Lazer Bullet 2.0 Helmet

The aerodynamic Lazer Bullet 2.0 is a slippier alternative to the Z1. It looks good and has some innovative features, but it's heavier than the competition and just as pricey.

• Pros: Innovative design concepts with great potential, looks good
• Cons: Too heavy, needs some refinement

Aero helmets are designed to smooth airflow, reducing the amount of turbulent air that causes drag; in simple terms, the less drag, the faster you'll go. Often, helmets are made more aero by simply filling in the vents – as famously demonstrated by Mark Cavendish in the 2011 World Champs, cling-filming his Specialized Prevail. This, however, reduces all the ventilation in the helmet, causing real problems on hot days. Lazer claims to have solved this 'age old dilemma' with the Bullet 2.0, and I was keen to test this out.

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To give a brief overview, the Bullet has a low profile, fitting tight to the top of your head. It has some permanent venting on the sides and rear, and there are two interchangeable front panels. These can be swapped out for vented or filled-in counterparts. The front of the two panels also acts as an 'Air Slide', allowing you to get some airflow even if you have the filled-in aero shell panels fitted. It's an innovative design, but I do wonder how those panels will cope with being changed regularly over time. They are only a press fit, with small plastic clips holding them in place. I guess if you change your helmet every couple of years you won't have any problems.

The most noticeable update to the Bullet since Jack tested the original back in 2017 is the magnetic Zeiss visor. It really is a thing of beauty; after all, Zeiss has been known to provide optics for NASA. However, it is somewhat let down by its integration into the helmet. The visor has three magnets; the outer two are used to secure the visor when in use and work well. The third/central magnet is used to store the visor on the back of the helmet when you don't need it. Only one pea-sized magnet, holding a visor that catches the wind easily, is a recipe for disaster. I lost the visor on my first test ride!

The fit is okay, but I did have similar problems to Jack. The internal cradle didn't fit quite right and I struggled to find a natural position for the helmet on my forehead. I often found it irritatingly clanging against the top of my glasses.

Otherwise, the padding was good, it didn't lock in the heat and was comfortable. The straps and clip also do the job, though there are better, cleaner systems out there. The same goes for the retention system.

The biggest gripe I have with the Bullet is the weight. It is indisputably a very heavy helmet. Weighing in at 355g, it is around 100g heavier than the competition. I'm not a weight weenie hill climber, and 100g won't prove a significant performance loss, but I just found it uncomfortable on my head. It was noticeably there, all the time... when I turned around, took a drink or even just put it on. Having the direct comparison of my Specialized Evade II made it all the more apparent, although if it was your only helmet it's probably something you'd get used to.

Ventilation was good with the vented panels fitted. I was surprised about how cool I was, given the helmet was matt black. However, I do question whether the interchangeable panels are necessary. With no aerodynamic test data provided by Lazer comparing the options, I can only assume the vented panels are slower, otherwise Lazer wouldn't provide the aero alternatives. But I would argue that you can have an aero helmet that is well ventilated. POC has done some very interesting research with its Ventral Spin, and likewise, Specialized, Giro and Abus have all provided aero offerings with integrated ventilation.

I ended up compromising, with one vented panel and the other solid. Realistically, you'll always need some ventilation in a helmet, even on cooler days, and I don't think the Bullet 2.0 solves "the age-old dilemma of ventilation versus aerodynamics".

> Should you buy an aero helmet?

On a more positive note, the helmet has a really nice integrated tail-light. It works well in conjunction with the two reflective panels on the rear. It is a simple push to turn it on, which inadvertently happened a lot while travelling (something to be wary of), and I certainly did find myself using it. It's a neat, convenient safety feature for a black helmet.

Conclusion

Comparing the Bullet to my Specialized Evade II, which I've raced and trained in all season, and putting the aerodynamics aside (you'd need a wind tunnel to definitively test this), the Evade is simply lighter, better fitting and cooler. At only £10 more, in my opinion it's definitely worth the extra cash.

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There are upsides to the Bullet: it looked great with my black skin suit, and the padding is good, plus it incorporates a lot of innovative features such as the LifeBEAM compatibility (integrated heart rate and inclination sensor), the interchangeable panels and the rear light, but it needs some refinement before I could recommend it.

Verdict

Good looking, innovate helmet with great potential but in need of some refinement