Specialized S-Works Evade 3 helmet review

The Specialized S-Works Evade 3 is the brand’s latest update to its highly rated aero road helmet.

Though it doesn’t claim to have made a huge leap forward in aerodynamic efficiency, Specialized says the most significant improvement comes in terms of ventilation.

This, it says, makes the S-Works Evade 3 more versatile than ever before.

In use, all of this rings true. Though it comes at a high price, the Evade 3 offers excellent all-round performance and, crucially for some, doesn’t sacrifice style in its pursuit of speed.

Specialized S-Works Evade 3 specification

When it comes to aerodynamics, Specialized says simply it has “maintained” the performance of its predecessor, the S-Works Evade II.

The big improvement, it says, comes in the form of ventilation – which is said to be 10 per cent better.

This is important because ventilation is a crucial factor for riders who want one helmet to wear all-year round.

In total, the Evade 3 has nine vents – five on the front, and four making up the 'diffuser' at the rear.

The two smallest of the frontal vents also function as storage ports for your cycling sunglasses.

In comparison, Giro’s Eclipse Spherical has a total of 17 vents. Specialized might say all those extra holes come with a corresponding aerodynamic penalty, but without taking both to a wind tunnel it’s hard to draw any conclusions.

The Evade 3 also incorporates a MIPS Air Node liner in its slim internal padding, which is claimed to help “dissipate rotational forces” in the event of a crash.

I didn’t have an opportunity to test that feature for myself, thankfully, but the Evade 3 is very highly rated by Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab, receiving a five-star rating (out of five).

On the scales, my size-medium Evade 3 weighs a competitive 272g. More importantly, it doesn’t feel weighty when on your head.

In terms of price, the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 costs £275/$300/€330.

That’s pricier than many of its direct competitors, such as the Lazer Vento KinetiCore (£250), Giro Eclipse Spherical (£240), MET Manta MIPS (£220), Kask Utopia Y (£245) or the new Trek Ballista (£229.99).

In absolute terms, £275 is also a lot of money to spend on something you’ll likely need to replace in the event of a crash or accident.

Still, though, that’s a criticism that can reasonably be levelled at much high-end cycling gear, and if you want the best equipment it usually comes at a high price.

Fortunately, the Evade 3’s polycarbonate shell wraps all the way around the EPS foam core, meaning it’s well protected from general wear and tear.

If you can avoid crashing, then (easier said than done for racers, of course, though perhaps more realistic for the rest of us), it should last a long time.

Specialized S-Works Evade 3 performance

As with other small bits of kit or clothing, it’s nigh-on impossible to feel the difference an aero road helmet makes while riding.

However, in a recent wind tunnel test, we found the difference between a dedicated aero helmet and a more ventilated one was significant – to the tune of 7.5 watts at 35kph. That’s worth around a minute and a half over 60km.

I suspect for most people, though, one of the most important factors will be that the Evade 3 manages to combine its aerodynamic efficiency with a relatively every-day appearance.

While time trial helmets are increasingly ignoring style in pursuit of speed (such as the recently announced Sweet Protection Redeemer, Specialized’s own TT5 and, of course, the POC Tempor), many road cyclists remain unapologetically style-conscious.

The Evade 3, on the other hand, cuts a slim profile on my head, avoiding the so-called ‘salad-bowl’ look often credited to earlier examples of the genre, such as the Giro Air Attack.

The elongated shape and minimal venting over the top of it are, in fact, the only conspicuous giveaways that this isn’t a ‘normal’ road helmet.

Specialized S-Works Evade 3 Comfort and cooling

Despite the minimalist padding, the Evade 3 is a very comfortable helmet.

The interior cradle is easy to adjust and the rotary dial at the rear (used for tightening the cradle) is easy to use while riding, even with winter cycling gloves.

With aero helmets, slow-speed cooling on hot days is usually the Achilles heel. That was certainly the case with the Smith Optics Ignite MIPS I tested recently.

This is usually because, when riding slowly (when climbing for extended periods, for example), there isn’t the same quantity of air being forced over your head at high speed.

The semi-closed exterior of most aero helmets also tends to mean excess heat from your head has a harder time dissipating.

Fortunately, the Evade does as good a job here as any aero road helmet I’ve tested, and I didn’t suffer with any sweat dripping down the front of the helmet and onto my glasses. It can’t compete with the best-vented helmets in this regard, but I've yet to encounter a day when my head started to feel like a packet of ‘boil in the bag’ rice.

Specialized S-Works Evade 3 bottom line

The Specialized S-Works Evade 3 offers excellent all-round performance, combining an aerodynamic design with good cooling and relatively normal looks.

For those who ride in locations where it’s regularly very hot, a helmet with greater ventilation, such as Specialized’s S-Works Prevail 3, might be a more comfortable option.

For everyone else, though, there’s little trade-off between speed, comfort and style with the S-Works Evade 3.

As is often the case, the S-Works branding brings with it a substantial price tag, and a premium even compared to many other high-end options.

For those who want one of the best aero road helmets, though, the S-Works Evade 3 doesn’t disappoint.