Smith Optics Launches XC Racing Helmet: The Overtake
Smith Optic's Overtake helmet is designed for both high and low-speed impacts. An optional MIPS feature can protect from rotational injuries.
Smith Optics overturned the established off-road helmet industry with its Forefront helmet two years ago, as customers lined up to purchase the out-of-the-box styled lid, with its honeycomb Koroyd liner and "Tron" styed shell. Smith now releases it sister, the Overtake, which is a visorless cross-country and road-racing helmet that incorporates the flow-through ventilation of the Koroyd liner, as well as an optional MIPS liner which is employed to protect from off-angle and rotational blows. The Overtake is also designed and tested for aerodynamic drag reduction, which may not rock anyone's boat on the mountain bike side of the ocean, but cooling tests in the wind tunnel indicate that the Overtake's eleven vents help it to be one of the coolest running XC helmets you can buy.
The combined impact protection of the Overtake's Koroyd and EPS liners is reported to reduce the energy of an impact by 30 percent over helmets using only and EPS liner. The optional MIPS system is a second liner that sits between the head and the honeycomb Koroyd insert. While there iis no option for a visor, Smith built in a handy groove near the top of the shell that allows style-seekers to store their eyewear conspicuously. Three shell sizes are offered, which is one more than most, and as such, the Overtake should fit just about any head. Smith Optics says they will be releasing the Overtake in September '14. The weight is stated at only 250 grams (without MIPS), and the prices are $250 USD for the standard Overtake and $310 USD for the MIPS version. Eleven color combinations ranging from mild to wild will be offered.
Smith's new Maze urban helmet (left) and its nearly identical, but better ventilated brother, the Axle freestyle helmet (Right) are also new. The Maze has a standard EPS shell, while the Axle is unique in that its EPP, expanded polypropylene liner can reportedly absorb multiple impacts. The Axle's optional MIPS liner (right) is one of the rare offerings of rotational impact protection in a sport which arguably needs it the most. Prices and final specs are TBD.
Smith Optics
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I noticed that the worst thing for a wipe out was getting sweat in your eyes and loosing grip for the same reason. There had to be a way for the safety of the rider to keep this from happening.One day hanging with Gary I mentioned it. he was all like dude what about hand socks. the man was a genius. I used to wear out old tube socks at an alarming amount of time. Probably from ending up barefoot after parties. I had no idea what to do with them so now I would just cut the tops off them. Stretch them out and you had a head band, leave them and you had wrist bands.I would sit on the California beach with an old table and sell these things. I am going to tell you young folks something, Always patent your shit. f*cken John Adidas decided it was a good idea and set up a table right next to mine. He had a better supplier of old tube socks and before long that bugger cut me out of the market. I now often wonder though if maybe something hard for protection may of been better anyways.
Nice to see that they have such a good working relationship with Smith.
I think this helmet looks pretty sick, as does their trail "Forefront". I like the innovation instead of all the derivative helmets out there.
I'm curious what they'll do for a DH lid, because I bet they've been thinking on that too.