Style and function are different for different helmets. The Bontrager Circuit WaveCel uses magnetic mounts so that it transforms depending on need. It’s there with all the safety and utility of a commuter helmet during the week and 30 seconds later, it’s ready for a fast group ride at the weekend.
Pros
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WaveCel technology
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Lots of vertical adjustment in the rear cradle
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Reflective stickers at the rear
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Will accommodate a ponytail
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Very versatile for different uses
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Completely removable pads
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Replaceable rear cradle
Cons
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Rear blendr mount is finicky at best
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No scratching your head through the helmet
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There are different types of riding, different types of bikes, and different scenarios that call for different cycling helmets. A common question is something along the lines of "what's the best helmet for commuting to work?" To answer it, you have to understand what the heart of the question is. Any helmet could fill the need but generally people prefer not to wear an aero race helmet paired with a city bike. Alternatively, when it's time to take your fastest aero bike out for a day of pace line riding you don't want to show up in your favourite urban helmet. This is why we've put together lists that cover the best commuter helmets, best e-bike helmets as well as the best road bike helmets but kept them separate.
Two helmets means double the price and double the storage space though. What if you could have one helmet that fits in both in a paceline and on the way to work? Trek has tried to offer just that with the Bontrager Circuit WaveCel helmet. Mounts and accessories transform it both in function and style for different needs and we spent time trying it out in a variety of situations. Keep reading if you like the sound of one helmet that covers all your riding without looking out of place.
With the mounts removed the helmet is ready for performance riding. (Image credit: Josh Ross)
Design and aesthetics
The top-of-the-line helmet that Bontrager offers is the XXX WaveCel helmet. Aerodynamics and weight are what set the look of that helmet. Sitting right below that offering are the sister models, the Circuit and the Spectre. They are a bit heavier, not specifically aerodynamic, less expensive, and they each meet a slightly different need. Despite those changes, they share much of the look and style of the XXX helmet. So much so that most people wouldn't immediately spot which helmet they were looking at when worn in a group.
The point here is that while the Circuit can fill the needs of urban riders, it gets its look and feel directly from the fastest helmet Bontrager offers. You will not feel out of place wearing it on a weeknight road race or in the paceline of a fast weekend group ride.
That's only half the visual story though. Clip the Blendr mounts onto the top and rear, attach the Flare RT bike lights, position the visor at the front, and you are ready for the week. The Circuit is ready to look just as at home with an upright position on any of the bikes we feature on our list of best commuter bikes.
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It's the accessories that make the Circuit WaveCel helmet more useful(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The front mount lets you attach anything with a GoPro style mount(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The two mounts are going to work best with Bontrager Lights(Image credit: Josh Ross)
Of course, visual style is only part of what makes the design of a helmet successful. At the heart of the Bontrager Circuit helmet is WaveCel technology. There's no doubt that Bontrager would prefer not to get a mention in relation to other common technologies but the reality is that they are less well known. MIPS is the best-known brand when it comes to rotational impact technology and WaveCel is the Bontrager solution to similar problems. There's no definitive way to say if one is better than the other but WaveCel does very well in independent testing from Virginia Tech. It's also an alternative to MIPS for those who don't like the liner that MIPS uses.
In terms of quality-of-life design features, a big one has to be the design of the rear cradle. There are three vertical positions along with a massive open area above the adjuster. If you are trying to deal with a ponytail this has got to be a helmet worth looking for that big, wide, open area that looks perfect for fitting hair through. Even the adjuster itself is worth a call out for being a Boa branded piece.
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It's easy to adjust the rear cradle to one of three settings(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The BOA dial makes for precise adjustment and there's lots of room above to accommodate hair(Image credit: Josh Ross)
Performance
I've been wearing Bontrager WaveCel helmets for years. I've spent time in the XXX, in the Spectre, and now I've taken my turn in the Circuit. I'm drawn to the technology that WaveCel offers and I like that the XXX is aero optimised but it's the Circuit that seems the most exciting.
As a reviewer, I get asked all the time what product I suggest and helmet style is a frequent topic. Fast riders who don't ever commute have a lot of choices. There are also lots of people who don't mind having two helmets but there's a big group of people who do both types of riding but only want to own one helmet. They spend far more time riding around town but when it's time to go for a fast ride they don't want a second helmet. The Bontrager Circuit is the answer to this question.
For commuting duties, you are going to want to add some accessories. The most important is the Ion 200 RT / Flare RT bike light set. These lights are lightweight, meant to make you visible, and they pair with the two magnetic Blendr mounts that come in the box. The other piece is the NeoVisor which adds a peak via velcro and works well to shield your eyes in the more upright position common to city bikes.
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The top Blendr mount is an excellent design that is fast and easy to swap on and off(Image credit: Josh Ross)
With the accessory mount installed you could install a variety of GoPro accessories or a Bontrager front light(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The rear mount is a little more finicky because of the need to get this tab in(Image credit: Josh Ross)
It is possible to break off the tab if you aren't careful(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The bottom of the mount inserts into the bottom of the port then the magnet holds it close. Getting the top mount in requires pressure down and forward.(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The first time I took the Circuit helmet out to test I added all the accessories and jumped on my Trek Checkpoint SL6 gravel bike. Right away the NeoVisor was unworkable. The riding position of that bike is too far forward and it inhibits visibility. For that ride, I was able to flip it up but I later removed it. The rest of that ride I spent feeling like the weight of the lights was a bit much with my head so far down. It's worth noting though that even on a rough doubletrack road, the lights were solid on the helmet.
Next time I took it out I left the performance bike at home and swapped it for my Priority Continuum Onyx city bike. Experiencing the upright position was when I really understood what this helmet was all about. With an upright position, all the accessories were super comfortable. Everything felt just right in that setting.
It's flexibility that defines the Bontrager Circuit WaveCel though. You could get as much comfort, and more integration, with a helmet like the Giro Escape MIPS but there's a limit to what that helmet can do. If you want to ride a performance bike it wouldn't make much sense to do it with the Giro helmet but the Bontrager takes about 30 seconds to convert. Take the two mounts off, strap your lights to your bike, and you've got a completely different helmet.
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Aside from the accessories this is a quality WaveCel helmet(Image credit: Josh Ross)
These stickers at the back are highly reflective when light hits them(Image credit: Josh Ross)
The inner pad is removeable after removing the cradle(Image credit: Josh Ross)
Verdict
The promise of the Bontrager Circuit WaveCel helmet is that it can replace a road bike helmet, a gravel bike helmet, and a commuter bike helmet. Keep in mind though that you are going to need accessories to meet that promise. Still, with the accessories, it does fulfil that promise and it does so with a lot of great little details.
Like any good product, it's the little details that bring it all together. For the Bontrager Circuit WaveCel helmet that means things like the Boa rear cradle. It allows for precise adjustment and there's plenty of room for a ponytail and if you ever have an issue, it’s removable and replaceable. Reflective stickers that help visibility even without a light and WaveCel technology to add a Bontrager take on rotational impact safety. You can also completely remove the internal pads for washing or replacement.
Despite all the success, I do hope that Bontrager continues to develop this system. Specifically, the rear mount needs some work. The top mount is incredibly slick and easy to use, but the rear is easy to break and tough to get on and off. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy enough but you might want to just leave it alone. Even on fast rides a rear light won't look out of place and you'll never have to worry about replacing the mount.
Tech Specs: Bontrager Circuit WaveCel Helmet
Price: £134.99 / $159.99 / €154.99 / AU$229.99
Colours: Black, White, Radioactive Yellow, Viper Red, Mulsanne Blue
Rotational Impact System: Yes, WaveCel
Weight: 325g size SM without mounts installed, 32g for both mounts
Sizes: SM, MD, L, XL
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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes.
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 140 lb.
Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx
