Giro Agilis MIPS Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Comfortable, adjustable, durable, inexpensive
Cons: Heavier, slightly less ventilation
Manufacturer: Giro
Our Verdict
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 This Product
Giro Agilis MIPS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $89.95 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 3 sellers | $159.99 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 2 sellers | $179.98 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 2 sellers | $299.95 at Amazon | $209.99 at Competitive Cyclist Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Comfortable, adjustable, durable, inexpensive | Well-ventilated, adjustable and comfortable, sleek and classy style | Lightweight, comfortable, low profile, good ventilation | Great ventilation, elegant style, advanced MIPS liner design | Lighweight, comfortable, good ventilation |
| Cons | Heavier, slightly less ventilation | Slightly heavy for a high-end helmet | Expensive | Expensive, heavier than other high-end helmets | Unique adjustment dial might not be for everyone |
| Bottom Line | Tremendous value packed into a helmet with a multitude of high-end features | A stylish, comfortable helmet with outstanding ventilation and solid all-around performance | Lightweight comfort and performance from a semi aerodynamic model that ventilates well | A unique MIPS liner design with great ventilation highlight this expensive choice | Awesome comfort and ventilation combine for a top notch helmet for racing and general training |
| Rating Categories | Giro Agilis MIPS | Bell Z20 MIPS | Giro Synthe MIPS | Giro Aether MIPS | Lazer Z-1 MIPS |
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Style (15%) | |||||
| Ventilation (20%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Giro Agilis MIPS | Bell Z20 MIPS | Giro Synthe MIPS | Giro Aether MIPS | Lazer Z-1 MIPS |
| Weight (grams) | 336 g (size L) | 336 g (size L) | 312 g (size L) | 330 g (size L) | 305 g (size L) |
| MIPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of vents | 32 | 18 | 19 | 11 | 31 |
| Sizes | S, M, L | S, M, L | S, M, L | S, M, L | S, M, L |
| Size Range (cm) | 59-63 cm (size L) | 58-62 cm (size L) | 59-63 cm (size L) | 59-63 cm (size L) | 58-61 cm (size L) |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Giro Agilis MIPS stands out with its consistently impressive performance across the board, scoring very highly in our comfort, adjustability, and durability metrics. It only sacrifices a little bit in the weight and ventilation metrics, factors which are offset by a price tag that is less than half of most of its peers. Riders willing to pay more for increased ventilation and to save a few dozen grams have plenty of pricier options to choose from, while the Agilis remains an amazing value with its high-end performance and affordable price.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
While each rider has a unique anatomy including the size and shape of their head, the Agilis provides several design features that help maintain a versatile and comfortable fit for most riders.
Like many other high-end helmets, the Agilis has a full circumference adjustable headband system that nicely cradles the entire head and eliminates direct contact with the EPS foam liner. Unique to the Agilis is Giro's newer Roc Loc 5.5 fit system that also integrates the MIPS liner into the headband system, providing a much more comfortable and customizable fit. This also helps shed a bit of weight compared to having a separate headband system and MIPS liner. While this type of MIPS-integrated headband system is somewhat unique and newer to the market, we expect to see similar designs on many other helmets in the future as MIPS liners continue to evolve.
The Agilis also has three large patches of comfortable and well-placed padding,; two along the top of the head, and one adjacent to the rider's forehead at the front brim of the helmet. Our testers rank this as one of the most comfortable helmets in our lineup, alongside many designs that are two or three times more expensive.
Adjustability
Often, the key to a highly comfortable helmet like the Agilis is with its adjustability to dial in a customized fit for a wide range of users. The Roc Loc 5.5 headband fit system not only provides full three-dimensional coverage around the entire head but also can easily be adjusted for height and width.
The Roc Loc 5.5 headband system has a fairly standard size range of 59-63 cm in a size large and has about 2 cm of height adjustment in the rear. The chinstrap system has adjustable Y-buckles that allow the webbing straps to lay flat against your face, an adjustable chinstrap buckle, and an adjustable rear anchor point for easy side to side adjustment. The Agilis has almost every single adjustability feature that is available in a helmet, impressive for such an affordable product.
Weight
In our measurements, the Agilis MIPS weighed in at 336 grams in a size Large. While this is in the middle of our lineup and there are certainly several lighter helmets out there, this weight is right in line with several other high-end helmets with similar features and much higher price tags.
There are certainly some riders out there who understandably want or need the lightest products possible. But for most riders, the extra 30 or so grams the Agilis weighs over some of the ultralight helmets we tested will probably be a worthwhile tradeoff for such a comfortable, adjustable, and affordable helmet.
Style
While style is probably the most subjective metric, we look at market trends and certain design features that will likely be universally appreciated by most riders. Things like a sleek and modern design with several optional color schemes usually rate pretty highly. While certainly a classic and handsome looking helmet, the Agilis gets deducted a couple of points in this category compared to some of its sleeker and more modern looking counterparts.
The Agilis has a classic road bike helmet look but has a slightly taller and rounder profile that feels a bit larger on your head than other models. And while it comes in a large assortment of color schemes, it doesn't have the same modern look and high-end flowing and streamlined feel as some pricier models. We recognize that these are somewhat subjective observations of minor design differences, so please use this information to make your own conclusions.
Ventilation
With a huge total of 32 Wind Tunnel vents and an internal channel system, the Agilis MIPS is a reasonably well-ventilated helmet but falls short of the performance of other helmets with larger vents in more optimum configurations.
The Roc Loc 5.5 headband fit system helps cradle the head away from the surface of the inner EPS foam liner, increasing the effectiveness of the internal airflow channels. This headband system, with its integrated MIPS liner, is also cut perfectly to match the vent configuration, eliminating any blockage of vents that are present on some other models. However, the large, comfortable strip of padding along the front brim of the helmet provides a snug fit against the forehead and temples and seems to limit airflow in this area.
Durability
The Agilis ranks very highly in our durability ratings thanks to its excellent headband system, high-quality straps and hardware, and its full-coverage polycarbonate shell. It is one of the only helmets in our lineup with full protective coverage around the brim of the helmet, which protects the delicate EPS foam liner from dings and dents during storage or transport.
Many helmets reduce the amount of protective polycarbonate shell material to save weight, while the Agilis has nearly no exposed EPS foam anywhere on the helmet, yet still maintains a competitive weight. With its high-end features and durable materials and construction, we would expect the Agilis to last several seasons without and durability issues.
Value
The Agilis stands out from the crowd with its impressive performance across the board, outstanding comfort, and incredible price tag. This is a top-performing model regardless of price, and its value is only enhanced by its affordability. With one of the lowest list prices in our lineup, the Agilis is the clear winner of our Best Buy Award. Some riders looking to shave off a few grams or increase ventilation can find suitable options for two or three times the price, but most riders should look no further than the Agilis for the best combination of performance and value.
Conclusion
The Giro Agilis MIPS is an affordable helmet that also is one of the highest-performing models that we tested. With impressive comfort and adjustability with its Roc Loc 5.5 headband fit system, a respectable weight, and outstanding durability, the Agilis scores highly in nearly every rating metric. With an incredibly low price, it's the easy choice for our Best Buy Award and should be on the radar of most riders.
— Nick Bruckbauer