Lazer Vento: the new helmet from Wout van Aert

It makes sense that the previews are on how Wout van Aert won the Tour. But in the stream of mathematical reflections there is also interest in one of the novices in the framework of the best Flemish favorite. Wout will be riding the Tour of Flanders with an all-new helmet model from sponsor Lazer: the Vento.

In the premises of the Belgian helmet factory in Mechelen, a beautiful canvas by Van Aert hangs, depicting his triple victories in last year’s Tour de France. Three victories in three disciplines; It once again demonstrates the ingenuity of the rider. Vento was developed with this versatility in mind. “We had Wout in mind when we designed the Vento. A helmet should improve aerodynamics, cooling and lightness, which are three critical factors that define a good helmet. This is what makes the Vento a versatile helmet, built specifically for Van Aert,” says Peter Mortier – Director Accounts in Lazer.

The latest technology from Lazer is incorporated into the helmet: the KinetiCore. You can better compare it to the breakdown area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe car. In the event of a fall, the collapse zone absorbs the impact by folding, as it were. Where you can’t see the breakdown zone of the car from the outside, Lazer’s KinetiCore can do just fine. Inside the helmet you see a kind of sharp shark teeth cut into the shell. The space between them is filled during impact because the “teeth” flex against each other and thus absorb the force of the impact.

It’s Lazer’s special version of MIPS, the protective absorbent mesh used in various helmets. With the difference that material is removed rather than added here. It results in a 90g weight loss compared to the Bullit’s aerodynamic road helmet. Additionally, aerodynamics (compared to the Bullit) are improved by 2.3 percent and ventilation by 5.4 percent. These are characters from Lazer himself.

Some interesting features have been added to Vento. For example, it is much easier to adjust the size of the helmet by passing an elastic band on the back of the head. This way you can increase the helmet if you want to wear a hat or helmet cover under it and reduce it again if you take it off on the road.

Cooler is the optional LED taillight that you can click on the helmet. Very handy if you are driving home in the twilight after your club game or if you are driving through poorly lit tunnels during the summer on vacation. You can literally connect the light in an instant and with a little practice you can do it while cycling. This way you can turn the light on or off for a while without going down. Flashlight sold separately and fits any Lazer helmet with KinetiCore. If you have an older model or other brand, you can attach Velcro to your helmet.

All of these claims are great, but the most a consumer has to deal with in practice is the question of whether the helmet fits comfortably. We can answer that in the affirmative. The Vento is great, even after a few hours on the bike. The helmet adjusts to your head much better than previous models, and is therefore more robust around the head, without squeezing for a moment.

The Vento is noticeably lighter than the Bullit. This immediately results in a more comfortable feeling while driving. We haven’t yet been able to test how true the claim to improve ventilation is, and the weather hasn’t been good enough for that. We haven’t had to try KinetiCore yet. Fortunately, because we are willing to do a lot for our profession, but there are limits. So we should count on testing by Virginia Tech, the independent testing lab at Virginia Polytechnic in Blacksburg, for Lazer, scoring five out of five on safety.

All in all, Vento is a huge step forward. And if Wout actually wins the Tour of Flanders with this helmet (in road races with his usual Red Bull edition) on his head, you can talk about a resounding entrance.