Smith Vantage Helmet Review

by Kevin_Fonger · Published January 10, 2011 , 12:45 pm · Updated October 22, 2022 , 9:24 am

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Whether you are spring skiing in warmer weather conditions or plowing waist deep POW, having a well ventilated helmet can turn a good day into a great day. Skiing or snowboarding with a helmet on can sometimes get really hot in certain conditions and having a helmet that can help regulate the heat around your head making your day much more enjoyable. I’ve been testing out the Smith Vantage Helmet for the past few months and while I haven’t tested out the durability in a crash yet, I have been very happy with the helmet overall. This helmet is a little more ventilated than previous Smith helmets I have tested. It seems that no matter what angle you are looking from, you will see a ventilation hole. The nice thing is that these holes can be left open or closed with the adjustable ventilation system that comes with the Smith Vantage. There are 21 ventilation holes in total.

Testing out the Smith Vantage Helmet at Vail

The Smith Vantage helmet is best suited with the Smith I/O series goggles as the combo pretty much eliminates the gaper gap. The I/O goggles are pretty sweet too I must mention. While testing the helmet with other goggles such as Oakley and Bolle, I did notice a tiny gaper gap. The helmet weights 15.5 ounces which I felt to be pretty light. Wearing a helmet while skiing for me is like wearing a seatbelt in a car though, so I don’t really notice weight when I wear helmets. If you’re the type that likes to listen to music while on the mountain, the Vantage helmet is compatible with skull candy headphones and bluetooth. I personally don’t listen to music while skiing, but if you do, just make sure you know your surroundings… One of the features that I liked on the helmet that is pretty simple is the bungy style goggle strap. I like the bungy style versus the snap in goggle strap as it is easy to take goggles on and off and you don’t have to pound your helmet to make sure the snap is actually in place.

If buying a helmet for the first time, fit is very important. The easy test is to strap the helmet on your head and move the helmet up and down on your head. If your eyebrows are moving, then it fits well. If they don’t move, the helmet is too loose and you need to size down. For more information on the Vantage Helmet and other Smith products, please visit www.smithoptics.com.

Head circumference sizing info: