WW4M: Trek Circuit Helmet

Notice - The Bontrager branding is gone now...

 This is another "WW4M" post. That means "What Works For Me" and it may not work for you. So, take that with the following words into consideration.....

My time in cycling has "required" me to wear a cycling helmet on many occasions. This has brought me no end of trouble, discomforts, and frustrations. Why? Well, there are a few reasons for this, but mainly it all comes down to my ginormous, weirdly shaped head

I don't know who I have in my family's background to thank for this noggin anomaly, but my head is not only large in circumference, (63cm) , but elongated in a way which makes finding a helmet for cycling which fits next to impossible. That is, until I came across the Bontrager Starvos.

Back in 2020, there wasn't much good news, but for me personally, there was one bright spot of news which made my day. This was in the form of a press release from Trek ballyhooing their newest WaveCell helmet technology which was available in a few helmets in their range, including a new model, at the time, which promised to fit people with very large heads. I was ecstatic.

GT in the brand new Starvos in 2020.

A sample was sent out for test and review. Now, I was hopeful this helmet would work, but I was prepared to do things I have always had to do to helmets to make them fit me. Things like removing every shred of padding and Velcro strips. This would often make a helmet barely fit, and if I was fortunate, allow for a bandana to absorb sweat. Most of the time the helmets I used hit my head wrong right at the peak of my forehead and the middle/upper portion of the back of my head while side gaps large enough to stick a finger in between the helmet and my head would exist.

This caused pain, soreness, and a helmet which, in all likelihood, would probably not have worked all that great had I needed it too.  I was blessed to not have to put a helmet to the test with the exception of the time a pickup truck driver struck me on a Guitar Ted Death Ride Invitational in 2014.

The surprise was that the Starvos actually not only fit, but at its maximum allowable adjustment, it was too big! You may not think this is a 'big deal', but realize this: I'd never had this option before. So, for myself, the Starvos was an amazing helmet option which I could use like most of you use a helmet. Plus I had a lid which was protecting me better than any helmet I had used previously due to all the modifications I used to have to make, which sometimes included Dremmeling away foam to make the helmet work! 

Trek/Bontrager then came out with the Circuit in the same sizing later on, and I also was able to get a hold of one of these helmets.  I got that helmet at the very end of 2021, but I did not start using it in earnest until Spring 2022. The Circuit fit similarly to the Starvos, and this offering was lighter, more aero, and breathed better. Once again, I was elated to finally have helmets to choose from which had high end features and actually fit me.

So, obviously helmets do not last forever and five years is a long time to hang on to a helmet. The Starvos was ready for retirement. The Circuit was not long for this world either. So, I looked and the Circuit is still out there in the XL size. Now without Bontrager branding, which Trek seems to be phasing out now. (Keith Bontrager recently retired, which probably has something to do with this)

So anyway, I got a new Circuit helmet, paid $160.00 bucks, and I look forward to having great head protection for years to come. If you have a big head, (Mine is size 7 7/8ths), then check out these helmets from Trek. They will fit a head bigger than mine, and they have high-end features, which I cannot say for any other helmet offering, maybe ever!  

Update: A great comment by a blog reader "Nooge" was posted on this article and I did not mention the feature of the Circuit helmet which he kindly pointed out. So, following is his full comment here:

" I really like the Circuit helmet for a different reason: the integration with Bontrager/Trek lights. You’re probably aware, but for anyone else reading this, the black plastic pieces in that first photo are magnetic mounts for their lights that are excellent “be seen” lights that flash really bright in the day.

I love having the helmet mounted lights because they are up high and really grab driver’s attention, plus they aim wherever I look. It’s really useful to prevent cars from hitting me from the side because I can look in their direction and the super bright flash makes them notice me. I believe it also causes them to be a bit more cautious because it’s harder to judge distance to an unsteady flashing rather than steady flashing light."