Smith Session MIPS Trail & All-Mountain Helmet
The Smith Session MIPS is crafted for riders who demand a balanced, everyday trail helmet that effortlessly shifts between aggressive weekend enduro laps and hot, cross-country trail loops. To provide premium energy absorption where it counts while maximising airflow, Smith implemented a Zonal KOROYD layout. This configuration concentrates the impact-absorbing honeycomb structures specifically in strategic, high-risk side impact zones, leaving the central core wide open for maximum ventilation.
By freeing up the top and front channels, the Session boasts 15 massive, fixed vents that act as deep internal wind tunnels. These work dynamically with Smith's AirEvac cooling system to suck fresh air across the brow line, pulling sweat and fog away from your riding glasses. Security is handled by the VaporFit 270-degree adjustment system and a robust outer shell that wraps completely around the lower EPS foam rim, preventing the annoying parking-lot scuffs and dings common on lighter helmets.
Riding Insight: The Ventilation Advantage
The Session is often chosen over the flagship Forefront 3 by riders who run hot or do a significant amount of slow, high-effort technical climbing. Because the top and centre vents are entirely unblocked by KOROYD tubes, hot air can escape vertically off the top of your head even when you are moving at walking paces on a steep singletrack climb.
When you do pick up speed on the downhills, the open crown acts like a massive intake scoop, providing an immediate and highly efficient cooling effect across your scalp. This open-vent design also makes it incredibly easy to use a standard hook-and-loop strap system to mount external night-riding lights or action cameras directly to the top of the helmet shell.
EVO Opinion:
The Smith Session MIPS Helmet is the versatile, "all-mountain sweet spot" of the Smith mountain bike collection. Engineered for trail riders who want the premium safety and styling of the flagship Forefront 3 but require a more open, breeze-heavy design, the Session balances Zonal KOROYD protection with massive, uncluttered cooling vents and a highly adjustable, lightweight fit system.
