Sizes: 53-56, 56-59, 59-61cm
Colors: Black, White (on check), Group Version
Value: €249.95 (World pricing tbc)
Weight (56-59cm): 283g with out shell, 354g with shell
Previous to its August release, the Uvex Surge helmet used to be first observed at complete flight atop the pinnacle of Biniam Girmay on the 2024 Excursion de France, a race through which the Eritrean changed into the primary black African to win a degree, sooner than doubling up, after which getting a 3rd on his option to take the golf green jersey classification as the most efficient sprinter within the race.
Forward of that race’s get started in Florence, I controlled to catch Girmay, along his teammate Louis Meintjes, for 5 mins forward of the Groups’ Presentation, they usually have been satisfied to inform me about their sponsor’s all-new top-tier helmet.
They defined that it used to be designed to be a two-in-one ‘convertible’ resolution with a detachable shell which converts it from a highly-ventilated helmet to an aero helmet, however that because of the UCI laws combating such issues, that they had been compelled to convey two times as many helmets to the race and superglue the shell into position on part of them.
Thankfully for you and me, the ones UCI laws do not observe, so we may not want to move to such extremes.
Having a detachable quilt now not best provides to its aero credentials even though. It serves as a protecting barrier in opposition to the elements, and I have ridden it in the whole thing from freezing iciness to sweltering summer time to check its versatility.
It has undoubtedly inspired me. I love a product that gives versatility and price for cash, nevertheless it did not slightly make it into our purchaser’s information. The cause of that I will provide an explanation for underneath.
Symbol 1 of two
Here’s the helmet with out the aero shell(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
And right here it’s with the shell in position(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)Design and specification
The headline characteristic of the Uvex Surge helmet is the already-mentioned aerodynamic ‘shell’ quilt.
The duvet itself is designed to sit down over the entrance face of the helmet, last the vents and leaving simply 3 small air inlets on the centre, two shades garage vents alongside the flanks, and 3 outlet vents in opposition to the rear.
It is created from a strong, light-weight plastic that has a small quantity of flex that will help you get it off and on. It options 3 protrusions on the entrance which hook into the vents to carry it in position, in addition to 3 hooks on the again which take hold of onto a lip on the rear. The are compatible when in position is protected and unwavering, and it seems to be completely built-in.
The entire design may be very properly thought to be. I battle to believe any individual would realise there is a quilt in position in any respect. And while you do take away it, there are not any plugs or holes to indicate it used to be ever there within the first position.
With the duvet got rid of, the helmet has 5 channels that run entrance to again, separated through EPS bridges that run parallel, with small carbon fibre struts that run horizontally between them. Visually, it is laborious to not liken it to the Specialised Succeed III, as the one different helmet to undertake this wide-open carbon-strut design.
On the rear, Uvex has used its personal small retention dial. That is simple to function, even with gloved palms, and the vertical adjustment of the rear cradle is straightforward to set but robust sufficient to not self-adjust mid-ride. The rear could also be embellished with a couple of reflective flashes, that are delicate however assist so as to add visibility in low-light eventualities.
The straps on each side are a standard 10mm black webbed strap, with a fundamental clip buckle and Y-splitters that take a seat underneath your ears. Those splitters can’t be adjusted vertically, however they do be offering a modicum of fore and aft adjustment to assist them take a seat very easily.
Inside of, the MIPS Air Node further rotational affect coverage device is in position. MIPS, which stands for Multidirectional Have an effect on Coverage Device, is a Swedish logo whose center of attention is on expanding the protection of helmets. Air Node is the emblem’s smallest, maximum discrete iteration but, present in lots of these days’s height helmets.
Like any helmets, the Uvex Surge is matter to business usual security assessments, so when mixed with MIPS Air Node, must be offering abundant peace of thoughts within the match of a crash. Then again, there isn’t but any third-party verification to check the extent of coverage in opposition to its friends. Virginia Tech is probably the most well known of those 1/3 events, nevertheless it has but to place the Uvex Surge via its paces.
That does not imply it is any much less secure than others, however the absence of an impartial comparability and thus a validation of its credentials may well be sufficient to discourage the extra safety-conscious patrons.
Symbol 1 of two
Right here, with the shell in position, it is laborious to inform there is a clip-on shell in any respect(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
However right here it’s with out(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)Efficiency
It is fairly tricky to pass judgement on the efficiency of a product that gives jack-of-all-trades versatility as a result of it is going to invariably be the grasp of none. That does seem to have rung true right here, however that does not imply you must forget about it.
With the aero shell got rid of, the Uvex Surge is a essentially superb ventilated helmet. That is most likely now not too giant a wonder given simply how open it’s, nevertheless it outperforms different vented helmets such because the Trek Velocis and the Kask Protone with aplomb.
Its closest competitor on this house, each visually and functionally, is the Specialised S-Works Succeed III. Having ridden the Surge and the Succeed back-to-back on a couple of events, I believe the Surge runs fairly hotter. It is a shut name, however if you are in search of the perfect in air flow, the Specialised can be my pick out. It additionally has Virginia Tech trying out to again up its security credentials.
Symbol 1 of three
Here’s the shell itself(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
It hooks in opposition to the carbon struts on the entrance the use of 3 of those small protrusions(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
And on the rear, 3 hooks clip it over a lip on the rear(Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)
With the aero quilt popped again into position, the vents are closed off and the intentions of the helmet transfer into a distinct equipment. Uvex would have you ever imagine it transforms into one of the vital easiest aero helmets, but if we examined it within the wind tunnel, it got here out as one of the vital slowest on check.
We examined it each with and with out the duvet in position, and even though the duvet stored 1.3 watts at 45kph, neither carried out in particular properly in opposition to its friends. Even with the duvet in position, it used to be part a watt slower than the aforementioned Succeed III, and it used to be 7.5 watts slower than the quickest road-style helmet on check, the Specialised S-Works Evade III.
Now, there is a giant caveat to this in {that a} helmet’s aero efficiency is slightly a person factor. Person who plays badly on our check rider – on this case, our esteemed Tech Author Tom Wieckowski – would possibly paintings truly properly for you. We will best move through the knowledge we’ve even though, and in our wind tunnel check, the Surge did not carry out.
Past those metrics, even though, the Surge does shine. It is in reality at ease all day lengthy, and not using a pinching or drive issues around the head, and the straps take a seat cosy in opposition to my face with none flapping.
It is price reiterating that the Y splitters can’t be adjusted vertically even though, they usually take a seat quite top underneath the ears, marginally less than the Van Rysel FCR Aero helmet, and at round the similar peak because the POC Ventral. This is not one thing I have ever discovered a subject with, however if you happen to in finding both of the ones to be uncomfortable in that space, chances are you’ll discover a equivalent factor right here.
Here is the helmet from the rear, whole with two small reflective flashes (Symbol credit score: Josh Croxton)Price
At €249.00, the Uvex Surge is not likely to ever in finding itself on our information to the most efficient finances avenue motorbike helmets, however there is an issue that you are getting two times as a lot capability as lots of its friends.
If, as Uvex tries, you argue that this twin capability comes within the type of air flow and aerodynamics, our wind tunnel effects disagree. If you happen to worth air flow, you would be simply purchasing the Succeed III, given it’s fractionally higher within the warmth and is quicker than each Surge variants. If you happen to worth aerodynamics, you would be with an Evade, or a Scott Cadence Plus, given they have been just a fraction slower than the Poc Procen Air and their air flow is a long way from unhealthy.
But when your concept of dual-purpose is staying exceptionally at ease in each sizzling sizzling and frosty chilly climes, there’s a case for proudly owning the Uvex Surge.
With the Succeed III, an exposed Uvex Surge, or certainly different well-vented helmets, driving in iciness is a recipe for mind freeze. And driving within the peak of summer time in maximum devoted aero helmets is similarly uncomfortable for the complete opposite reason why.
However the Uvex Surge, with its spectacular hot-weather air flow and the power to hide them up, permits you to journey very easily all 12 months around.
With that stated, the Scott Cadence helmet can be purchased with ‘plugs’ for its vents. The outright hot-weather air flow of the Cadence is not as just right as with the Surge, however if you are available in the market for one thing that gives this weather-based versatility whilst additionally serving to you move sooner, that’d most likely be my pick out. It additionally comes with a clip-on rear gentle too, for a little of added security.
Verdict
I truly just like the Uvex Surge helmet and I used to be essentially a little unhappy when it carried out badly in our wind tunnel check.
Regardless of that end result, I nonetheless put on it so much, each in races and for longer simple rides. I additionally take it with me if I’m going away and I am not sure what the temperature can be.
I believe Uvex’s try to be offering consumers a flexible product that plays on the height degree is price celebrating, and I haven’t any qualms trusting the helmet’s security credentials, even with out third-party trying out.
Regardless, I will’t objectively say it provides extra air flow than the Specialised Succeed III, higher aero efficiency than the Evade, nor higher worth than the Scott Cadence. The one actual use case the place the Uvex Surge comes out on height can be anyone who desires a helmet to put on year-round and is more likely to revel in the extremes of each cold and warm.
Swipe to scroll horizontallyTesting scorecard and notesDesign and aesthetics Seems to be are subjective however I slightly like the illusion of the Surge. Best marks additionally for a way cleanly the add-on shell integrates.10/10ComfortAll-day at ease and not using a pinch or drive issues. The one pitfall is the loss of vertical adjustment at the straps. 9/10VentilationWith the duvet got rid of, it is a few of the maximum well-ventilated helmets around10/10SafetyMIPS Air Node incessantly plays properly, and I have no reason why to doubt that right here, however there is no third-party knowledge to again up the claim8/10Aero performanceIn our wind tunnel check, the Uvex Surge carried out properly underneath reasonable, even with the aero shell in place5/10ValueA two-in-one helmet that gives additional versatility. Different helmets be offering a equivalent degree of efficiency at a equivalent value, however in spite of the top value, the efficiency is on par and the dual-purpose manner the worth here’s good8/10OverallRow 6 – Mobile 1 50/60 (83%)
