Smith Optics has announced their entrance into the burgeoning all-mountain helmet market with the launch of the new Forefront. Although this is their first mountain bike helmet, Smith isn't a stranger to the helmet world, with a full line of snowsports helmets that have earned praise for their fit and ventilation. The Forefront stands out from other mountain bike helmets on the market due to the use of Koroyd, a polymer that uses thousands of tubes joined together to form a structure capable of providing impact protection without sacrificing ventilation. The Forefront's claimed weight is also impressive, coming in at over 100 grams lighter than many of the all-mountain helmets currently on the market. Smith's official press release is below. - Mike Kazimer
The all-new FOREFRONT (MSRP $220) defines Smith’s innovation platform and serves as the ‘go to’ helmet for all-mountain riders. Created to provide all-mountain protection with road-race weight, the Aerocore™ construction of the FOREFRONT allows riders ventilated protection as never before seen in a bicycle helmet. With up to a 30% improvement over standard EPS impact properties, the patented tubular core structure of the Koroyd® material combines with EPS to create a system of materials designed to surpass current standards at low and high speeds. Aerocore construction allows for ventilated protection, reduced weight, and reduced volume.
Weighing in at 285g, the FOREFRONT helmet features Smith’s new VaporFit™ adjustable fit system, integrated camera and light mounting area, and an additional helmet goggle retention strap. Based off of Smith’s proven head form and dedicated investment in unique sets of tooling, three adult helmet sizes are available to accommodate a variety of fits while 10 progressive color options offer a range of style choices, all designed with the ultimate integration of sunglasses and goggles in mind.
| As a product-driven brand, it's our goal to create innovations that improve the user's experience. In our effort to reduce volume and weight while increasing ventilation and impact protection for ski and snowboard helmets, we came across Koroyd. Through a little bit of luck and good fortune, we found the Koroyd material met all of our goals. After a full year of testing we were able to gather massive amounts of impact data and design flexibility that made an innovative Smith bike helmet project possible. We believe the new FOREFRONT all-mountain helmet showcases exactly what Smith is all about: redefining what riders should expect from their products - Eric Carlson, VP of Product and Design |
| The FOREFRONT is the lightest, most comfortable helmet I've ever worn. It's been great to be able to work with Smith on the development of this helmet to assure it meets the needs of all-mountain riders and racers. - Lars Sternberg, professional mountain biker |
Smith bicycle helmets will be available at North American retailers in Spring 2014.
www.smithoptics.com/forefront
Maybe probability of crashing is more important...
If people must have dare I say it a "enduro" lid surly the old giro switchblade would be a better and less but still ugly option
Secondly: If they want to sell these, they should show Ken Smith wearing it.
Interesting point re: price. I haven't compared safety figures either, and its far from the focus of most helmet reviews I've read online and in mags. Would be interesting to see an actual scientific investigation conducted alongside those of the ISO lab boffins. Smashing helmets in the name of science might be quite fun too...
I have an Urge, it works great for a short time.
Then as the pads wear or you wear a buff it then starts to rattle.
Not to mention the heat!!!!
So 99% of the time my lovely fox flux is what I rider for XC, sorry AM, sorry Enduro.... mountain biking (not Dh as I seem to crash more on the big bike, whilst going faster so the D2 comes out).
Oh, and I'll bet TLD just loved having their logo-jersey in the same video ad as Smith's new helmet. ;-)
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