Value: £239.99 / $250
Weight: 285 grams – M
Sizes: S/M/L
MIPS: Sure
Colors: Black / Matte Black / Matte White / Matte Petrol Fade
Launched in February 2019, the Smith Ignite was the model’s first totally aero-focused providing. It stays its top-of-the-range race day helmet right this moment and will be seen on the heads of the Human Powered Well being girls’s crew.
Included with the preliminary launch have been aero testing outcomes that steered this was one of many finest aero helmets round, displaying it outperforming the Specialised Evade II and Giro Vanquish. Nonetheless, since then these opponents have been up to date and changed by quicker, higher ventilated fashions. Our current wind tunnel aero helmet take a look at positioned it nearly precisely mid-table in opposition to 22 of one of the best obtainable opponents this 12 months.
There may be after all extra to a helmet than aerodynamics although, and security is an space the place Smith has actually focussed. Utilizing each the now-commonplace MIPS liner, with further influence safety within the type of Koroyd – a collection of straw-like tubes, caught collectively to kind a honeycomb construction – the Smith Ignite goals to be a efficiency aero helmet that boasts improved security.
All this is available in at a worth of £239.99 / $250.00 placing it properly consistent with the vast majority of present aero helmets, however will be discovered discounted on-line typically.
Whereas I have been utilizing the Smith Ignite right here within the UK, the climate has diverse between low single figures to mid-teens. It has offered me with ample circumstances to check air flow and luxury, whereas our wind tunnel take a look at put the helmet via it is aero paces.
Design and specs
The Smith Ignite MIPS helmet is the model’s aero providing designed for racing and sustaining security. The polycarbonate shell extends down and across the EPS foam internal to offer a premium end and prevents any dents within the foam when placing the helmet down on surfaces. It additionally options loads of clean surfaces with two massive frontal vents with deeper inside channelling guiding airflow to the massive central rear exhaust and two small rear aspect exhausts. That is complimented by two NACA (Nationwide Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) vents throughout the highest, that are decrease drag air inlets with an goal to cut back turbulence on the rear of the helmet. These NACA vents have gotten extra frequent place to see on aero helmets and will also be noticed on excessive efficiency street vehicles in addition to in Components 1. There are two further frontal aspect vents which function the honeycomb grid construction throughout them, which will also be used to stash sun shades and have been designed with Smith personal vary.
This honeycomb grid construction is the Koroyd power absorbing influence safety system. Koroyd is made up of a collection of tubes that are bonded collectively to create a construction. That is designed so as to add further safety within the occasion of blunt impacts because of the Koroyd constructions with the ability to soak up shear and influence forces throughout a number of planes of motion. The Koroyd construction is positioned across the temples of the helmet the place blunt drive and aspect influence is most frequently discovered to happen collectively. It’s additionally present in helmets from different manufacturers similar to Endura, and is analogous in design to Trek/Bontrager’s Wavecel construction.
That is paired with a MIPS (Multi-directional Impression Safety System) safety liner internally for cover in opposition to rotational influence, with a full inside skeletal construction to create a roll-cage plus further structural help.
The rear cradle has three factors of vertical adjustment, whereas the grippy and light-weight VaporFit dial adjustment presents 270-degree retention. A reasonably commonplace three-pronged buckle is used and a three-way splitter permits for adjustment across the ears.
Iconic+ padding is used sparsely however successfully and incorporates a sweat-activated odour management with antimicrobial properties. This is identical padding materials utilized by Giro in its Eclipse and Aries helmets. Claimed weight is 310g for a measurement medium, however got here out at 283g on our scales. Three sizes and 4 colourways are at the moment obtainable.
Efficiency
The Smith Ignite helmet is noticeably a cushty helmet to put on. Though it’s within the heavier realms of an aero helmet, this vary is mostly lined by round 50 grams and in follow I don’t discover this weight on my head is noticeable, so should not be sufficient to have an effect on your buying choice. That includes a fairly wide selection of match, the Ignite was comfy sufficient with or with out a cap beneath, whereas the adjustment system is straightforward to make use of and efficient. Splitters across the ears plus a really properly tabbed chin strap make for simple changes with restricted materials flapping. In the meantime, the vertically adjustable cradle and retention dial make it very straightforward to tailor the place effectively.
Consolation apart, the measurable and testable efficiency elements that matter with regards to an aero helmet are the place the Ignite does fall brief a bit. In our wind tunnel testing of aero helmets, the Ignite completed thirteenth placing it mid-table, and arguably barely decrease than common for aero helmets, given the take a look at additionally included some conventional vented helmets.
We made positive in our testing to maintain all variables to aero efficiency in keeping with simply the helmet altering in order that outcomes mirrored solely the adjustments within the aerodynamic efficiency of the helmet. In comparison with the top-performing POC Procen Air, the Ignite loses round 5.5 watts at 40km/h, making it 25 seconds slower over 40km at 250w. This isn’t too dangerous when you think about that this helmet is sort of 5 years previous and aero helmet expertise has come a great distance since then. Nonetheless, from an aero-performance perspective alone, it does make it tough to advocate.
One other space the place efficiency lacks barely is air flow. I’ve been testing this helmet in additional wintery circumstances of late and I’ve nonetheless had occasions when my head has felt noticeably hotter than when carrying different aero street helmets.
I feel a part of that is right down to the entrance vents being notably blocked off by the Koroyd construction, whereas the entrance vents don’t function notably deep inside channelling. Which means hair can simply get into these channels and cut back the overall airflow, warmth switch, and subsequently air flow.
Crash safety is, after all, the principle motive to spend money on a helmet, even an aero-road one. Nonetheless, it’s not an space we will notably take a look at voluntarily. Smith has included a number of crash safety options within the Ignite with the goal of constructing it one of many most secure in the marketplace.
As beforehand talked about, the helmet makes use of Koroyd on the entrance temples and inside the two aspect vents. This construction is designed to soak up the excessive power from fast-paced impacts but in addition permits for shearing and compression for added rotational influence safety. That is then paired with a MIPS liner internally which is aimed to cut back the impact of rotational impacts on the mind and cut back the cases of concussion.
Each of those do add somewhat to the load, and doubtlessly influence the air flow, however are arguably price it for added security. Nonetheless, when trying to third-party crash safety validation, the standard Virginia Tech Helmet Ranking shouldn’t be one thing that the Smith Ignite has been subjected to. Different fashions have been examined, such because the Koroyd-equipped Smith Route, which achieved a 5/5 however an general inserting of 147th whereas the Smith Overtake was one hundred and sixty fifth with a 4/5 rating. The mixture of MIPS and Koroyd does promise improved safety, however as but there is no such thing as a third-party validation of this.
Worth
Coming in at £239.99 / $250.00, the Smith Ignite sits firmly within the mid-range of pricing for aero helmets. The Kask Utopia Y for instance carried out barely higher within the wind tunnel at £245 whereas the MET Manta carried out very equally at £220.
There are additionally cheaper helmets that carried out higher within the tunnel, such because the Van Rysel FCR however there are different areas the place that helmet falls brief. Given the high-quality end, general consolation, and a number of further security options of the Smith Ignite, it could current cheap worth regardless of its downsides.
For many who need a helmet with further security options, the Smith Ignite could current a novel and complete providing with safety expertise from each Koroyd and MIPS. Nonetheless, for these in search of both pure efficiency and even efficiency for the cash, some alternate options will higher go well with these wants.
Verdict
With a number of further security tech, stage of consolation and adjustment, plus a very neat and clear end, the Smith Ignite is a good aero helmet. Nonetheless, it’s being assessed as an aero helmet so must carry out in that facet in addition to air flow for an efficient general bundle.
In each these efficiency metrics, it doesn’t carry out in addition to its friends, partly possible as a result of it’s an older mannequin but in addition attributable to a few of these further security options.
For many who need a helmet that doubtlessly presents further influence safety, though not third-party validated, then the Smith Ignite could also be price contemplating. For these solely performance-focused, look elsewhere.
| Design and Aethetics | A superb high quality end and low bulk make this a trendy and good trying helmet. | 8/10 |
| Consolation | Consolation ranges are nice due to the retention system and efficient straps. | 9/10 |
| Air flow | Even in colder climate the airflow and air flow shouldn’t be notably nice. | 5/10 |
| Security | No impartial testing outcomes but, however the usage of confirmed security options does give credibility to the claims. | 8/10 |
| Aero Performnce | Coming in with the underside of the mid vary scorers, aero shouldn’t be this helmet’s robust level. | 4/10 |
| Worth | High quality end and a number of further security options, nonetheless missing in aero and air flow for the worth. | 6/10 |
| Row 6 – Cell 0 | Row 6 – Cell 1 | 40/60 |
