Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips

8
£279.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Excellent aero helmet that's comfortable and holds glasses brilliantly, but comes at a hefty price
Sleek Mips Air Node system
Excellent glasses retention
Price
Weight: 
280g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Updated from the previous model, the Abus Gamechanger 2.0 Mips includes a new Mips Air Node system, a magnetic Fidlock buckle, and the best glasses retention in a helmet I've ever used. These top-end features do come with a top-end price, however.

Check out more options in our guide to the best cycling helmets – and how to choose the right helmet for you.

> Buy now: Abus Gamechanger 2.0 Mips for £191.58 from RideWill

The Gamechanger 2.0 has a very aero silhouette but still with enough vents to keep you cool on the hottest days.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - front.jpg

Abus says it has improved aerodynamics – it's wider at the rear and uses an 'Aero Blade' grid structure to improve airflow, which it claims "adapts to different speeds, side angles and helmet inclinations". There's no way we can measure or verify this sort of thing, but it certainly looks fast.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - top.jpg

Liam tested the previous version of the helmet in 2021 and reckoned it was "cool, stylish and comfortable", and the 2.0 looks pretty similar, having much the same sleek and non-bulging look. It also has the same thin padding, just ever so slightly thicker on the 2.0 because of the added Mips layer, designed to add extra protection from rotational forces.

Abus has chosen to use the new Mips Air Node system, a much thinner and less intrusive layer than the original Mips. This leads to a more comfortable wear – and silence when moving your head, something that could be slightly annoying with the original Mips in my experience.

> All you need to know about Mips

The helmet fitted me really well; it might sound odd, but it's a head-shaped helmet (Abus even describes it that way) – it's certainly well shaped for my head. Some lids can be quite round (which might suit you better), whereas this one's more oval. I've been able to wear it for hours on end with virtually no discomfort.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - inside 2.jpg

The only area where I had a slight issue was with the retention strap around the back of the head – I found it dug in ever so slightly, causing slight discomfort, but that was on a 12-hour ride.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - rear.jpg

Other than that, I have found the Gamechanger 2.0 super comfy.

Glasses dock

Perhaps my favourite feature of the lid is its ability to hold sunglasses, should you not want to wear them. I wear Oakley Sutros, and I've never felt as though I've been able to store them safely in any of my helmets – it always feels like there's a chance of them falling out when looking around. With the Gamechanger 2.0, Abus has somehow made the most secure glasses holding slot I've ever used, and if you're a sweaty rider like me, this is a huge bonus.

One thing to note, though, is that the glasses can just be in your eyeline when you're tucking in to get aero – but not so much that it's annoying.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - glasses 1.jpg

You can still store glasses at the back of the helmet, too, if you'd prefer them tucked away out of the wind. I think the Gamechanger 2.0 is the only helmet I've used that's been designed with two different positions for holding your glasses in, so hats off to Abus.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - glasses 2.jpg

The Gamechanger 2.0 Mips comes in three sizes and four colours. The one on test is Shiny White, which I think is classy, with its crisp white shell and black logos, and goes with everything. But you could opt for Flipflop Purple, Velvet Black or Performance Red.

Weight

Another area where the Gamechanger 2.0 impresses is weight. Aero helmets typically weigh more than non-aero designs, but this medium comes in at a very reasonable 284g on our scales (Abus claims 275g for the same size).

It's heavier than some aero lids – the S-Works Evade 3, a leading aero helmet, weighs 270g for a medium, while the Trek Ballista is just 260g – but the Poc Ventral MIPS tips the scales at 309g, so the Gamechanger 2.0 is no heavyweight.

When riding, this means it's easy to forget you're wearing the helmet, and there's less chance for neck fatigue.

Adjustability

Adjusting the helmet is super easy, with multiple height adjustments for the rear strap.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - tension system.jpg

The straps under the ears aren't adjustable, but they fitted me very well.

The buckle is now a Fidlock magnetic unit that clicks together with no force at all, and undoes by sliding the right-hand side forward.

2023 Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips - inside 1.jpg

Extra safe

At the back, Abus has made the Gamechanger compatible with its QUIN crash detection system, which is similar to Specialized's ANGi, and notifies specific contacts in the case of a crash. Abus charges an extra £59.99 for the QUIN chip, while the ANGi sensor is £45.

Value

While the Gamechanger 2.0 is £239.99, with Mips included it bumps it up to £279.99.

That's a fair bit more than some aero lids we've reviewed: the Kask Utopia Y, for example, which Stu tested earlier this year, is £245, and the Lazer Vento KinetiCore, tested by George last year, is £249.99. Even the S-Works Evade 3 that I mentioned above creeps in slightly under, at £275.

Although the Gamechanger 2.0 is up there among the most expensive helmets on the market, it's backed up with all the latest features. The S-Works Evade 3 might be one of its closest competitors in terms of features, also coming with the new Mips Air Node system, but it doesn't have the Fidlock magnetic buckle.

Whether you think a helmet can justify this kind of spend is up to you, but I do feel as though Abus has gone a long way to make its Gamechanger 2.0 'worth' the price.

Conclusion

Overall, I've really enjoyed using this helmet, from its comfort to its looks, and especially the way it holds glasses. If you're looking for a fast helmet, and you can afford it, I'd recommend giving it a go.

Verdict

Excellent aero helmet that's comfortable and holds glasses brilliantly, but comes at a hefty price

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Abus GameChanger 2.0 Mips

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Abus says: High-end aero helmet for professional and ambitious cyclists

And continues:

Because every second counts, less air resistance is a must! This is where the wider rear comes into play, in addition to the aerodynamic shape. The Aero Blade optimises the airflow with a special grid structure and adapts to different speeds, side angles and helmet inclinations. So the GameChanger 2.0 has a solution for every racing situation.

Even on the hottest rides, you can keep a cool head thanks to the AirBoost air inlet and sophisticated ventilation system.

But so that comfort doesn't fall by the wayside, you can conveniently adapt the helmet fit using our patented adjustment system. ActiCage increases the stability of the road helmet – and a port for the QUIN impact sensor offers you another protection option.

In the MIPS variant, the Air Node Rotation System softens the rotational forces in the event of a fall and offers greater protection for the brain.

Faster forward with the GameChanger 2.0: tested by professional athletes in the wind tunnel and on the road. Time to get going!

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Abus lists:

AeroBlade: special grid structure optimises aerodynamics independently of speed, side angle and helmet inclination

Sophisticated ventilation system: with AirBoost air inlet and Forced Air Cooling Technology for optimal head climate

Multi-shell in-mould design: for safe shock absorption

ActiCage: structural reinforcement integrated in the EPS to optimise stability

Half ring: half-enclosing plastic ring connected to adjustment system

QUIN ready: the helmet has space inside for an optionally retrofittable QUIN chip

Zoom Pro: precise adjustment system with easy-grip adjustment wheel that also allows the height to be adjusted – for a snug and comfortable fit

Eyewear Port: aerodynamic glasses holder with temple guide also at the rear of the helmet

Ponytail compatibility: helmet very suitable for riders with ponytails

Made in Italy

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

It did everything I want from a helmet.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

Light for an aero helmet.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10

For anything but silly-long rides it's great.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

I love how well it holds glasses, and the new Mips Air Node liner.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The price.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's very expensive – a fiver more even than the S-Works Evade 3.

Did you enjoy using the product? Absolutely

Would you consider buying the product? If I had the cash, or it was discounted.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they had the cash, then yes.

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Gamechanger 2.0 is an excellent helmet, with all the performance features you could ask for. It comes at a price, but if you can afford it then I would highly recommend it.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 174  Weight: 72

I usually ride: Storck Aerfast   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Semi pro

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, touring, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
check12 | 3 months ago
0 likes

Saw the price, immediately came to comment this then close the page 

Latest Comments