Louis Garneau Quartz II Helmet

Description

Basic logic tells us that more ventilation equates to less materials, meaning that a well ventilated helmet should, in theory, be lightweight. However, comparing the the Louis Garneau Diamond II to the Quartz II turns this logic on its head. You see, while the Diamond II has the most ventilation ports of any helmet on the market, 40 in total, it comes in 35 grams heavier than the 33-vent, 285 gram Quartz II. Surely, some engineering wizardry is at work. So, how did Garneau do it? Essentially, it was accomplished through its patented Super MSB (Monocoque Structural Base) and a careful material selection. Basically, these two components work in unison to eliminate the commonality of rib construction in helmets. As Garneau puts it, the prior means of manufacturing adds weight and minimizes the amount of potential ventilation, all the while without increasing safety. And while all of that sounds pointless and archaic, the solution was complicated from engineering standpoint. The path to the Quartz II took a few steps. The Super MSB structure is basically a supportive base that's akin to an exoskeleton. It has a polycarbonate, monocoque construction, meaning that it's formed in one piece. This reinforces the perimeter of the helmet, while supporting the carbon composite skeleton reinforcement with confidence -- and this is where the rib-replacement comes into play. Together, the two systems position two polycarbonate bars within the helmet structure, with an additional nine carbon fiber bridge inserts. The system provides targeted structural support to the helmet in the case of collision. For further reinforcement, the entire structure is created with In-Mold construction. This means that the helmet's shell and foam liner are molded together at the same time. With Garneau's new structural design, it was able to increase the ventilation without degrading strength. But Garneau wasn't finished with the Quartz II's comfort. The helmet features what Garneau calls its Ev...