In order for your Giro helmet to be effective it must fit properly, be worn properly and be properly fastened. Which brings us to:
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HELMET FIT LIKE A GLOVE
Giro helmets come in lots of sizes, so chances are there’s one that’s going to fit you. If the helmet you now own doesn’t fit on your head leaving little room between your head and the padded liner, exchange it for one that does.
If you bought a Sonic™ model, notice that there is a second set of pads included. You can customize the fit with these adhesive backed sizing pads to get a snug fit.
HOW TO ADJUST THE STRAPS
The front of your helmet should fall just above your eyebrows. If the front is too low, you won’t be able to see hazards like cliff edges and young freestyle prodigies. If the front is too high, you’ll look like a geek and your helmet will not provide as much protection as when positioned properly (Figure 1). Try strapping your goggles on. If the helmet is on correctly you won’t be able to scratch your forehead.
Figure 1
Right | Wrong |
You’ve no doubt noticed the straps hanging off your helmet. As plush as they are, they’re not there just to warm your cheeks. They are designed to keep your helmet on by buckling under your lower jaw. If your straps aren’t adjusted right, your helmet won’t stay on properly. So pay attention.
To adjust them, fasten the buckle and tighten the chin strap by pulling on the loose end of the strap until your helmet fits snugly. How snugly? As snugly as you can without impairing your ability to chew and swallow an energy bar. Got it? Now make sure the loose end of the strap still loops back up through the rubber “O” ring.
HOW TO FURTHER POSITION STRAPS AROUND EARS
If you have a Nine.9™, S4™, SST, or Sonic you’ll also want to position the strap guides so that they rest just below your ear lobes (Figure 2). To do this on the Nine.9, open the Tri Loc™ (Figure 3) and adjust the front and rear straps to move the Tri Loc up or down, fore or aft. Snap the Tri Loc
