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Giro Cipher Helmet (discontinued)

Average User Rating: (Very Good) Vital Rating: (Excellent)
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Discontinued
Giro Cipher Helmet - Matte Titanium, Flame
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Tested: Giro Cipher Helmet

Rating: Vital Review

by 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
Read More »

by 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.

Giro Cipher Helmet, A Solid Option

Rating: Featured Member Review
The Good:

Price well, Good platform of protection, Looks great, Features usually found only on high-end helmets

The Bad:

No MIPS protection (but at this price can understand why)

Overall Review:

Although not a brand new design (It’s several years old), Giro has hit the nail right on the head when designing a good looking, protective, and most impressively affordable helmet. It’s called the Giro Cipher and it’s pretty dope.

I purchased my Giro Cipher about a year ago and have been super impressed with it. This is why:

Looks meet function-

First off, the Giro Cipher helmet is arguably one of the better looking helmets and at an MSRP of $200, definitely an affordable one compared to TLD and Fox. At a price tag of $200, Giro didn’t skimp out on function either.

The Cipher is made with a fiberglass shell and an ESP liner (Reaches ASTM F1952 standards). They also included a Vinyl Nitrile layer along the jaw line that is claimed to offer better impact protection.

Read More »

Overall Review:

Although not a brand new design (It’s several years old), Giro has hit the nail right on the head when designing a good looking, protective, and most impressively affordable helmet. It’s called the Giro Cipher and it’s pretty dope.

I purchased my Giro Cipher about a year ago and have been super impressed with it. This is why:

Looks meet function-

First off, the Giro Cipher helmet is arguably one of the better looking helmets and at an MSRP of $200, definitely an affordable one compared to TLD and Fox. At a price tag of $200, Giro didn’t skimp out on function either.

The Cipher is made with a fiberglass shell and an ESP liner (Reaches ASTM F1952 standards). They also included a Vinyl Nitrile layer along the jaw line that is claimed to offer better impact protection. Whether or not this make a difference compared to other helmets is debatable. The Cipher also comes with X-Static liners which cut back on bacteria growth (AKA Stink) that can occur after a week long biking trip. The last thing that really impressed me with this helmet was the emergency removable cheek pads. For a helmet with the majority of features of high-end helmets but costs half the price, the Cipher is pretty remarkable.

Other features worth mentioning-

The Cipher has a pretty darn impressive ventilation system that consists of 8 oversized vents and internal channeling to help direct that hot air through the back. This has been one of the cooler helmets I have ever worn.

The Cipher also comes with removable P.O.V. camera mounts (for go-pro and contour) which do a pretty darn good job at staying put while filming.

It has a well designed visor with hardware that stays locked into place.

Last of all, the Cipher is compatible with Giro’s TuneUps speaker system. All you need to do is drop them in and you’re ready to rock n roll.

Weight-

The Cipher doesn’t get bogged down with all these feature either. Weighing in at just a hair over 1000 grams, its light enough to contend with helmets twice it’s price.

Overall-

All and all, the Giro Cipher is a solid helmet, competitively priced, and comes with a lot a bells and whistles that the top of the line helmets share. With an MSRP of $200, you really can’t go wrong. The only thing I wish to see in this helmet is a MIPS style system that helps reduce the chance of concussions at high speed impacts but as inexpensive as it is, I can understand why it doesn’t. Anyone looking for a solid helmet without having to spend an arm and a leg, look no further.

Good helmet for the budget conscious

Rating:
The Good:

Safe Good fit Lightweight Breathes well Plays well with Atlas neck braces

The Bad:

Chin bar is too close to face Finish could be better

Overall Review:

The Cipher is a great all around helmet with great air flow for staying cool on warm days. The field of view is good, and the helmet appears to be solidly built. Giro's helmet shape has always worked well for me, and the Cipher is no different. As an evolution of the Remedy helmet, the Cipher improves in almost every way - D ring buckle, burly DH-certified protection, and better padding while maintaining a reasonable weight.

My main gripes are associated with the value that this helmet provides - it offers good protection for a good price, but the finish quality is somewhat lacking. Many other helmets have moved toward a more sophisticated vent structure on the chin bar, but this helmet still uses a couple of molded vents that just don't look nearly as nice. The paint also chips somewhat

Read More »

Overall Review:

The Cipher is a great all around helmet with great air flow for staying cool on warm days. The field of view is good, and the helmet appears to be solidly built. Giro's helmet shape has always worked well for me, and the Cipher is no different. As an evolution of the Remedy helmet, the Cipher improves in almost every way - D ring buckle, burly DH-certified protection, and better padding while maintaining a reasonable weight.

My main gripes are associated with the value that this helmet provides - it offers good protection for a good price, but the finish quality is somewhat lacking. Many other helmets have moved toward a more sophisticated vent structure on the chin bar, but this helmet still uses a couple of molded vents that just don't look nearly as nice. The paint also chips somewhat easily. But this is all in comparison to other $300+ helmets. To me, these omissions on the Cipher are superficial elements that make little to no difference on the trail.

The only aspect that DOES have a negative impact on the riding experience is the proximity of the chin bar to my face - relative to other helmets, it feels like there is less breathing room. This can lead to a somewhat claustrophobic feel that took me a few rides to adapt to. I hardly notice it now, but I do notice the odd geometry when I try on a Troy Lee or other comparable helmet design.

Specifications
Product Giro Cipher Helmet
Riding Type Freeride / Bike Park, Downhill
Rider Unisex
Number of Vents 8 Vents with Internal Channeling and Channeled Ventilation at Browline
Construction Fiberglass Shell with EPS Liner
Custom Injected Gaskets Around Goggle Port and Neck Roll
Vinyl Nitrile-Lined Chinbar
Tool-Free Bolt-On Visor
D-Ring Buckle System
Adjustable Padding X-Static Anti-Microbial Padding
Emergency Removable Pads
Replacement Cheek Pads
Fit Kit Padding Aftermarket Kits Available
Certification ASTM F1952
Bag
Size XS, S, M, L, XL
Colors Matte Black, Matte White/Lime/Flame, Matte White/Black/Turquoise, Matte Titanium/Flame, or Matte Black/Lime
Weight 2 lb 9.6 oz (1,180 g)
Miscellaneous Integrated P.O.V. Camera Mount
TuneUps Audio Speaker Pockets with O-Snap Cord Management
Price $200
More Info

Giro Website
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