TSG Status

The TSG Status helmet is a comfortable, well designed and good looking helmet that performs well for commuting and low tempo rides. However, when the road starts to ramp up or the pace increases, the ventilation isn't quite up to the job.

We are now at peak bike commuting time, when more people look outside and realise it's nicer to ride in the sunshine than be forced to catch a bus or wait around in traffic. This means more people want commuting gear, and this is where the TSG Status Helmet aims to be a contender.

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The Status has an in-mould construction, designed to both create a solid helmet while also keeping the weight as low as possible. The construction seems good, with a strong shell and EPS impact foam making it safe and secure and helping to achieve the EN1078 safety standard.

In terms of fit, the helmet has two fairly thick straps and an adjustable cradle at the back with a dial. It is worth noting that the clip sits high up the side of the head, rather than centrally below the chin; it wasn't an issue for me, but might be for other head shapes/sizes.

I found it comfortable to wear on low tempo commutes and city riding, in part due to the large amount of padding within the helmet. It comes with two sizes, one thicker and one thinner. Although comfortable, the downside is that they soak up moisture and can take a while to dry, so not all that suitable for anything more than this sort of slower riding.

It is very much a commuter helmet, though, and this is also reflected in the ventilation, which isn't really as good as I would like for riding faster or uphill. It has 13 vents, two at the front, seven on the top and four at the rear; it also has some kind of channelling system on the top, but it isn't as effective as you would generally find on more sport-orientated lids. It means ventilation is probably better than many other commuter options, but still not good enough for more intense rides – especially ones that include a fair amount of climbing.

My favourite part of the helmet is the LED light at the back – a nice feature that many helmet makers have tried in the past but haven't, in my opinion, managed to do as effectively as here. It is a simple press light with three lighting sequences, and it pumps out a decent amount of ligh. Visibility is further helped by the high-vis elements on the logos, which again helps in low light conditions.

Unlike many other commuter helmets, this one sits low on the head, so doesn't create too much of the mushroom head. It also has some really strong colour choices and is available in black, blue, orange and white. In addition to the decent looks, it also weighs a fairly respectable 313g, not exactly the lightest lid ever, but for a commuter helmet it's pretty good.

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The Status comes with an RRP of £64.99 which is a little on the pricey side for a helmet limited to commuting, but it does have some innovative features. It is never going to be as lightweight or high tech as those more expensive designs, but for what it is, I'd say it's worth it.

Overall, I liked the Status for casual commuting. It has some really good features and I especially liked the LED light at the back. It's not something you'd wear for anything more than casual commuting, but for doing that job it's a good choice.

Verdict

Decent commuting helmet, but needs better ventilation for higher tempo riding