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Helmets
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Lazer Z1 helmet

Lazer Z1 helmet

9
by David Arthur @davearthur
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 26, 2014

6
£199.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Comfortable, easily adjustable fit, good ventilation and low weight
Weight: 
225g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Lazer's new Z1 helmet looks really good and offers fantastic fit, good ventilation and a low weight of just 220g (size medium) making it the lightest helmet they've ever offered.

The fit is really the new Z1's major trump card, it's superior to just about every other high-end helmet on the market. That's down to the the one-piece flexible nylon cradle of the Advanced Rollsys retention system. It wraps around the entire head and evenly distributes pressure, avoiding hotspots.

The Advanced Rollsys retention can be easily adjusted via the rotary dial on top of the helmet. You can operate it easily with one hand and do this on the move. I found the fit so good though that I leave the retention intentionally loose, yet the helmet is quite secure and remains in place. There are five clicks of height adjustment inside to tailor the fit.

Lazer have paid particular attention to the design of the helmet with regards safety. The new 'T-Pro' feature, which stands for 'temple protection' sees the sides of the outer shell dropping down around the side of the face. Look at it head on and you can see the difference compared to a regular helmet. The idea is to give the top and sides of the face a bit more protection in a crash.

They have no impact testing to back this up, but it does meet the three leading safety standards (CE, CPSC, AS). Unlike some helmet manufacturers that produce variants of a helmet to meet different standards around the world, Lazer produce just one design that meets them all.

It's well-ventilated, with 31 vents that work exceptionally well in the heat of Tenerife and Majorca, though it's not quite as airy as some other top-end helmets like the POC or Prevail. In typical British weather the supplied Aeroshell cover can be easily clipped over the top of the helmet to block up those vents and keep you protected from the elements.

The Aeroshell is surprisingly flexible; I've seen this demonstrated with it being rolled up into a tube without snapping or cracking. That means you could slip it into a jersey pocket if the weather suddenly and dramatically improves during a ride. That's not really likely to happen in the UK, but it's nice to know you could, if you wanted to.

So the Z1 is one of the most comfortable and well fitting helmets on the market. It compares well to similar top-end offering from Specialized, POC, Giro and Bontrager. It's as stylish as any of them, with a decidedly aggressively sporty appearance that looks good on most heads. The Aeroshell is a smart feature that many helmets don't offer. At £200 it's similarly pricey, but it does offer a few benefits over its rivals.

Verdict

Comfortable, easily adjustable fit, good ventilation and low weight

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lazer Z1 helmet

Size tested: White, 54-58cm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Think about your current helmet; now imagine it lighter, with a more comfortable fit system, better ventilation, an additional aeroshell and improved side impact protection. That is what the Lazer Z1 offers.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The Lazer Z1, Lazers most advanced road helmet to date

In the Z1, Lazer have also introduced a new signature, with the new rear spoiler

The Z1 features new technology such as T-Pro, or temple protection

Safety is always a priority when designing a new helmet and we identified that one of the weakest points in the skull is around the temple. As a result, the Z1 offers additional coverage at the side of the head by lowering the helmet in that area

Withoutadding weight and while ensuring comfort Lazer made an upgraded extra light version of the award winning Rollsys system, called ARS or Advanced Rollsys System

Ventilation is a priority to keep the rider, cool, comfortable and prevent any loss in performance through overheating so the Z1 uses deep ventilation channels which draw air through the helmet, while keeping the gap between head and shell to a minimum

Aero shell included: The detachable shell, without need for any additional fixings, helps to improve the aerodynamic performance of the helmet over an open helmet whilst also covering your head should the weather take a turn for the worse

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Quality construction.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Great fit, good ventilation, light weight.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Even though it's Lazer's lightest ever helmet, there are lighter helmets on the market for the same sort of money, but we're talking about 20-30g at most.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
10/10

This is where the Lazer Z1 really scores, it's one of the most comfortable helmets I've yet tested.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Taking into account the comfort and fit, and the features including the supplied Aeroshell, the Lazer Z1 is good value compared to similarly priced helmets.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Does everything you want of a top-end helmet.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and lack of pressure spots when riding hard and racing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Can't find anything to fault.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

Lazer Z1 helmet
Lazer Z1
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David Arthur @davearthur

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes. 

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