Since being introduced to the world as the go-to helmet for Team Sky, The UK’s premier cycling team, the Kask Protone has been an intriguing and extremely popular helmet among riders of all stripes. It is aerodynamic, lightweight, and boasts a ton of unique features. All that is left is to see if it really lives up to the hype.

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See Our The Best Road Bike Helmets of 2021: Cycling Helmet Review!

Comfort, Fit, and Adjustability

The Kask Protone uses Kaske’s Octo Fit adjustment system, which helps to make the Kask Protone one of the most highly adjustable road helmets on the market, and one that fits an extremely wide range of head shapes. In the back, the adjustment bar (where the adjustment dial is located) actually slides up and down a full 2” to provide a much higher degree of vertical adjustment than most helmets offer. This is perfect for riders who often find that helmets want to tip forward and back on their heads. Wing-shaped cups and a traditional dial adjustment round off the Kask Protone’s adjustment system, and these features all work extremely well together. 

The Kask Protone’s Octo Fit system does come with a few downsides. First, the vertical adjustment does not lock in place, which means that you might find it tipping forward or back on your head, which is the very thing it is meant to guard against. This will likely be more of a problem for those riding gravel or in other situations that are bumpier than the average road ride. Second, some riders felt a bit of a pressure point near the temples when the helmet was adjusted to fit correctly everywhere else.

Kask also uses an “eco-leather” synthetic chinstrap. This pleather-like material makes for an extremely comfortable chin strap, which is a small but nice addition to any helmet. At the ears, the Y shaped ear straps do not adjust, like the ones on the Giro Synthe. While we were quite fond of this minimalist setup on the Bell Super DH mountain bike helmet, the Y is not quite as large on the Kask Protone, and depending on where in the vertical adjustment you like the helmet, the ear straps might rub your ears.

Finally, the padding inside the Kask Protone is quite plush, particularly for a helmet aimed at weight-conscious riders.

Weight

Weighing in at just shy of 250g, the Kask Protone is a bit heavier than the manufacturer would have you believe. However, this comes from a dedication to comfort and adjustability, from both its plush padding and chinstrap, and from the Octo Fit adjustment system. The Kask Protone also uses a thicker polycarbonate shell over the EPS foam, to protect the helmet from lighter bumps or drops. On the other hand, it does not have a MIPS insert or really anything comparable to one, which tacks ~30g to most of the other high-end road bike helmets on our list.

Ventilation

The Kask Protone’s 20 vents are quite large and well placed, making it one of the more well-ventilated helmets that we reviewed. While it does not quite match the Giro Synthe in terms of ventilation, the Protone’s 20 vents are matched with internal channels that direct airflow across your head at speed. It is only when climbing at slow speeds in hot conditions that the Kask Protone’s ventilation begins to lag behind the Giro Synthe’s.

Safety Tech and Additional Features

The Kask Protone features in molding and a thicker than average polycarbonate shell to protect its EPS foam. However, it comes up short when you consider that just about every other high-end road bike helmet comes with a MIPS liner or another technology to bolster its ability to protect your head from rotational impacts. 

Aerodynamics

The Protone is marketed as an aerodynamic helmet made for everyday riding, and Kask claims that its aerodynamic properties have been molded to be at their maximum level of effectiveness in the positions that cyclists are most often in.

The Bottom Line

The Kask Protone is a top of the line road bike helmet that has been worn by some of the most elite riders on the planet and ridden to victory in the Tour de France. Not surprisingly, such a helmet comes with a fairly steep price tag of around $200. However, considering that the Protone debuted with a price closer to $400, this almost comes off as a bargain.

If a helmet with a maximum range of adjustability, solid aerodynamics, and well above average comfort at a not quite outrageous price is what you are after, then the Kask Protone is a solid choice. However, we felt that the Giro Synthe rivaled or bettered the Protone in almost all of these categories, while also giving you the extra protection of MIPS for a similar price.

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