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Smith Summit MIPS Helmet Review

This dual-rated climbing and skiing helmet has a perfect fit and plenty of mobility for users who do both activities
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Smith Summit MIPS Helmet Review (The Smith Summit MIPS is at home on the ski slopes and on long climbs.)
The Smith Summit MIPS is at home on the ski slopes and on long climbs.
Credit: Sam Willits
Price:  $230 List
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Manufacturer:   Smith
By Jeff Dobronyi ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 15, 2023
70
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 13
  • Comfort - 30% 10.0
  • Adjustability - 20% 5.0
  • Weight - 20% 3.5
  • Ventilation - 10% 6.0
  • Features - 10% 8.0
  • Durability - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Smith Summit MIPS is a comfortable helmet certified for climbing and downhill skiing, making it a great choice for users who want one helmet for both sports and our Top Pick for such a purpose. The fit is among the most comfortable in our review of the best climbing helmets, thanks to a well-contoured design and a great click-wheel tightening mechanism. The MIPS harness allows it to deflect impacts better than regular helmets, and the thick ABS shell resists damage and is built to last. The style is more akin to a ski helmet than a climbing helmet, but we were pleasantly surprised by how well it performed at the crag and on alpine ice climbs. It's certainly heavier than other climbing helmets, and the size adjustment is limited to only a few centimeters per size. The Summit MIPS isn't cheap, either. However, given its solid performance in both climbing and skiing, we recommend it to anyone interested in owning one helmet that does it all.
REASONS TO BUY
Super comfortable
Durable
Good features
Dual-rated
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Limited size adjustment
Expensive
Editors' Note: We added the Smith Summit MIPS to our lineup on May 15, 2023.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best Dual-Rated Climbing Helmet
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Climbing Helmet
Top Pick Award
Best Lightweight Climbing Helmet
Best Buy Award
Best Value for a Lightweight Helmet
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A comfortable and surprisingly versatile helmet that is certified for both climbing and downhill skiingA relatively lightweight and super protective helmet with a great fitYou will barely notice wearing this comfortable, ultra-lightweight helmetA highly adjustable climbing and ski mountaineering helmet with a low weight and fair priceA very popular, albeit clunky helmet at an unbeatable price point
Rating Categories Smith Summit MIPS H... Black Diamond Visio... Petzl Sirocco Petzl Meteor Black Diamond Half...
Comfort (30%)
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
4.0
Adjustability (20%)
5.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Weight (20%)
3.5
6.9
9.5
7.8
4.7
Ventilation (10%)
6.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
Features (10%)
8.0
10.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
Durability (10%)
9.0
7.0
5.0
8.0
9.0
Specs Smith Summit MIPS H... Black Diamond Visio... Petzl Sirocco Petzl Meteor Black Diamond Half...
Measured Weight (Size Medium or M/L) 14.4 oz 9.7 oz 6.1 oz 8.5 oz 12.7 oz
Shell Style In mold, Koroyd EPP and EPS Foam, ABS Shell, with MIPS Liner EPP and EPS Foam, Polycabonate Top Piece EPS, Polycarbonate EPS Foam with ABS Shell
Certifications EN 1077, EN 12492 EN12492 EN12492, CE Ski Touring EN12492, CE Ski Touring EN12492
Number of Sizes 4 2 2 2 2
Number of Colorways 5 1 1 3 4
Warranty 3 year limited 1 year limited
(defects only)
3 year 3 year 1 year

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Smith Summit MIPS accomplishes the rare feat of delivering comfort and protection in one package. It's particularly notable for passing rigorous testing standards for rock climbing, mountaineering, and alpine skiing.

Performance Comparison


We hesitate to use most ski helmets for climbing, but the Smith Summit MIPS is equally capable at the crag or on the slopes.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Comfort


The Smith Summit MIPS stands out for its excellent comfort, regardless of venue. It feels perfectly shaped for the human head, and our testers loved how there wasn't much dead space inside the helmet. Thin cushioning pads line the inside, preventing pressure points on the scalp. A thin chin guard prevents scraping and chafing below the jaw. The helmet is heavier than other climbing helmets we tested, but we didn't notice the weight difference on most climbs.


The real genius behind the comfort of this helmet is the BOA click-wheel tightening system that wraps the back of the head in a soft fabric tab. This creates a fit that feels perfectly tailored to the user's head. The MIPS cage increases comfort by allowing the helmet shell to slide without increasing friction on one's scalp. This is one of the most comfortable helmets on the market for any alpine sport.

smith summit mips helmet - the smith summit mips has a super comfortable, boa click-wheel...
The Smith Summit MIPS has a super comfortable, BOA click-wheel adjustment in the rear that gently cradles your head.
Credit: Sam Willits

Adjustability


The Smith Summit MIPS doesn't have much adjustable length in each size, as the BOA click-wheel tightening system simply can't compete with the massive amounts of length adjustments offered by fabric straps or plastic ratchet-tab systems. Each size of this helmet has a narrow range of adjustments, so pick your size wisely. Furthermore, the ear V-yokes aren't adjustable, either.


The upside is that the BOA system is incredibly comfortable and easy to adjust. The mounting harness is made of wide, soft fabric, and the system ratchets tighter and loosens easier than the traditional ratchet-tab systems on other helmets.

smith summit mips helmet - that boa system allows your to easily adjust the size of the summit...
That BOA system allows your to easily adjust the size of the Summit MIPS, which tightens and loosens very easily, yet stays perfectly in place once adjusted.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Weight


The Summit MIPS is among the heaviest climbing helmets we've tested. This is largely due to the thick ABS shell, MIPS insert, and thick EPS foam. This helmet is extremely protective; it just isn't lightweight.


While climbing – especially rock climbing – we spend a lot of time looking up. A heavier helmet will put more strain on our neck over the course of the day, so this helmet is not well-suited to sport climbing and belaying. However, we didn't notice the weight on all-day climbs up snow-filled couloirs with our skis on our backs or while ice climbing. This helmet is also well-suited for moderate multi-pitch climbing thanks to its increased protection rating against rockfall.

smith summit mips helmet - the summit mips weighs a lot more than other climbing helmets, but...
The Summit MIPS weighs a lot more than other climbing helmets, but it's also more protective, more durable, and dual-rated for both climbing and skiing.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Ventilation


This helmet doesn't offer much in the way of big ventilation holes. This is largely due to international ski helmet certification standards. Those standards don't allow large holes that could allow sharp objects like ski poles and tree branches to penetrate the shell. This alone is a good reason to reconsider downhill skiing in a climbing helmet if you currently do so.


Compared to other top ski helmets, this helmet provides excellent ventilation and allows the user to wear a helmet while climbing couloirs or skinning across glaciers. Thin but spacious vents around the entire circumference of the helmet allow better-than-expected ventilation. But compared to most climbing helmets, the Summit MIPS is ultimately less ventilated, based on rating alone, although it does offer more than the full-ABS shell helmets we tested.

smith summit mips helmet - the smith summit mips is surprisingly well ventilated, especially...
The Smith Summit MIPS is surprisingly well ventilated, especially for a helmet with a full ABS shell.
Credit: Sam Willits

Features


The Smith Summit MIPS offers some quality features but also has some glaring omissions. The chin strap is great; it has plenty of length adjustment, an elastic band to prevent flopping, and a thin, cushioned sleeve to prevent chafing. The BOA tightening system is also great – as we mentioned above – and the BOA flap folds flat so that the helmet can be packed into smaller spaces in climbing and skiing packs. Of course, the inclusion of MIPS technology takes the protection offered by this helmet to another level.


The headlamp attachment feature is minimalist, with two small tabs on the front of the helmet, allowing only part of a strap to be held underneath. There is no attachment system on the rear of the helmet, which is notable because most skiers want some sort of clip to keep their goggles fastened to their helmets. Furthermore, there is no V-yoke on the ear straps, preventing the user from adjusting the chin strap around the ears.

The Summit MIPS has some great features, including two minimalist headlamp tabs on the front sides and a BOA click wheel that folds inside the helmet for easy packing.

Durability


The Smith Summit MIPS is a highly durable helmet thanks to its high-quality construction that utilizes durable materials. The shell is made from thick ABS plastic that withstands abuse to the extreme. Our lead tester took this helmet on an extended climbing and skiing trip to the Alps, throwing it around luggage and wearing it daily in the mountains. Even after six weeks, this helmet showed very little trace of wear. Without a doubt, this helmet is built to last.


The helmet's interior is lined with cushions that can pack out and will likely get grimy over time. But even in our extended test period, this hasn't happened yet. The thin BOA strings that tighten around the sides of the head are susceptible to damage because of their thin gauge, but we didn't experience any problems with those yet, either.

smith summit mips helmet - the smith summit mips is super durable, thanks to a full abs shell...
The Smith Summit MIPS is super durable, thanks to a full ABS shell that can take a beating in a pack or during extended travel. We put the durability of this helmet to the test while travelling to Europe to guide a traverse of the Grand Combin, Switzerland.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Should You Buy the Smith Summit MIPS?


If you are looking for a single helmet that will satisfy the safety and comfort requirements for climbing and skiing, this helmet is the best choice currently available. While it isn't cheap, you can consider this equivalent to buying two helmets for the price of one. Its durable construction ensures a long life span, while its excellent, dual-sport performance ultimately saves you money in the long run.

What Other Climbing Helmets Should You Consider?


If you are looking for a lightweight climbing helmet that is also dual-certified specifically as a ski-touring helmet, check out the superlight Petzl Sirocco, or the slightly more affordable but notably more durable Petzl Meteor. Both helmets are certified to European Union standards (CE) for ski touring, mountaineering, and rock climbing. If you are looking for a great climbing-specific helmet that offers the same MIPS protection as the Smith Summit MIPS, the Black Diamond Vision MIPS is our overall favorite.

smith summit mips helmet - the smith summit mips during testing at the sport crag. we hesitate...
The Smith Summit MIPS during testing at the sport crag. We hesitate to grab this helmet for the toughest climbs, but it's great for easy and moderate routes, or ice climbs.
Credit: Sam Willits

Jeff Dobronyi