This new HJC Furion 3 is an updated version of the Korean helmet maker’s aero road bike helmet, with tweaked aerodynamic shaping, new safety features inside, and an updated fit system. Overall, it looks like a pretty standard high-end aero road helmet that’s not quite as expensive as much of the competition. So when they added a new hi-viz orange option last autumn, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to give one a try while we tried to avoid sitting inside on the trainer as the days got colder and darker.
HJC Furion 3 vented aero road helmet with SLID anti-rotation
Developed for racing in the pro peloton with the Total Energies squad, HJC created the new HJC Furion 3 to be a top-performing aero road race helmet with top-tier safety, as well. But, HJC also worked to keep it in line with their overall ‘more affordable’ ethos, making it a versatile all-rounder for regular road & gravel riders, too.
So instead of simply adding on a 3rd-party rotational impact protection system, they created their own Sliding Layer Impact Distribution (SLID) solution, not dissimilar to POC’s original SPIN pads. For HJC, though, located strategically just at the top of your head, these low-density gel SLID pads are designed to protect the rider from “both rotational and lower-g linear” forces, most common in real-world cycling crashes.
The selective application of these two large SLID pads on a slim plastic ‘bridge’ across the top of the helmet ultimately allows for quite unrestricted airflow through the helmet and over the top of the rider’s head, making the Furion 3 exceptionally well-ventilated.
Another key revised feature is the Furion 3’s new dial adjustability, offering a uniquely adjustable and customizable fit…
Sneaky Wide Range, One-Time-Adjust Comfortable Fit
While most premium helmets offer a wide range of fit adjustability through a rear dial adjustment, the Furion’s SelFit Pro dial pulls in just 7.5mm of strap per side, which doesn’t seem like much at first. But that’s not even half of its real fit story.
In fact, the Furion 3 is really much better than most in wide fit adjustability. That’s because, beyond the dial, the front attachment point for the side straps that lead into the dial adjuster has 5 positions, also 7.5mm apart. That means the 15mm of rear dial adjustment adds to 60mm of front attachment adjustability for a real fit range of 7.5cm. Our size S helmet opens up fully to 58cm (typically a size L figure) and cinches down to 50.5cm.
What that means in practice is that if you are on the cusp of sizes, you almost certainly can size down for a smaller, lighter shell. But equally nice, if you are on the lower end of their range, you can really tailor the fit to your head. Plus, there’s also 36mm of rear height adjustability in 13 steps, to really dial in your perfect fit.
But that’s still not all to be said about its fit. It’s actually the springiness in the fit that’s the HJC Furion 3’s real secret.
The HJC SelFit Pro is all about setting your fit once, and then not needing to readjust the dial every time you put the helmet on, or take it off.
Once you set your fit, SelFit Pro will stretch almost 6cm to make it easy to take the helmet off your head. But, then it returns to securely hold the helmet in place on your head, in the precise fit you’ve already dialed in. No more need to adjust your helmet with every ride. The full range of adjustment is still always there, though – perfect for when seasons change and you need a winter cap to stay warm riding year-round.
Riding with the new HJC Furion 3
Out on the road, the truly light 230g small Furion 3 feels light on the head. The aero design focuses most of its vent openings across the open front of the helmet, while leaving the middle of the shell smooth over the top for less aerodynamic drag. Yet the vents and internal channels do a great job of moving plenty of air across and around your head to keep cool.
We’ve been wearing the Furion 3 in cool to cold autumn and winter rides only since it arrived. But the ventilation is obvious enough that we’ve ridden almost exclusively with wind-blocking caps or at least a light Buff to stay warm, so far. We’re pretty confident that it will do a solid job of keeping heads cool in warm weather, too.
And undoubtedly, with its unique stretch fit, the Furion offers one of the best-fitting, most customized-feeling fits of any helmet we’ve tested. The fact that it now comes in this hi-viz orange shell is simply an added visibility bonus this time of year, as daylight always feels in short supply.
Tech details
- 5-piece polycarbonate shell in-molded with EPS foam
- Sliding Layer Impact Distribution (SLID) linear & rotational impact protection
- CoolPath central support bridge and internal air channel system
- 360° SelFit Pro dial adjustable retention system
- Ionic+ silver-infused antimicrobial pads
- tested to European CE EN 1078:2012+A1:2012 & Korean B531R50724001 safety standards
- UKCA testing is currently underway, but HJC does not currently sell bike helmets in the USA, so no CPSC testing
- available in 3 sizes: S 51-56, M 55-59 & L 58-63cm
- 245g claimed weight, +/-10g
HJC Furion 3 – Pricing, options & availability
The new HJC Furion 3 aero road helmet sells for 209€, including free delivery. The helmet is EN/UK/CA/KR certified, making it available in many, but not all, global markets. Not sold in the USA at this time, for example.
The new Furion 3 helmet comes in three sizes S-L, and 8 different mostly muted matte colors, plus shiny white, silver, or neon orange. We tested the glossy bright hi-viz ‘neon orange’ lid for best autumn and winter visibility. And our size small tipped the scales at just 230g.
Get yours now.
The post HJC Furion 3 Aero Road Helmet Combines Unmatched Fit, Safety & Solid Value: Review appeared first on Bikerumor.