Article by Jeff Valliere
Kask Elemento ($400) and Rex ($245)Performance Cycling Helmets
introduction:
Ever heard of Kask? If you follow professional cycling, you have probably seen them on the heads of Ineos Grenadiers (formerly team SKY). Made in Italy and founded in 2004, Kask makes helmets for Cycling, Snow Sports, Horse Riding as well as work safety helmets, with a focus on innovation, excellence, safety and innovative unmistakable design.
Their focus on safety is impeccable, and surpass the highest safety standards, including the WG11 rotational impact tests. With an unmistakable look, I had become more and more intrigued with the brand and fortunately got the opportunity to test them out.
KASK Safety Testing:
Rather than trying to translate, their own description below is most concise:
“KASK has always been committed to creating products that provide both excellent safety and comfort, exceeding requirements set by international standards and norms.
KASK ROTATIONAL IMPACT WG11 TEST is an internal protocol adopted by KASK to identify an objective method, based on scientific sources, for measuring the performance of its helmets against rotational impacts.
Most helmet tests use rotational impact prevention technologies with headforms that have a higher coefficient of friction than those of the human skull and therefore may not reflect what occurs in some accidents.
The "pass-fail" criterion is based on the BrIC value, an algorithm that defines the level of brain injury.This value must be lower than 0,68.
The final test protocol is:
OBLIQUE IMPACT TESTs
oblique tests @ 45°, impact speed 6 m/s, BrIC < 0,68
+ grade 80 closed-coat aluminum oxide abrasive paper
+ headform nominal coefficient of friction 0,3
+ wireless system: triaxial accelerometer + n. 3 ARS
Headform: EN960 serie
Measurements:
Peak of rotational acceleration, Peak of linear acceleration, HIC, BRIC (< 0,68)
All KASK helmets successfully pass this test, with values that are substantially less than 0,68 BrIC 0,390
*ROTATIONAL IMPACT WG11 TEST PASSED is a KASK registered trademark. The ROTATIONAL IMPACT TEST PASSED is a KASK internal oblique impact test that measures the performance of its helmets against rotational impacts. This Test has not been adopted by CEN or its Working Group CEN TC158/Working Group 11.”
Kask Elemento ($400)
Sizes SM-LG
330 g / 11.6 oz - Size M
Pros: Light, well vented, fit, style, color choices, top rated protection, quality
Cons: Price
Introduction/Fit/Style:
This summer, while watching the Giro, I couldn’t help but notice an impressive new red lid worn by Geraint Thomas and the Ineos squad (Geraint, at 38 years of age placed 3rd). Having been reviewing KOO sunglasses, I had noted the association between the two companies and reached out to their rep to see if there was a way to review their top of the line helmet, the Elemento which features their latest innovations.
The Elemento looks like a road helmet, but it is also a great crossover helmet for cross country mountain biking, gravel and cross. It features the highest level of standards for ventilation, aerodynamics, weight, safety and overall performance. It comes in 6 colors, white, red, black, silver, blue and green. Picking a color was a tough choice, but I find the red to be really sporty with a Ferrari sort of design. It just looks fast and I favor being seen on the road.
Fit is true to size in my usual size medium and adjusts easily with the rear Octofit+ dia, with plenty of leeway to add a cycling cap or beanie underneath for sun protection or warmth. In fact, I just pulled the helmet out of the box, put it on my head and did not need to make a single adjustment to the chin strap, sliders or anything, I just ratcheted the Octofit+ dial and off I went.
Features:
The Elemento is packed with innovative features. First is the Multipod isotropic material that allows for better management of rotational impact energy and increases ventilation.
It behaves the same way when a force is applied to it from any direction to reduce the shear stress between the head and the inside of the helmet.
Fluid Carbon 12: A new composite material that reduces the thickness of EPS from the inner shell in order to improve ventilation and aerodynamics.
It also generates a better energy distribution in case of an impact and guarantees a low friction surface between the helmet and the impact surface.
Hyvent: Generous venting through the helmet structure allows for maximum thermoregulation of the rider’s head.
Octofit+:
The Octofit+ system features a rubber dial that provides improved finger grip, has a vertical stabilizer, where the entire fit “carriage” can articulate up/down for optimum fit, as well as ergonomic neck support to ensure fast and secure fit against the back of the head.
Performance/Conclusions/Recommendations:
The Elemento is the pinnacle of innovation, performance and style. It is exceptionally light, is very well ventilated, aerodynamic, is comfortable, adjusts quite easily and has impeccable build quality. I really appreciate how well fitting the helmet is and its “barely there” feel on my head, as it is so light. Ventilation makes it feel very cool, even on hot days as the Hyvent design channels airflow quite effectively over your head for an impressive cooling effect. The Octofit+ has quite a bit of leeway to fit a wide range of noggins and snugs firmly and effectively, without any discomfort, keeping the helmet very secure and stable on your head.
While I hope to never test the true safety structure of this helmet, Virginia Tech Helmet ratings gave it a 5/5, so I am confident that if the worst happens, I will be as well protected as I could possibly be.
And then of course there is the style…. The Elemento in red is about as exotic, Euro pro race Ferrari looking as they come. Paired with a pair of Koo glasses, this is hard to beat.
The price however is hard to ignore, but if the Elemento is within your budget, rest assured you are getting the best helmet money can buy.
Kask Rex ($245)
Sizes MD-LG
361g / 12.6 oz - size M
Pros: Style, relatively light weight, ventilation, easy to operate visor, comfort, adjustability, versatility, color options, style
Cons: MIPS or similar technology would be a nice add (all but expected in today’s market)
Introduction:
The Rex is Kask’s top of the line off road performance helmet, designed for enduro, trail and all mountain riders, with extended coverage on the back and sides of the helmet, an adjustable visor, goggle retention clip and accessory mount for lights or action cam. The Rex is reasonably light for this category of helmet and very well ventilated too, with 20 vents. Build quality, style and color choices are all exceptional.
Features:
The Rex features 20 vents for maximum airflow
Lots of venting throughout the helmet with airy ports at the back of the helmet. There is also a goggle retention strap, which also does a great job retaining a headlamp for those night rides or pre-dawn starts.
The inside of the helmet is very well padded and quite comfortable.
The Rex features a removable multi position ratcheting visor that adjusts through a range of positions, either low to keep the sun out of the eyes as you would expect, or it can flip up for better visibility, to prop goggles, or to position a headlamp. I have used visors in the past that are so “ratcheted” that I have to hold the helmet in place to adjust it up, but the visor on the Rex is easy enough to operate one handed which is convenient and as a result I find myself moving it often to accommodate my preference depending on sun angle and riding direction in relation to the sun.
On top of the helmet, there is also a cap that pops off to reveal a mount for a light or an action camera.
The Octo fit system provides a nice secure fit and adjusts generously to accommodate a wide range of head shapes/sizes. Like the Elemento, the Octo fit system also moves up and down to further fine tune fit. There is also plenty of range to accommodate for a cycling cap or beanie.
Performance/Conclusions/Recommendations:
The Kask Rex is incredibly comfortable, well ventilated, well constructed, versatile, relatively light and has excellent style. I use the Rex primarily for XC mountain biking, but also for early morning gravel rides where the visor is really handy to shield the rising sun and I like that I can easily and securely add my Petzl headlamp utilizing the goggle retention on the back.
The Octo fit system is very secure, easy to adjust and is a clever design the way it telescopes for additional fine tuning. I would highly recommend the Rex for the above uses, be it racing or recreational riding if you are looking for a high level of quality, ventilation, comfort and safety. If there oom for improvement, it would be to add a Mips system for additional protection from rotational forces (or MultiPod as used in the Elemento).
Tester Profile
Jeff Valliere has been around bikes his entire life, as a toddler following his dad to bike races and bike shops, BMX racing as a kid, working in bike shops as a mechanic for 14+ years (10 at U-Bikes in Boulder where he met John) and racing as a professional road cyclist for several years. Jeff no longer races, but still loves to ride as he introduces his daughters to the joys of cycling. In addition to being obsessed with cycling, he runs mountains daily and has been reviewing running shoes/gear/tech for RoadTrailRun since 2015 and for other publications/companies since 2005.
RoadTrailRide Reviews HERE
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