Italian brand Fizik is well known for its excellent saddles and shoes, but has recently ventured into the competitive world of helmets too.
The range is a simple one, with the Kunee time trial/triathlon helmet, the peaked Kassis for mountain biking and two versions of the road-or-gravel Kudo. The Kudo Aero features a smooth outer shell to reduce drag, whereas the standard Kudo fits similarly but majors on ventilation.
The Kudo is a smart-looking, well ventilated helmet for road or gravel
(Image credit: Tim Russon)
Construction
Starting at the back, a major point of differentiation between the Kudo and other helmets is that it has a built-in light with 24 LEDs. This slim, horizontal bar can be clipped on and off for recharging purposes (via an integrated USB-C connection) and is remarkably bright, with solid and flashing modes. Fizik rates the light at 35 lumens, which is bloomin’ bright for a rear light. Run times are 180 minutes flashing or 90 minutes solid. Should you not wish to carry the small but undeniable weight penalty of the light, there is a reflective strip that can be clipped in place instead or a simple blanking stud.
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The integrated rear light is very bright and convenient to use
(Image credit: Tim Russon)
As with most good helmets now, the Kudo offers Mips (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System), which allows the outer helmet to move independently of the internal cradle, thus protecting the head, neck and brain from rotation, glancing-type blows. Fizik uses the latest MIPS Air Node version, which is designed for ventilated, low-profile helmets.
The internal padding feels very high quality and consists of padded sections as part of a full cradle rather than separate pieces. The Kudo also offers plenty of adjustment internally; the rear cradle can be moved up and down to securely cup the occiput whilst a dial snugs the helmet around the head.
Fizik has also added the option to move certain attachment points, which it says helps alter the helmet so that it can fit both round-shaped heads and more oval ones. Extra plastic rivets are supplied with the helmet to aid this, and it is easy to do.
In total, there are 15 vents in a fairly standard configuration, with a horizontal brow vent, some longitudinal vents and ‘exhaust’ ports at the back. Two of the side vents are also designed to work as a sunglasses holder.
The strap arrangement is more involved than many helmets
(Image credit: Sam Walsham)
The straps are more involved than those on many helmets, with the under-chin strap running up to a plastic joint that holds the round-ear straps. This design means that there is plenty of room around your ears, and the position of the plastic pieces can be adjusted fore and aft, but not up and down. The straps feature a reflective material on the outside.
Construction is fully covered EPS foam, and the ‘white’ test helmet colourway is actually a white lower section with a very light, slightly metallic silver upper. I like that there are some instructions and size details printed on the outer of the helmet – it is small and subtle but adds to the modern, premium feel.
Safety-wise, the Kudo is certified to EU and CPSC standards, and all of Fizik’s helmets have been subject to Virginia Tech’s independent testing and received a 5-star rating.
All these features and quality feel don’t help when it comes to weight; Fizik claims a weight of 288g for a size medium Kudo, which is not bad but is certainly not class-leading; I weighed mine at 285g. There is a nice, padded bag included with the helmet.
The ride
During testing, I was on a lovely week-long trip across Slovenia, through Austria and into Italy, with lots (and lots) of climbing and generally very warm weather, so fit and ventilation were paramount.
Ventilation was great with no overheating despite many hours in the saddle at over 30°C / 86°F, and the continuous brow pad made a decent fist of preventing sweat from running down my face into my eyes. Evenafter more than 1,000km of riding that included the Zoncolan, Monte Crostis and the cobbled Vršič Pass, the Kudo still looks brand new, and the pads haven’t deteriorated into a bio-hazard yet either.
My experience of the helmet’s fit is a bit more nuanced; my head is quite round – relatively wide side to side, and fairly short back to front. I often find that helmets are not quite wide enough and that they put a bit of pressure on my temples despite being ostensibly the right size. At 56cm in circumference, my head should be at the lower end of the Fizik’s size medium, rated as it is for between 56cm and 59cm; however, the Kudo was only just comfortable for me at the temples, whilst having plenty of space front and rear. It was fine, and didn’t cause any issues, but I doubt that I’ll be wearing it come winter, as there simply won’t be room for an under-helmet hat.
Clearly, this is a purely personal issue, but it does serve to illustrate that, just like with cycling shoes, there is no substitute for trying before you buy.
I really liked the strap arrangement – they fitted well straight out of the box and felt more premium than the simple Y-shape design used by most helmets. I did move the rear cradle down one notch to better hold the helmet in place at the back, as on my first ride I felt that it was a little lower at the front than I would have liked. This feeling was probably not helped by the fact that the front of the helmet is a good 2cm deep, which meant that it was more prominent in my upper vision than I’m used to, especially when crouched down in an aero position.
Fizik don’t really make any aero claims about the Kudo, and even if they did, I wouldn’t be able to verify or disprove them, and anyway, they offer the imaginatively named Kudo Aero helmet for riders prioritising speed over ventilation.
Given that I was testing the helmet during the summer, I didn’t use the light all that much, save for a few short, dusky trips back from the pub, but it was a nice fit-and-forget option, which meant I didn’t have to remember to add a light to my bike. Just don’t fit-and-forget to keep the battery topped up. It was easy to locate and operate the on switch whilst wearing the helmet, and, as mentioned above, the light cannot be faulted for its brightness. Putting the light on and off the helmet (as you have to for charging) did feel a bit agricultural, requiring brute force each time. Hopefully, Fizik have done their homework and the push-fit mounting mechanism won’t wear out over time.
Aesthetically, the Kudo is rather smart with the matte white/light silver creating a minimalist look that I grew to like a lot. It isn’t too bulbous on the head, but neither is it the lowest profile design, but that may well be the price to pay for the safety tech like Mips.
Value and conclusion
£270 / $290 feels like both a lot of cash and not much money at the same time. The Fizik Kudo offers potentially life-saving protection with great ventilation and good comfort (head shape allowing). It also looks and feels more expensive and better made than a lot of the alternatives, but there certainly are options that also offer Mips, ventilation and comfort at a lower price.
The Fizik Kudo; a premium helmet with a premium price tag
(Image credit: Tim Russon)
What the Kudo has going for it on top of its premium air, is the rear light and customisable fit. Whether these features and the Fizik branding/quality are worth the money is a personal judgement call.
My 85% rating reflects the fact that £270 / $290 is a lot of money for a helmet, and the fit was not quite perfect on my head shape. Otherwise, there is a lot to like about the helmet, and it is a great first effort by Fizik.