While it’s often the products at the very top of the tree that make the biggest headlines it’s perhaps those from the mid-range that are most relevant for the vast proportion of us. We have seen Specialized recently launch new Evade and Prevail helmets, aero- and vented-forward models respectively, today it has combined the attributes of both into an updated version of its second-tier Propero helmet. Alongside this, it’s also taken the form of the S-Works Torch shoe that we reviewed back in 2022 and released a Torch 3.0 and Torch 2.0 shoe to suit those on smaller budgets.
All new Propero 4 helmet
It’s something of a rarity to find a product that’s not a brand’s top tier that outperforms its pinnacle products, but in the case of the new Propero, we have that very situation… kind of. Specialized top-tier helmets are very distinct in their use cases; the Specialized Prevail is heavily vented, and the Evade is aerodynamic. The new Propero takes a lot of its design cues from the Evade, but adds some more venting and comes out more aerodynamic than the Previal model the brand claims.
Aerodynamics seems to have been at the forefront of the design team’s minds, as the press material leans heavily on new aero claims. Versus the current Evade the new Propero 4 is four Watts faster, or 15 seconds over 40km at 45kmh. Unsurprisingly it’s not going to challenge the brand’s aero model, but the form factor is certainly similar. From the front the Propero and the Evade look remarkably similar; it’s at the sides where the two diverge.
The Propero is noticeably more vented than the Evade. Not as much as the Prevail, so as not to encroach on that USP either, but with two large side vents near the rear, and a rear section very much like the Prevail there is certainly some overlap. In much the same way as bikes are getting aero at the front and lightweight at the back, this helmet is getting aero at the front and very in the rear.
Specialized has also used what it’s calling ‘micro channelling’ to enhance cooling. It’s hard to tell from the images we have seen how it is achieved, but Specialized claims that “2mm offset micro-channels” create turbulent air inside the helmet to aid cooling, akin to the action of a tumble dryer.
For a size medium, a full 30g has been shaved off the overall weight compared to the old model, clocking in…
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