I have used Giro helmets in the past, as well as Kask. I really liked this one. Great fit! I have a small head. Unfortunately, the buckle snap was sticking and I thought it might be difficult to take off while on the road, especially with gloves. So I returned it. Had they had another one, I would have loved a replacement. I am still looking for another one.
The Aether MIPS is a great helmet if it fits you well. Helmets are somewhat like saddles. You have to find the right shape/size for your head and various brands are different. For me Giro has always fit well and I have had several. I worked my way up to the Aether and currently own two. I'm back buying another with the current sale. For me the Aether is lightweight and comfortable. I put it on and forget about it. Like saddles, if you are thinking about it during a ride it probably isn't right. If you ride without ever thinking about it and forget it's there then it's working for you. It also holds my glasses - either Oakley or Rudy Project very securely when not on my face.
I did have the pads wear out in mine over time but I found replacements available for order. A second set of pads should get me to the "expiration date" of helmet when retirement is due.
I've been looking to up grade my helmet for some time. I wanted the extra protection of mips , light weight, good looking, comfortable and with good ventilation. This checked all of those boxes.. I would recommend to a friend
Pros: Well ventilated, cutting-edge MIPS, good looks, great straps and adjustments
Cons: Difficult to fit versus prior Giros, allows sweat down the forehead.
I used the sizing chart as recommended given the different MIPS design and it said medium. Medium felt tight at the rear sides of my head -- like a flat spot pushing against the helmet. Tried large but it was HUGE on my head. I ended up with the medium -- very snug, almost too tight, but when I ride I do not notice this. I wear large in other helmets with no issues. The fit of this one is DIFFERENT, so hopefully it fits you better than me.
The front padding is from temple to temple which is nice but it is very thin. It takes very little sweating to saturate the pad and have sweat running down your forehead even with wearing a thicker skullcap such as Headsweats. This is much more of a problem with this helmet than any of my other helmets.
Summary: nice looking helmet with great tech and features, but the fit is more difficult and the front padding is not as absorbent and allows more sweat down the forehead -- perhaps a function of the tighter fit of the helmet on my head.
This is truly an awesome helmet. I was involved a bad bike crash on 1/25/20. I hit my head on the ground at high speed. Luckily, I did not have any serious head injuries, thanks to the helmet. I have 8 other helmets including POC, KASK and LAZER but this is my go-to helmet. Looks like I will have to buy another one from WesternBikeWorks.
My head , somewhat like a softened rectangle rather than round, has alway fit better in Giro helmets (Atmos, Aeon) rather than Bell helmets. The Aether maintains that same feel. Unsure about the real value of MIPS when my head would always slide around a little inside the helmet anyway and would be much more comfortable paying $100 less but the helmet feels great.
The technology in this helmet is incredible. It is also extremely uncomfortable. The problem for me is it is cut about half an inch longer than other helmets. It pushes hard on the stems and bridge of my sunglasses and pushes them down on my nose. Because of the longer skirt it also digs into the back of my neck when I am looking up from riding on the drops. No adjustments cure this ... in my case. I would love to have this state of the art protection, but I am not willing to ride without my Oakleys and I cant tolerate the discomfort.
Not as comfortable as previous Giro helmets for me - I have an oval headshape and this one is a little more round than oval in shape. Lightweight, great airflow, loving the upgraded straps. Overall, a very nice helmet with leading edge technology when purchased at a sale price.
I've been riding Giro helmets since 1998. I've always been happy with them. I tend to go to the high end helmets for the ventilation as I over heat easily. I have had Pneumo, and Atmos in the past. I ordered the same size for my new Aether and it is snug before cinching.
Unlike a previous comment, the helmet fits great and it allows me to wear my Oakleys without pushing down on my nose and it is very comfortable in a super tuck position. By the way it looks great.
Helmets are subjective, right? My deal: Longtime Giro user who switched to Kask Protone in '20. Really liked the comfort and look of the Protone and Protone Icon but had TWO consecutive Icons with a defective retention dial. First one right out of the box, second one after two months of use so switched back to Giro. Aether fits me well and feels better ventilated than the Icon. No crashes in either so cannot speak to relative protection.
The helmet is lighter weight than others that I have owned in recent years. The MIPS design gives me a sense of safety and I chose the bright colors to be visible to motorists. The tightening mechanism works fine. The chinstrap closure could be more high end, it is very basic.
I decided that it was time for a new helmet after taking a few spills in the last few years so this was on sale and I am replacing an old model, but only MPS helmets allowed! Fits nicely, has great visibility so it was the right choice.
This is great helmet out of the box -- light, comfortable, etc. But over time -- a little over a year -- a few problems creep in. First, the fitting mechanism in the rear is secured together by tiny plastic pins that wear down and then become useless -- the mechanism will still tighten, but it isn't held together so it slips around. Second, the plastic that comes around each side to a point in the front of the helmet peels off from the front and sticks out (pointy and sharp). Several riders in my group have this helmet and I've noticed that the same thing has happened to them.
It is less than two years now and I'm shopping for a new helmet. Disappointing for such a high-end lid. This helmet is probably best for pros who would get their helmets replaced frequently, but for a regular rider looking for a helmet that lasts, not so much.
This is a fantastic-fitting helmet, with a wealth of adjustment points and long enough straps that it's good for my big melon. I love the Spherical addition to the MIPS liner this has to help with impact dispersion in a potential crash, which I hope I never have to test. It's also very light and airy, making it a joy to ride with because you don't hardly know it's there and it breathes well on hot days. Looking forward to trying the companion light for it.
