The Bollé name is often connotated with technical sport eyewear, and for good reason. The company produces a wide array of frames and lenses for a variety of sporting disciplines and conditions. Seeking to expand their reach, Bollé is venturing into the helmet market as well.
Bollé had their new One Mountain helmet on display at Interbike 2016. The helmet includes a handful of accessories and retails for 129.99 USD. © Cyclocross Magazine
Last year the company introduced the One, a road helmet loaded with accessories and positioned to be the single helmet for all road applications in all seasons. For 2017, Bollé is introducing the One Mountain. The helmet remains largely unchanged from the One platform, save for some new colorways and graphics, but continues the goal of being the only helmet that off-roaders need regardless of season. Despite the mountain name, with options like a winter liner and a sunglass garage, the new lid could be an ideal choice for cyclocross racer and cold weather gravel riders.
The One Mountain boasts a lengthy list of features. The helmet comes with a detachable visor to help block the sun during trail riding when freedom from distraction is more critical. When the sun has set, the helmet doubles as a storage solution for eyewear with the sunglass garage. A pair of slots on the front of the helmet holds the temples of glasses frames to keep them out of the way, yet still within reach for when they are needed again.
The helmet is offered in numerous colorways, including this black and orange finish shown here. The triangular panel on the back of the helmet pops out to make way for a rear light. © Cyclocross Magazine
The features continue onto the helmet’s liner, of which there are two versions. The summer liner is a set of pads similar to those found in most cycling helmets, while the winter liner is a moisture-wicking felt cap that slides into place once the pads are removed. Designed with comfort in mind, the winter liner does not alter the fit of the helmet when installed. The liner has a pair of flaps that rest over the rider's ears and are held in place with a pair of retention bands through which the helmet straps pass.
A small triangular panel located on the back of the helmet can be removed and replaced with a tail light. The light has both flash and constant settings, and runs off replaceable 3V batteries. In the incident of a debilitating crash, responders can scan a QR code on the side of the helmet to access vital information on the rider. These safety features make the One Mountain a more viable option for night rides and off-road excursions.
The One Mountain with rear light installed. The light sources power from replaceable 3V batteries. © Cyclocross Magazine
With a claimed weight of 280 grams sans accessories, the One Mountain misses the boat for being an ultralight option, but makes up for the extra grams in coverage. The helmet comes in two sizes, 54-58cm and 58-62cm. The One Mountain retails for $129.99 USD including all the aforementioned accessories and is available now direct from Bollé.
Despite adding helmets to their range, Bollé have not given up on producing new sunglasses for the cycling market. New for 2017 is the Aeromax, a high end option for cyclists looking for feature packed lenses.
The Aeromax is new for 2017, spec’d with photochromic Trivex lenses in the rose gold tint. © Cyclocross Magazine
The interchangeable lenses on the Aeromax are made from Trivex instead of the more common polycarbonate. According to Bollé, this makes for a lighter, more shatter resistant lens. It also improves clarity, registering a 54 on the Abbe refractometer scale, where polycarbonates often measure in the high 30’s and low 40’s. Bollé is not the only brand to bring Trivex lenses to market, though they do claim to offer a wider range of Trivex equipped glasses. Additional lens perks include oleophobic, hydrophobic anti-fog treatments, and the lenses are photochromic to adjust for varying light conditions.
The frame hosts its own bag of tricks. A fore/aft adjustable nosepiece helps dial in a comfortable fit, and flexible wire-core temples keep the pressure off while still keeping the glasses in place. Small gaps on either side of the frame allow air to pass over the rider's eyes. Retail on the Aeromax ranges between $180-$200 USD.
Bolle’s 5th Element is new for the 2017 model year. The photochromic lenses feature oleophobic and anti-fog treatments. © Cyclocross Magazine
Also on display was the 5th Element, a sunglass offering with many of the same features seen on the Aeromax, though the 5th Element has a wider field of view. The glasses have a claimed weight of roughly 25g and a $180-$200 USD sticker price.
Check out the slideshow below for more sunglass offerings from Bollé, including the off-road oriented B-Rock and more budget friendly Flash, and stay tuned for a review of some of Bollé’s latest products.
More info: bolle.com
See our still-growing collection of new product news from Interbike 2016 here.
2017 Bollé the One Mountain Helmet and New Sunglasses Photo Gallery:
The 5th Element Pro sees a $20 USD price jump and gets the addition of non-removable side shields and different graphic/color schemes. © Cyclocross Magazine
