Bontrager Specter Wavecel mini-review
Hi everyone,
I have been testing multiple helmets the past few days, after crashing my old helmet, and I thought I'd give a mini review of the Bontrager Specter Wavecel, since there is so little good information available on it online. I am particularly comparing it to the Giro Synthe MIPS and Lazer Z1 MIPS, both high-end road helmets.
Build Quality
The helmet is extremely well-built, and feels like a premium product. Comparing to a Lazer Z1 MIPS and a Giro Synthe MIPS, both top of the range models, it definitely does not feel out of place. The materials all fit together nicely, it feels sturdy, etc. The straps are soft and high quality. The buckle is magnetic, which is a bit odd. It makes it very fast and easy to snap into place, but takes some getting used to undoing it. I would have preferred a standard buckle design, which would have saved a few grams probably.
Comfort
The Bontrager Specter Wavecel M size is extremely comfortable on my head. I previously wore a Giro Foray M size, which fitted me perfectly. The Boa retention system is easy to use, comfortable, and works just as well as the Giro Rocloc retention system, if not better. I prefer it over the Lazer Z1 retention system, which is on top of the helmet and harder to use. There are the typical helmet pads all over the interior of the helmet, separating it from the Wavecel material. This makes it so that absolutely no hard plastic edges bump the side of your head, as they sometimes do in other helmets with pads only at the front and top. Very nice and comfortable. The back of the retention system, that sits at the base of your skull, is height adjustable, as it is on other premium helmets.
Weight
This is a heavy helmet. The size M weighs in on my scale at 360g. You can definitely feel it is heavier than let's say a Giro Synthe when wearing it. Not sure if it will be bothersome over the long term. The weight is offset by the good fit and comfort, but you can definitely tell when riding over potholes and the helmet wants to bounce on your head a bit, that it is heavier than a standard helmet. You will probably get used to it, but seeing as how there are much lighter MIPS helmets out there that are almost rated as safe (by Virginia Tech independent testing), this is a hard aspect to swallow.
Ventilation
This is the helmet's weak point in my opinion. The ventilation is just not as good as a Lazer Z1, Giro Synthe, or even a Giro Foray. I got pretty hot under this helmet, even during an early morning ride. There are not that many vents on this helmet, and the ones that are there are partially obstructed by the Wavecel material. I could definitely feel a slight breeze here and there, depending on the wind angle, but nowhere near as well ventilated as other road helmets I have tried. The Wavecel material definitely obstructs airflow.
Safety
This is the whole point of a helmet, and this helmet is rated at number #1 of Virginia Tech's independent helmet testing: https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html So a very very safe helmet.
Price
At $150, this is kind of a medium range helmet. Not as expensive as a Giro Synthe or Aether or Lazer Z1, but not as cheap as entry level helmets. I'd say for the features this helmet offers, the price is very fair.
Conclusion:
I'd give this helmet a 7/10. It is well-built, fits well, very safe. Downsides are the weight and poor ventilation compared to other road helmets, which will compromise comfort on long, hot rides. If you are looking for just the safest helmet, let's say for commuting, this is it. If you are looking for a do-it-all road helmet, and don't want to compromise on weight and/or you live in a hot climate, you might be better off with a Lazer Z1 MIPS or Giro Synthe MIPS, which are also rated very highly by VT, but much lighter and better ventilated.
I have been testing multiple helmets the past few days, after crashing my old helmet, and I thought I'd give a mini review of the Bontrager Specter Wavecel, since there is so little good information available on it online. I am particularly comparing it to the Giro Synthe MIPS and Lazer Z1 MIPS, both high-end road helmets.
Build Quality
The helmet is extremely well-built, and feels like a premium product. Comparing to a Lazer Z1 MIPS and a Giro Synthe MIPS, both top of the range models, it definitely does not feel out of place. The materials all fit together nicely, it feels sturdy, etc. The straps are soft and high quality. The buckle is magnetic, which is a bit odd. It makes it very fast and easy to snap into place, but takes some getting used to undoing it. I would have preferred a standard buckle design, which would have saved a few grams probably.
Comfort
The Bontrager Specter Wavecel M size is extremely comfortable on my head. I previously wore a Giro Foray M size, which fitted me perfectly. The Boa retention system is easy to use, comfortable, and works just as well as the Giro Rocloc retention system, if not better. I prefer it over the Lazer Z1 retention system, which is on top of the helmet and harder to use. There are the typical helmet pads all over the interior of the helmet, separating it from the Wavecel material. This makes it so that absolutely no hard plastic edges bump the side of your head, as they sometimes do in other helmets with pads only at the front and top. Very nice and comfortable. The back of the retention system, that sits at the base of your skull, is height adjustable, as it is on other premium helmets.
Weight
This is a heavy helmet. The size M weighs in on my scale at 360g. You can definitely feel it is heavier than let's say a Giro Synthe when wearing it. Not sure if it will be bothersome over the long term. The weight is offset by the good fit and comfort, but you can definitely tell when riding over potholes and the helmet wants to bounce on your head a bit, that it is heavier than a standard helmet. You will probably get used to it, but seeing as how there are much lighter MIPS helmets out there that are almost rated as safe (by Virginia Tech independent testing), this is a hard aspect to swallow.
Ventilation
This is the helmet's weak point in my opinion. The ventilation is just not as good as a Lazer Z1, Giro Synthe, or even a Giro Foray. I got pretty hot under this helmet, even during an early morning ride. There are not that many vents on this helmet, and the ones that are there are partially obstructed by the Wavecel material. I could definitely feel a slight breeze here and there, depending on the wind angle, but nowhere near as well ventilated as other road helmets I have tried. The Wavecel material definitely obstructs airflow.
Safety
This is the whole point of a helmet, and this helmet is rated at number #1 of Virginia Tech's independent helmet testing: https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html So a very very safe helmet.
Price
At $150, this is kind of a medium range helmet. Not as expensive as a Giro Synthe or Aether or Lazer Z1, but not as cheap as entry level helmets. I'd say for the features this helmet offers, the price is very fair.
Conclusion:
I'd give this helmet a 7/10. It is well-built, fits well, very safe. Downsides are the weight and poor ventilation compared to other road helmets, which will compromise comfort on long, hot rides. If you are looking for just the safest helmet, let's say for commuting, this is it. If you are looking for a do-it-all road helmet, and don't want to compromise on weight and/or you live in a hot climate, you might be better off with a Lazer Z1 MIPS or Giro Synthe MIPS, which are also rated very highly by VT, but much lighter and better ventilated.