One of the most distinctive helmets in the pro peloton is Catlike’s Whisper Plus.

They’re currently being worn by the Cervelo Test Team, who have already been putting their Whisper Plus lids across the finishing line first in some of the early season races, most recently with Thor Hushovd powering across the line first in stage three of the Tour of California. Samuel Sánchez wore his to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The helmet’s distinctive design comes courtesy of 39 vents. While other manufacturers tend to go for fewer, but larger vents, Catlike has gone the other route with more, smaller vents. It remains to be seen how well the venting solution works but we’ll try and get one for testing to find out.

In-mould technology is used to ensure it provides strength and light weight, and CES (Crash Energy Splitter) ensures that an impacts force is evenly distributed across the entire helmet, aided by the unique vent design.

Keeping it in place is an MPS-3D (Multi Positioning System), an easy to adjust multiple position retention device. A medium helmet weighs a quoted 280g.

£119.95. More at www.catlike.es.