BONTRAGER SPECTER

OVERVIEW

BRIEF

Specter was designed to be the middle of the road when it came to Wavecel. The projects brief was to design for the masses, creating a comprehensive and effective visual form language to attract your average cycling enthusiast. One aspect of this project that was extremely challenging was trying to develop an exciting shape that can show off the new opportunities that Wavecel offers. Larger vents and longer unconnected surfaces allow a new forma language to from. The rear of the helmet was one of those areas. Trying to develop a shape that can float throughout the entire rear was a aspect we tried to achieve.

Airflow

Specter is designed for not only the casual road rider, but also for those who demand more ventilation on hot days. Either climbing in the Alps or the flats of Arizona this helmet performs at those low speed uphill days, and those hot flat days.

Fidlock

Creating a premium product means more than putting it in a nice box. Effective costing and planning allowed us to utilize premium products like Boa and Fidlock to elevate the finish of the products.

Wavecel technology

Virginia Tech 5 star rated helmet. Wavecel integration allows for advanced safety and reduced risk for concussion.

DETAILS

WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN

The Specter was designed to be everything that the XXX wasn't. A lighter, better ventilated helmet that offers the same amount of protection for the rider. When we looked to our rider profiles and ride profiles for this product we looked at not only pro riders but cyclists looking for a modest price point of $150. The riders and teams we looked at while developing the product was our Telenet Lions Cyclocross team and our Cross Country MTB team. In both cases, aero is not king, but low speed hard efforts need a helmet that doesn't strain the neck or keep heat inside making the rider overheat. Validated in our CFD programs as well as massive testing in Spain and in the peaks of Colorado, this helmet was baked by the best and is our best selling helmet ever created.

THE CUSTOMER

Low cost, performance oriented, and one of the safest helmets you can buy. The development of the Specter focused on not only Pro cyclists that want a lightweight option to the XXX but also the majority of every day cyclists that put protection first. The $150 price point was focused and no expense was spared to offer the rider the maximum bang for their buck. Looking at riders - this is a true Swiss Army Knife of helmets. Worn by the best and the everyday user.

DETAILS

FINAL DESIGN

The design process for Specter started with conceptual thumbnails. The process for most helmet projects (especially wavecel helmets) were on a very tight timeline and the conceptual process was very structured to advance the project. Initially, thumbnails and side view concepts were created to develop a major theme for the helmet. Knowing that these products will be launched in conjunction with XXX, Blaze, and Charge the design styling had to live as a product line. After conceptual thumbnails, there was a slightly more detailed rd2 sketching process. This process again, was fast and meant to push the project along after concepts were reduced. CAD was used to develop the shape of the helmet, accounting for plastic in molded parts as well as clearances for head-form shape and wavecel insert. The development in cad allowed us to cast a model that was than taken the last 5 yards by hand. this fluid transition between hand modeling and CAD development is what really assisted in not only the speed to produce concepts, but creative structure we needed to deliver a successful helmet on time.

DETAILS

FINAL DESIGN

Creating a helmet that is not only affordable but pushes the boundaries of the technology available and is also good enough for our pro MTB and Cross team is impressive. Specter has the same fit and finish as its bigger brother the XXX, and cousin; Blaze. While Specter is a entry level road helmet by definition and placement, its quality components in BOA and Fidlock push it into the premium category. Endless hours testing in CFD allowed us to optimize and create a helmet that not only effectively pulls air out of the helmet, but one that doesn't really compromise the aero benefits of modern day helmets.

Bontrager Specter