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Specialized Launch “Cool” New S-Works Prevail II Vent Helmet

Specialized recently released an update to their top-of-the-line road helmet, the Prevail II Vent. The update continues to improve on ventilation, not to mention additional safety improvements. What they have created is what they claim to be one of the “coolest” helmets on the market.

The original Prevail came out back in 2011. Back then, it was an advancement forward in aerodynamics, which eventually would be supplanted by the Evade aero road helmet. But the Prevail has also been about lightweight and ventilation, which became its new focus. When the Prevail II debuted in 2016, it built on the lightweight and ventilation principles of the original, while not forgetting about its aerodynamic heritage.

If you’d put the old and new versions of the Prevail II next to each other, you’d be forgiven if you didn’t immediately spot the differences. It still uses a multi-density EPS foam for the liner and polycarbonate outer shell. Besides some changes in graphics, the differences are subtle but important. The vent shapes are all the same, including the largemouth first seen on Air Piranha in the mid-90’s. When you look down the center and outer channels, that’s where you see the difference. Where the Prevail II has EPS foam bridges to provide support to the helmet, the Prevail II Vent removes those bridges. Instead, there is robotically spun Aramid rope built into the helmet’s structure. This creates three massive vents, increasing ventilation area by 20%. Another important number is 18%. This is how much faster the air moves over your head through the helmet. This is important, because the fast the air moves, the faster the heat is removed from the helmet. It’s a principle called Convective Heat Transfer. Think of it this way. If you were moving through the air at 20 mph, the Prevail II Vent makes it feel as though you are traveling at almost 24 mph. It might not feel like much, but on a hot day when you are climbing, you’ll take any difference you can get.

Inside, you’ll find some additional changes. The Prevail II Vent uses a new version of the MIPS SL system. The minimalist watchband design allows 10-15mm of movement in any direction in a rotational impact. It allows a small amount of slip, similar to the fluid between our brains and skull to help protect your brain. The combination of the EPS foam liner, polycarbonate shell, and MIPS helps create a 5-Star rated helmet by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Vent ranks 14th on the list, 11 spots higher than the previous version.

Outback, the ANGi sensor mounted on the Hairport II fit system isn’t new but is included on the Prevail II Vent. This little sensor, when paired with the companion app on your phone, alerts designated contacts if you are in a crash and unable to contact someone on your own. Again, it’s not a new feature on Specialized helmets, but since they acquired the old ICEdot sensor, I’m glad to see that it is something they are continuing to build on.

The new Prevail Vent II is available in sizes small, medium, and large, and in four colors to start, white, black, sand/dopio, and black/maroon. Weight remains the same as the previous versions, which were around the 225-250g range, depending on the size. The helmets are available now through the Specialized website or through your local dealer. At $250, they aren’t crazy expensive for a top-of-the-line helmet but will put a small dent in your wallet.

When it comes time for a helmet on days that you need ventilation, the S-Works Prevail II Vent is a tough option to ignore.

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