Giro Me2 Rating: 4.8
| Comfort | |
| Fit | |
| Ventilation | |
| Build Quality | |
| Weight | |
| Price |
Planet Bike Protege 9.0 Rating: 3.7
Advantages:
- Comfortable
- Light
- Fits great and easily, thanks to Giro’s Acu Dial
- Grows with your baby
- Wonderful design, kids love it!
Disadvantages:
- Chin strap not completely pinch-free. Nothing too serious, though
It’s great to see so many people searching for helmets that would fit toddlers! Parents are usually concerned about the safety of their children riding their first bike. You might think that a helmet is not necessary in the backyard, but want your toddler to get used to wearing a helmet when riding a bike. If your kid’s head measures between 18.75 – 20.5 inches (48-52 cm), then Giro Me2 is the best helmet you could buy them.
If your child’s between 1-3 years of age, Giro Me2 should fit perfectly. But just to be on the safe side, be sure to measure your child’s head circumference before you it. Giro Me2 might last even longer if your kid has a smaller than average head. Girls have smaller heads than boys, so it can be an advantage if you have a baby girl. I don’t recommend buying this or any other helmet for infants under one year of age. They shouldn’t ride a bike (alone or with you) at this age anyway, as their body is not ready for it yet.
The main advantage the Giro Me2 helmet has over other infant helmets is the fit adjustment system. You know how dressing a toddler can be a real challenge? Imagine you not only have to put the helmet on their little impatient head, but adjust the chin strap so that the helmet fits. With Giro Me2, you’ll only have to fasten the chin strap, and Giro’s Acu Dial system will help you get the perfect fit. This dial is located on the back of the helmet. I’m not saying this will be super easy, especially if you have an active toddler with a lot of energy to spare. I’m just stating that the Giro Me2 helmet will be easier to adjust.
The majority of the parents who bought Giro Me2 stated that after the initial adjustment, putting the helmet on their kids’ head was a snap. And even though some children aren’t glad at first, they eventually forget about it. This tells us that Giro Me2 is comfortable. It’s also light at 8.5 oz . The ventilation is good. There are 6 vents with bug nettings.
The design of this helmet is good, too. It sort of has a built in visor to protect the eyes from the sun. Your kid won’t only look cute, but will also get attached to the animal graphics on Giro Me2. This will get them excited about putting the helmet on before riding the bike. Well, my daughter never gets tired of telling us, every single night before she goes to sleep, that the cats on her bed sheets are happy she’s with them.
Giro Me2 is available in several colors. Usually older colors are phased out, and newer ones take their place. So check on Amazon or ChainReactionCycles to see what’s currently available.
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Giro Me2 Helmet Specifications:
- Vents : 6
- Size : Universal Fit Infant : 18.75-20.5in | 48-52cm
- Certification : CPSC
- MSRP : $29.99
- Acu Dial adjustment system
- Weight: 8.5oz/240g
Giro Me2 is safe, comfortable and easy to adjust. You can order it for your little one from Amazon or ChainReactionCycles.
I purchased this helmet a few years ago based on the reviews from consumer reports and other websites. The problem I have is with the complexity of adjusting the chin strap. While I understand the importance of the proper fit. Have you every tried to put on a helmet for the first time on a 2 year old and actually have them sit still while you are trying to adjust the chin straps for the problem placement and length. WOW! Now that is excitement you can’t pay for. There really has to be a better way of doing this like adjusting the helmet versus the straps or making it less complex. This is cut from the owners manual:
When the helmet is level with your head you want both the front and rear straps to be even, with the Tri Loc strap guides positioned just below the ears (Figure 2). If your straps are uneven they can be adjusted by pulling them through the rear of the helmet. To adjust the length of the straps open the Tri Loc (Figure 3) and slide whichever strap needs adjustment up or down until it is in the correct position. Any slack in the strap must be pulled through the chin buckle. Then snap the Tri Loc closed and adjust the other side. The loose ends of the straps must be passed through the rubber “0” ring. The straps should not cover your ears. Next, close the chin buckle and tighten the combined straps until they are comfortable underneath your chin. Position the buckle away from your jaw bone. To see if your straps are correctly adjusted try and pull the helmet off from both the front and back. If it can be tipped forward, tighten the back straps. If it can be tipped backwards tighten the front straps.
Seriously not fun on an active two year old that does not understand what you are doing or why.
Steve,
I purchased Giro Me2 for my daughter the same day I bought her the bike. She was so excited about getting on the bike, that she agreed to sit still while I adjusted the helmet! Which was strange, because she’s a really active girl who can’t stand still for 2 consecutive seconds! I was lucky I guess.
Look at the bright side, though. Isn’t it great that the initial adjustments have to be done only once? 😀
It has been quite a challenge just trying to understand how to open the trilock. It’s easy, now that I have actually looked at it without a wriggling child’s head in it. Simple.