A Lightweight Ski Helmet for the Backcountry
While helmets are the norm for resort skiing, their use in the backcountry is still mixed. There’s no doubt that a ski helmet has the potential to save your life, and the excuse that a helmet is too heavy for backcountry skiing is no longer a valid argument against wearing one. Today’s ski helmet designs are lighter than ever, and impact protection continues to evolve. If you’re ready to add a helmet to your touring kit, the Smith Vantage is our pick for a lightweight backcountry ski helmet. Its lightweight design offers excellent ventilation and leading impact absorption tech.
Safety Tech
The Smith Vantage ski helmet offers a lot to helmeted backcountry skiers. Smith’s proprietary Koroyd impact protection works kind of like a car’s bumper. It absorbs and disperses impact forces beyond what a traditional EPS foam helmet offers. The Vantage also features MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) to further disperse rotational impact forces. The combination of Koroyd and MIPS provides two layers of impact-absorption tech on top of a standard lightweight EPS foam design without adding significant weight.
Great Fit
The Smith Vantage disappears on your head thanks to its lightweight design and adjustable fit. A BOA® dial lets you micro-adjust the size, making for a just-right fit and accommodating a liner hat or not. 21 vents controlled by two adjustable sliders let you regulate airflow and temperature as needed. In addition to leading impact protection, Its overall weight of 440 grams (15 ounces) makes it as close to feeling like you’re not wearing a helmet as you can find in a helmet with advanced impact tech.
Bottom Line
The Smith Vantage provides multi-tiered crash protection and day-to-day durability in a lightweight design that literally disappears on your head while skiing. It pairs well with most goggle brands and is specifically designed for an ideal interface with Smith goggles. The Smith Vantage ski helmet is literally the only helmet you need for backcountry and resort use.
Smith Vantage Ski Helmet $260
Shop directly with Smith Optics Vantage ski Helmet (men’s)
Shop directly with Smith Optics Vantage ski Helmet (women’s)
