TSG Scope helmet review

TSG’s new Scope is their best helmet to date offering deep protection, stylish good all-mountain looks and comes in a range of attractive colours and a MIPS version but is only available in two sizes and is a little pricey.

The Scope comes in two versions with both MIPS and non-MIPS available. The in-mould construction quality is much better than on previous versions and it shows a lot more attention to detail with its multiple polycarbonate material finishes on the outside. There is a little raw EPS material showing on the back but it works nicely with the design which is deep and rounded and offers lots of coverage at the rear.

At 405g in ML it’s a little heavier than most of the competition but you’ll probably not notice the difference. There are 20 external vents and some basic internal sculpting to help move heat away from your head and in use, it’s not a hot hat to wear.

It has an easily adjustable visor with 3 solid positions and goes high enough to house most goggles if that’s your thing. Inside and under the pad at the top of the lid is a recessed section in the EPS to allow you to strap an action camera or headlight to the helmet without the strap interfering with the fit and feel. It’s not as neat as an integral or magnetic mount but it still works.

Looking at the inside of the helmet, at the straps and the cradle adjustment, in particular, it’s easy to work out where TSG spent the bulk of their budget - on the outside. First up the Scope only comes in two sizes (unusual compared to most brands today) so they have supplied fat and thin pads to help you attain the best fit. The cradle system is 3-way adjustable to help fine tune the fit but the adjustment dial and cradle does feel a little cheap in its action.

Despite this unusual fitting system; using the thin pads, and adjusting the cradle system I was able to get a really snug fit with the deep bowl design of the Scope. I did change to the smaller helmet (it’s a M/L in the pictures) to get a better fit; but as I’m on the borderline with a 57cm head it’s about shape as well as measurements. If the pads and sizing work for you and you like the deep shape then that’s great but I think that if there was another size available it would be easier to get a better fit first time for more people.

The straps are adjustable but not lockable in position and therefore tend to move around especially if you hang your helmet by the strap. The chin buckle is a very simple but functional design, so no complaints there, but the loose strap ends are secured by a small white rubber band that feels like an afterthought. It’s too weak to stay still and is always found next to the buckle and really should be better designed.

The style and outer design of the Scope are really positive, it’s just a shame that the inside was not given quite as much attention and there is not another size. It’s a comfortable helmet to wear and has a decent visor action but at £95 in Black, £100 in colours and £125 for the MiPS version the Scope sits in a heavily populated section of the market and is up against some really serious big brand helmets like the Bell 4Forty; which at £70 looks like great value by comparison, as does the Bontrager Rally MiPS at £115, not to mention the Smith Venture MiPS at £90; all of which are good choices.

If you like the look of the Scope and it fits your head, you’ve got a good helmet. It’s certainly TSG’s best design to date, it’s just a little pricey for some of the levels of fit and finish.