The Montaro weighs around 370g for a size medium, while the Source weighs a little less at 340g for a size medium. Considering the price and target market of the Montaro, it does weigh a fair bit more than it should. The Source, on the other hand, is reasonably lightweight, consider the additional coverage it supplies, and its price. After the accident I realized how important it is to get the right helmet. I tried on every helmet I could and got the one that fit best which for me was the poc trabec race. I really wanted a full face but it just can't work for my xc style riding. I took my family to the same stores for an excruciating full afternoon of helmet fitting. Kids and wife all ended up strongly preferring the TLD (which was too small for me so not a candidate.) Huge bump, concussion, out of work for 3 days, etc, etc. The damage from a low speed fall was a wake up for sure.

The visor is adjustable, so if you do find the visor being a bit long, you can always tilt the visor up and out of the way. Both visors are adjustable, but there is a difference. The Montaro visor moves in incremented steps. So, there are 3 set positions, while the Source doesn’t have incremented steps but has infinite positions. I prefer the Source visor as it allows you complete freedom around where the visor is placed, and it is much easier to adjust using one hand. I found adjusting the visor while riding with the Montaro not all that easy (although I suppose it could become easier as the incremented notches wear down a little). While the Montaro is technically better (it is a higher spec model after all), I prefer the fit and feel of the Giro Source. I don’t tend to ride with goggles or a camera/light, so the additional features are a bit unnecessary for me. However, these are super handy features if you do ride with goggles or a camera! The other main feature of the Montaro that makes it a step above more basic helmets is the roll cage reinforcement. The reinforcement is embedded into the EPS foam (so you can’t see it), but it holds the helmet together in case of a high energy impact. The helmet will not crush or cave in if you happen to hit the ground really hard, which keeps your head better protected. Visor and Eyewear Compatibility The Chronicle stands out in the open-face helmet market for having extended coverage around the rear of the head. Design and Construction ComparisonSeveral of the Montaro's features have already been mentioned in our protection and comfort sections above. These include the MIPS liner, adjustable straps, anti-microbial and hydrophilic padding, and the Roc Loc 5 Air fit system. The Montaro also has features intended to make the helmet-compatible with goggles which include an adjustable visor and goggle strap grippers integrated into the design of the helmet. The ventilation of the Source is somewhat mid-range. While it is better than the Chronicle, the 16 vents don’t quite compare with the breezy Montaro. However, it does have internal channeling, which helps flow the air over the rider’s head to keep them cool. Visor Review The Giro Montaro aims to do a lot with its various features, and it succeeds in most arenas. The Montaro’s safety and bonus features all pay off, but some aspects of its comfort could use workshopping. Ventilation could be improved for hot days, and the Roc Loc 5 Air system for head-height fit has shortcomings. This revolutionary fit system adds a new dimension to helmet performance by enhancing cooling, as well as fit comfort and stability. Using a patented design that suspends the helmet just slightly off the top of the skull, Roc Loc® Air allows cool airflow to pass directly over your head, further enhancing the performance of vents and internal channelling that exhaust heat out of the helmet. Fit and feel adjustments mimic the Roc Loc® 5, allowing you to easily custom tune fit tension and fore-aft tilt of the helmet in seconds using a single hand.

The Montaro has integrated goggle grippers to prevent the goggles from slipping down. The goggle grippers are tiny rubberized pads on the rear of the helmet, which you dont notice until you can feel them. The visor is slightly longer than the standard styles, but it doesn’t really stand out, and I find it quite useful when you have the sun glaring into your eyes while descending in the open sections. Features Review Camera & Light IntegrationThe helmet is also equipped with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), a thin plastic liner that sits between a rider's head and the inner portion of the helmet. In the event of a crash, the liner is designed to allow the helmet to slide along it, a movement that's claimed to reduce the amount of rotational energy that reaches the brain. As far as the actual construction of the Montaro goes, a polycarbonate, in-mold shell is formed around an EPS liner with Giro's Roll-Cage reinforcement, an internal skeleton that's used to add extra strength to the finished product. From long climbs to rowdy, technical descents, the Montaro MIPS helmet inspires your ride no matter where the trail takes you. Its compact shape offers deep, confident coverage, and the Roc Loc Air fit system boosts ventilation while improving fit. In addition to this helmet’s already impressive cooling power, it’s outfitted with hydrophilic, anti-microbial pads that can absorb up to ten-times their weight in sweat.

We were surprised to find that it felt as well ventilated as the Bell 4Forty MIPS which has larger vents. That said, it still didn't hold a candle to our most well-ventilated models like the 100% Altec or Giro Manifest, our most airy models. We were also more impressed by the ventilation on the Troy Lee A2 MIPS and the Smith Session. FeaturesIn-Mold Construction fuses a tough polycarbonate outer shell with the helmet's impact-absorbing foam liner. The fusion process allows for better ventilation systems, making in-mold helmets lighter and cooler than traditional helmets. The Montaro is a clean-looking helmet. The edges are fully wrapped in polycarbonate plastic, including the edges of the rear vents and the top vent, which can be used for the camera or light mount. It also comes in a huge range of color combinations, so you can ensure you will find one to match your bike or kit! If you are after a no expense spared helmet, the Montaro is the better choice. It has so many features that you won’t be feeling like something is missing. The Montaro also only has three positions for the visor, but the length of the visor is shorter than that of the Chronicle. This means it doesn’t hinder your vision when it is in the lowest setting, though it doesn’t really make much of a difference, and is really up to personal preference on this one. Safety Comparison The Montaro has a roll cage reinforcement. This reinforcement is constructed of a lightweight but extremely strong material that is hidden in the EPS foam layer. This helps keep the helmet sturdy and able to withstand greater impacts than those without.

Both helmets feature the slip-plane technology MIPS. MIPS stands for Multi directional Impact Protection System, which reduces the possibility of brain damage occurring to the rider following an angled impact. In all, you can tell this is a high-quality helmet. From the extensive protection technologies to the durable design, everything on the helmet is well finished. The Chronicle has 14 vents and internal channeling, so the ventilation is reasonable. Some riders find it runs a little hot, but for a mid-tier helmet, it isn’t too bad. Agreed. You're seeing the top end companies... like Bell/Giro/Kali/6D releasing their data points. So it's going in the right direction. I think you'll start to see more of the industry start to adapt this over time until it's made in to a standard. This technology is still in it's infancy and so is the testing. I think another thing you'll see is publications taking multiple helmets to an independent lab and doing their own testing so those results... even if slightly different from the manufacturer results... are all on an even playing field against one another. I think that's what you'll start to see more of.A key feature is MIPS integration. All Giro helmets are designed to reduce impact energy. However, MIPS also reduces rotational forces to your brain in certain impacts.