Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Helmets
Catlike Whisper Plus HelmetCatlike Whisper Plus helmet

Catlike Whisper Plus Helmet

8
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Feb 16, 2010

1
£149.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Well ventilated and comfortable helmet that's hard to fault even at this price
Weight: 
290g
Contact: 
www.nemesisactive.com, www.catlike.es
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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

You’ll have seen the distinctive shape of the Whisper Plus on the heads of riders from Euskaltel Euskadi and Cervelo Test Team, amongst others, with more than one podium appearance.

The Whisper Plus doesn’t just grace the heads of such august names as a marketing freebie though. Its design has been finely tuned over the last few seasons through working closely with the riders themselves, taking on board their feedback and tweaking and tweaking the design until it squeaks.

At 290g for a size medium, the Whisper Plus isn’t as light as some helmets on the market at the moment, especially at this kind of price. Its main goal, however, is to offer an optimum balance between safety, ventilation and weight, and as such it does a good job. Certainly, as soon as you put the Whisper Plus on, you’re aware of the air flowing through the 39 separate intakes across the helmet that give it its trademark ‘look’, keeping comfort at a max no matter how hot the weather. Having long hair, I personally find overheating can be a problem, yet this helmet allowed sufficient airflow to cool even my hot head.

If I have a concern about the venting, it’s the insect risk of so many large forward facing vents with no mesh liner of any kind. That said, the huge vents at the back should allow anything to escape anyway! Unless it gets caught in your hair…..

The fit of the helmet was a little fiddly to fine tune, based on a fairly standard strapping arrangement and sliding gripper at the back, but even before adjustment, the helmet cradled my head securely, inspiring confidence. A neat Velcro fastening padded roll can be adjusted to make the under chin strap more comfortable. You’d not want to have to adjust the strapping or fit on the fly.

Choosing my usual size, the Whisper Plus fitted well, although at the absolute smallest it would adjust to. It would definitely be worth trying one on before buying if you’re borderline between sizes.

The Whisper Plus is CE certified following the usual safety tests. Its CES (Crash Energy Splitting) technology ensures impact force is evenly spread across the whole helmet, which is also helped by the venting pattern. All in all it should keep your noggin as safe as any other helmet.

The Whisper Plus comes in enough colour options to please even the pickiest rider. And if you have a penchant for team strip, then fill your boots.

A protective case is also available as an extra.

Verdict

Hard to find fault with this well ventilated and comfortable helmet, even at this price. It inspires confidence and looks great too.

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Catlike Whisper Plus helmet

Size tested: M

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?

Flagship helmet 'that represents the technology and potential that Catlike is capable of. A helmet that is tested day after day by the best riders in the world.'

A high end helmet aimed at demanding riders with a need for incredible ventilation coupled with safety and all day comfort.

Will also appeal to those who like a lid to look good too.

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

-39 air intakes for a perfect ventilation (dual flow technology)

-extra protection in every sense (CES technology and LNP technology)

- in-mold technology

- MPS rear retention system

Sizes

SM 50-53cm

MD 54-58cm

LG 59-61cm

CES technology designed to spread impact force across whole helmet rather than focussing it on point of impact.

Fairly standard strap adjustment with rear slider.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Adjustment of straps is not the easiest and not suitable for on the fly tweaking.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Superbly comfortable in wear and with great airflow.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Tough and well made.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

Not the lightest, given the weight of others within a similar price range.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

Extremely comfortable and secure fit.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

A lot of money for a helmet, but there's a pedigree and pro styling included in the price.

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

Excellent performance. Easy to wear for long periods and maintained a comfortable head temperature.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Styling, comfortable secure fit and the venting.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The price.

Slightly fiddly strap adjustment.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Expensive but high quality choice for pro looks and performance.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

Cycling helmets
Cycling helmet
Catlike Whisper Plus helmet
Catlike
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

Latest Comments