Helmet design has come a long way in the last couple of decades but the latest Prevail from Specialized pushes the envelope even further, with a dramatic weight loss.

A couple of years ago Specialized brought us the 2D. We thought it was an impressive bit of kit, offering a silly low weight, good crash protection and impressive ventilation. But fast forward three years and the company has only gone and surpassed our expectations with the new Prevail.

The Prevail impresses on a number of fronts. First up there’s no getting away from how light it is, just 185g claimed which makes it one of the lightest helmets on the market. As well as reducing the weight of its range topping helmet, Specialized has worked hard to improve ventilation, with ‘4th dimensional cooling’. There’s 25 vents designed to push and pull as much air across your head as possible, with the distinctive “Mega Mouthport” at the front remaining.

Like the old 2D, inside the dual density EPS foam of the helmet is a hand-woven Kevlar inner matrix which prevents the helmet from breaking apart in a crash.

More important to the comfort of the helmet on your bonce are the changes to the fit. A new Pro Fit 360 system is even more comfortable than before, with the nasty headband design of the 2D a thing of the past. The new minimalist ‘Mindset’ retention system adopts a micro-dial which now makes adjustment quick and easy, and adjusting the fit on the bike is a simple one hand job.

Vertical adjustment of the retention system is available inside the helmet too, so you can get the Prevail to fit perfectly on your head, handy if you’ve got an odd shaped noggin’. Also changed are the webbing straps which use a thinner and lighter fabric.

A claimed weight of 185g is impressive; it sure feels light when handling it. On the head and its really noticeable, it really does feel like it’s not even there. The retention system is a marked improvement, with the micro-dial and slimmer straps making it not only easier to get a good fit but it’s also more comfortable to boot. Ventilation is not something we’re keen on testing in the depths of the winter but we can attest to just how much more air is scooped in by the redesigned vents, forcing us to dig out a headwarmer for colder days.

Unlike the 2D which came with a simple clip-on peak, the Prevail has no such provision, so if you like you peaks the Prevail isn’t for you. Don’t let that put you off though, if you’re in the market for one of the lightest and best ventilated helmets, there aren’t many to touch the Prevail.

£159.99 from www.specialized.com