Does the Mavic Espoir Helmet look futuristic? Certainly. Was it designed with futuristic engineering techniques? Absolutely. And while we understand that terms like "futuristic" and "engineering" are typically attributable to marketing fluff, the forethought that went into the Espoir remains unparalleled. Mavic based the Espoir"s design around a simple principle -- comfort is king. Accordingly, the helmet has been given ample ventilation in order to maximize the effect of airflow"s passage through the helmet. So, while you"re inevitably sweating, you"ll also be getting cooler as the moisture evaporates. More importantly, though, the Espoir makes use of Mavic"s proprietary Ergo Shape system that accommodates around 25,000 head shapes -- perhaps this is where the Espoir gains its namesake of "hope." Hope for all of those that have never found an agreeable helmet shape. So, how was it done? Well, Mavic engineers performed cranial mapping in order to identify the pressure points and homogeneous contours of skull. Essentially, this translates to English as Mavic"s designing the Espoir around a shape that addresses all of the human commonalities in regards to skull shape. As a result, Ergo Fit feels nearly custom on the head, providing a secure hold that doesn"t berate your natural pressure points. Securing this exceptional fit is where Mavic"s Ergo Hold System comes into play. It allows for as much as six centimeters of one-handed, on-the-fly size adjustment. For the final touches on fit perfection, as well as excellent moisture management, Mavic also included its Ergo Fit Pad. At first glance, it might not seem like much, but the Ergo Fit Pad is a low density, open cell foam that wicks water away from the skin and transports it to where it can quickly evaporate. Additionally, its low-profile reduces weight, and eliminates the soggy-pad-feeling that comes after 50 miles of summer riding.