Smith Payroll MIPS - S 51-55cm - Matte Chalk
Smith Payroll MIPS Enduro & E-MTB Helmet
The Smith Payroll MIPS provides a reassuringly stout, extended-coverage profile that wraps deeply down the back of the head and protrudes defensively around the temples. To balance maximum high-speed impact defense with excellent airflow, Smith utilized a strategic Zonal KOROYD layout. Rather than enveloping the entire head in the honeycomb-like material, the crumple-zone tubes are concentrated heavily at the flanks and temples—the areas most prone to severe ground contact in a dynamic crash.
This targeted safety approach leaves the front and top panels open for 19 oversized fixed vents and deep vertical internal air channels. Working in unison with Smith's AirEvac ventilation system, the design acts like an intake scoop on your brow, pulling fresh air into the shell to cool your scalp and push humid air down and away from your eyewear. Combined with the micro-adjustable VaporFit 270-degree retention system and a hard-shell wrap that fully protects the bottom rim from everyday parking-lot dings, the Payroll is the definitive choice for fast gravity laps.
Riding Insight: Payroll vs. Forefront 3
When cross-shopping the Payroll against the Forefront 3, the choice ultimately comes down to your riding priorities:
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Choose the Forefront 3 if: You prioritise a lighter overall package and want the maximum possible penetration security offered by complete, edge-to-edge KOROYD coverage. It is a premium, beautifully ventilated option for technical trail riding and hot alpine climbs.
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Choose the Payroll if: You frequently ride a full-power e-MTB, spend your weekends hitting heavy enduro terrain, or prefer a rounder fit profile (similar to a Troy Lee A3). By utilising Zonal KOROYD, the Payroll lets significantly more fresh air hit the top and front of your scalp on slow climbs, while its heavier-duty internal roll cage and NTA8776 certification offer superior peace of mind when pushing the limits on fast, rocky descents.
EVO Opinion:
The Smith Payroll MIPS Helmet is a purpose-built, heavy-duty half-shell engineered specifically for the high-speed demands of enduro racing, aggressive trail loops, and full-power e-MTB riding. Recognising the need for a stouter, harder-hitting open-face option to sit alongside the Forefront, Smith designed the Payroll to meet the strict NTA8776 e-bike safety standard—meaning it is certified to absorb impacts at much higher velocities.
