Scott know how to make good kit and the Fuga Plus Rev MIPS lid from the range is no different. It’s supremely comfy, it keeps the air flowing well whilst providing good coverage at the rear for what is a cross-country style of helmet.
Scott say the Fuga lid is ‘the perfect helmet for XC and road racers who are seeking a high performance helmet.’ With its small removable peak and more streamlined nature I found it best suited to mileage rather than technical trails. At £100 the Fuga sits next to the trail lid the Vivo Plus and the cheaper ARX MTB Plus, it’s a price that isn’t too bad considering the inclusion of MIPS and a good height adjustable cradle.
The only thing letting it down in constriction terms are the chin straps, there are adjustable from side to side but unfortunately not up or down. Whilst the large plastic structure keeping the straps in place keeps the webbing neat and flat, there is no option to raise or lower these pieces meaning if they aren’t at a comfortable height for you from the off you might find they dig in unnecessarily.
The Halo 3D fit system is a height adjustable cradle which is easy to move with none of the brittle feeling found on other lids as the plastic moves, it feels solid and smooth. The winch at the back is easy to grab hold of with or without gloves and the distance between ‘clicks’ when you wind it is really small meaning near infinite adjustment. I tested this helmet in a size small (51-55cm) and used about half of the available ‘travel’ in the cradle – this lid will be likely to fit a wide range of head sizes, doing exactly what the name infers, cradling the skull well, it feels snug and isn’t easily wobbled even with the lid undone.
As I have mentioned I found the fit of the Fuga to be pretty comfy, the X-Static® anti-bacterial padding might look sparse on the outset with pads just at the front of the lid but its plenty and won’t leave you wanting. The peak of the Fuga is fixed in place, so this isn’t a lid to be worn with goggles. It can be removed though, unclipping easily, if that’s more your style.
Ventilation is provided via seven large vertical slots at the front and five square exhausts at the rear. Although my testing of the helmet did take place in Autumn and Winter I have ridden in some quite balmy conditions and worked up a sweat on the gravel bike without overheating. At 295g, the Fuga isn’t heavy either, another nod to its XC race potential.
I like the stealth black lid, but if you’d like something a bit more colourful the Fuga also offers options with more colour pizzazz. With three sizes in the range and a large amount of adjustability, the Fuga will suit a range of head shapes. I get the Fuga off the shelf when the kit I’m wearing is mostly of the lycra variety and the travel of my bike is 100mm or less and am never disappointed by the comfort and sweat free performance it offers.
Remember you can now buy all kit from Scott direct from their UK website - www.scott-sports.com
