The history of Giro – innovations and technological breakthroughs in h

The Beginning (1985): From Idea to Revolution

In 1985, designer and national cyclist Jim Gentes founded Giro Sport Design, driven by the desire to create a lighter, more ventilated, and comfortable helmet. He developed the Prolight - his first helmet without a hard outer shell, featuring a breathable construction and one of the lightest designs on the market. The model was presented at a trade show in Long Beach in 1986, where orders immediately reached $100,000.

The Giro Prolight not only redefined helmets in terms of comfort but also coincided with the introduction of legal regulations in the USA requiring helmet use in road races - a perfect moment for Giro's breakthrough.

Recognition Through Victory (1989)

In 1989, the Aerohead became part of Greg LeMond's legendary victory in the Tour de France - he wore the helmet and won the Tour de France with a small lead of 8 seconds. This moment launched Giro onto the world stage.

Pioneering Technologies in the 90s

Giro continued to introduce innovations:

Air Attack (1990) - fiberglass-reinforced internal structure for better protection, with excellent ventilation
Roc Loc – helmet adjustment system that increases stability when riding on rough terrain and remains a standard even today
Switchblade (1998) - the first modular MTB helmet with a removable front panel, combining functionality and safety

Expanding the Product Portfolio

Beat the elements: In 1999, Giro entered the market with ski helmets - the Nine model is lightweight and ventilated, initially underestimated but quickly gaining popularity
Recent innovative products: in the eyewear field, Giro introduced Manifest - the first mainstream glasses with interchangeable lenses. They also created the Renew clothing series - high-end with a small ecological footprint.

High Technology and Scientific Support

Giro developed close collaboration with the scientific community - using pioneering research, including with NASA, to optimize aerodynamics and ventilation. Models like Therminator were developed with this expertise.
They built DOME - a research laboratory (inherited and expanded together with Bell), offering an R&D center with testing facilities and prototyping capabilities.

Safety – Surpassed by Technology

Giro carefully implemented MIPS - a system that reduces rotational forces during impact. They quickly adapted it and made it accessible by removing price barriers.

Later, they developed Spherical Technology - a patented system with a dual-layer movable shell that effectively absorbs impact.

Personalized Technologies for the Elite

In 2010, they developed a special helmet for Lance Armstrong for the Tour de France - based on a special 3D model of his head and a prototype tested in a wind tunnel environment. The helmet saved up to 3 seconds compared to a time trial stage and cost about $15,000.

Company Development and Structure

Founded in 1985, in Scotts Valley, California
Acquired by Bell Sports in 1996; now part of Revelyst
In 2023, as a result of integration with Fox Racing, R&D and manufacturing facilities in Scotts Valley were closed, and part of the team was laid off.

See all available Bell products at DragZone here.