Looks
The Stego has some nice features when it comes to crash protection and compatibility, and, in my opinion, doesn’t look half bad, either. The Stego looks sharp next to today’s crop of trail bikes, and it isn’t quite as alien-looking as the Smith Forefront (though I speak only for myself; some may really like the look of the Forefront). I would even go so far as to call the Stego’s design understated, with both its colorways being fairly neutral compared to many of the neon helmets offered these days.
Bottom Line
Today’s trail bikes can be ridden to the point where you might feel like you should be wearing a full-face helmet and body armor, but that level of protection isn’t that much fun to ride in, unless a chair lift is spinning or someone is driving you back up the hill.
At the same time, a more minimalist cross country or road bike helmet can feel insufficient when you’re maching down the mountain. As an all-mountain helmet, the Stego does a nice job of providing a higher level of coverage in a relatively compact, stylish package.
Of course, the same could be said for the other all-mountain helmets I’ve referenced in this review. Where the Stego stands out, I think, is in the features and the level of protection it provides, with MIPS technology, relative to its price.
$160 might seem like a lot for the Stego next to the Bern Morrison, which costs $100. However, the new Smith Forefront (which, like the Morrison, doesn’t have MIPS) will set you back $220, and the POC Trabec Race MIPS, the most direct comparison, costs $230. The regular Trabec we’ve tested (built without MIPS) will cost you $140, only $20 less than the Stego. So really Scott’s pricing on the Stego is very competitive given what it offers.
If you’re looking for a comfortable, full coverage all-mountain helmet that has a nice set of features and incorporates MIPS safety technology at a good price, the Stego may be the ticket.