Review: Smith Vantage MIPS Helmet


By Curated Experts
Daniela A and max pilling

Smith Vantage MIPS Helmet
from:$192.50
$270.00
30% off
10 photos
The Curated Take
5.0/5
The Smith Vantage MIPS Helmet is highly suitable for skiers and snowboarders looking for a comfortable, protective helmet with excellent ventilation. It features a hybrid shell construction, MIPS technology for safety, and a BOA adjustment system for a perfect fit. The helmet is especially compatible with Smith goggles but fits well with most others. With 21 vents, it offers great climate control, but may be too ventilated for extremely cold days. It's durable, waterproof, and comfortable, making it ideal for various skiing conditions. This helmet is an ideal choice for those prioritizing safety, comfort, and ventilation in their ski gear
Ideal for
- Comfortable
- Warm
- Good fit with most goggles
Not ideal for
- Pricey
Waterproofing

The Smith Vantage Helmet does a good job of keeping my head dry and not allowing any water to trickle in as it's dumping outside. I've worn this helmet in...Read more

Throughout a few seasons of using this helmet in the resort, I found that the anti-sweat wicking layer combined with the tight seal on the air vents enabled me to...Read more
Comfort

The Vantage is one of the most comfortable ski helmets I've tried, and that's a big part of the reason why I initially chose it. It fits my head well,...Read more

The Vantage helmet fits my round head well. With the anti-sweat layer combined with snug earpads, it is very comfortable. My head never felt itchy, and the climate control allowed...Read more
Durability

This helmet is extremely durable and made to last a long time — and survive a few falls. I've had a few falls where there were small dings on the helmet...Read more

The newest edition definitely upped its game on durability. With the new adjustment system and the hard plastic shell, this helmet will stand up to a beating. Even after hitting...Read more
Ventilation

With 21 vents, the Smith has more options for ventilation than most other helmets on the market. On warmer days, they do a good job of allowing air in and...Read more

With 21 vents and a dual open-and-close system, the ventilation on this helmet is great. It really helped me to stay sweat free and cool. The vents close up well,...Read more
Adjustability

The Boa tensioning system on the Vantage makes adjustability simple and easy. A dial in the back of the helmet allows for dialing in the perfect snug fit. I'm also...Read more

I found that by using the BOA dial I could get this helmet to fit almost any head. It feels like the helmet is giving me a hug, and the...Read more
Protection

I wouldn't use any other helmet. I had a pretty bad fall once while wearing the Vantage, and it cracked as my head hit a rock — and I was able...Read more

This helmet features MIPs in the design. This helps to protect my head from rotational and angled impacts. What this means is my head is much more protected from the...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Daniela A

About the helmets
- Model: Smith Vantage MIPS Helmet
Test conditions
- When I bought these: 2023
- Where I’ve used it: Catskills (Belleayre, Hunter, Windham), VT (Okemo, Mount Snow, Stratton), CO (A-Basin, Copper, Breck, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Vail, Winter Park), UT (Deer Valley, Brighton, Solitude, Park City)
- How many times I've used it: 100
Expert Reviews of the Smith Vantage MIPS Helmet
Daniela A I love this helmet, and it's saved me from potential concussions a couple of times. A ski of mine pre-released and sent me tumbling down onto some rocks on the side of the hill. I came away unscathed, aside from a few bruises. While the helmet was dented (and I purchased a new one), my skull was protected.
The price point is worth it. From its hybrid shell construction, MIPS technology, BOA adjustment, warmth, and comfort, there's no other helmet I'd rather use. The goggles fit well (especially the Smith brand), and I happen to think it's one of the more stylish helmets on the market. The ventilation is great, too; with 21 vents, it's easy to create the perfect climate control adjustment for your head.
max pilling I had this helmet for a few seasons. It is a tried and true helmet that will protect my dome. The MIPS technology protects my head from getting hit at different angles. With 21 vents, I never get hot, and I can adjust my climate as needed. This helmet has protected me from concussions time and time again. My only gripe is the adjustment connection piece broke after a season, but I was able to fix that. This helmet is very comfortable and fits amazingly well with other Smith goggles. They even fit great with most other goggles. But at the end of the day, helmets are to protect the head, and this, along with other Smith helmets, are some of the best ones out there.
Product Specs
Age Group | Adult |
Gender | Unisex |
Model year | 2024 |
Helmet style | Half shell |
MIPS | MIPS |
Helmet venting | Adjustable Venting |

Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Waterproofing
5/5
Daniela A gave 5 of 5 stars. The Smith Vantage Helmet does a good job of keeping my head dry and not allowing any water to trickle in as it's dumping outside. I've worn this helmet in many a snowstorm and had no issues with water seeping in, even with some of the vents in the open position.
max pilling gave 4 of 5 stars. Throughout a few seasons of using this helmet in the resort, I found that the anti-sweat wicking layer combined with the tight seal on the air vents enabled me to say super dry. Even when I crashed I didn't get snow inside my helmet. I can use this helmet when it's raining and stay dry.
Comfort
5/5
Daniela A gave 5 of 5 stars. The Vantage is one of the most comfortable ski helmets I've tried, and that's a big part of the reason why I initially chose it. It fits my head well, keeps me warm and cozy, and the earpieces don't pinch or feel uncomfortable as they have on other helmets I've tried. I put the helmet on and don't really think about it for most of the day.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. The Vantage helmet fits my round head well. With the anti-sweat layer combined with snug earpads, it is very comfortable. My head never felt itchy, and the climate control allowed me to be at the perfect temperature. The fit system allows the helmet to be snug without being too tight, which really adds to the comfort level.
Durability
5/5
Daniela A gave 5 of 5 stars. This helmet is extremely durable and made to last a long time — and survive a few falls. I've had a few falls where there were small dings on the helmet and one fall on some rocks that did end up cracking part of the helmet. Because Smith offers a good warranty, I was able to purchase a replacement helmet at a decent price.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. The newest edition definitely upped its game on durability. With the new adjustment system and the hard plastic shell, this helmet will stand up to a beating. Even after hitting my head a few times the helmet still held up. Modern helmets are designed to break to dissipate hard impacts, but this helmet can withstand pretty hard impacts before it has to crunch to protect the head.
Ventilation
5/5
Daniela A gave 4 of 5 stars. With 21 vents, the Smith has more options for ventilation than most other helmets on the market. On warmer days, they do a good job of allowing air in and cooling my head. Additionally, the sliders are easy to adjust with gloves on, which is a plus. One slider controls the vents on the top and front of the helmet, and the other controls the rest along the sides and back.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. With 21 vents and a dual open-and-close system, the ventilation on this helmet is great. It really helped me to stay sweat free and cool. The vents close up well, enabling me to be warm when I want. When combined with Smith goggles, the ventilation is pretty great and helps goggles to stay fog free.
Adjustability
5/5
Daniela A gave 5 of 5 stars. The Boa tensioning system on the Vantage makes adjustability simple and easy. A dial in the back of the helmet allows for dialing in the perfect snug fit. I'm also able to give myself a bit more room if I have a heavier balaclava and hat on underneath. The chin strap is also easy to adjust.
max pilling gave 4 of 5 stars. I found that by using the BOA dial I could get this helmet to fit almost any head. It feels like the helmet is giving me a hug, and the fit is very snug when using the BOA system. Just turning one dial adjusts the whole helmet. It is super easy to do even in gloves.
Protection
5/5
Daniela A gave 5 of 5 stars. I wouldn't use any other helmet. I had a pretty bad fall once while wearing the Vantage, and it cracked as my head hit a rock — and I was able to get up unscathed. I wouldn't buy a helmet without a MIPS system, and although the Vantage is on the pricier side, it's worth it for the peace of mind.
max pilling gave 5 of 5 stars. This helmet features MIPs in the design. This helps to protect my head from rotational and angled impacts. What this means is my head is much more protected from the impacts I'm most likely incur while skiing. The dual core design also gives the helmet more crumple room to soften and absorb impacts to the head. Without this helmet I would have suffered quite a few concussions.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Daniela A This helmet is well constructed and has saved me from concussions. It's comfortable, stylish, and works well with my goggles.
max pilling I love the Smith Vantage helmet. It was my go-to helmet for years. It has exceptional quality, looks good, will keep your dome safe and protected, and is light enough to wear comfortably all day long.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Daniela A I had pre-released from my skis down a double black and tumbled into some rocks on the side of the hill. This helmet prevented me from having a serious head injury. I was able to get up and, after collecting myself, continue to ski. Note: I did buy a new helmet afterward, as you don't want to compromise the effects with a cracked helmet.
max pilling I used this helmet on a cold spring morning. I was able to bundle up and keep warm in the helmet. Later, when the sun came out, it got much hotter, and I was able to use all 21 vents to keep myself cool and comfy in all conditions.
Why did you choose this product?
Daniela A Comfortable, keeps me warm, ea pieces are way more comfortable than other helmets, fits well with my goggles, and has a great ventilation system.
max pilling I chose this product because I wanted a comfy premium helmet that would keep me safe, most importantly, but also keep me warm and be easily adjustable. This helmet offers amazing comfortability, protection, and all the bells and whistles that match its premium price
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Daniela A It is on the pricer side, but it's well worth the price, in my opinion. It's a quality helmet that protects the noggin.
max pilling This is an expensive helmet, but you get what you pay for. It's packed with the best and newest technologies to ensure safety and comfort. So while it is expensive, it is worth it as an investment. With the newest edition, they made the helmet a lot warmer and revamped the comfort and adjustability level.
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Daniela A
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