible webbing straps.

Likewise, when wearing it for everyday riding, I found I needed to remove my spectacles in order to put on or remove the Disruptr CFR helmet, because the HighBar system interferes with the arms.

This isn’t a world-ending issue, of course, but it’s an annoyance nevertheless.

Given BikeRadar lacks a wind tunnel (against my advice, my superiors continue to invest in office space instead), the claimed aero improvements are harder to test.

Fortunately, we performed wind tunnel testing back in 2016, which showed baggy helmet straps incur a drag penalty (to the tune of 4.4 watts at 45kph).

However, we also found that simply tightening the straps correctly and placing the arms of sunglasses over the outside of the straps negated this loss.

Could the HighBar system be even more aerodynamic than tight straps? Potentially, but clearly the gap won’t be as large as suggested if your current helmet is set up correctly.

As for noise and cooling, I couldn’t detect any differences.

Again, this may be because I generally set up the straps of my helmets well and I always wear my sunglasses on the outside of the straps, which minimises flapping.

It’s also fair to say I’ve never felt webbing straps were noticeably ‘hot’ either – although that could be because I live in England, where temperatures rarely rise above 25ºC.

I was disappointed in the ventilation of the Distruptr CFR’s shell too. Despite its 18 ventilation holes, it didn’t provide the same sensation of wind across my forehead as Kask’s Protone Icon.

Likewise, while looks are subjective, I can’t help but feel the Distruptr CFR’s design doesn’t match the sleek, streamlined aesthetics of many of its competitors.

With its thick, bulbous form, wearing it made me feel a little like Toad from Super Mario.

As any experienced Mario Kart player will attest, the little guy is a great racer, but I don’t think his toadstool-esque looks are what many people want from a bike helmet.

Of course, some helmets suit certain individuals and head/face shapes better than others, so perhaps it's just a personal issue, but the increased volume of the Disruptr CFR is noticeable compared to lower-profile helmets such as those mentioned previously.

On its top section, for example, the EPS foam is around 38mm thick, compared to 31mm in a similar spot on a Kask Protone Icon.

Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet bottom line

The Disruptr CFR’s HighBar retention system is innovative, and the potential safety and performance gains are enticing.

However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that most of the ‘gains’ can seemingly be had on helmets with traditional webbing straps, provided they’re set up correctly.

HighBar system aside, the Canyon Disruptr CFR helmet is a solid performer with no major flaws, but it doesn’t have the spec, looks or performance to compete with the best road bike helmets, and therefore doesn't justify its steep price.