Smith’s new budget lid punches well above its weight when it comes to performance on the trail.
It’s also one of the cheapest helmets out there to be MIPS-equipped and, as a result, should better help protect your head against angular impacts.
Coverage is decent too, although not as extensive or deeply dropped at the rear as on Smith’s top-flight Forefront 2 lid, which we rate highly.
The outer shell doesn’t wrap around the base of the EPS foam liner, making the rim of the helmet more susceptible to knocks and dents, so you’ll need to ensure you look after it when it’s not on your head to prevent it from looking tatty.
The Convoy fits incredibly well, and while the soft padding isn’t as thick or plush as on some other lids, it remains really comfy even when drenched in sweat.
At the rear is an indexed adjuster dial, which is easy to twiddle with one hand and tightens the retention cradle evenly around the head. At no point did I suffer from hot spots or pressure points.
There are also three height settings for the cradle, allowing you to alter the pitch of the helmet on your head. This is handy because it meant I was able to keep the fixed peak almost totally out of sight while riding (though not completely). An adjustable peak would be a bonus, though.
At 325g for my medium sample, it’s a decent enough weight when you consider the pricing. Its 21 vents and internal channelling do a good job of moving air across the top of your head too (it’s cooler than a Troy Lee Designs A2, for example), which is a real plus when the sun is shining.
Product
| Brand | smith_optics |
| Price | 65.00 GBP |
| Weight | 325.0000, GRAM (M) - |
Features
| br_MIPS | yes |
| br_helmetType | mountain_bike_open_face |
| Features | Vents: 21 Sizes: S, M, L |
