Test from Kask Utopia

Developed with the riders of Team Sky (since renamed Ineos), the Kask Utopia helmet is claimed to be one of the models route the most aerodynamic on the market, while remaining light, airy and comfortable. Test bya helmet that would save up to 6 watts at 50 km/h.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: @3bikes.fr

Among the high-end models of the Italian brand Kask, the Utopia is at the same level as the Valegro and the Protone, even if it is slightly more expensive to buy. The Valegro is a very light and hyper-ventilated helmet with 37 openings for ventilation, while the Protone is the versatile model in the range. Designed in collaboration with the riders of the team specializing in marginal gains (Team Sky, which has since become Team Ineos), the Utopia is intended for rolling courses where aerodynamics are essential. A category of helmets that has been very successful in recent years, whether on route or in triathlon, especially when you become aware of the energy savings possible thanks to this accessory.

To create the Utopia, Kask claims to have relied on the shape of the ten best aerodynamic helmets on the market., before recreating them in 3D for a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The different models were then testat different speeds and angles, before arriving at the final form of the Utopia, which is supposed to be more energy efficient by up to 6 watts at 50 km/h.

We can already hear you smiling and thinking that 6 watts, especially at this speed, is almost nothing.. Except that these "marginal" gains can accumulate with others and that in the end, with the same training and the same physical abilities, you can ride really faster by adopting the right equipment. And if your average speed is lower, you certainly gain fewer watts, but you ultimately gain more time on the same route, because you spend more time on the bike. It's mathematics.

With the same training and physical abilities, you can ride much faster by adopting the right equipment.

Of course, since we do not have the means to verify Kask's figures, we can only trust the brand completely on this point. And testand the other more visible features of Utopia.

A lightweight

With 244 g in size S, the Utopia is barely heavier than the Protone in the same size (220 g) and a little above the Valegro (186 g). But it remains light for an aero helmet whose ogive profile and limited number of openings are not favorable to weight gain. Once placed on the head, the difference is totally invisible from this point of view in any case, and is not an argument at the time of choice.

There are nine air inlets., to circulate it above the head. Their placement and orientation promote the movement of air over the skull, in order to avoid overheating in adverse weather conditions. Sufficient ventilation at high speed to be sensitive even when it is cold. Below 10°C, a cap or under-helmet is necessary to avoid getting cold. We are far from real time trial helmets which can turn out to be real pressure cookers in certain conditions.

Inside, the helmet benefits from breathable and quick-drying padding., with a 5 mm layer of a material called Resistex, which is supposed to wick moisture away from the head and move it towards the shell. Based on activated carbon, this material benefits from various characteristics such as a dispersion of electrical charges accumulated in the environment during exercise, respect for the skin and protection against bacteria and allergies, and help maintain temperature.

For placement on the head, the Kask Utopia benefits from several adjustment systems. First, there is a micrometric tightening wheel for the occipital support (Octo Fit). A support that can also be adjusted in height thanks to a rod of more than 5 cm that has 26 notches. On the other hand, on each side of the wheel, two supports are adjustable by means of three other notches. They are positioned on the base of the skull to stabilize the wearing regardless of the shape of the head. Finally, there are two independent straps that are not adjustable in length. On the other hand, the chin strap in hypoallergenic and washable ecological leather allows you to adjust the length of the tightening under the chin. Characteristics common to the Valegro and Protone, which make up a large part of the success of these helmets Made In Italy, with impeccable finishing.

Available in white, orange, black and red and several variations of black, The Utopia, however, lacks a little "cachet" in the white version, especially when seen from the side, where it almost seems too sober from our point of view. A purely subjective observation.

Fast and versatile

Even though we couldn't testand the Kask Utopia in high heat, our training conditions in recent weeks have been varied enough to get an idea of ​​its comfort and level of ventilation. On the head, the positioning of the helmet seems a little less natural than that of the Protone used almost daily, probably because of the wide central channel intended for the circulation of air flows, and above which rest the two long Resistex foams. In short, the first contact is not as "soft" as with the Protone, especially with very short hair.

Nothing to say about respecting the size, nor the occipital support, sufficiently flexible and adaptable to suit all skull shapes. You can even slip on a cap or under-helmet to combat the cold, and adjust the helmet setting by loosening the Octo Fit or adjusting its height. The synthetic leather chin strap is, however, a little trickier to loosen because it is stiffer than a simple strap. And while it is much better quality than most helmet straps on the market, note that it is a little difficult to leave it pressed against the neck, due to the stiffness induced by the tightening buckle. A feature that is not really annoying on a Protone or a Valegro, but more annoying on an aero helmet like the Utopia, when you know that a floating strap can ruin everything in terms of aerodynamics.

On this point, it is impossible for us to verify the data put forward by Kask.. But the helmet still seems to help you glide through the wind, and without any parasitic noise. The ventilation is very good… provided you ride fast. In these conditions, you can really feel the air circulating above your head, which even requires wearing a cap when it's cool, as we said above. On the other hand, at low speeds below twenty degrees and on a slow climb, the Utopia is less ventilated than a helmet designed for this purpose, that's obvious. You gradually feel less ventilation or "breathing" and the helmet quickly appears heavier than it is.

And it is also in these particular conditions that it may be necessary to move your glasses away from your face., to avoid sweat in the eyes or falling inside the lenses. With many helmets, it is easy to place the arms of the glasses in the air holes to make them hold during the ascent. But not here, where this Kask Utopia cannot receive the arms of glasses on the top, whether they are Rudy Project glasses, Oakley glasses and even those of the Koo brand, from the same house as Kask.

This is not a fatal flaw, but it does limit the Utopia's scope of action a little. This helmet is intended for competition or fast training on flat or slightly hilly terrain.. If you are a cyclosportive rider who plans to climb Alpe d'Huez next summer, there are other, more efficient models for this from the Italian brand.

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