The Bell 4Forty and the Giro Chronicle are very similar in terms of what they offer. The slight differences can be confusing, but if you know what you need out of a helmet it will make the decision process a lot easier. We will start with what you should be looking for in a helmet before we dive into the details of the Bell 4Forty vs Giro Chronicle, to help make your decision a bit clearer!
Both the Bell 4Forty and the Giro Chronicle are fantastic value for money- with either of them you get many of the upper market features for half the price! Both lids are designed for the all-day trail rider. They are light and breathable helmets which can be trusted to keep the rider safe in the event of a collision.
An overview of what you want to look for in a helmet
What you really want to look for in a helmet is an EPS foam layer, which wraps around the rear of the head to make sure the back of your noggin is protected. Also essential is an anti-rotational system (such as MIPS- which features in both these helmets).
Getting fancier, you will want something with good ventilation (reduce the amount of sweat on those climbs), with a good fit (look for a dial that tightens the helmet at the back) and a decent adjustable visor. With higher prices, you tend to get lighter, more breathable helmets.
All of these criteria are met by these two helmets, so in deciding which is better for you and your style of riding, we will have to have a further look into the details.
For more on what to look for in a helmet, see How to choose an MTB helmet.
Bell 4Forty Mini Review
Ideal for the rider wanting to head out on the trails for a good part of the day, looking for a helmet that is comfortable, has everything you need but for half the price of a top-of-the-line helmet.
Pros
- Good Rear Coverage
- MIPS
- Eyewear Compatible
- Comfortable
- Sweat Management System
Cons
- Ventilation needs a bit of work
The Bell 4Forty is the mid-range Bell helmet, the slightly more basic version of the very popular, higher spec Bell Sixer MIPS.
The 4Forty is a very simple design, containing all the features you need, such as MIPS, an adjustable visor, and a good sizing system. The 4Forty is a nicely designed helmet which competes well in the mid-range market.
Giro Chronicle Mini Review
A simpler style helmet, which ticks the boxes on all the features you need and some more, while keeping the cost low and the value high.
Pros
- Good Rear Coverage
- MIPS
- Eyewear Compatible
- Comfortable
Cons
- Average Ventilation
The Giro Chronicle is another mid-range helmet, following in the steps of the higher-spec sibling, the Giro Montaro. Despite having a similar design, and many of the same features, the Chronicle does come at a significantly lower price than the Montaro too!
The Chronicle stands out in the open face market for its extended coverage around the rear of the head, providing more protection than most in the market. It is a good-looking helmet and excels in the mid-range helmet market.
Design and Construction Comparison
Both the Bell 4Forty and the Giro Chronicle are constructed using in-mold technology which binds the outer polycarbonate shell (the colorful plastic you see) to the inner EPS layer (the softer foam that makes up the majority of the helmet). This increases the durability of the helmet and decreases the possibility of the outer shell separating from the foam shell in a crash.
The 4Forty has a full wrap-around polycarbonate shell, so none of the EPS foam layer is left exposed. This not only looks very professional but also improves the durability of the helmet again, as the foam isn’t exposed to the elements.
The Chronicle does have some of the EPS foam layer exposed near the base of the helmet, which leaves it prone to wear from sunlight, scratches, oils etc, over time.
In terms of design, the style and shape of the helmets are noticeably different. The Chronicle has a much deeper rear coverage than the 4Forty, which protects the back of the head more if you happen to take a tumble. The coverage will also stop any sticks or sharp rocks from hitting the back of your head too.
The 4Forty has a more angular design, with sharper edges and more angular vents. The Chronicle is more rounded, with softer edges and rounded vents. Neither of these is particularly good or bad, and design is more up to personal preference.
Safety Comparison
Both helmets feature very good deep rear coverage, though as stated earlier, the Chronicle exceeds in this particular area.
The two helmets feature an anti-rotational system called MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system), which reduces the impacts felt on angular crashes. The design of MIPS is to reduce the possibility of brain damage occurring in such a crash, keeping you riding for a long time yet! For more on MIPS see here.
The EPS foam layer reduces the energy transferred to your skull in a direct impact crash. This, in combination with the MIPS slip plane, reduces the potential of permanent damage occurring to your brain. Both have this layer, and don’t differ a lot in terms of safety.
Comfort, Ventilation and Weight Comparison
Both helmets are incredibly comfortable to wear. I personally preferred the feel of the 4Forty, but the general consensus is that the Chronicle is the more comfortable of the two, and perhaps one of the most comfortable on the market. This is likely due to the wrap-around feel that the Chronicle gives, making your head feel very cushioned on all sides.
The very plush cushioning in the Chronicle is Giro’s ‘Extra Plush Coolmax Padding’ which absorbs the moisture well. Despite being an extremely comfortable helmet, the ventilation on the Chronicle isn’t as bad as you’d expect. With 14 reasonably small vents, the airflow system works well by pushing the hot air out the back. The MIPS liner does not obstruct the ventilation system, which also helps in keeping the helmet nice and cool.
The Bell 4Forty has 15 vents, as well as a few internal channels. The ventilation performance is fairly similar to that of the Chronicle, if not better. In addition to the vents, there is also an integrated sweat guide system. This draws the sweat away from your brow and eyewear. This is a big advantage to those riders who build up a bit of sweat while speeding around the trails or climbing hills and can’t stand the sweat in the eyes.
The Chronicle is 10g lighter than the 4Forty, which basically makes zero difference to the rider. They are both reasonably light helmets, coming in at 370g and 380g for the Chronicle and 4Forty respectively. And if you compare this to the higher-spec Giro Montaro and Bell Sixer, they are a good 50 grams lighter (and cheaper!).
For more on the Giro Montaro check out our comparison with the Giro Manifest.
Features
The features on both helmets are fairly similar, but the 4Forty tops the Chronicle in this aspect. It has several more features that would normally be found on more premium helmets.
The Bell 4Forty has a float fit retention system. The system has a rubber dial which makes it very easy to tighten while riding, even with gloves on. The fit system is also integrated with MIPS, so the rider gets a good all-round retention system.
The visor is goggle and glasses compatible, so there is no need to be storing goggles around the neck for climbing. The visor is a good length. It blocks the sun when you need, but isn’t so long it noticeably sticks out.
It has Bells ‘No-Twist Tri-Glides’ which prevent the straps from getting twisted, so they comfortably sit against your cheek. It’s not a necessity on a helmet, but it is quite a nice feature to have!
The 4Forty also has the sweat guide, which is another ‘nice to have’ feature on the helmet!
The Chronicle has much the same. The riders’ goggles or glasses can be stored beneath the visor, and the visor is again a good length. It has a Roc Loc retention system which is probably one of the easiest fitting systems I have used. It seems to have infinite tightening notches, so you can get the ideal fit every time.
Conclusion
The Bell 4Forty vs Giro Chronicle comparison has shown that they are both very good helmets. It is hard to go a day out in the bike park without seeing a Bell or Giro helmet. So you know they are brands to trust.
They are both helmets we would happily take out riding on the trails all day, knowing that our heads will be protected and comfortable all day. While they do not provide the safety of full downhill helmets, they are exceptionally safe helmets with great rear coverage and MIPS integration.
While the two helmets are very similar, there are some notable differences. The Chronicle is technically the safer of the two, ever so slightly. As it has greater coverage of the head, particularly around the back of the head. It is also considered by many as the more comfortable and better ventilated of the two helmets. In saying this, I wouldn’t rule out the 4Forty just yet.
The Bell 4Forty has several features that have been extracted from the more advanced Bell Sixer. This includes the sweat guide, float fit retention system, and the No-Twist Tri-Glides. And while these don’t play a huge role in deciding on a helmet, you do get a more premium helmet for the price.
In our opinion, the Chronicle takes the win here. The main criteria in choosing a helmet are safety, comfort and ventilation, which the Chronicle edges over the 4Forty for.
If you are still stuck or wanting more help in choosing a helmet, the following articles will help you out