Carlos's Reviews of His Lazer G1 MIPS Helmet

Helmets are safer, more aero, and more breathable than ever. Some can say that we've reached 'peak helmet', where the main motivator for buying a new helmet isn't a change in design or technology but that their current helmet simply needed to be replaced. But with an increase in features comes an increase in weight. And if you're looking for the latest in tech, fit, and safety, your number one option might be the new Lazer G1 Helmet, which offers the latest and greatest in features and tech without the weight.

The G1 road helmet (called the Lazer Genesis helmet elsewhere) is the Belgian brand's lightweight climbing helmet and it's features reflect that singular mindset. It is an evolution of their older Genesis helmet, but the updates here improved the helmet in three clear ways: weight, ventilation, and design. Let's dive in.

 Weight

Most helmets have ballooned in weight over the past few years as they have sought to become more aero, or add more features. Not so here; the new G1 is the lightest Lazer helmet available at 220 grams, and 25 grams lighter than the Z1 helmet. The MIPS model tested here weighs in at 260 grams in a size medium.

The helmet feels super light. I really do have to check if it’s on when I leave for my fat bike rides. Ventilation

Lazer offers a substantial 22 vents on the new G1, with revised interior channeling to improve airflow. All said and done Lazer claims that the G1 provides 108% ventilation efficiency, though I'm sure that number goes down slightly with the inclusion of a MIPS slip plane.

Air flows through helmet well. I would definitely use this on hot summer rides. Design

Discussing design is always fun if only because it requires us to think about how it looks as well as how it feels. The outside looks like a streamlined Z1, but a bit more minimal in an effort to keep high breathability. There is also a bit of a narrowness that is pleasing to the eye; it makes the helmet look more streamlined to your head rather than sitting on top of the head.

This wouldn't be a top-spec Lazer helmet without their unique Rollsys system. Rollsys is a wire-based retention system that wraps the full circumference of the head rather than a conventional helmet retention system that tightens from the back. It's comfortable, and while I don't have long hair, it is ponytail-friendly. The shell and molded foam pieces look well made and put together. The retention system works well, though I do worry about how thin the base of the retention system is. Laying your helmet on a shelf or even hanging on a hook against a wall could potentially damage this. I was overly conscious of this and ended up storing the helmet upside down on a shelf. One thing I would be interested in trying out is the accompanying Lazer aeroshell, which could be really helpful on cold winter days on the fatbike. I also didn't try the 'Comfort' pads that come in the package; the standard 'Race' pads are part of the lightweight package and while comfortable, I would have appreciated the other pads. Conclusion

The new Lazer G1 Helmet ventilates very well, both with channeled air and passive ventilation alike. The available Aeroshell cover makes this helmet great for cold weather riding or whenever I need to eke out some extra speed. That said, I'm the kind of person who has one helmet to do everything: road, gravel, MTB, and snow. I don't do Deer Valley or enduro-type rides, nor do I do local time trials. I'm not sure that this helmet can do all of it, if only because it feels so road-focused. But if I want a new road-oriented helmet, this will be on the very top of my list.

Have any questions about the Lazer G1 helmet? Give us a call during business hours, or send us an email any time to info@contenderbicycles.com.