On nasty weather days up on Highline, I used the single tab to close the four vents on top of the helmet. The tab doesn’t stick out too far (I’ve never had it caught on a hood or anything else), but is still easy to flip open or close with a gloved hand.
The action on the vents is smooth and doesn’t take much force to close, but also doesn’t slide on its own. When the vents are closed, a little wind does rush in the sides if you’re facing a stiff breeze, but even on the foulest whiteout days, the closed vents did a great job of keeping my head warm.
The Chapter features TuneUps aftermarket audio capability, but I haven’t used it because I’m usually riding with other folks. Plus, the fit of the helmet around the ears is already tighter than I would like it to be (even with a narrow, long head), causing my ears just the slightest amount of discomfort, so I imagine that my ears would be a little crushed with earpieces in there.
I thought about getting a larger size, but the helmet fits so nicely and the the discomfort is so minimal, I decided against it.
As far as protection goes, the Chapter has kept my head happy and healthy through a couple of pretty good whiplashes. I was getting cocky in the trees off Castor, hopping moguls and drawing loose lines on my board, when I overshot a bump and hit a big one on the downhill side. My board and legs shot out from under me, and I landed a ways down the hill on my upper back and head.
The wind was knocked out of me, but my head was fine. I took a few seconds to collect myself, and was back riding almost immediately. I wouldn’t want to know what would have happened if my head was unprotected. The helmet doesn’t have a dent in it.
The goggle clip on the Chapter is a simple yet burly clip that doesn’t lock down. I’d rather have a button clip on the back of my helmet, just for security’s sake, but I haven’t had any problem with losing my goggles, even when messing around in the parking lot or rag-dolling after a particularly bad wipeout.
I’ve used the Chapter every day I’ve ridden this season, and I just like it more and more. It’s simple, it fits well, and it looks good. The only real qualms I have is that it feels a little awkward for a minute or two when I put it on each day, and there is that slight pressure around the ears. But, after that initial discomfort, it works great, and I’d much rather have a helmet work well on the hill than in the parking lot.
Bottom line: I’d recommend trying the Giro Chapter on before you buy, or purchasing from a retailer like backcountry.com, where the helmet can be easily returned—no questions asked—if the fit doesn’t turn out to work for you.