Smith Trace Mips Review

Impact test scores are what really impressed us with the Smith Trace Mips, and once you take a few minutes to dial in the fit, the helmet can also be made very comfortable. Ventilation isn't the best we'll concede, mostly because of additional features found on the helmet that affect airflow, which just aren't up to the same standard we're seeing when taking into account its more expensive price. The weight is surprisingly low, exceeding our expectations.

Impact Test

Outstanding: We calculated the Smith Trace Mips to have one of the strongest impact score results from our own independent testing we had commissioned with ACT Lab when compared to the other road bike helmets in our lineup.

These tests were performed after we sent over a fresh helmet to ACT Lab, which then put it through its paces on two different tests: a “slow” and a “fast” test. Both tests were designed to emulate different impact scenarios. The “slow” test dropped at 1 meter is for minor crashes one may experience at almost a standstill. The “fast” test dropped at 2.3 meters is for more serious crashes, like one would experience while cycling at speed.

Slow Impact Test Results

Results for the Smith Trace Mips were at the head of its class, scoring the highest of all the helmets in our lineup.

Fast Impact Test Results

Not too far behind, the Trace scored only slightly lower than the best-scoring helmet in our entire lineup.

On average, the Trace Mips scored the strongest of all helmets in our lineup, beating out every other helmet by a healthy margin. We can wholeheartedly suggest this helmet if impact test scores are vitally important to you.

Smith markets the Trace with additional safety tech. Mips is included: a thin plastic liner is placed on the interior face of the helmet, sitting next to your head, allowing the helmet body a small amount of movement independent of your head upon impact, ultimately designed to try to lessen the force of impact and help holistically create a more protective helmet.

Also included in the Trace is the addition of the licensed, “Koroyd” technology, which is itself marketed to act like a mesh of miniature crumple zones. You'll notice these as the honeycomb-like structure aggressively embedded in almost every vent of the helmet, save for the very top. Designed to crush during impact, the theory is that they'll absorb energy from an impact without springing back.

Comfort

The Smith Trace Mips comes with several useful details to help you really dial in the fit. The headband's circumference around your head can be adjusted on the fly easily using the dial found on the back. The headband's attachment points are adjustable near the temples and at the top of the back of the head to help you further perfect the fit to your own head shape. Smith specs a size Medium helmet to fit a head with a circumference between 55 and 59cm. Compared to some other helmets, the Trace feels a little shallower, with the bottom of the helmet sitting slightly higher behind the ears. If you have a very low occipital bone or a very tall forehead, this helmet may not be for you.

Removable-for-washing foam padding is located across the entire lower forehead as a slim strip, as well as the top of the head. We feel this helmet gets a little more sweaty than other helmets, but we didn't experience anywhere near a waterfall of sweat in our own eyes while riding.

Ventilation

Ventilation on the Smith Trace Mips is overall good, with a generous array of vents throughout the helmet, including low and up front by the forehead, sides, and down back behind the ear.

But the “Koroyd” technology, which is marketed to make this helmet potentially better at taking a hit, works against the Trace's ventilation, effectively blocking unencumbered airflow through all of its generous vents. Air will need to reach the vents straight on to have a chance to go through them at a velocity anywhere near its initial speed. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that the tech is present all over the helmet, with only 6 of the 18 vents absent of Koroyd — and most of those being at the back of the helmet, where airflow into the helmet will be minimal to start with.

To further exacerbate this issue, the Mips plastic layer on the Trace is implemented as a gridded design that further blocks the free passage of air that does make it through the helmet. If absolute ventilation performance is a no-compromise situation for you, there are better helmets at this price range out there. On the other hand, if you ride in milder climates or are looking for a winter helmet, this may be the best pick out of the bunch of high-end road bike helmets.

Usability

You won't need a degree in industrial design to understand how to use the Smith Trace Mips, but there are a few smaller pain points. The Y-buckle underneath the ears is somewhat of a pain to adjust, leaving us a little frustrated if we're feeling impatient trying to get it snug up against our ear lobes. The fit dial at the back works admirably even with gloves on. The bottom buckle works well enough, although the strap keeper is made up of a thin loop of rubber that's bound to eventually snap and get lost.

The addition of Koroyd in the vents means no room for an internal sunglass garage, and temples will only be secured at their very end — and sloping down — which we don't find completely adequate. This helmet does come in three separate sizes, covering head circumferences from 51 to 62cm. Our size Medium had a range of 55-59cm. As we write this, ten different colorways are available to help you match this helmet with your favorite kit.

Weight

It's likely you may forget you have the Smith Trace Mips on, until a helpful spouse reminds you to take it off before sitting down for dinner. Weighing in at just under 280 grams, it's comparable to many of the lighter helmets in our lineup.

Although the Koroyd tech is found throughout this helmet, it only adds marginally to its total weight. The chin strap is as uncompromisingly thick (and strong) as its competition. The headband is on the svelter side, but the nylon that gets fed into the dial still feels noodle-y even in the cold and not something we feel would snap even after extended use. Padding in the helmet is on the minimal side, but not out of the ordinary for a helmet in this category or MSRP.

Should You Buy the Smith Trace Mips?

We were thoroughly impressed by the impact test results of the Smith Trace Mips. But we have to admit that some other features, like ventilation and some usability gripes, are impacted. If those aren't issues for your riding, we can stand by a suggestion for you to grab your own Trace.

What Other Road Bike Helmets Should You Consider?

If the shallowness of the Smith Trace Mips gives you pause, Smith's other helmet in our lineup, the Smith Persist Mips is taller. If safety impact scores are something you want to study closely, the Trek Velocis Mips also scores high, as does the Giro Aries Spherical.