Venting
The Range MIPS has 12 small vents, and the top six can be opened or closed via a sliding switch on top of the helmet.
The helmet vents reasonably well, but the close fit means that you end up relying more on the vents and less on air circulating through the gaps between the helmet and you head. I tend to run very hot, and found the Range MIPS to be a little warm during high-output activities—but it wasn’t worse than any other ski helmet I’ve used.
Other Features
The Range MIPS has an elastic goggle retention system that worked well and kept my goggles securely attached to my helmet.
It also features a magnetic chin strap buckle. Initially, I found this to be a little confusing and hard to open, but I quickly adjusted to it and it is easier to close on the fly than traditional buckles.
While our Range MIPS didn’t have it, the production version of the Range MIPS will ship with an integrated removable GoPro mount that fits into the front of the helmet. I’m not a big fan of the GoPro-on-the-helmet look, but this mount does keep the camera reasonably low profile and seems pretty secure. It also would would also pop off in the event of most crashes, which keeps the camera from exerting any extra forces on your brain and spine.
The ear pads of the Range MIPS are nicely padded, and feature a velcro pocket that you can drop speakers into. Even though they are removeable, the retention system seems much more secure than some other helmets I have used, including the Smith Gauge, whose ear pads will fall out at the slightest provocation while using or carrying it.
Goggle Integration
Initially I used the Range MIPS with the Giro Contact goggles LINK which fit perfectly against the brim when worn with the goggle strap over the helmet. I also tried them with the Zeal Forecast and the Smith Scope goggles, and the integration was good. Of course, a large factor in the goggle-helmet interface is the size and shape of your head and face, so it’s always a good idea to try them on first.
Price
The Range MIPS retails at $240. That’s slightly less expensive than Smith’s top of the line Vantage MIPS ($260), Pret Carbon X ($250), or POC’s Receptor MIPS ($260) and the same price as the Sweet Protection Igniter MIPS. While $240 may seem like a steep price for a helmet, it’s hard to argue against protecting your brain, and the Range MIPS stacks up nicely against similarly featured competitors.
Bottom Line
The Giro Range MIPS is a fully featured, top-of-the-line helmet with the price to match. At $240 this isn’t some cheap brain bucket, but its impressive feature list and uniquely adjustable fit set it apart for skiers looking for a high-end nogen saver.
An important thing omitted from this review is the fact that the Range uses EPP foam instead of tradition EPS foam as the shock-absorbing material. EPP is supposedly good for multiple impacts while EPS is only good for one impact. However, with a big impact it’s still probably best to replace the helmet.
As I read your review (which I find very helpful!) I thought perhaps you had made an incorrect suggestion about the sizing…
You state
“My 59cm head sits right at the edge of the Range MIPS’ size Medium fit range, but I’m able to adjust the helmet to fit my head comfortably, with or without a light balaclava. However, if you are on the fence about sizing the Range MIPS, I would recommend sizing down due to the unique nature of the adjustment system—the helmet looks and feels more solid at the tighter end of its range.”
and
“… the helmet just looks more solid the lower it is in the adjustment range. There is less separation between the adjustable portions of the shell, and less of the track they adjust on showing.
I did have part of the shell pop out of the adjustment tracks at one point after it was thrown around in the back of the car for a few days, but it popped back in easily and I haven’t had any other issues with it.”
All this suggests sizing *up* instead of down, doesn’t it? If I were on the edge, I don’t want to literally stretch the system to its limit to accommodate my “big” head, yes?
I’ve got a 59 cm noggin. Sounds like the large is my best choice.
I was wondering the same thing!
It’s not the size of your head that matters most, it’s the shape. Size is secondary when it comes to helmets. Finding a helmet that fits well has always been challenging for me because I fall right on the line between medium and large. Medium is usually on the verge of being uncomfortably tight and large is almost always too loose.
I have a freakishly large oval-shaped head that measures between 59cm to 60cm depending on the thickness of my hair.
The Fit:
1. The Giro Range MIPS fits oval-shaped heads. Check.
2. The medium (fits up to 59cm), even when fully opened up, was very very tight on my head.
3. I went with the large.
The articulating fit is tremendous. Per my comment above, just like every other helmet I’ve owned, I fall right on the line between a medium and a large. If not for the excellent fit adjustability of the Range, this helmet would not fit either … I have to cinch the adjustment almost all the way down to get it to tighten around my head. This, however, means that there is plenty of space to loosen up the fit if I wanted to wear a light cap, pull up a hood, or wear a balaclava (not that I would ever wear a balaclava). I did wear a light buff pulled up over my head on many occasions during rather unpleasant weather conditions.
The Look:
Contrary to the sales description, the Range in not low-profile. Yes, the rise off the top of my head is slightly, minimally lower than my old round-head POC helmet and slightly less than the Pret Effect X helmet I purchased and sold after a few days of use, but it is still a big-ass helmet. Even after dialing in the fit and feeling the shell conform to the shape of my head, the lateral space this beast takes up disqualifies it as “low-profile”. It just shifts the vertical savings to the sides of the helmet. Kind of feel like an Imperial Storm Blooper. Whether it looks less bulky, well, let’s be honest … it doesn’t look less bulky*.
*But no one will notice if you pair the helmet with the Giro Contact Goggles because you’ll look like a total badass.
Random Features:
• Adjustments: I found the fit adjustment dial and ventilation toggle very easy to manipulate with thick gloves.
• Goggle venting: It works. Can’t imagine why so many helmet makers don’t include goggle vents. I only ever had an issue on very wet or rainy days.
• Helmet venting: Terrific. I’ve never once felt overheated, even after boot packing the Headwall at Jackson in knee-deep powder. When closed, the vents are basically flush with the external shell, so you don’t get snow packing in the divots.
• Magnetic chin strap: Awesome.
• (included) GoPro mount: Funny how such a simple tool can be so useful. This forward-facing mount is excellent, easy-to-adjust, and prevents you from looking like a Jerry wearing an idiot box on the top of your head.
Final thoughts:
I’ve skied in this helmet for nearly thirty days this season without any issues whatsoever. I dare say it is the best-fitting, most comfortable helmet I’ve ever purchased. That being said, despite the excellent fit adjustability of the Range, because of the fact that I fall squarely on the border between a medium and a large, I would love it if manufacturers like Giro would include an additional set of optional padding for users — a thin set and a thick set to help people like myself dial in the fit even better. I don’t particularly like the fact that my “fit” requires me to dial in the adjustment almost to its limit.
I know this is an older review but wanted to chime in and say the Range helmet has been one of my favorite pieces of athletic equipment I’ve ever employed. I feel that I have a hard-to-fit head, narrow and pointy if I had to describe it (my high school nickname was egghead). I’m astounded that nobody has really managed to riff off of the sizing system because IT WORKS. If you want to swap in a balaclava or skull cap or bandana or whatever, you can adjust the sizing with one hand. The magnet buckle is also a one-hand operation.
I’m about to buy a second Range MIPS after three years, so figured it was time to go on the record. Would recommend this helmet to anyone, but especially those who feel they’re between sizes. Also – I had Giro Contact goggles which work great, but these also pair up well with the Oakley Flight Deck and the original AirBrakes.