Smith Engage Mips Review

At some point, many helmets get uncomfortable to wear, whether due to a bumpy ride, intense heat, or long ride duration. The Smith Engage Mips kept our testers' heads happy through all of it, making for an excellent option if you're prioritizing comfort, particularly for trail or cross country biking.

Impact Test

A helmet's primary duty is to offer impact protection, so we gave this metric 30% of the total score of the Smith Engage Mips. In partnership with the ACT Lab, we examined this metric by performing objective impact tests in a lab setting, ultimately forming a bottom line score. This helmet landed towards the back of the pack.

Slow Impact Test Results

The Engage scored lower in the slow impact tests where we dropped a dummy head, wearing the helmet, from 1 metere. The higher the chart, the g-forces on the dummy head. As you can see, the highest-scoring Lazer Coyote Kinecticore had much lower g-forces.

Fast Impact Test Results

Similarly, in the Fast Impact tests, the Engage had higher g-forces than the highest scoring Specialized Ambush 2.

Next, we average the data above and create a 1-10 score so you can compare each model in our selection side-by-side for overall Impact Test scores.

With an overall impact test score of 4.9, the Smith Engage Mips didn't take home any awards in this metric. Having said that, it does include an integrated Mips system, so it does offer its wearer protection from rotational impact forces, which is a crucial consideration when considering protective head equipment. We also examined the coverage and overall fit of the Engage, though the scores in this metric exclusively consider the lab results. This option hugged our scalps well and was resistant to sliding out of position while on the trail.

Comfort

We gave comfort 20% of the total score of the Smith Engage. We tested this metric by spending weeks in each helmet, going on rides of all shapes and sizes. We also wore various models of eyewear to see if we could comfortably wear sunglasses while truly crucial riding. This is the best attribute of the Engage, coming in at the very top of the charts.

This low-profile helmet was easy for our gear testers to continue wearing hour after hour on lengthy rides. The low weight of this option also aided in unencumbered movement, with the rear adjustment wheel allowing one to tighten the fit enough for the helmet to ride more securely on the head. Smith prides themselves on offering a shell design that accommodates a wide variety of eyewear, which we were able to confirm ourselves. While comfort is subjective, the Smith Engage is likely to be among the most comfy helmets you try, and if it doesn't fit your head, Smith likely has a similar model that's key difference is the shape.

Ventilation

Ventilation makes up 20% of the total score of the Engage. We examined this metric by wearing each helmet on rides of all lengths and difficulties throughout the heat of summer. We also examined the ventilation features of each model. Lastly, we took each helmet on a standardized, pedal intensive ride to really get a side-by-side comparison of the competition. The Engage came in near the very top of the lineup.

Airflow was abundant throughout the Smith Engage, with 21 vents offering some of the best breathability in the lineup. While the number of vents doesn't exclusively indicate decent performance in this metric, many of the vents on the Engage were more generously sized. Additionally, the padding struck a rare balance between comfort and ventilation, with just enough padding to offer some head cushion without causing too much sweat.

Usability

We gave this metric 15% of the total score of the Smith Engage Mips. We tested useability by examining each helmet's features and how easy they were to utilize. While a helmet is a relatively simple piece of gear, elements like strap configuration, adjustability, and eyewear compatibility can make a tremendous impact in purchasing decisions. The Engage came in towards the top of the pack.

The Smith Engage Mips is a simple and easy-to-use helmet, with intuitive adjustability and no unnecessary features. The supple chin strap is easily adjusted around the ears and jaw, with a unique buckle system allowing you to dial in the ear opening.

The chin buckle is the no-frills classic design, which we never had an issue with, even when we deliberately tried to pull it apart. The rear adjustment wheel and support system was effective and worked well throughout field testing, even after we beat up the helmet on several trail rides.

We love the eyewear integration that Smith's helmets offer, and the Engage Mips easily worked with a variety of eyewear types.

Weight

For the final portion of the overall score, we simply weighed each option and formulated a final score using a weight ratings calculator. The Smith Engage Mips came in near the top of the lineup.

At 13.10 ounces, this helmet is easy on the head and neck, further confirming how ideal it is for longer rides. As with many of the lighter weight helmets in the lineup, it didn't score as highly in impact testing, but it still comes with the necessary certifications needed for being a worthy mountain biking helmet.

Should You Buy the Smith Engage Mips?

This option is among the most comfortable and lightweight mountain bike helmets we've had the pleasure of using. The best part? It comes in at almost half the cost of some of its competition, further confirming that the Smith Engage Mips offers great value. While this isn't the most ideal option for heavy downhill biking use, it's a phenomenal consideration for trail and cross country bikers.

What Other Mountain Bike Helmets Should You Consider?