Kask Protone Helmet Info

To those of us who buy our own gear, it sometimes seems to be a mixed blessing to be a professional rider sponsored by a team or manufacturer. What if you don’t like the equipment? Well for Team Sky, that certainly is not the problem since the evolution of the Kask helmets has largely gone hand in hand with the ambitions of the team, which means that the latest incarnation, the Kask Protone can easily be considered one of the most innovative and desirable helmets on the market.

They wanted to create a helmet that would be light, aero, ventilated, protective, and comfortable. With Protone, they have brought out what can be unblushingly considered a success on all five points.

The Protone is the best example yet of how you can have your cake and lay in it, too. To mix aero with ventilation, Kask developed what they call Aero Control. It means that they have a shell that has a wind-tunnel informed shape that still allows for a variety of air-intake and exhaust vents. In spite of the fact that there are seven forward-facing vents, plus an enormous V-shaped vent at the forehead, this helmet still hits super low drag numbers not only from one or two positions, but just about every real-world head position you could have on the bike. That’s largely because when you are hammering, and have your head down, the helmet has a smoothly rounded, solid top, exposing you to very little vent-caused drag. Then when you are climbing an Alpine Col and wishing the next corner to be your finish line, you’ll be looking up and getting the full benefit of the front vents and the large exhaust pipes at the back.

To make sure that the Protone could do the job for which it ultimately is intended, Kask has focused on refining its Multi In-Molding Technology. They combined a polycarbonate cover, polystyrene cap, and strengthening frame into one unit.

Kask is realistic enough to recognize that if the helmet isn’t comfortable and doesn’t fit well, no one will wear it. Kask has developed several touches that will keep the Protone feeling like it is a customized lid. What you’ll notice even before you put it on is that it is immensely adjustable. Kask calls this the Octo Fit adjustment system that is as simple as it is effective. There is an adjustable tab on the inside of the helmet that allows you to expand the polystyrene body both at your temples and at the rear. You can also count on an impressive amount of height adjustment as well. Whether you are a small rider with a small head, or a very tall rider who has always felt like most helmets just sit on the top of your cranium, the Kask Protone can be adjusted to accommodate both extremes.

Kask has provided antibacterial and antimicrobial inner padding. It is removable and washable. Coolmax is employed, which means that it will be an amazingly effective fabric to wick away your sweat. The honeycombed surface will enhance the wicking capabilities. The padding is an open cell, multi-layer material that will give you a gratifying amount of cushion while still working hard to keep you free of eye-stinging sweat.

The Kask Protone has passed the CPSC helmet standards for the US and weighs in at 220 grams. And if you do have the misfortune to crash your Kask Protone within a year after purchase, Kask America will offer you a 25% discount, according to current prices, on a replacement Kask helmet.

If you’ve been afraid to spring for an aero helmet because you thought you’d get heat stroke on the long climbs, consider the Kask Protone as providing you with the best of all worlds.