Review | Shark Aeron

French brand Shark may be a relatively new player but has proven its ambitions to compete at the highest level with its clever Aeron GP helmet. A top-spec sporting lid, its innovative active aero cuts drag and turbulence for track riders and racers looking for every tenth. This new Aeron is based on the same foundations but drops the fancy active flaps for a more conventional sport design, maintaining all the features of the GP but with a keener price and more road-oriented style.

While more affordable than the Aeron GP the Aeron is still a premium piece of kit, and priced accordingly. You feel you’re getting a return on that investment in the quality, though, the Carbon On View & Aramid (COVA) shell with its neatly executed, exposed weave meaning it weighs just 1,410g in a size medium while everything from extra fixtures and fittings to a second, tinted visor, quality helmet bag and spare pollution filters are in the box. Thoughtfully there’s even a mini Allen key included for making fine adjustments to the neat quick release system for the visor.
If not as overtly track-focused as the GP version, the Aeron is still a sporty helmet, and follows the same principles of aero-tuned design to reduce drag and windblast at high speeds. Which you notice with the way it seemingly cuts through the air, reducing noise and neck strain alike. Features like a double density EPU chin guard meanwhile combine maximum protection with minimum weight. The standard clear visor is thicker than average and securely fixed with a four-mount system and neat quick-release for swapping to the supplied tinted alternative – mirrored silver in the case of our test lid and very clearly marked for track use only in case you were in any doubt. Various other options are also available, the clarity with the Optical Class 1 standard item very impressive. Five intake and seven exhaust vents meanwhile help you tune airflow, though we’ve yet to wear it on a really hot day to really test that theory. An antibacterial lining should, meanwhile, reduce how often you feel the need to remove it for washing, which you can do if needed. Fit is always a personal thing but compared with your tester’s size Large (59-60cm) Shoei the equivalent Aeron was a little tight on the forehead after any more than an hour on the bike. We’ll see if this improves with time, the fit otherwise spot-on. For reference there are two shell sizes, respectively covering Small to Medium and then Large to XXL while ‘3D Morpho’ cheek pads with emergency release meanwhile keep a tight grip of your face. We also appreciated the neat cutouts in the padding to accommodate glasses, the helmet also built to accept the SENA Bluetooth comms if required.

The Aeron GP is a very impressive helmet but, at best, the clever aero features are wasted away from the track and, at worst, you’ll look a bit of a wannabe wearing it on the road. As such it’s great the Aeron channels the same vibe and tech, but with a relatively more all-round look you can pair with more than just race reps and hump-backed leathers. If not cheap the £300 saving over the GP is also welcome. A choice of graphics ranging from Euro-flouro to plain carbon with coloured trimmings caters to a broad range of tastes as well, our red and silver ‘Edgy Dru’ combo striking a nice balance between sporty and understated to our eyes, Shark offering a credible alternative to the default Arais or Shoeis in terms of quality, protection and technology. And if you're thinking of wearing it for circuit use but don't see the ACU 'gold sticker' in the pictures here fear not - the helmet is fully certified for track days and if the sticker isn't fitted already should be in the box it comes in.