The KASK Utopia enters a new phase in its history. Already one of the fastest aero road helmets in the world, the new Y version sees refinements to incresae comfort and aero effeciency, making it ideal for long course Triathletes, sprinters and speed focused cyclists.
The remit when deveolping the original Utopia, was to create the fastest aero road helmet possible. To this end, Kask undertook extensive Wind-Tunnel tests, at multiple yaw angles, of nearly all of the current aerodynamic road bike helmets available in order to establish their baseline - and then they set out to not only better the aerodynamics, but the complete helmet package. They succeeded too.
The new Y takes fit and comfort to the next level ensuring you remain focused and in the moment when it counts.
The Utopia Y boasts some impressive data across the boad, delivering a measured and tested watt savings over most other aero helmets. The Utopia owes much of this advantage to innovative NACA ducts that are integrated into the frame of the helmet. In the main, these ducts help to reduce the overall size of the helmet making it more compact and presenting less helmet to the wind. Furthermore, the positioning of the vents within the frame of the helmet, dramatically reduces turbulence over the surface.
The NACA ducts also drastically improve another important aspect of the Utopia and one that is often in conflict with the aim of improving aerodynamics : ventilation. The ducts channel airflow directlyintothe helmet rather than a good proportion skirting over the surface and eddying away from the head. The result is a marked gain in cooling, which when working hard on solo breakaways or in mid to long distance triathlon events, is of real importance: a good proportion of your energy can be required to help cool the body in cases where a rider is working at high outputs, resulting in a drop in performance; so any improvement in this area can be of great overall benefit.
To put it in perspective, the Utopia is almost as aerodynamic as Kask's Bambino Pro Time Trial / Triathlon helmet made famous by Team Sky, but - despite fewer vents - has significantly better cooling than the company's hugely popular Protone road helmet. In addition to the aerodynamics and venting, the Utopia Y is also both light weight and comfortable. Kask have sacrificed nothing in the usability of the the Utopia Y in the quest for enhanced performance.
The Utopia Y has a claimed weight of 270g for a medium - exceptionally light while maintaining incredbly high safety standards and delivering tangible power savings!
Fitting is a hallmark of Kask helmets and has been since their inception. Indeed, the Up-Down fitting system rapidly set the brand apart when it came to ease of fit and comfort. The trend continued with the Utopia which employed the same excellent Octo-Fit system used on the Protone.
For the new Utopia Y, KASK have deployed a new Octofit+ system.
The floating cradle design is re-engineered to offer greater stability and to provide a more customised fit for those riders with longer hair. In addition, the new over-injected rubber dial increases purchase for better adjustability - particularly with sweaty haeds or hands. An ergonomic neck support ensures a fast and secure fit against the naoe of the neck and all-in, delivers incredibly comfortable and secure retention and no distractions.
The vertical movement of the Octofit+ cradle ultimatey allows perfect positioning of the retention system around the back and lower part of the skull - regardless of head charateristics - that often create ares of discomfort with other helmet brands.
A function of high intensity work is often sweat. The new Utopia Y moves its antibacterial moisture management and cooling properties up a notch from the predecessor here too. New RESISTEX CARBON padding is both highly antibacterial to reduce potential skin issues, and exceptional at moisture management, to promote dissipation to the outer shell and improve your on-skin comfort. Married to this is the anallergic and washable chinstrap that also helps to reduce skin irritation.
The Kask Utopia Y is a versatile helmet. While it was developed for pro road races - and it has already proven itself in one of the finest individual displays in modern cycling history, under Chris Froome in the 2018 Giro d'Italia - the Utopia Y is also more than at home in Triathlon and Time Trial events. Indeed, it has been used at Iron Man Kona by Kask athletes who have the choice of the TT helmet crop. While helmet choice for events is a personal one, the Utopia is more than capable of offering a significant advantage to athletes and riders. As an example, you may wish to use the Utopia Y rather than the Bambino Pro if you run hot or are riding in high temperature conditions. In such cases, the better venting offered by the Utopia may yield greater overall performance than the slim advantages in aerodynamics alone offered by the Bambino Pro. Equally, the decision to buy a Utopia Y may be a simply financial one - it is often an expensive business to own both a road and a TT helmet. The Utopia helps to ease the decision if you are in two minds about a Bambino Pro for example.
Aside from technical aspects, the new KASK Utopia Y aero road helmet features updated refelctive graphics for enhanced low light safety along with an aesthetic that more closely resembles that of the Pro-teams' through additional lateral exterior positioning of graphics. Simple details that elevate the look.
The Utopia Y pushes the boundaries of design and engineering first seen in the original Utopia helmet. For cyclists who place a premium on the pursuit of marginal gains, they can’t afford to be dragged down by inefficiencies and the Utopia Y is an ally worth keeping close.