Arai Signet Q (replacement for the Profile, Long Oval), matte silver
Revzilla, September 2011
$640, I think
Very satisfied so far
For anyone with a severe long oval head shape like mine, I think this might be the only helmet that is reasonably available that will provide a proper fit. After 3 years of almost daily use I finally retired my Arai Profile once the Signet Q became available. The Profile fit well, but the Signet Q fits me even better. Fit is pretty much the only reason I buy Arai. The new visor with the integrated Pinlock system is nice. The peripheral view really is better than the Profile's. It feels a tad lighter than the Profile. The matte color is a nice break from shiny metallic. Ventilation is still excellent, though there is a bit too much draft coming in from the chin (if I'm riding a bike without a windshield).
As I said, fit is why I buy Arai. My wife got a Zoan Revenge Carbon Fiber for $300. The sticker on it says 1220g. I believe it. Lightest helmet I've ever felt. Feels more like a bicycle helmet (well, from the 1980s maybe--remember the Kiwi helmet?? 2.2 lbs of solid plastic shell and velour lining??) I tried the Nexx carbon (neutral) and the Zoan Revenge (round), but gave up since these and all the others on the market are neutral to round. (The Nexx isn't that light, by the way.) There just aren't any CF helmets that seem to fit true long ovals. The point is: Arai helmets are simply too heavy. If I had found a long oval CF, I'd have bought it. Could I make do with something lighter? Of course. However, for me, I don't think it's worth sacrificing a good fit just for lightness, at least not yet.
I am not happy with the fabric Arai uses in the Signet Q face pad liners. Feels cheap and hard. The padding feels fine, but the fabric literally feels hard. This is a noticeable downgrade from Profile. The peel-out layers for better custom fitting is a good feature, and one that I used to get the best fit I've ever had. Replacement comfort liners aren't available until sometime in early 2012, so I'm told.
In my opinion, Signet Q is the gotta-have helmet for severe long ovals, like me. It is a great-functioning helmet with all the right features and excellent ventilation, but is way over-built, in my opinion, with respect to abrasion and penetration protection. If you're a true long oval, just save yourself the hassle of trying a bunch of helmets on because I've already done that. Just buy the Signet Q and you're finished. Weight aside, I like the helmet a lot. Lacking a lighter alternative, I would buy it again.