SMITH Level MIPS Helmet

Product Information

We place a high priority on ventilation. Throughout the course of an average resort day, we open and close our vents on multiple occasions as we hunker down on a windy lift ride or heat up on a sidecountry hike. The technology behind keeping you at a comfortable temperature isn’t as simple as putting a bunch of holes in the helmet—that winter air is rather cold and can lead to dreaded brain freeze when you are trying to let out some steam. Smith's Vantage (left) has far better ventilation than a budget option like the Anon Raider (right) Smith Aerocore construction features Koroyd which was developed for the aerospace industry and provides superior impact absorption and ventilation compared to traditional helmet materials. The crumple-zone cylinders crush uniformly on impact absorbing energy whilst reducing the overall weight of the helmet. The Vantage is available in a MIPS or non-MIPS version. MIPS is a layer in the helmet under the EPS foam and Koryd energy absorber that allows the helmet exterior shell to rotate relative to your head. This means that for an angled impact such as a glancing blow, the helmet shell will rotate without forcing your head to rotate. This reduces the forces going into your head and spine reducing your risk of injury. Learn more about MIPS here. Safety certifications

The Smith Levels Mips has a hybrid shell construction, a solid outer shell with a lightweight in-mould inner shell. You are protected at all times from impact due to falls, thanks to the Koroyd inserts in specific zones and the MIPS Brain Protection System reduces the rotational forces that ensure durability. Experience a chill day full of adventure in the Alps with the Smith ski and snowboard helmet. The removable Snapfit SL2 earpads provide warmth and are audio compatible while the XT2 antimicrobial lining with sweat-activated odour control keeps bacterial infection at bay. The VaporFit Snow dial adjustment system offers 270 degrees of adjustment. Smith Levels Mips: Best Price UK Dual Regulator Vents - Dual adjustable vents allow you to open or close the front and rear vents independently to get the perfect comfort level Hybrid Shell - A combination of lightweight and durable materials makes this one of the safest helmets on the market Smith's hybrid shell combines in-mould and hard shell construction to get the best of both builds. By fusing tough bombshell ABS with flyweight in-mould technology, hybrid shell construction optimises the favourable traits of each material. The result is a modern design that provides a lightweight, low profile helmet. First, look at the number of total vents of the helmet (we’ve provided this information in the specs for each helmet and in the comparison table above). Not all vents are created equal, but this number gives you a good starting point as to how much ventilation the helmet offers. To be sure, there is a correlation between the number of vents and cost of the helmet. One of the best ventilators, the high-end Smith Vantage, has an impressive 21 vents, while a budget model like the Oakley Mod1 only has six small fixed openings. Glade's Boundary has 16 vents and easy adjustabilityIn 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 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 weight I wanted to do this review in combination because it’s easier to talk about why these two products work well together. The real key thing here is how the goggles and helmet are shaped and vented strategically to maximize the movement of air. Basically, the Level helmet has two vents above a shallow brim that channel air above the goggles. The key thing here is above, not in, since pumping cold air into the goggle isn’t actually what we want.

Snapfit SL2 ear pads and headband can be fully removed for extra ventilation on the warmest of days. I count 22 vents on the helmet. It has a lot of vent area compared to most other helmets. We haven’t found a warm ski day yet where we thought the helmet was too hot with all the vents open. AirEvac goggle anti-fog vents 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. Wearing the women's variation of the Smith Vantage When to Replace Your Ski Helmet

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When you fall to the ground at an angle rotational forces are generated. A helmet integrating MIPS technology creates a sliding layer between the outer shell and the head. This allows the helmet's outer shell to slide relative to the head when hitting the ground, so the rotational force is decreased, reducing the potential to damage your brain. The Vantage helmet is certified to almost every applicable certification out there from the US and Europe. Here is a list of certifications. ASTM F 2040, CE EN 1077:2007 CLASS B, CPSC, CE EN1078 Weight My head measures 57 centimeters in circumference, which puts me right in the middle of the size medium range (55 to 59cm). I have a slightly rounded head shape and have found Smith helmets to be a really nice match for me in general, and the Level is no exception (it fit me similarly to the Vantage and discontinued Variance). All in all, the deep and fairly wide opening has a versatile shape, and combined with the highly adjustable fit system and four total sizes available—ranging from 51 centimeters (S) to 67 centimeters (XL)—most people should be able to get a good all-around fit. Dual Regulator ventilation system independently controls the front and rear sections of the helmet vents, allowing you to modulate your body temperature even in extremely cold conditions. By exhausting heat through the rear vents while maintaining a sealed front end, your body can effectively cool down if needed and avoid the dreaded ice cream headache.

Finally, helmets with an all-season certification (EN 1078) will be of particular interest to freestyle-oriented skiers who spend the warmer half of the year riding bikes, skateboarding, or roller skating. These designs, like the Smith Holt and Scout, are often built with a solid ABS shell that can take a beating on the pavement. Like most snow helmets, they also feature removable ear pads, which is essential for summer use. A few in-mold helmets are also triple-norm certified, including the aforementioned MTN Lab and Summit. Because of their fragile construction we don’t recommend these lids for dedicated use around pavement, but for mountain missions that require a mix of biking, skiing, and climbing, they're without rival. Biking to ski to climb in the North Cascades Ventilation: Adjustable or Fixed In addition to the Level’s MIPS liner, Smith also incorporated their honeycomb-like Koroyd material along the sides of the head, which is designed to increase both airflow and impact resistance. We’ve tested the technology in a range of designs, including Smith’s higher-end Vantage (which features it at both the top and sides), and found it to be low-profile and unobtrusive. Made of tiny tubes heat-welded together, the design is intended to absorb energy in a crash. It’s hard to quantify the performance benefits (we have yet to experience a sizable impact with a MIPS- or Koroyd-equipped helmet), but the focus on safety nevertheless is appreciated. 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. POC’s Obex MIPS is another premium design to consider. Like the Level, the Obex utilizes MIPS’ impact-ready safety tech, boasts an in-mold build with a tough ABS shell at the top, and has a highly adjustable fit system that secures evenly around the head. The Smith wins out in ventilation with nine more vents and added adjustability (only the top vents are adjustable on the POC), and despite the Obex’s lighter 1-pound weight, we found that it felt bulkier and less streamlined than the Level. Further, the interior padding isn’t as plush as the Smith, and we prefer more cushioning along the chinstrap in particular. The differences aren't dramatic, but it's enough for us to give the edge to the Level. There is no round contour version of the helmet currently available. They produced round contour fit Vantages in the past and you can still find them at Smith and other places. I have not seen a MIPS round contour Vantage anywhere. Goggle compatibility

Boa adjustment systems, like that found on Smith’s Vantage, tighten more evenly than the Level’s VaporFit design (although the difference is minor). BOA FS360 - Totally customised fit with a 360 degree halo design to give a snug yet supremely comfortable fit For me, the biggest reason mostly has to do with my own body: I tend to run pretty hot, even on cold days, and finding goggles that can handle my output without getting fogged over and then frozen has been really difficult. Half of the battle is the lens technology, but the other half is the ventilation and how well that interfaces with the helmet.