TREK BLAZE WAVECEL HELMET REVIEW

Words & Photos by Travis Reill

February 6, 2025

In 2019, Trek released a new line of helmets with WaveCel technology under the Bontrager brand. Fast forward to the summer of 2024, and Trek decided to release a new helmet under their own name, called the Trek Blaze. Equipped with WaveCel safety technology, Trek has created a ¾-style helmet for those rowdy riders who still want to breathe. Aside from a focus on safety, Trek also packed the Blaze with practical, usable features, that make it an option absolutely worth considering.

ABOUT THE TREK BLAZE WAVECEL HELMET

Trek’s Blaze Wavecel helmet aims to provide safety, comfort, and features packed into one helmet. On second thought, maybe we should say “two helmets,” as removable ear guards take the Blaze from a ¾ enduro-style lid to a standard half shell. Remove the ear coverage on climbs or easier rides altogether, and quickly snap them back on for extra protection when the trail gets rowdy.

Also removable is the Blendr mount on the top of the helmet, designed to carry lights or action cameras. The front of the mount sits in two grooves, while the back magnetically snaps down, providing a firm hold. The visor on the Blaze also uses magnets to hold it in place, and release when required. On first look, it is a standard three-position visor with a spot for sunglasses. However, Trek designed the visor to break away in the event of a crash, helping to preserve the visor and reduce the likelihood of snagging.

The star of the show is the WaveCel safety technology from which the Blaze gets its namesake and a 5-star safety rating from the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings. Trek uses the latest version of WaveCel technology, featuring 10% larger cells for increased airflow. WaveCel also helps to keep the helmet on the lighter side, with our size M weighing in at 485g.

WaveCel replaces EPS foam with a collapsible cellular structure designed to absorb impacts. Due to the design pattern of the WaveCel, a continuous layer of the material can be placed, free-floating, in a helmet without compromising its integrity. As we have seen with all the recent technological and safety advances in helmets, they must absorb and distribute direct impact forces, but more importantly, angled and rotational forces. To deal with these types of forces, WaveCel is specifically designed to do three things. First, the cells flex to help reduce the initial impact forces. Next, they crumple, much like a car’s bumper, further absorbing the impact. Lastly, the WaveCels glide, helping to redistribute the brunt of the impact away from the head.

Trek uses the BOA fit system to make micro-adjustments to the Blaze’s sizing. The Blaze comes in small, medium, and large, with a typical size range of 52-56cm, 55-59cm, and 58-62cm respectively. It also incorporates a Fidlock buckle at the chin, connected to lay-flat camlock straps around the user’s ears. This limits – or even eliminates – straps rubbing on ears, when adjusted properly. The Blaze has ten rather large air vents surrounding the helmet, helping to keep things cool.

Trek offers the Blaze in a choice of three colors, with a retail price of $249.99 / £199.99.

THE DIRT

As far as ¾ helmets go, the Trek Blaze WaveCel proved to be easy to get along with. One issue I have with ¾ helmets is their overall comfort — the added protection around the ears tends to squeeze my face. However, I didn’t have this experience with the Blaze helmet, and it was one of the more comfortable ¾ helmets I’ve tried.

I wonder if this comfort came at a cost. My guess as to why I wasn’t experiencing the same “face squeeze” I had in the past is that the Blaze’s removable ear guards force a different fit. While they easily slid on and off of the helmet, over time, the ear guards loosened. As I wrapped up my testing time with the Blaze, the ear guards easily wobbled several millimeters side to side. While I don’t think this affected the helmet’s safety, it certainly didn’t give an incredible impression of security. I also wonder if the wobble would continue to worsen and ultimately lead to the ear guards breaking.

I would have preferred fixed ear guards on the Blaze. The helmet breathed well, and I never felt a need to remove them on warm-day climbs, or really ever.

While the Blaze was ultimately very comfortable, I did have an issue with the helmet rolling forward on my head. No matter how many times I would reposition the helmet and readjust the BOA fit system, the front of the helmet would eventually be clanking on my glasses and pushing them down my nose. I’ve never worn a Trek or Bontrager helmet before, so it could be an issue with my head shape. Until the movement became problematic, it was a comfortable environment for my head.

Two features I did like, however, were the removable Blendr mount and the breakaway visor, both held firmly with magnets. The Blendr mount was stable, even with a relatively heavy light, and offered a cleaner look than sticking a mount to the top permanently. If you are not using it, simply remove it.

I also really liked the magnetic breakaway visor, which I called upon once when I tumbled into the bushes. The visor was ripped off, but was ultimately fine. After I reattached it, the visor adjusted and stayed in its three positions without issue.

However, I wonder if we took some of the features away — removable ear guards, breakaway visor, removable Blendr mount — if that would help to drop the price a bit. While $250 is on the higher end for helmets, Trek’s one-year crash replacement takes some sting away from the price, should you call upon its protection.

Reviewing helmets is tricky because, ultimately, we’re (hopefully) not taking significant impacts on each helmet we test. Therefore, we’re typically unable to speak as to how safe the helmet is. My tumble into the bushes didn’t include a significant hit to the head. That said, I enjoyed my first experience with a WaveCel helmet.

The full coverage of WaveCel provides peace of mind. Each cell is relatively large and allows good airflow, making the Blaze one of the more breathable ¾ helmets I’ve used. And, for what it is worth, Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings gave the Blaze 5 stars, which is consistent with every WaveCel helmet they’ve tested. Plus, WaveCel doesn’t pull out my hair like MIPS does – that’s much appreciated.

The Wolf’s Last Word

While I liked some of the features that Trek’s Blaze WaveCel offered, and it was a very comfortable helmet, the fact that it rolled forward on my head was a deal breaker. But that doesn’t mean you will have the same experience, so if you are considering a ¾ lid, get your head in the Trek Blaze WaveCel and see how it feels.

Price: $249.99
Website: Trekbikes.com

ABOUT THE WOLF

The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).

Rank: Product Tester
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Social: @travis_reill_writes

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