The Specialized S-Works Evade 3 is the brand’s aero road helmet designed for racing at the highest level with Bora-Hansgrohe, SD Worx and Soudal-QuickStep. It’s built with the lightweight Mips Air Node system, which is integrated into the padding, and scored five stars in Virginia Tech’s safety ratings.
This third generation sees an emphasis on ventilation while maintaining its aerodynamic efficiency. That’s evidenced by bigger vents front and back. Specialized calls the helmet’s new tail arrangement a ‘diffuser’ and claims it draws 10% more air through the helmet.
I found the Evade 3’s fit system to be easy to adjust and comfortable, and its 272g weight on my scales for a size medium is about standard for the category. However, coming in at £275 it’s one of the more expensive road helmets on the market.
Specialized S-Works Evade 3 fit + sizing
Specialized has just three sizes for the Evade 3: small for 51-56cm head circumferences; medium for 55-59cm; and large for 58-62cm. My head’s 58cm and the medium is a perfect fit.
The Evade 3’s Mindset fit system includes a standard ratchet tightening system on the back as well as what the brand calls Occipital Base Adjustment. This provides five height levels for the rear support system, allowing for a personalised fit that can be shallow or more supportive. I personally feel more secure with it lower on my head, but find the helmet is more comfortable when it’s higher up. It’s also helpful to make space for a ponytail if you have one.
The Tri Fix system uses a small plastic piece to neatly weave the straps down from the helmet to sit snugly under the ears, with no loose material to flap around and one simple adjustment via the buckle. The simple plastic buckle is a departure from the Evade 2, which used a FidLock magnetic attachment. I’m a fan of magnetic buckles but simplicity in this department certainly doesn’t do the helmet any harm as long as it’s secure, which it is, I’d assume it’s lighter than a magnet system too.
Specialized S-Works Evade 3 material + technology
The shell of the Evade 3 is made from dual-density EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam that combines harder and softer foam to reduce bulk while keeping it sufficiently safe and has the Mips Air Node system built in, in an attempt to protect the wearer against rotational forces harming the brain in a crash.
Air Node is Mips’ lightest and actually forms the helmet’s padding, but it still offers up to 15mm of movement in any direction when called upon. Its integration also means ventilation is improved from a padding-plus-liner system. While I thankfully wasn’t able to test the helmet’s safety credentials myself, independent helmet safety tester Virginia Tech scored the helmet five stars out of five in its test protocol. The helmet is capable of fitting Specialized’s ANGi sensor too, which alerts emergency contacts with your GPS location if it detects a crash and you don’t stop a countdown on the Specialized Ride app.
At 272g for this size medium, it’s pretty spot on for the 270g claimed weight. It’s lighter than the Evade 2 but it’s certainly not the lightest helmet in the category. It’s about average, and at this price I think it would be reasonable to expect the design to be a little lighter.
Specialized would argue that you’re paying for aerodynamic efficiency rather than weight though, and the brand claims it’s ‘the most aero road helmet in the peloton’. We don’t have a wind-tunnel to test these claims though, so prospective buyers will need to choose whether or not to take those claims at face value themselves.
Ventilation is Specialized’s biggest talking point on the Evade 3, with the claim it maintained the helmet’s aerodynamic qualities while improving airflow through larger front vents and a new rear vent layout it dubs a ‘diffuser’, which includes a bigger area than its predecessor split into four triangular holes for the air to escape. Specialized says this brings 10% more air through the helmet.
The Evade 3 is available in six colours: black, white, red, ‘metallic deep marine’ (shiny dark blue), ‘hyper dove grey’ (light grey with fluorescent yellow details and rear vent, and white with black details and vent.
Wearing the Specialized S-Works Evade 3
I found the Evade 3 did a great job at being invisible when I was riding, it was very easy to forget it was there with its snug, comfortable fit and slimline, minimal strapping.
The Mips padding was a nice cushion on my head and the Mindset fit system felt secure but unobtrusive. I liked the feel of the Tri-Fix strapping system and the old-school buckle sat nicely under my chin.
It’s not the comfiest helmet for holding sunglasses in the front, with the best slot for them a bit too narrow, so the ends of my sunglasses’ arms sat on my head when inserted. It performed as expected when I wore glasses though, with the straps tucking neatly underneath and the main body sitting just high enough over my ears to avoid touching the arms.
In terms of ventilation, I could really feel air pulling through the helmet and out the rear diffuser. While it’s the big hole at the front that’s most noticeable, it didn’t mean my forehead was at the mercy of the wind, I couldn’t tell it was there while wearing it, but I could feel air rushing down the sides of my head. I wore the helmet during winter’s coldest days and through to the mid-spring heat and found it suitably ventilated at all times, I didn’t feel exposed in the cold and my head was far from overheating when temperatures rose.
Although I criticised it for having lighter competitors, it’s still light and is barely noticeable.
Specialized S-Works Evade 3 verdict
The Specialized S-Works Evade 3 is a premium aero helmet with excellent comfort and adjustability. The retention system is accommodating and easier to operate and the helmet shell is nicely shaped for a snug fit.
I like that the lightweight Mips Air Node system combines safety protection as well as soft, sweat-wicking padding, and the improved ventilation helps keep it an attractive option for hard, hot days.
At £275 it’s a bit much for non-racers unless money’s no object, but its ventilation and comfort levels are hard to beat. Considering those attributes are included in a design with such claimed aero benefits too makes the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 an excellent premium option.
| Price | £275 |
| Weight: | 272g |
| Sizes available: | S, M, L |
| Safety tech: | Mips Air Node |
| Adjustment system: | Mindset Fit System |
| Number of vents: | Nine |
| Attachments: | ANGi sensor |
