SMITH Scout Snow Helmet

Product Information

To narrow down the list we created based on what other outdoor media had to say, we then turned to our own expertise and everyday users. The author, Matt McDonald works by day at Powder7 Ski Shop in Golden, Colorado, and skis 60-90 days per season. Recently, he’s skied in far-flung places like Hokkaido, Japan, the Yukon, Chile, and Argentina, in addition to domestic haunts like Colorado and New England.For this story, hesurveyed skiers of all skill levels (many of whom are our friends). All deliveries take place between 7.30am and 6pm Monday – Friday. Working days exclude Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. It’s also warm and comfortable, made so by wool ear pads that reviewers routinely praise. And, it’s safe. HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4, HS5, HS6, HS7, HS8, HS9, IV1, IV2, IV3, IV10, IV11, IV12, IV13, IV14, IV15, IV16, IV17, IV18, IV19, IV20, IV21, IV22, IV23, IV24, IV25, IV26, IV27, IV28, IV30, IV31, IV32, IV36, IV40, IV41, IV42, IV43, IV44, IV45, IV46, IV47, IV48, IV49, IV51, IV52, IV53, IV54, IV55, IV56, IV99 But scientists have conducted numerous tests on MIPS helmets, dropping them from 2.2-3.1 meters on 45-edges angles onto grinding paper. Ouch.

Smith Scout Helmet | Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports Smith Scout Helmet | Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports

A MIPS-enabled helmet essentially functions dynamically, offering protection from a wider variety of impacts and multiple angles. A non-MIPS helmet still protects you, but it does so statically and against fewer types of impacts. While a number of ski helmets are unisex and are perfectly fine for either men or women, there is a wide selection of women’s-specific snow helmets. These models are quite similar to men’s versions, but with different colorways for the shell and liner, as well as having a smaller fit. There will often be a name change, but the technology is all the same—and so is the pricing. When applicable, we've included the link to both the men's and women's versions of the helmet. In addition to MIPS, some helmet manufacturers have begun to replace standard EPS foam with cellular or honeycomb-like materials like WaveCel (found in Anon helmets) and Koroyd (Smith's solution). These materials have the ability to absorb more energy than EPS, all while minimizing bulk and weight and maximizing ventilation. WaveCel in particular is so adept at absorbing angled impacts and reducing rotational forces that current WaveCel-equipped lids forgo a MIPS liner. Koroyd (via Smith’s Aerocore technology) has become ubiquitous in Smith’s designs (seen in the Vantage, Level, Nexus, and Survey above), and Anon now has three helmets that use WaveCel. You’ll spend up for the extra tech, but many riders will appreciate the added assurance and boost in breathability. Anon's honeycomb-like WaveCel offers impact absorption at a light weightOne obvious issue with using a bike helmet or a skate helmet while doing a snow sport is warmth. Road bike, mountain bike, and skate helmets are designed for warmer weather than ski helmets. In real winter weather, you will likely freeze your dome and suffer if you ski in a bike or skate helmet. Taken together, the safety features, style, warmth, comfort, ventilation, and adjustability/fit all earn the Vantage MIPS its place at the top of the snow helmet market. If you feel like geeking out over gear next time you’re on the mountain, try to count how many Smith helmets you see in the lift line. It will be a lot. The Smith Vantage MIPS ( men’s and women’s) is Smith’s time-tested flagship model and our choice for Best Overall Ski Helmet. But to go from a decent fit to a great fit, we recommend popping into your local ski shop to try on a variety of helmets. Helmet shape and fit can vary across the board—both between brands and between models—and it’s possible that any given design simply won't fit your head shape. We've made sure to call out the various fit discrepancies in the write-ups above, but there's no substitute to trying on each helmet for yourself. To maximize compatibility, many of Smith’s helmets come in two different fits: a standard fit and their “Round Contour Fit” that accommodates rounder head shapes with more width at the rear and a shorter length. From our list above, these include the Vantage, Level, and Nexus. Trying on helmets before you buy helps ensure a great all-around fit

Smith Scout Helmet - Fluid Lines, Colchester, Essex Smith Scout Helmet - Fluid Lines, Colchester, Essex

The biggest thing to watch out for when purchasing the Ledge MIPS, and any other Giro helmet for that matter, is the fit.In testing the Merak, however, a few complaints have emerged. The most significant is the padding design, which doesn’t protect you as well from the Boa fit system as we’d like. Cinching the helmet creates light pressure points at the sides of the head (the shape could’ve also been part of the issue, and the Merak seems to favor more of an oval-like head rather than round). Additionally, the minimalist padding meant the helmet ran on the cold side on frigid resort days, and the foam used around the ears muffles more sound than we prefer. Some will find these tradeoffs worth it for the advanced safety tech, but we’d like to see some of the finer details sorted out before moving it up our ranking.