Review: Bell Star Pro Shield Aero Helmet
The Star Pro Shield is the Bell Aero helmet. Weighing only 287 grams, this helmet is really lightweight. Read more!
The Star Pro Shield is the Bell Aero helmet. Weighing only 287 grams (a bit over 10 oz.), this helmet is really lightweight. A great feature is the magnetic high-quality eye shield by Zeiss.
Its aerodynamic ventilation system switch is exceptional. With an integrated slider button on top of the helmet, the rider can switch from full ventilation on climbs to wind-slicing aerodynamics in the sprints and flats.
Bell says, “It is the fastest road helmet across the world”. Is this true?
Let us do the stress test under real racing conditions. I thought the best place to do this is the cult race Rad am Ring (race through the green hell). A bike race on a car racetrack in the wonderful town of Nürburg, in the district of Ahrweiler located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. This track closes for a weekend to give bikers a chance to participate in one of the hardest races through the green hell.
My first impression
This helmet immediately gave me a safe feeling. The well-chosen positions for the pads, a good shape and the on-the-head tension dial, make fine-tuning easy for a perfect fit.
A good start in the 24-hour race.
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The ride
My first laps were excellent. In a downhill section of the track that is called the Fuchsröhre (Fox hole), I almost cracked the 100 km/h or 62 mph mark. Was this really the helmet? Probably not, but I am convinced that the Bell Star Pro Shield helped.
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Ventilation
To my surprise, the air circulation was very convincing. Normally, the aero helmets main criterion is speed and the ventilation is mostly forgotten, not in this case.
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The slots are perfectly positioned and allow good air circulation. Once opened, I never had the feeling I was overheating.
Shield
Another feature that I like and comes with the helmet is the magnetic shield. A practical - and affordable - solution for those who wear glasses.
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Throughout the entire race, the shield did not fog up. I did not have to worry about it falling off because a magnet attaches the high-quality Zeiss shield and holds it in place. This way I could keep my mind on the road during the race.
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Summary
If you are looking for a lightweight quality helmet that has an elegant appearance and excellent ventilation that doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet then you cannot ignore the Bell Star Pro Shield. After all, even the pro team Lotto Jumbo uses this helmet.
