Which Mountain Bike Helmet Should I Buy?

Travis GneitingCycling, Reviews, Videos

Smith Helmets offers a number of different mountain bike helmets ranging in price from around $50 USD to over $300 USD. This can make it difficult to select the right helmet for you. There are some things you need to know about Smith helmets. I’m going to run through a comparison between all Smith mountain bike helmets looking in detail at the features and cost of each helmet to help you decide which helmet is right for you.

Listed in lowest to highest priced

Smith Convoy $85

Smith Convoy Helmet with Mips®

The Smith Convoy is Smith’s entry level mountain bike helmet. It offers basic safety features like Mips® as well as a fixed visor that will not rotate for eyewear or sun adjustments. It’s a fantastic helmet for someone getting started mountain biking who isn’t concerned with the fancy look of more expensive helmets but still wants good ventilation, adjustment, and protection. One of the main differences with the Convoy is that it doesn’t have any KOROYD®

Mips®: Yes
KOROYD®: No
Eyewear Integration: Yes
Goggle Integration: Yes
Vents: 20 Fixed Vents
Safety compliance: U.S. CPSC, CE EN 1078, AS/NZS 2063
Adjustability: Rear dial fit, Chin Strap, Ear Adjustment
Visor: Integrated
Weight (Medium, w/ Mips®): 11 oz/ 300 g
Padding: 2-piece standard
Antimicrobial: No
Aleck Crash Sensor: No

Smith Engage $130

Smith Engage Helmet with Mips®

The Smith Engage is a great all around helmet with KOROYD® and Mips®. It has a lot of the fit and function of many more expensive helmets at a much lower price point. The KOROYD® is only in specific zones of the helmet. It pairs well with all Smith sunglasses for venting and storage.

Mips®: Yes
KOROYD®: Yes Zonal
Eyewear Integration: Yes
Goggle Integration: Yes
Vents: 21 Fixed Vents
Safety compliance: U.S. CPSC, CE EN 1078
Adjustability: Rear dial fit, Chin Strap, Ear Adjustment
Visor: 2 Position
Weight (Medium, w/ Mips®): 12 oz/ 350 g
Padding: 2-piece standard
Antimicrobial: No
Aleck Crash Sensor: No


Smith Session $170

The Smith Session varies slightly from the Smith Engage with a slightly different shape that acts as an integrated skeletal structure. Additionally, it has an antimicrobial treatment to the interior pads. The visor is a little more rigid, but still adjustable. A side from that the helmet is very similar to the Engage.

Mips®: Yes
KOROYD®: Yes Zonal
Eyewear Integration: Yes
Goggle Integration: Yes
Vents: 15 Fixed Vents
Safety compliance: U.S. CPSC, CE EN 1078
Adjustability: Rear dial fit, Chin Strap, Ear Adjustment
Visor: 3 Position
Weight (Medium, w/ Mips®): 12 oz/ 350 g
Padding: 2-piece standard
Antimicrobial: Ionic+®
Aleck Crash Sensor: No


Payroll $200-$220

The Smith Payroll is designed for use with eBikes. The helmet has an additional e-bike certification for use at higher speeds and and more forceful impacts. The helmet is noticeably larger than other Smith mountain bike helmets. It also feels slightly more bulky on head with the few extra ounces.

Mips®: Yes
KOROYD®: Yes Zonal
Eyewear Integration: Yes
Goggle Integration: Yes
Vents: 19 Fixed Vents
Safety compliance: U.S. CPSC, CE EN 1078, NTA8776 E-Bike and AS/NZS 2063
Adjustability: Rear dial fit, Chin Strap, Ear Adjustment
Visor: 3 Position
Weight (Medium, w/ Mips®): 14 oz/ 400 g
Padding: 2-piece standard
Antimicrobial: Ionic+®
Aleck Crash Sensor: Optional +$20 USD


Forefront 2 $250-$270

The Smith Forefront 2 helmet has been a long standing favorite of mine. I have riden with the version 1 of this helmet and the Forefront 2 was a great upgrade to the form and function of the original. The Forefront 2 is the most expensive half shell helmet. So why is it more expensive when they all look very similar? The Forefront has KOROYD® on full coverage, not just in zones of the helmet. The vents in the brow of the helmet are slightly more aesthetic and function for air flow when paired with some glasses and goggles. There is also a screw on top of the helmet for attaching mounts for cameras and lights. The unique design offers front and rear eyewear storage.

Mips®: Yes
KOROYD®: Yes
Eyewear Integration: Yes
Goggle Integration: Yes
Vents: 20 Fixed Vents
Safety compliance: U.S. CPSC, CE EN 1078
Adjustability: Rear dial fit, Chin Strap, Ear Adjustment
Visor: 3 Position
Weight (Medium, w/ Mips®): 14 oz/ 400 g
Padding: 2-piece standard
Antimicrobial: XT2®
Aleck Crash Sensor: Optional +$20 USD


Mainline $310

The Smith Mainline is a full face helmet designed for full coverage protection. It has a fully vented chin cover and is certified as ASTM F1952 Downhill certification. The helmet comes with 2 sets of cheek and neck pads to dial in the fit.

Mips®: Yes
KOROYD®: Yes Full coverage
Eyewear Integration: Yes
Goggle Integration: Yes
Vents: 21 Fixed Vents
Safety compliance: U.S. CPSC, CE EN 1078, CE EN 1078, NTA8776 E-Bike, ASTM F1952 Downhill
Adjustability: 2 Sets of Cheek Pad and Neck Pads for fit, Chin D-Ring Strap
Visor: Adjustable
Weight (Medium, w/ Mips®): 14 oz/ 400 g
Padding: 2-piece standard
Antimicrobial: XT2®
Aleck Crash Sensor: Optional +$20 USD

How to pick the right Mountain Bike helmet?

With the number of different mountain bike helmets to pick from, how do you pick the right helmet for you. Here are the exact steps I would use to select the right mountain bike helmet for you.

A full-face helmet will protect you a lot better than a half, go with the Mainline.

Do want a KOROYD® protection built in? Look at the Engage, Session, Forefront

Do you want an entry level inexpensive bike helmet? Look at the Convoy.

Do you want a liner treated with anti-microbal treatment? Look at the Session or Forefront

Smith Helmet Features Explained

AirEvac

Smith’s AirEvac is a ventilation system integrated into their helmets, designed to improve airflow and reduce fogging in ski goggles. It works by actively pulling warm, moist air away from the goggles and out through the helmet vents. This system helps to maintain clear vision while skiing or snowboarding, even in changing weather conditions. It’s often featured in Smith’s ski and snow helmets, enhancing comfort and performance by keeping the head cool and goggles fog-free.

Mips®

MIPS® (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is a safety technology integrated into Smith helmets to provide enhanced protection against rotational forces during impacts. MIPS works by allowing a low-friction layer inside the helmet to move slightly upon impact, reducing the rotational force transmitted to the brain. This system is especially beneficial during angled impacts, which are common in falls or collisions in sports like skiing, snowboarding, and cycling.

By incorporating MIPS, Smith helmets offer improved protection against both direct and rotational impacts, enhancing overall head safety for users.

VaporFit

Smith’s VaporFit is an adjustable fit system found in Smith helmets, designed to provide a custom, secure fit for the wearer. It consists of a dial located at the back of the helmet, allowing users to fine-tune the helmet’s fit by tightening or loosening the internal liner. This helps ensure that the helmet stays comfortably in place, improving both safety and comfort during activities like skiing, snowboarding, and cycling.

The VaporFit system can be adjusted in multiple ways—vertically, laterally, and circumferentially—making it adaptable to various head shapes and sizes.

KOROYD®

KOROYD® is an advanced helmet technology designed to provide superior impact protection through its unique construction. It consists of a honeycomb-like structure made from thousands of small, thermally welded co-polymer tubes. Upon impact, the tubes crumple in a controlled manner, efficiently absorbing energy and reducing the force transferred to the rider’s head. This lightweight material not only enhances impact protection but also improves ventilation, as the open-cell design allows for better airflow compared to traditional foam-based helmets. KOROYD® is commonly integrated into helmets for cycling, skiing, and other high-risk sports, offering a balance of safety, comfort, and performance.

Ionic+®

Smith Ionic+® is a technology developed by Smith Optics for advanced odor control and antimicrobial protection in their performance gear, particularly in helmet linings and other soft goods. It integrates antimicrobial silver ions directly into the fabric, which actively inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause odors. Unlike topical treatments that wear off over time, Ionic+® is a permanent feature of the fabric, ensuring that the material remains fresh and odor-free even after extended use. This technology is especially useful in sports helmets, where moisture and sweat can lead to bacterial growth, providing a cleaner, more comfortable experience for the wearer.

Hybrid X-STATIC®

Smith Hybrid X-STATIC® is a fabric technology used in Smith’s helmet linings that combines the benefits of both X-STATIC® silver fibers and other materials to enhance odor control and antimicrobial protection. X-STATIC® incorporates silver, a natural antimicrobial agent, into the fabric to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi, which cause odors. This technology ensures that the helmet remains fresh and hygienic even after long periods of use. The hybrid aspect typically refers to the integration of X-STATIC® with other performance-enhancing materials, such as moisture-wicking or breathable fabrics, to offer a balance of comfort, odor management, and durability in high-performance sports helmets.

XT2®

Smith XT2® is a technology used in performance gear, particularly helmet linings, to provide advanced odor management and antimicrobial protection. It incorporates silver fibers directly into the fabric, which naturally inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. Unlike chemical treatments that may wear off over time, XT2® offers long-lasting protection because the silver is permanently embedded in the material. This ensures that the fabric stays fresh and odor-free over time, even with repeated use in sweat-prone environments like cycling and skiing. XT2® is often combined with other features to enhance comfort and hygiene in sports equipment. XT2® was the predecessor to Ionic+®.

Aleck Crash Sensor

The Smith Aleck Crash Sensor is a small, intelligent device designed to detect significant impacts during activities like cycling or skiing and provide emergency assistance. It is typically attached to a helmet and uses motion sensors to monitor for crash-related forces. If a serious impact occurs, the sensor can send an alert through an associated mobile app to the rider’s emergency contacts, providing the rider’s location and information about the crash. This technology offers an additional layer of safety, ensuring that help can be dispatched quickly if a user is incapacitated or unable to call for assistance after a fall or collision.

Bicycle Safety Standards

  • CPSC: Mandatory in the U.S. and covers basic but thorough requirements.
  • EN 1078: European standard, slightly less stringent on impact tests than CPSC.
  • AS/NZS 2063: Stringent standards in Australia/New Zealand, covering environmental factors.
  • Snell: Voluntary, higher-level protection, known for toughness.
  • ASTM F1447: Often used alongside other standards internationally, focuses on impacts from different angles.
  • NTA 8776: a safety standard specifically developed for helmets used in e-biking and high speed riding, common in Europe