As the choice of Tom Boonen and the rest of the Quickstep team I was more than happy when a Lazer genesis helmet landed here in the RCUK office.

New for 2006, the Genesis features the new RollSys fit system which enables you to single handedly adjust the retention of the helmet by rolling the dial on the top of the helmet. This alone and I was sold, but add in the fantastically compact looking and lightweight design and this really is worth every penny. It’s not the most economical choice but for those looking for an optimum fitting and stylish looking race helmet it’s a great design to go for.

I went for the xxs which really has made for one the most compact and comfortable helmets I’ve ever raced in. The retention system encases the whole head which means, unlike many designs, that as you tighten the fit, it tightens evenly around the head and not just from the back. I’ve tried many different mechanisms for tightening, many with fiddly or supposedly high tech solutions but this really has to be the simplest and is very effective.

I’ve given the helmet a lot of use on the track which notoriously means a lot of waiting around between events. What really helps with the Genesis is being able to whip the helmet on and off in between races and adjust to optimum fit really quickly when you need to get back on the track.

So, enough about the great fit and on to how it measures up in the style stakes. Now I doubt Tom Boonen would manage to look anything but classy in whatever helmet he decides to sport, but this design really will get you one step closer to looking like the pros. And for those of you who treat matching kit with the utmost importance there are a range of colour schemes to compliment a range of race gear, ranging from yellow and silver to all black.

RCUK Verdict

With 19 vents, the air flow is good. In terms of safety, all the Lazers meet British Safety Institution standards and the Genesis also features a rigid cage for multi impact protection. The inner pads keep your head comfy, the vents keep you cool and the look and fit is spot on.

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Compact, pro choice and comfy

Not the cheapest… but still worth the spend

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Additional Information

• Price: Approx, £99.95
• Weight: 300gm
• 6 piece In Mold construction
• New RollSys fit system
• 19 vents
• Rigid cage for multi impact protection
• Front and rear reinforcement
• New strap divider
• Coolma pads

Photo Gallery
from behind…	The RollSys retention mechanism	…and from the front