Does the most expensive helmet on the market justify its price?
Words Emma Cole Photography Joseph Branston
The Kask Elemento is the Italian brand’ range-topping helmet, swooping in to sit above its already-premium Protone Icon and Utopia Y.
Developed alongside World Tour team Ineos Grenadiers, the Elemento is noteworthy not least because of its pricetag but also because it features two new technologies, which Kask dubs Fluid Carbon 12 and Multipod.
A size medium weighs a claimed 260g and costs $650. In terms of weight that puts the Elemento mid-pack, but its asking price makes it the most expensive road cycling helmet on the market.
Keeping a cool head
Fluid Carbon 12 is a carbon composite that comprises a series of interlinked panels on the Elemento’s shell, which effectively form a roll-cage.
Similar designs have been used by competitors but Kask is the first to extend the use of composite to form outer shell sections.
The benefit, according to Kask, is that the Elemento can absorb more energy from an impact and then dissipate it more evenly across the helmet.
It isn’t just safety that the Fluid Carbon 12 technology is said to improve; it also offers better breathability.
Because it takes up less space, it allowed Kask to remove some EPS from the helmet shell, leaving more room for air to circulate despite decreased vent size versus the similar Protone Icon.
Kask claims the Elemento keeps the rider’s head 0.26°C cooler as a result, and on a full-body mannequin in a wind-tunnel the design tested 1.5% more efficient compared to the Protone, a saving that reportedly equates to 5-10 watts at 45kmh.
The second concept debuted here is Multipod, a series of 3D printed honeycomb inserts that form part of the helmet’s padding.
Kask says it improves protection against rotational impacts by sliding as it compresses, working in an isotropic way so it behaves the same regardless of the direction of the force applied to it. It is essentially Kask’s answer to Mips.
Secure fit
Fancy new technologies are all well and good but aren’t worth much if they aren’t underpinned by solid basic features. In that respect the Elemento hits the mark.
Kask’s Octofit+ retention system uses a large dial that is grippy and easy to adjust, and secures the helmet evenly around the rider’s head.
The cradle is sensibly arranged, avoiding pressure points despite offering ample room for a ponytail to slot through the gap.
The Elemento forgoes Kask’s signature leather chin strap to save weight, and it’s a switch I’m in favour of as I find the leather version to be a little bulky.
While the Elemento’s pricetag will deter many, it’s clear that it offers outstanding performance.
It feels well-made and, despite its understated vent layout and aero credentials, deep internal channelling means the Elemento is airy, lending credence to Kask’s claims about the Fluid Carbon 12 panelling allowing better ventilation.
The Multipod inserts are unusual, being reasonably firm to the touch and less dense when compared to conventional padding.
Yet despite this, they make for comfortable padding and a helmet that feels exceptionally easy to wear overall.
In terms of safety, I couldn’t say whether Multipod offers more protection than traditional padding or whether it would outperform Mips.
What is reassuring, though, is that the Elemento achieved a five-star rating in Virginia Tech’s independent test protocol. It’s clear that Kask has made some meaningful steps forward in helmet design.
The Elemento is comfortable, great quality and well ventilated, and it’s what I now reach for on most rides.
From a practical standpoint, the lack of a front sunglasses port is the only real miss.
I hope the Elemento serves as the pioneer, and its innovative safety tech will trickle down to more affordable price points.
But in the meantime, for those unconcerned with budget, the Elemento offers a combination of qualities that most competitors are hard-pressed to match.
THE SPEC
Price $650
Key features Carbon composite panels, 3D printed padding
Weight 260g (medium, claimed)
Sizes S, M, L
Colours Black, white, beetle green, blue, red, silver
Contact
kask.com/en-au
