Pret Cynic X2 Mips Review

The Pret Cynic X2 Mips is designed for riders who just want to forget about their gear when in the field. The in-mold construction and easy-to-use adjustment system allow for a comfortable fit. The magnetic buckle really improves the user experience to be able to buckle and unbuckle the lid with your gloves on.

Performance Comparison

Impact Test

In order to be certified for downhill skiing, each helmet must pass a series of tests and offer the defined minimum standard of protection. Not every helmet offers the same degree of protection. We went the extra mile and sent one of each helmet to ACT Lab, which is an accredited facility adhering to ISO/IEC 17025 standards specializing in protective equipment impact testing.

The lab conducts two distinct tests using a drop tower setup, which includes a sensor-equipped dummy head and a fresh helmet. The initial test involves dropping the helmet from a height of 1 meter to mimic the impact forces typically encountered in a standard skiing mishap. The other test features a drop from 2.3 meters, designed to replicate the forces that may occur during high-speed incidents, collisions, or falls in terrain parks.

To calculate our scores, we took the data the lab collected and converted them to a number 1-10 for both the high drop and the low drop, then took an average of the two. The Pret Cynic X2 ranked in the middle of the pack for impact protection in comparison to the other helmets in our review. That said, the Pret helmet offers far more protection than the minimum standard and is a trustworthy companion for reducing the forces your noggin experiences.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor to consider before making a purchasing decision. It needs to fit your head shape, be lightweight, and be easy to forget about throughout day riding. To score this metric, we rode at the resort and wore each helmet as much as possible to decipher the ideal shape and overall comfort of each model. The Pret Cynic X2 is a very comfortable helmet that you could easily wear for a day of riding.

The Cynic X2 feels very light on the head, and we can ride the whole day, barely noticing we are wearing a helmet. We love Pret's proprietary quick-adjust dial fit system. Like most harness systems, it helps provide a snug fit with on-the-fly adjustability. What stands out regarding the system is the size of the knob, with distinct large contours and audible clicks to help indicate how many turns were made. This system is one of the easiest to use with gloves or mittens.

The helmet fits comfortably across many head shapes and is molded to fit an intermediate oval best. We appreciate the well-padded interior made from blended wool and recycled polyester fleece, making this helmet more comfortable to wear without a beanie. The antimicrobial properties of the liner resist odor buildup, and the velcro attachment system makes it easy to launder. The earpads are low-profile and comfortable. The magnetic buckle is incredibly easy to use and excellent for a winter environment. After you fine-tune the technique, it can easily be done with one hand with gloves or mittens in a few seconds.

Warmth

A ski helmet should offer adequate warmth, allowing you to wear minimal layers beneath it. To evaluate this, we tested each helmet's warmth by using them while skiing at a resort, cycling through each to determine which provided the most warmth. The Pret Cynic X2 delivers good warmth in most winter scenarios, we only had to pair it with a thin buff on cold days.

Thanks to its blended wool and polyester fleece liner, the Pret Cynic X2 is a very warm helmet. The full-coverage liner is warm enough to use without a beanie when you're out on the slopes in slightly below-freezing temperatures.

If you want to restrict air movement to increase the warmth of this helmet, the Pret system allows the vents to be blocked by fabric tabs that are sewn into the liner. It is a unique and cost-effective way to provide a closable vent system, albeit laborious. The small and taper vents provide a lower overall surface area than other models, contributing to the helmet's warmth.

The earpads provided a solid fit, and we only noted a small draft near the upper region of the earpads. We have no problem selecting this helmet on cold days.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation is crucial to prevent overheating, fogged goggles, and feeling cold while on the lift. To assess the ventilation systems, we tested the helmets by skiing on warm spring days, climbing stairs, and cycling at 20 mph. The Pret Cynic provides enough ventilation to keep the goggles fog-free and the rider comfortable across most temperatures. There were only a few days in the spring when our testers were looking for more ventilation.

The Pret Cynic X2 has 12 medium to small fixed vents that are moderately effective at moving air through the substantial liner. Two intake vents are above the brim to help prevent or minimize goggle fogging.

Pret's ventilation system is a creative and low-cost version of adjustable ventilation, though we found it took enough effort to use it. We only changed the settings at the start of the day when it was snowing or warm out. If you want to decrease the airflow felt on your head, you can close the tabs found inside the liner. However, this requires removing the helmet from your head, then removing the liner from the helmet, moving the fabric tabs, and re-inserting the liner. It's not the most convenient system, and you likely won't make any mid-day adjustments.

Another strategy to increase ventilation to modify the helmet for warmer days is to remove the ear pads. The earpads are very easy to remove despite the adjustable harness system being sewn into the padding that appears connected to the earpads. They are separate pieces attached by strong velcro and are easy to stuff into a jacket pocket on the fly.

Usability

A feature set of a helmet can dramatically improve the experience or detract from it, resulting in you having to take off your gloves to make a size adjustment. We used each helmet over multiple ski days to evaluate the quality of the feature set and overall user experience. The Pret Cynic X2 offers a strategic feature set that prioritizes features that free riders can use without excess fluff.

Pret took an approach that prioritizes ride quality and keeping your gloves on. The helmet is lightweight and low profile for a ride that disappears on your head. The magnetic buckle is very easy to operate with gloves on after a few rounds, and you start to dial in the technique, making for a smooth on-and-off process.

You seldom have to take off your gloves with this model between the buckle system and large dial for the size adjustment. It has very large notches that make it easy to operate the easy-to-reach dial.

While it doesn't have adjustable vents, you can block them off, as mentioned above. If you like to open and close vents throughout the day, this may not be the model for you, but for those riders that seldom use that feature or commonly set it and forget it, you'll find this system perfectly adequate for your needs.

The goggle retainer is a durable and flexible rubber strap that closes with the snap button. This system offers more security than the traditional plastic retainer.

Should You Buy the Pret Cynic X2 Mips?

The Cynic X2 is a great value; it has many desirable features like the magnetic buckle and impressive ride quality at a much lower price than some competitors. It's a great option for riders who prioritize ride quality and price over having all the bells and whistles. Many riders and some of our test team would be willing to trade adjustable vents for the magnetic buckle.

What Other Ski Helmets Should You Consider?

If you are a rider who likes to toggle your vents back and forth, we suggest looking at the Smith Vantage Mips with a well-engineered and highly adjustable ventilation system. It is a good product to round out your winter ski gear.