Scott Centric Plus review

We were impressed with Scott’s original Centric Plus helmet. With its five huge forward-facing vents, plus twin brow vents, it was a helmet designed (in the wind tunnel) to provide the best in cooling (Scott claimed the original provided more airflow across your head than wearing no helmet at all).

The original wasn’t perfect, however – the design had a solid section on the crown of the outer that tended to hold heat in the hottest conditions, and the full MIPS liner inside didn’t do a great deal to alleviate things either.

But, for 2021, the newly updated Centric Plus addresses these issues making what is a top-grade helmet even better.

The Centric’s fit is excellent with a rear retention system (called 'Halo') that offers plenty of vertical adjustment (more than 4cm). Adjusting is as easy as pulling or pushing the cradle into place and using the knurled dial to tune in the horizontal fit.

Internally the padding is minimal but very well placed and, for the first time, the pads integrate the MIPS system.

MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is a design that uses a patented slip-plane technology to reduce rotational forces that can come from angled impacts (so the helmet slides relative to the movement of the head).

Helmet companies don’t legally claim that MIPS is safer than a standard helmet, but the MIPS company itself (who license to helmet manufacturers) certainly seems to have done its research, and anything that aims to make things safer is all good with us.

The downside is MIPS is usually an additional part that is inserted underneath the retention system – this reduces the size and also reduces airflow.

However, on this new design (first seen on Specialized’s range-topping helmets) Scott has eliminated this downside by integrating the slip-plane tech of MIPS into the actual pads, so airflow isn’t restricted at all.

The pads now sit on elasticated tethers, which move with your head in the same way as a MIPS insert, but without the restrictive nature.

The outer shell design has improved too. There are now three large exhaust vents on the top of the helmet instead of the filled-in section of old.

This means the Plus is incredibly well-vented, with the design combining super-deep internal channels running from front to back, with an open rear and five huge exhaust ports helping heat exit fast, with cool air flowing over your head.

The finish is excellent too with soft-touch straps and sliding Y-shaped anchors keeping things in place. The straps are placed in the helmet with removable pins so you can easily remove them for washing.

The outer shell extends over the whole of the EPS foam core, protecting the lid from accidental damage and, even with this extra shell protection, the Centric remains impressively light at 272.3g for our size large.