Mavic’s entry into the helmet market has gone against the current trend for ever lighter lids. Don’t expect this to beat the Giro Aeon, Specialized Prevail or Limar Ultralight on weight. In fact at 380g in a large size, it could be described as a bit beefy.
Where the Plasma really scores though is… with everything else. The full in-moulded shell is finished with absolute precision. There are no gaps, glue-spattered joints or imperfections, and it matches our current favourite LAS helmets for quality.
The inner shape is fairly round at 178mm wide and 215mm long, and the heavily vented outer design is mirrored inside with deep channels in the EPS core. While riding, this translates to an airy coolness and the SLR never feels anything but perfectly comfortable. The inner pads, extending over three-quarters of the surface, are fully seamed and finished, the padding a low-density foam that draws moisture away from your skin and holds it in the pad.
The rear retention cradle is the familiar rotating dial, with a defined click and micro-adjustability through an impressive 6cm range; it offers a couple of centimetres vertical adjustment over three slots. All this allows the rear cradle to be tuned to fit over a reasonably wide range. The straps are very soft to the touch and have easy to adjust anchors that click-lock; the chinstrap section is separate and a doddle to adjust.
For protection and maintaining integrity in a crash, the Plasma has an internal skeleton and an internal carbon wing across the crown. The highly fluid shape is, Mavic insist, for distinctive looks rather than for any aero advantage, and it’s certainly a design that stands out, especially in the vibrant Mavic yellow finish. Mavic offers the same MP3 programme on this as on their wheels – a £28 fee insuring the helmet for immediate crash replacement for two years.
Check out the videos below, from Mavic, for more on their new helmet range:
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