HJC Ibex 3.0 helmet review: the fit and comfort are exceptional, but it's a pricey purchase

SQUIRREL_13705170

The third-generation HJC Ibex helmet stands out in a crowded market by successfully combining aerodynamics with on-bike comfort and cooling.

Many riders are forced to make a choice between a comfortable, airy well-vented helmet and a more aerodynamic but more closed-in option to grab a speed advantage.

HJC claims that although the Ibex 3.0 isn’t a pure aero helmet, its aero performance in wind-tunnel tests brings 215g of drag at 45kph, bettering its three main aero road helmet competitors by more than 20g. At 60kph, it's 30g more efficient.

• Read more: The best road bike helmets 2026, from entry-level to high-end, as tested by BikeRadar
  

HJC Ibex 3.0 ventilation

HJC’s solution is at heart quite a simple one; it has combined the elongated tail silhouette from the Furion 3 aero helmet with four large forward-facing vents to bring the cooling I want from a helmet, especially when working hard.

The vents use a design HJC calls Coolpath, which has an internal vent shape that channels and accelerates the airflow through a single deep central channel. This pushes air across the crown of your head and out through a cutout at the back of the helmet near the nape of your neck.

I used the Ibex 3.0 throughout the hottest summer on record in the UK and came away impressed by the cooling to the extent I never felt the need to switch to my usual favourite hot-weather helmet, the Giro Aries.

HJC Ibex 3.0 fit and features

With HJC’s previous helmets, I found the fit never quite suited my head shape; they tended to pinch at the temples. With the new Selfit Pro fit system, however, that is a thing of the past. The internal cradle shape is less intrusive and the flexible anchors for the brow padding don't encroach into the volume of the helmet nearly as much.

The rear cradle offers a generous 5cm of vertical adjustment, and with five-point horizontal adjustment, it gives a huge range to dial in the fit. The two-way micro dial enables further adjustments.

The straps are lightweight, soft and well-finished with woven-in reflective band details for a little extra nighttime safety. I like that the ends have solid stitched-in caps that prevent them from fraying or slipping through the clasp.

MIPS alternative

With most premium helmets, the first thing most of us look for when it comes to safety is that iconic yellow dot that indicates the presence of MIPS. MIPS is the most popular anti-rotational system, although not the only option available. HJC’s SLID is its alternative to MIPS, and it works in a very similar way.

The Sliding Layer Impact Distribution design is an X-shaped web structure in the crown of the internal surface that anchors to the helmet. This part has special gel inserts that move in any direction in the event of an impact. HJC claims this reduces the amount of energy impacted on the brain because the helmet rotates independently of your head, reducing the dangerous rotational energy on the brain.

HJC helmets aren’t available in the USA, so you won’t find them listed on the highly influential Virginia Tech ratings list. The Ibex 3.0 meets UK and EU safety standards.

• Read more: Virginia Tech has a new safest helmet – these are now the safest lids according to its independent testing

HJC Ibex 3.0 bottom line

The Ibex 3.0 is an impressive helmet. I like the shape; its elongated length is combined with a low volume and a smaller frontal profile than most.

The quality of finish is excellent, with the two-tone blue mixing gloss and matt surfaces, and a shell that wraps around the exposed edges of the foam core. It comes with a spare pad set and a soft bag for transporting it.

Its most impressive detail, however, is the weight. My large-sized test helmet weighed in at 288g. In comparison, my lightweight and airy Giro Aries weighs 311g in the same size, and Fizik's latest Kudo is 337.2g. Specialized’s S-Works Prevail 3 comes close at a claimed 300g for a size large.

In all, I’m impressed by the Ibex 3.0; its fit, comfort and finishing are all of the highest order, but at £249.99, all those benefits don’t come cheap.

SQUIRREL_13705170