Tested: Giro Cipher Helmet
Vital Reviewby Justin Schroth
Giro has long been in the head-protection game in various action sports, producing some of the best technology and features available for riders today. With the Giro Remedy being a crowd favorite for many years, Giro now looks to further step up their game with the new Cipher, aimed at the DH and Enduro crowd in need of a lightweight and well-vented lid at a price point that won’t break the bank.
Giro Cipher Highlights
- Integrated P.O.V. camera mount
- Tool-free, bolt-on visor
- Channeled ventilation at browline
- Emergency removable pads
- X-Static® anti-microbial padding
- D-Ring buckle system
- TuneUps™ audio speaker pockets with O-Snap™ cord management
- Fiberglass shell with EPS liner
- Custom injected gaskets around goggle port and neck roll
- Vinyl Nitrile-lined chinbar
- Fit Kit™ fit system
- 8 vents with internal channeling
- MSRP: $200 USD
Initial Impressions
Out of the box, the Giro Cipher looks sleek, stylish, and streamlined without giving you that bobblehead look. At 1180 grams, the helmet doesn’t weight much more than some carbon fiber helmets on the market (there's about 100-150 grams in it, depending on the model you compare it to). Although lightweight, the helmet feels solid and has impressive rubber molding details around the goggle port and bottom openings.
Giro also includes a dedicated GoPro/Contour mount that is designed to break away in a hard crash. On the topic of eating it, the helmet doesn't feature the Eject system but the cheekpads are specifically designed to be removable to help with getting your lid off safely after a serious digger.
For those who enjoy rocking out to the beat while getting their shred on, the Cipher is specifically compatible with in-helmet speakers, like the TuneUps system from Giro/Skullcandy for example. The speakers slide into specifically designated pockets in the cheekpads. Finally, the pads and liner are removable for easy washing, and treated with an antimicrobial agent to avoid you getting your dome-funk on.
On The Trail
For the first ride, I noticed the helmet was a little tight around the ears/cheeks, but after a few days of DH laps the pads broke in and the helmet became very comfortable. Snug enough to hold steady without any pressure points around my dome. Coming from a larger moto-style lid most recently, it was nice not noticing the weight of the helmet when riding. The bottom rear portion of the Cipher is low-profile which makes it a very neck-brace friendly helmet, and I never felt restricted when looking upward on the steeper stuff.
With 8 vents, including large intake vents along the brow, the helmet breathed very well even on an upper 80’s day. The large enduro-inspired goggle port not only allows for a great field of vision and an easy fit with a range of goggles, but also keeps the air flowing when you’re charging hard and mouth-breathing like a champ.
Things That Could Be Improved
Although I like the idea of a designated GoPro mount on a helmet, the break-away design that Giro went with has some play in the mount which does not provide a super stable platform - as a result it can cause shaky video. Additionally, Giro offers the Cipher in a wide range of flashy color combo options, but I would also like to see a few more subdued colorway options.
Long Term Durability
Although I haven’t had any crashes with the helmet, the construction seems solid with apparent attention to detail that you’d expect from helmets costing almost twice as much. I’ve had helmets where the manufacturer had skimped on quality visor hardware or chin-straps, but on the Cipher these look and feel solid. I expect Giro's latest to last me many seasons barring any bad crashes!
What's The Bottom Line?
The Cipher is a sweet option for those looking for a lightweight enduro/DH capable helmet that looks great, breathes well, and is neck-brace compatible. The MSRP runs $200 but I've seen it go for around $180 which is certainly a very good price for a helmet of this quality.
For more information, head to www.giro.com.
About The Reviewer
Justin Schroth has been riding mountain bikes for over 15 years, experiencing first hand the evolution of the industry from thumb shifters and MCU cartridge forks to carbon fiber frames and single-ring all mountain bikes. As an East Coast rider, he loves trails with a combination of jumps, technical downhills, and the occasional loose corner for some foot out action. With a Mechanical Engineering degree, Justin's instinct is to always consider how it works over how it looks. After many years of racing the Northeast Norba and Collegiate series, Justin hung up the race plate and his diploma to go behind the camera at Lucent Productions, creating mountain bike video content for several clients such as Highland Mountain Bike Park.
