CAMISANO VICENTINO – The new Abus AirBreaker born in Italy, specifically in Camisano Vicentino inside Maxi Studio, the same company where it took shape game changer, the aero helmet from the German company. Maxi Studio was acquired by Abus in 2021.
Let's go into the specifics of the new helmet, also thanks to the Product Manager Lukas TamajkaCompared to the previous version, the 2.0 has a very similar, but at the same time different, design. It aims to be aerodynamically efficient and maximize ventilation (even more), to best configure oneself with glasses (the shapes of the latter have changed a lot in recent years), to be a reference for quality.
Abus' high-end range is Made in Italy
«A new helmet it is the result of a combination of factorsI am not a professional cyclist – Tamajca tells us – I have not been, but I am a helmet designer who relies on several specialists for product development. The specialists are the active riders and the performance managers of the supported teams, whom I ask what they need and what they need. That's the starting point. Today, market positioning is also taken into account and consequently the opinion of the marketing department, but the final quality and the quality of the raw materials cannot be ignored.
«A helmet means safety – continues Tamajca – protects the head, not a detail. The new AirBreaker 2.0 has been revised, updated, improved where possible, but the original project has not been distorted. The AirBreaker DNA is clearly visible. I could summarize the key points of the project in four steps: ventilation, aerodynamics and safety, obsessive attention to every detail, including production."
Italian production is synonymous with passion
Tamajca says that the first time he visited Maxi Studio in Italy and met the designers, he was impressed not only by the research and development required to design and produce bicycle helmets.
«I felt passion – he says – the will to create something in favor of safety, the pursuit of improvement and of course good taste in terms of aestheticsIs this passion an added value? It's much more: è the value that makes the difference».
Key points of AirBreaker 2.0
The new AirBreaker 2.0 is based on a load-bearing structure composed of a front cage drowned in the EPS mold, On 'carbon insert (Aero Blade) upper/rear, beyond “to the iconic star” on the back, which primarily serves as an extractor. Last but not least, there are the internal anchor points where the retention system is inserted (the cage and rotor are produced in Switzerland by a partner company).
Furthermore, the following must also be considered: anti-flicker side buckles and the Made in Italy internal padding, which now becomes floating (completely different from the previous version and used in the standard version without Mips, while the ACE adopts Mips Air Node and magnetic buckle closure).
Compared to the previous version
AirBreaker 2.0 It has maintained an aesthetic impact that is completely comparable to the previous version, and yet There are differences and they are important. At the front there is a central flare and the two lateral vents have been added. The latter are essential for increase ventilation in very critical points in terms of thermoregulation. Furthermore, the central recess is well it goes well with eyeglass models featuring a particularly raised frame.
Two side inserts have been added to hold the temples of the glasses in place. The number of air intake slots has not changed, while the surface area of each individual slit has changed (increased). The rear section is more rounded and the small spoiler has been eliminated, leaving the air extraction point is completely free.
Some numbers and details
The new Abus AirBreaker is very light: 205, 210 and 220 grams declared in their respective sizes, S, M (the one we use) and L. The reduced weight? It's an advantage as long as the helmet is made specifically for it., thanks to the highest quality raw materials and no compromises. None of this is missing here.
Two reference prices: 349 and 299 euros, with and without MIPS. Eight color combinations available, three of which with integrated MIPS.
Our feedback
The fitting is completely comparable to the first generation AirBraker version. Or rather a helmet imperceptible once worn, with a deep and particularly enveloping fit, especially in the temporal section behind the ears and in particular over the entire occipital area. Comfort has been further improved. Thanks to the improved and more stable padding, especially on the front and sides. AirBreaker 2.0 also uses a increased ventilation on the forehead and an optimal combination with glasses that have the same shape as masks. The two (added) side vents work very well, they are another added value of 2.0.
Last but not least the buckles, one of the key points of Abus since introducing this type of accessory. It's true, they don't flutter when you pick up speed, they stay perfectly close to your face and don't get soaked in sweat, but above all they do not have plastic loops (and that's no small thing). And then there is attention to detail, in our opinion improved once again and in every sector of the helmet.
In conclusion
An Abus helmet is something that goes beyond numbers, the data, the performances highlighted by the protocols. The new AirBreaker 2.0 It has the merit of not deviating too much from the "old" model, a symbol of comfort and versatility of use. It is very light and despite this it offers excellent performance. safety values that have become a reference and where the Made in Italy it's not a detail.
What does Made in Italy mean for the new Abus helmet? Attention to detail and quality, high safety and production standards, the ability to combine cutting-edge machinery technologies with highly specialized manpower. Machines and technologies complete a production process that sees the workforce still at the centre.
