MEMBER REVIEWS
GIRO MONTARO MIPS III HELMET REVIEW
Review & Photos by Lee Stott
July 24, 2025
When I heard Giro was releasing the new and improved Montaro Mips III helmet, my first thought was “another new helmet, really?”. After more consideration, I concluded that an improved helmet is a good thing, as head protection is one of the most important safety items in mountain biking. Giro describes the new Montaro as Aggressive Trail Protection, and I think they’ve nailed it.
Lee won the opportunity to receive the new Giro Montaro Mips III to test for this Member Review before its launch, thanks to his support on The Loam Wolf Member Platform. We thank Giro for providing us with the helmet and trusting in our members to keep this helmet secret up until its launch. If you’d like the chance to get early access to products, test and review gear and get exclusive discounts to industry brands, check out our member’s platform here.
QUICK HITS
• Mips Evolve Core
• FIDLOCK magnetic buckle
• Integrated sunglass holder front and rear
• Roc Loc® Trail delivers micro-adjustable, precision fit
• Compact fit and extended coverage
WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE GIRO MONTARO MIPS III
SAFETY: Giro’s Montaro Mips III features Mips Evolve Core. According to the Mips, this system utilizes a low-friction layer on the inner surface of the helmet’s energy-absorbing liner. This layer is permitted to move in all directions to help divert rotational motion from the head in certain angled impacts. This helps to protect the head from brain injuries. The helmet also has CPSC/CE and eBike standard NTA 8776 certifications.
FEATURES: The helmet has 17 vents front to rear which allow for impressive airflow. Extended coverage in the rear and sides provides more safety for aggressive riders. There is a 2-position visor that allows sunglass or goggle storage below, and there is also sunglass storage in the rear. Thin Ionic+ anti-microbial and moisture wicking padding is attached via hook and loop, so it can be easily removed for cleaning. At the rear of the helmet is the Roc Loc® Trail dial to adjust how secure the helmet sits on your head. It comes equipped with a Fidlock magnetic buckle, giving easy fastening and release.
The Giro Montaro Mips III will be offered in 3 sizes: S (52-55.5cm), M (55.5-59) and L (59-62.5) and in the following colors: Matte Black/Gloss Black, Matte White/Gloss White, Matte Stone/Gloss Stone and Matte Dark Sage/Gloss Dark Sage. The retail price will be $215 / £159.99, placing it toward the premium end of the market.
THE DIRT
When I pulled the new Giro Montaro Mips III out of the box, I was very impressed with the overall look. The matte and gloss black combo looked super cool, and the design and quality of the construction felt top notch.
There are 3 positions for the adjustment dial, which I preferred in the lowest position. This gave me the most comfortable feel, as it matched the shape of my head. I felt the helmet had a slight oval shape to the fit, but it still worked well for my very round head. The straps were easy to adjust to get a comfortable and secure fit, while the Fidlock buckle is absolutely the best solution for MTB helmets.
The Montaro Mips III sat low on my forehead and seemed to be way too close to my sunglasses on first impressions. However, out on the trail this proved to not be an issue at all though I could see some head shapes or larger glasses could have issue. I could feel the helmet on my forehead more than other helmets I’ve used in the past, but it didn’t lead to any discomfort.
On the trail, the Montaro Mips III performed well. I tested a size medium which is my usual helmet size. It did not move or bounce around, even on the hardest head bounces. Cruising at a good speed or when hit with a breeze, the air flow through the helmet was noticeable and much appreciated. Kudos to Giro for the well thought out vents.
My only issue with the helmet was the lack of sweat management. It’s very humid where I live and ride, and after a few minutes of riding I had sweat hitting my sunglasses. To be fair, every helmet I use suffers from this (including my Troy Lee Designs A3), but the Montaro Mips III skews more to the negative side of the sweat management spectrum. Other than that, the helmet did not call attention to itself in any negative way. It just comfortably did its job, sitting on my head waiting to provide Mips protection to my brain in the off chance my head hit the trail. I felt safe crushing my favorite trails aboard my eBike, and I believe it looked good in the process.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Giro’s claim that the new Montaro Mips III is an aggressive trail ready helmet rings true with me. It fits well, looks good, and is competitively priced for the included features and build quality. If you are looking for a helmet in this category, I highly recommend you give the Giro Montaro Mips III a shot as my only real gripe was the sweat management, which seems to be a common issue among helmets here in my humid hometown. 
Price: $215
Website: Giro.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
I’ve been mountain biking since 1991, cutting my MTB teeth in the mountains of Southern California and the last 17 years riding the rocky, rugged trails of South Texas. When not riding my bike, I’m spending my free time with my wife and daughters, modding and off-roading my lifted Lexus GX470. I’m also an avid collector of Hot Wheels.
Rank: Wolfpack Member
Size: 5’10.5” – don’t forget the half lol | 180’ish lbs
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