Abus WingBack
29.11.24 07:53 702024-11-29T07:53:00+01:00Text: NoPain (translated by AI)Photos: Erwin HaidenLightweight, affordable, and minimalist bike helmet Made in Italy for everything - from commuting in the city to speeding in the countryside.29.11.24 07:53 932024-11-29T07:53:00+01:00Abus WingBack
29.11.24 07:53 932024-11-29T07:53:00+01:00 NoPain (translated by AI) Erwin HaidenLightweight, affordable, and minimalist bike helmet Made in Italy for everything - from commuting in the city to speeding in the countryside.29.11.24 07:53 932024-11-29T07:53:00+01:00
The new model is advertised as an "simple road helmet for sporty use" and recommended for city, leisure, and commuting. Furthermore, the Abus advertisement features a fixed-gear biker with a hipster beard - not a scenario that would really appeal to me as a non-fixed-gear rider and non-city cruiser. But then I spotted the helmet in person and immediately knew: I must have it.
Of course, I already have more than enough road helmets, but the trend is towards having a fourth helmet! So, I complemented my collection - consisting of Gamechanger I, Gamechanger II, and the PowerDome - with an Abus Wingback in Race-Grey. With a thermal cap, the airy helmet can already be rocked in wind and weather, but its true strengths will probably only show in the spring.
Made in Italy
Abus WingBack
| Helmet Type | City helmet, Road bike helmet |
| Ventilation System | Very good ventilation through 10 air inlets and 7 air outlets as well as the "Forced Air Cooling Technology," which connects the front and rear ventilation openings with deep channels. Includes a hood for additional Venturi effect. |
| Construction | In-Mold for a permanent connection of the outer shell with the shock-absorbing helmet material (EPS). |
| Adjustment System | Zoom Ace (finely adjustable, height-adjustable adjustment system with a grippy adjustment wheel for an individual fit) + Half-ring (a plastic ring partially encircling the head, connected to the adjustment system) |
| Straps | FlowStraps (aerodynamic, flutter-free, and skin-friendly strap) |
| Features | Made in Italy, Ponytail compatibility, no visor, no rear light |
| Colors | Performance red, Flip flop purple, Goldfish orange, Moss green, Polar white, Gleam silver, Velvet black, Titan, Race grey, Shiny White |
| Sizes | S (51-55 cm), M (54-58 cm), L (57-61 cm) |
| Weights | S 230 g, M 240 g (243 grams weighed), L 270 g |
| Prices | € 99.95 |
Deeply impressive design.
Abus WingBack
In practice
Similar to the Powerdome introduced last year, the WingBack is also described as an entry-level helmet in the Abus road bike performance portfolio - which makes perfect sense given the attractive price of 99.95 euros. However, beneath its fresh, "winged" design, it conceals a multitude of sophisticated features known from the Abus performance models.
These include the flutter-free "FlowStraps" strap bands, which do without strap distributors, the finely adjustable "Zoom Ace" adjustment system, and the "Forced Air Cooling Technology" with a total of 17 air inlets and outlets, including the Venturi effect.
Most important, however, is the typical Abus perfect fit on a, or in my case, a longitudinally oval head. I would place the fit between the Gamechanger and Powerdome; the fixed sewn straps fit immediately. The only small downside: The inner pads are not quite as high-quality as the Gamechanger's X-Static Pads but do not affect comfort in any way. The weight is also still acceptable at 243 grams, but it is 30 grams more than that of the Powerdome - and thus is likely the main reason for the lower price.
The color selection is large, the paint job is vibrant and beautiful, and the transitions from the EPS shell to the design look high-quality. Personally, I also particularly like the raised fins in the middle of the helmet.
There really isn't much more to say. The ventilation is top-notch, the aerodynamics are rather secondary, but at least visually present. In terms of protection, in my opinion, you can blindly trust the safety expertise of Abus – the helmet is of course certified according to the CE EN 1078 standard and, on top of that, Made in Italy, which is now a true quality feature and statement.
No adjusting, no charging - Helmet on, get on the bike.
That's right! As with the top models from Abus, there's no need to struggle with complicated adjusters or awkwardly stow an overly long strap here. Put it on, click it in, tighten it, and off you go!
Conclusion
| Abus Wingback | |
|---|---|
| Model year: | 2024 |
| Price: | € 99.95 |
| + | Fit |
| + | Design |
| + | Cooling |
| + | Price/Performance |
| + | Made in Italy |
| o | Comfort |
| - | Weight |
| BB Verdict: | Excellently ventilated road helmet in a simple, casual design. |
Design meets thrift - without compromising on function, cooling, or protection. The affordable Abus Wingback is based on the basic framework of the three successful models Gamechanger, Airbreaker, and StormChaser, like the Powerdome. The Wingback is a versatile, comfortable, and well-ventilated road bike helmet for all heads that can handle the fixed strap dividers and don't mind an additional 30 grams of weight.
A real insider tip for bargain hunters in three sizes and many color combinations at an enticing RRP of 99.95 Euro.
