Scott Cadence Plus helmet review

The Scott Cadence Plus is said to be the Swiss brand’s “fastest racing helmet” to date.

It’s fair to say aero helmets aren’t just the preserve of racers, though – many looking to save watts and add to their average speed will be tempted by the Cadence Plus’ charms.

On my head, the sense that the air is being channelled over the top was apparent, feeding the sensation that the helmet might be making me a little more efficient through the air.

That said, underwhelming ventilation means this isn’t an aero helmet easily worn on warm days, even with the aero plugs taken out (which, slightly disappointingly, are an optional extra).

Priced at £229.99 / $229.99 / €249.90, the Cadence Plus is less expensive than many of its closest rivals.

Scott Cadence Plus details and specifications

The Scott Cadence Plus is the brand’s latest aerodynamic helmet – fittingly, it can be seen being worn by the dsm-firmenich PostNL women’s and men’s WorldTour teams on flatter days where aerodynamics matter most.

Scott says the successor to the Cadence aero helmet has been subjected to CFD (computational fluid dynamics) testing, as well as wind-tunnel proofing, with various 3D-printed models created along the way to test iterations.

The outcome is the Cadence Plus is said to have a 5.2 per cent lower drag coefficient than the previous Cadence lid, but – notably – exhibits 22 per cent less drag at a 15-degree yaw angle.

At 43kph, Scott says the Cadence Plus saves the rider one watt (assuming “no inclination”). This, it says, translates to a 10-second time saving over 40km at that speed.

The helmet can also sport three 3D-printed plugs, which block the largest three inlet holes on the front of the helmet. With the two outer plugs in place (leaving the central vent open for airflow), Scott claims the plugs save a further two watts at 43kph – equating to 16 seconds over 40km.

These plugs aren’t included with the Cadence Plus, though. Instead, they need to be purchased separately for £12.99 / €20.16.

Scott says aerodynamic performance wasn’t the only priority in the development of the Cadence Plus – it claims it has worked to make the helmet more suitable for more riders.

The volume is said to have dropped by 10 per cent compared to the previous Cadence helmet, while it has opted to use MIPS AirNode padding inside.

This minimal application of MIPS technology is said to align with airflow channels, and has been used successfully in high-performance lightweight helmets such as the Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 and Trek Velocis MIPS.

Here, it manages to stay clear of the three main inlet holes, two flanking holes (which double as a sunglass garage), and the six rear exhaust ports. Channels are moulded into the EPS foam structure to help with airflow over the head.

Interestingly, however, the inlet holes are smaller than those on the previous-generation helmet.

The cranial support system features a micro-adjustable click wheel, with a four-setting depth adjuster (although in practice it’s possible to position it in so-called half settings, should you wish).

The setting mechanism partially blocks the central lower exhaust vent. This is blocked completely if you use the supplied USB-C rechargeable LED clip light.

The straps use an ordinary ‘Y’ arrangement, but the buckle is magnetic.

Virginia Tech Institute, the helmet safety test specialist, hadn’t yet assessed the Cadence Plus at the time of writing.

Key rivals include the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 (£275 / $300 / €330), Trek Ballista MIPS (£229.99 / $299.99 / €299.99) and Kask Utopia Y (£245 / $300 / €275).

The Cadence Plus is the most competitively priced of the bunch – markedly cheaper in the US and to a slightly lesser extent in Europe, and matching the price of the Ballista MIPS in the UK.

It weighs 285g in a size medium in European spec – that’s heavier than the Evade 3 at 272g, the Ballista MIPS at 268g and the Utopia Y at 258g.

The Specialized and Trek helmets both use the same MIPS AirNode tech, while Kask prefers to utilise its WG13 protocol, eschewing MIPS.

Scott Cadence Plus performance

The Scott Cadence Plus helmet feels every inch an aero-optimised helmet, first and foremost.

That might not come as a surprise – it's exactly what it’s supposed to be – but instead of becoming something of an all-rounder, I suspect it’s still very specialist.

Cooling will never be a strong suit of aero helmets, but I found the Cadence Plus slightly more stifling than most.

Certainly, the Utopia Y outstrips it in this regard, while my colleague Simon von Bromley rates the Evade 3 highly in this regard. Having tried an Evade 3 myself, I agree.

The trouble might stem from the relatively small ventilation holes, which are a little constricted compared to the Evade 3, and the long central-vent designs of the Utopia Y and Trek Ballista.

There’s not much in it, but as soon as the temperature reached the high teens (ºC), I found myself getting notably warm.

It’s a shame, because up until the point the weather got warmer in my UK spring test period, I’d been enjoying the comfort of the overall design, plus the sensation of air being manipulated over my head to such a degree.

When I rode with my head in a regular position (tilted down, but with my eyes looking up ahead at the road), there was nothing to suggest the helmet was doing its thing – aside from a slight relative lack of noise around my ears.

However, when I tilted my head down to glance at my Garmin bike computer, I could feel the airflow change, becoming more turbulent around the back of my neck and down my back.

If nothing else, it demonstrates the aerodynamic shaping at work – although I can’t corroborate Scott’s numbers, I’ve no doubt the Cadence Plus is a competitive helmet when it comes to slicing through the air.

Interestingly, the vent plugs are an optional extra – something I find a little galling, when Scott has made the decision to include a clip-on light.

Given the helmet’s main selling point is to be aerodynamically efficient, the principle of charging riders extra for the privilege of using them seems amiss.

I had a set to try, and while I can’t certify whether they’re making a difference, it seems highly likely that those racing crits or for a limited time on a race circuit in cool conditions would choose to use them – even though they block the majority of the airflow.

Fitting them could also appeal to time trialists who don’t want to invest in a dedicated time trial helmet.

It’s less likely that these core user groups would opt to fit a rear light to the back, although some will appreciate the consideration to visibility.

As it is, I used it on a couple of commutes to and from work and it worked fine. There are a few settings (including static, flash and pulse modes), but annoyingly it can’t be switched on and off, or charged, in situ because the power button and USB-C charge port are obscured by the surrounding helmet structure.

The magnetic clasp took me a short while to get used to, but by the end of my test period I found I was able to snap close and release it with a quick purposeful slide of my fingers.

Meanwhile, the cranial support system offered all the support and adjustment most will need – it felt sturdy and encompassing, and provided comfortably distributed tension around my (slightly wonky) head.

The move to a slightly smaller package is a good thing – pro riders wearing the helmet's predecessor have often seemed a little awkward to behold. In white, as tested here, it still looks slightly bulbous, but that’s par for the course, perhaps.

Scott Cadence Plus bottom line

The Scott Cadence Plus helmet comes with enticing aerodynamic claims and ticks the development bingo card boxes.

In testing, I’ve found it generally comfortable to wear. I have the sense that it’s probably improving my aerodynamic profile, although it's impossible to say by how much.

It’s not the airiest helmet (accepting its natural limitations), and is slightly heavier than its rivals. Nevertheless, it is cheaper than most of them.

Not including the aero plugs for those wishing to race with the Cadence Plus feels, ironically, a little cheap of Scott.