High end cycling helmets with MIPS can be crazy expensive. Fortunately, the Giro Seyen MIPS helmet has many of the features of more pricey lids, at a respectable, entry-level price.
It’s also lightweight, comfortable, and offers plenty of ventilation. Thanks to the fact that it’s a women’s-specific helmet, it offers a few feminine touches. Read on to learn more about what we did (and didn’t like) about the GIro Seyen MIPS.
The Seyen MIPS helmet is sleek, lightweight, comfortable, and breathable. I would absolutely recommend the Seyen helmet to the Femme Cyclist Community.
Review in a Nutshell
Pros:
- Extremely lightweight and comfortable
- Women’s specific designs
- Added safety feature of MIPS technology
- Slim profile and will not make your head look/feel bulky or bulbous
- Tons of ventilation
- Roc Loc 5 Air MIPS system makes it easy to get a snug and comfortable fit
- Air vents are perfectly placed to hold a pair of sunglasses if you need to set yours atop your head for a moment.
- Reasonably priced for such an incredibly lightweight and comfortable helmet.
Cons:
- The Seyen is so lightweight it almost feels too light. Some may want a helmet with a more substantial feel. As much as I know it’s safe, mentally it’s hard to feel as protected in this helmet as I do in my Bontrager Wavecel.
- The entire Seyen sits rather high upon the head, and there is no room for a pony tail between the boa system and the helmet. You will have to rock the braids or a very low pony in this helmet.
- Likely due to the lightweight nature and increased ventilation, there is visually more exposed foam than I personally care for.
- Honestly? I am grasping at straws here to come up with cons. For the price it’s a pretty awesome helmet.
Price: $99.98 (Last updated: – More Info)
Women’s Giro Seyen MIPS Helmet Detailed Review
Comes From A Reputable Brand
Easily one of the most essential pieces of gear for any cyclist is a helmet. It’s so crazy now to think of how many of us flew around the neighborhood as kids without any thought to cycling safety. I didn’t even know cycling helmets existed back then, but now I literally won’t leave my driveway without one.
A cycling helmet is synonymous with cycling safety, and when we are looking for a solid helmet that will do the job, the name Giro comes up again and again. Whether you are searching in a bike shop or searching on Google, your chances of seeing a Giro branded helmet are pretty high.
In fact, the first cycling helmet I ever owned was a Giro, and was purchased at a bike shop before I knew anything about riding bikes other than the fact that I should get a helmet.
Whereas many cycling companies focus on a sometimes staggering array of cycling products, a search of the Giro website shows that they tend to focus a great deal of their attention on designing and manufacturing helmets.
According to Giro’s website, Giro was founded over 30 years ago by Jim Gentes. The folks at Giro claim that they have destroyed more helmets than other companies will ever make just testing for performance and safety. While that is a pretty bold claim, I can honestly say that the Giro Women’s Seyen MIPS helmet clearly reflects a great deal of research and development.
More on MIPS Technology and Safety
The inclusion of MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) in the Giro Seyen helmet ensures an additional degree of protection over a helmet that does not include extra safety technology.
MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, and is used by many different cycling manufacturers. Some helmet manufacturers develop and use other safety systems like Wavecel or Koroyd, but they will also carry helmets with MIPS because it is considered to be the industry standard.
According to the MIPS website, MIPS is a low friction layer inside the helmet (between the helmet and the head) that is intended to “help reduce rotational force to the head.”
They go on to say that rotational force is bad because it can cause our brain tissue to stretch, and we are more likely to experience injury such as a concussion as a result of it.
The bottom line is that when we hit our heads cycling we rarely are going to hit anything straight on, it’s usually the sides of our head that hit the pavement. When I took a bad fall that ended in stitches and an ambulance ride, it was the left side of my head that got the brunt of the impact.
Additional safety technologies like MIPS are designed to help in this exact situation. Because of this, I believe it is worth the additional cost that it tends to add to the helmet. I am very appreciative that the Women’s Giro Seyen helmet has MIPS, and this is one of the many reasons I am recommending this helmet.
The Women’s Giro Seyen MIPS Helmet is SO Comfortable
I am truly not exaggerating when I say this is the most comfortable helmet I have ever put on my head. I am very sensitive to headaches. If a helmet doesn’t fit well, isn’t adjustable enough, and doesn’t sit right, I am not going to be happy with it.
I cannot believe how lightweight this helmet is. It is the lightest helmet I personally have tried, and it is very adjustable. The Roc Loc mechanism on the back lets you tighten/loosen the helmet quickly to ensure a secure and comfortable fit.
The breathability of this helmet is amazing as well. It has 25 air vents, and you can absolutely tell. My hair is always literally dripping after a longer ride. With the Giro Seyen, it really felt like it was dripping slightly less.
The Giro Seyen MIPS is a Great Value for the Price
For around $120 USD you get an extremely comfortable helmet with solid safety features. It has a really nice, streamlined construction, and the inclusion of MIPS technology.
I have found that at times a helmet at this price point has solid safety features or looks and feels great, but it isn’t every day that you find a helmet like the Women’s Giro Seyen MIPS that has both.
The Women’s Specific Design is Pretty Awesome
It begs mentioning that the more manufacturers create products that appeal to women, the more excited I get. It shows that we are becoming a more valued part of the cycling market, and that designing products for us is a priority.
Though I didn’t find any evidence that this particular helmet was constructed any differently from a men’s helmet, I do really love and appreciate the colors and design of the Women’s Giro Seyen.
The Giro Seyen Does Feel Almost Too Light, and There’s No Room for a Ponytail
These are really my only two gripes about this helmet. As light as it is, it really almost feels too light. This is likely just personal preference. My other helmets just feel a little more substantial.
According to the Giro website, the Seyen “complies with the US CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmet for Persons Age 5 and Older.” And of course, it also has MIPS, therefore it is certainly a more than acceptable choice in terms of safety.
However, It wasn’t one of the helmets that was tested by Virginia Tech, a trusted source of information on helmet safety, so it’s hard to say just how it measures up in terms of safety to other helmets in its class.
Finally, it’s important to note that for those of us with longer hair that there is not enough room to slip a ponytail between the helmet and the Roc Loc adjuster. It gave me an excuse to make some cute pigtail braids though, so I really can’t complain!
Bottom Line Women’s Giro Seyen MIPS Helmet
I enthusiastically recommend the Women’s Giro Seyen MIPS Helmet. As I mentioned above, I was having a really hard time coming up with cons for this helmet . It’s awesome! The Giro Seyen is so lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. It’s amazing for women who are looking for a low-profile helmet that has the appropriate safety features.
I truly love the design and look of the helmet. And I just really like the way it looks and feels on my head. It feels really sleek and streamlined.
Even though I can’t wear a ponytail at my preferred cycling pony tail height, I find this to be a very small price to pay for how cool my head feels and how comfortable this helmet is all around.