The Giro Synthe MIPS II helmet is sturdily safe, good looking and nicely made, but it's also a little heavy and expensive. Also, while the overall shape and fit is great, I personally found the cradle became uncomfortable as rides went on. The Synthe has some impressive features.

It's not often that an updated, improved version of helmet is priced lower than the original, but this is the case with the Giro Synthe MIPS II. This is because it uses what has become entry-level MIPS - the slip plane type - now that Giro is speccing its latest Spherical MIPS on its flagship road helmets the Eclipse and Aether.

The Synthe MIPS II is an icon, updated to be cooler and more comfortable than ever before. The compact design slips through the air with ease yet offers impressive cooling power in a light-yet durable design that's been a rider favorite for years.

The Synthe MIPS II uses a newer integrated MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) than the original so that the plastic slip plane is now combined with Giro’s Roc Loc 5 closure. Giro doesn’t reveal how the weight has been lowered and by our measurements the original Synthe was actually lighter.