Italian helmet maker, Kask, has been a staple at the highest levels of cycling for many years. Their helmets have protected the noggins of Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal as they have won Grand Tour after Grand Tour. Italians know a thing or two about style and the country is home to arguably the world’s most advanced injection molding technology. That combination drives their product development and, subsequently the all-new Kask Mojito 3.
Kask Mojito 3 Features:
- Features Octo Fit retention system
- Single-piece Blue Tech internal padding
- Eco-leather chin strap
- Pass the WG11 test and surpasses European safety standards by 48%
- Impact protection significantly improved over Mojito X
- 17 oversized vents
- Weight: 280 grams (medium, actual)
- MSRP: $199
Mojito 3 is a sleek all-rounder
With the all-new Mojito 3, Kask wanted to deliver a helmet that was safe and functional for road, mountain or gravel riding. No, it doesn’t have a visor (which isn’t requisite for MTB, but common), but it doesn’t look out of place on the singletrack — especially if you are the hard-charging XC type. That said, the overall look of the Mojito 3 is definitely sleek. It sits close to the head and doesn’t look bulky at all.
While Kask has chosen not to employ MIPS with the new Mojito 3, they are proud to say it is certified by CEN TC 158 / WG 11 (Working Group 11). To learn more about Kask’s commitment to helmet safety, you can go to kask.com/safety. Further, Kask states that significant improvements in impact protection were achieved over the Mojito X, the predecessor to the Mojito 3. Those are a 25% frontal, 32% rear and 12% top impact improvements. All that said, my personal preference is always MIPS, but it’s clear that Kask has put a lot of research into the Mojito 3 and it shows in its fit, comfort and overall feel.
One of the most important features of any helmet is overall fit. With this new design, the Mojito 3 uses a new Octo Fit retention system and thick, Blue Tech padding. With Octo Fit, you get a familiar dial system, but it also features easy width adjustments and up/down placement as well. Most retention systems are a “set and forget” type of deal, but I felt like the Octo Fit’s up/down movement was something I adjusted on every ride (even if it was just slightly).
As it turned out, the placement of the retention system became quite important when interfacing with sunglasses. I would say that sunglasses with curved temples (Bolle Lightshifter) were consistently better than those with straight temples. In fact, I could never get the Tifosi Sledge to work well, but I could get the Smith Attack Max and MTB to work, if I adjusted the retention system just right. The moral of the story here: bring your sunglasses along to the shop so you can try the combination on for yourself. Fiddle with it and you’ll hopefully be able to get your glasses to work, like I was ultimately able to do.
Taking the Mojito 3 everywhere
Alright, let’s talk about on-bike performance. Once in place, the comfortable straps disappear. The yoke adjustment did take a few rides to get situated, but everything sits just right and has since remained flush with my face. With a faux leather chin strap, I’m feeling quite chic (and comfy), but the buckle has proven to be more difficult to release than I’d expect. You have to squeeze it perfectly to get it to disengage. It’s not a huge deal, really, but a bit odd since buckles are hardly new hardware in the industry.
Since Kask bills the Mojito 3 as an all-rounder, I’ve spent hundreds of miles on the road, gravel and singletrack. No matter the terrain, the Mojito 3 stays put and feels absolutely secure. I love the head-cradling feel of the Octo Fit and Blue Tech combo on my shaved head. Once situated, it has always stayed put.
As far as ventilation goes, the Mojito 3 does a great job keeping my noggin cool. There are definitely more airy helmets out there, but I’ve felt very comfortable on mid-day rides in the 90’s. Of course, road speeds are best, but even at slower MTB speeds, I didn’t feel overly warm. Airflow is definitely felt and the helmet remains particularly quiet at speed (especially compared to the Specter WaveCel, for example).
The Blue Tech padding is THICK. I’m not kidding when I say it’s almost twice as thick as the padding on my other helmets. The benefits are obvious because this helmet feels absolutely fantastic on my head. In the product launch presentation, Kask engineers stressed how much they obsessed over the comfort and I’d say they nailed it. But, with all that thick padding, you do get an enormous amount of sweat buildup. Once saturated, it drips profusely (luckily, not into your sunglasses). And, at the end of any given ride, you get to squeeze a waterfall out of it. What I’ve settled on doing is just squeezing some out mid ride every 30 minutes and that always keeps it from becoming oversaturated.
The Good
- Kask nailed a good looking helmet
- Ventilation is excellent
- Quiet at high speeds
- As comfortable as grandpa’s Cadillac
- Sweat doesn’t drip into your sunglasses
- Lightweight design
The Bad
- Retention system interferes with sunglasses
- Padding soaks up a ton of sweat (see the mid-ride waterfall)
- The buckle can be finicky
- No MIPS
The Bottom Line: Kask Mojito 3
Over the course of testing, I was more than thrilled with the fit and overall function of the Kask Mojito 3. It looks downright sexy (I think) and it features excellent ventilation. Tops of all is the ultra-comfortable fit, which makes this one a pleasure to wear. However, on the safety side, it’s hard to overlook the omission of MIPS. That said, Kask swears by their research and stands by this helmet as being safe and protective. Once you get past the challenges of getting your sunglasses to fit, the Mojito 3 is a fantastic helmet.
More Info: Visit Kask.com (and find a local dealer)
