Specialized S-Works Evade ANGi Review

The S-Works Evade ANGi is one of the most comfortable helmets in our lineup, and has an aerodynamic profile for riders looking to slice through the wind. It also has several high-end features like a full circumference adjustable headband, plenty of comfortable padding, and an ANGI crash sensor that can be paired with your phone and set up to send out notifications in the case of a crash. While this is certainly a high-end helmet with expensive features, it is also one of the heaviest and warmest models in our lineup.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The S-Works Evade is one of the most comfortable helmets in our lineup with a luxurious amount of padding and a full circumference headband system to dial in the perfect fit. These two features combine to gently cradle and cushion the head in a way that very few other competitors can. The only downside is that the helmet is a bit heavy and bulky and lacks the ventilation of most other road bike helmets, which could become an issue on longer or hotter rides. But for high-speed cruising or cooler temperatures, it's tough to beat the downright comfortable design of the Evade.

Adjustability

The Evade ANGi scores very well in our adjustability ratings, with every available adjustment feature we've seen except for adjustable Y-buckles on the chinstraps. It has a full-circumference adjustable headband system that adjusts from 59-63 cm in size Large, it has approximately 5 cm of fore and aft adjustment with easily accessible tabs, and has a chinstrap system that is fed through the helmet's foam liner for easy side to side adjustment and centering of the chinstrap buckle. This model also has a unique magnetic sliding chinstrap buckle. Our testers took a little while to get used to this design and in the end, don't look at it as a positive or a negative attribute.

Even though the Y-buckles are not adjustable, they are adequately placed, and we don't anticipate any fit issues because of their lack of adjustability.

Weight

With a measured weight of 348 grams in size Large, the S-Works Evade is one of the heavier models in our lineup. This is not surprising given the elongated aerodynamic shape and the abundance of top-end features, like plush padding, a built-in ANGi crash sensor, and a built-in Mips liner. As is typical on aerodynamic helmets, the additional material causes an inevitable weight gain. Not only is the aerodynamic profile a bit heavier, but it is noticeable on your head when you are wearing the helmet. The front brim sticks out further than on most other helmets and is evident just above your normal field of vision. Riders looking for a semi-aero helmet for fast road riding will likely appreciate the design, but those looking for a lighter package or better ventilation for general all-around use would likely prefer a different model.

Style

With its sleek aerodynamic design and classic colors, we think the S-Works Evade is a stylish pick if its design suits your riding needs. If you're looking for a semi-aero helmet, this one has lots of high-end features that make it stand out. However, if you're looking for a general road helmet for all-around riding, you would likely find this model too heavy and bulky and perhaps not the style you're looking for.

This model comes with several high-end features like the built-in ANGI crash sensor that can be set up to send out notifications in the case of a crash, a lighter and more comfortable Mips SL liner that incorporates the Mips liner into the padding, and a simple and secure magnetic buckle. Some riders will love these features while some may find them overkill.

Ventilation

The Evade ANGi is one of the lowest scorers in our ventilation scoring, which is not surprising for such an aerodynamic design. While its ventilation qualities are admirable for its shape and bulk, its few vents simply can't keep up with helmets that have up to 20 or 30 vents. Depending on your riding conditions, like if you're doing slow grinding climbs, or if you're out in the heat of summer, this helmet could become pretty warm.

Durability

This helmet receives average scores in our durability ratings. While it has a solid construction with premium materials, it does leave a bit of EPS foam exposed around the brim, which is vulnerable to bumps or abrasions during travel or storage. The headband system, chinstrap webbing, and magnetic buckle all seem to be made of premium materials and look ready to last a long, long time with no issues.

Value

The S-Works Evade ANGi is one of the more expensive helmets in our lineup. With solid construction and premium features, it could potentially provide a good value to the right user. Riders are looking for the latest technology, or those who fly solo most of the time and would set up and use the ANGi crash alert system would find tremendous value in this product. Other users looking for a solid aero helmet or a general road riding helmet would probably find equal or better performance and better value with other options.

Conclusion