Even Lance Armstrong's own choice of headwear is not enough to change the minds of cyclists who hate hats, it seems

Would you pay around £160 for a helmet? Me neither. But when Condor Cycles sent us such an item it set me thinking.

The Giro Ionos, I was told, was pretty much the cutting-edge of road helmet design, so lightweight and well vented it felt as if the merest sliver of polystyrene was resting on your air-cooled brow. Not only was it the type used by Lance Armstrong in this year's Tour de France, the one we were lent was even in Lance's very own Astana team colours of blues, white and yellow. If that wasn't exciting enough, its internal pads are apparently "woven with pure silver fibres that kill 100% of bacteria".

The helmet debate is one of the most common – some would even say tedious – in cycling. But I thought we'd very unscientifically test out one small part of it – could some helmet naysayers be tempted to the other side through sheer comfort? Was it just a bad experience with a weighty, ill-fitting lid which put them off?

I gave the helmet to three Guardian bare-heads and sent them on their way:

Emily Butselaar

Helmets are ill-fitting and uncomfortable. That's always been my view and when I began cycling to work this year I didn't consider head protection for a second. Helmet design didn't seem to have moved on much from the enormous Stackhat I was forced to wear as a child. Even a nasty collision with a scooter in August didn't change my mind.

So, as a certified helmet refusenik I wasn't expecting to be that impressed by the Giro Ionos despite its "state-of-the-art" design. I don't need a race helmet and I've never considered bacteria-killing silver fibres essential, let alone "21 of the largest vents ever carved into a helmet". That said, the Ionos was a great fit. It was the first helmet I've tried that didn't require me to tighten the straps to a chokehold. More importantly, my trial coincided with the clocks going back. In the summer I was happy to spout the received wisdom to concerned family and friends; statistically a cycle helmet didn't make me safer, cars give the helmet-free a wider birth etc, but as the days darkened I began to feel less blasé about my safety. Now when I cycle to and from work in the dark, the high visibility kit and a helmet go on. And they will stay on, well at least till spring.

But would I buy a Ionos? Not a chance.Sure, it's light and comfortable but it's also gaudy and frankly too sporty not to look incongruous as I sail along on my sit-up-and-beg. Plus, it's £159.99. That's about what my bike cost. So any suggestions for comfortable but stylish, plain black helmets appreciated.

Fiona McKellar

In over 10 years of cycling to work I've never worn a helmet. Instead, I've put my trust in cycling carefully and being as visible as possible.

However, when offered the opportunity to try out a helmet for free, my curiosity got the better of me. The Ionos is supposedly the most technologically advanced helmet on the market. Would it, I wondered, tempt me into the helmet wearing fraternity?

Despite being billed as lightweight, I found it hard to adjust to having a lump of polystyrene balanced on top of my head. When I tightened it so it didn't wobble, the helmet felt like it had me in a vice-like grip. On the plus side, it did feel fairly well ventilated. Compared with cycling hatless and helmetless, my head got a little warmer than usual, but not unpleasantly so.

Overall, I suspect Giro is right and it is one of the more comfortable helmets out there. But I'm afraid my trial didn't convince me. It's another piece of kit to lug around, it's expensive, and – for me – uncomfortable too.

Peter Martin

I was a happy helmet wearer until I discovered that if you can wobble your safety helmet, it's not a safety helmet, it's an ugly hat. Following manufacturer's instructions I started wearing my headgear tight and within a few days started to suffer headaches (an old injury has left me sensitive around the jaw). So my shiny new helmet was retired to the attic.

I'm not entirely comfortable cycling without safety headwear, so was hopeful that the Ionos might offer me protection without pain. It was easy to fit, but I couldn't get it to stop moving backwards or forwards on my head, as the instructions demand.

The first ride was no fun. I spent the whole journey hating the ultra lightweight helmet clamped ultra tightly to my jaw. It was impossible to ignore it and enjoy the ride. I tried again and wasn't quite so aggravated second time out, but I suspect a longer journey or more frequent use and I'd be popping the ibuprofen.

As for the helmet's unique lightness, I can't say I've ever worried about helmet weight. It's having to strap them firmly to my jaw (as per manufacturer's instructions) that means that, however light the helmet, I'll maybe never feel comfortable.

If anyone can recommend a cycling helmet that doesn't feel like cruel and unusual punishment, then I'll happily give up cycling topless.