Ekoï bucks the trend with retro-stye safety-first Stradale helmet

French brand Ekoï has released its latest high-performance helmet which it says is "born to meet professional riders' needs", but not in the way we’ve become accustomed to. While most products in cycling are designed to be as aero or lightweight as possible, the new Stradale is the result of a safety-first approach and Ekoï’s goal of developing "the most protective helmet on the market".

In a bid to achieve this, the Stradale has become the first helmet in Ekoï’s line-up to feature Koroyd inserts, which it says greatly improves the impact capacity of the helmet.

Developed in collaboration with Israel-Premier Tech, Arkéa-Samsic, Cofidis, and Lotto-Dstny, who will use the helmet during 2024, the Stradale also prioritises elements of performance, as is to be expected, with a particular focus on ventilation.

Unusually, but refreshingly for a high-performance product, the helmet isn’t joined by any aero claims or boasts.

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‘To optimise cyclists' protection in the event of a fall’

© Ekoï

The new Stradale helmet

It seems obvious that a helmet is designed for safety, but in the world of high-performance cycling, as much focus is often placed on aerodynamics and other performance factors. Ekoï has somewhat bucked this trend with a safety-first design that aims to better protect riders, whether they be a pro in the WorldTour peloton or an amateur rider on the street.

To do this, it has linked up with fellow French brand Koroyd, whose inserts are used in helmets across a range of sports and will now feature in an Ekoï helmet for the first time. Arranged into a honeycomb structure, the inserts are designed to absorb forces in the event of a crash and Ekoï says that the material “offers an absorption capacity approximately 30% greater than that of a standard material".

The inserts do this by undergoing a special deformation process, which Koroyd says differs from the standard spring-like effect of many other designs.

“Traditional energy absorbers act like a spring, storing the energy from an impact and releasing it over a micro-moment of time,” the Monaco-based company explains on its website. “Due to this, more energy could be transferred to the head, increasing the risk of injury.”

Having the correct fit is key to maximising the safety of any helmet and the Stradale also features a micrometric adjustment, allowing the helmet to be adjusted to a millimetre.

Ekoï says that this safety-first approach was born out of exchanges with professional riders, particularly Israel-Premier Tech’s Simon Clarke “who is particularly sensitive to the issue, and for whom the safety aspect must take precedence over the quest for ever greater lightness”.

Safety first, but performance still matters

© Ekoï

The new Stradale helmet was designed in collaboration with multiple pro teams

While safety is clearly at the forefront of the helmet, performance factors haven’t been completely ignored.

That’s not too surprising as the helmet already has Grand Tour pedigree, having first broken cover at the 2022 Tour de France with then Lotto-Soudal, over a year ago.

Most of this emphasis has been placed on ventilation, with the more retro design - at least compared to many modern aero-focussed helmets - increasing airflow. Ekoï says that the retro design takes inspiration from its Légende helmet, which in turn was inspired by the famous leather helmets used by cyclists in the 1950s.

Aero wasn’t at the forefront of designs back then and it isn’t with the Stradale either as Ekoï has essentially shunned the oft-taken path in the name of additional safety. There are no aero claims attached to the helmet and it’s a similar story for the weight.

The boldest claim made is that the Stradale will be "the star helmet of the Tour de France 2024".

The helmet is available now on the Ekoï website, here.

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