Smith Ignite aero helmet overview: Loads of security options however missing in aero efficiency

Launched in February 2019, the Smith Ignite was the model’s first absolutely aero-focused providing. It stays its top-of-the-range race day helmet immediately and might be seen on the heads of the Human Powered Well being girls’s staff. 

Included with the preliminary launch have been aero testing outcomes that instructed this was among the finest aero helmets round, exhibiting 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 towards 22 of the perfect obtainable opponents this 12 months.  

There’s 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 sequence of straw-like tubes, caught collectively to type 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 in step with nearly all of present aero helmets, however might be discovered discounted on-line typically.

Whereas I have been utilizing the Smith Ignite right here within the UK, the climate has assorted between low single figures to mid-teens. It has offered me with ample situations to check air flow and luxury, whereas our wind tunnel take a look at put the helmet by 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 inside to provide 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 giant frontal vents with deeper inside channelling guiding airflow to the big central rear exhaust and two small rear facet exhausts. That is complimented by two NACA (Nationwide Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) vents throughout the highest, that are decrease drag air inlets with an intention 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 highway vehicles in addition to in System 1. There are two further frontal facet 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 vitality absorbing influence safety system. Koroyd is made up of a sequence 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 buildings with the ability to take in 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 power and facet influence is most frequently discovered to happen collectively. It’s additionally present in helmets from different manufacturers corresponding 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 defense towards 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 provides 270-degree retention. A reasonably normal three-pronged buckle is used and a three-way splitter permits for adjustment across the ears. 

Iconic+ padding is used sparsely however successfully and encompasses 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 present obtainable.

Efficiency

The Smith Ignite helmet is noticeably a snug helmet to put on. Though it’s within the heavier realms of an aero helmet, this vary is usually coated by round 50 grams and in observe I don’t discover this weight on my head is noticeable, so should not be sufficient to have an effect on your buying determination. That includes a fairly big selection of match, the Ignite was snug sufficient with or with no 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 nicely.

Consolation apart, the measurable and testable efficiency components that matter relating to an aero helmet are the place the Ignite does fall quick 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 according to simply the helmet altering in order that outcomes mirrored solely the modifications 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 almost 5 years outdated and aero helmet expertise has come a great distance since then. Nonetheless, from an aero-performance perspective alone, it does make it troublesome to suggest. 

One other space the place efficiency lacks barely is air flow. I’ve been testing this helmet in additional wintery situations of late and I’ve nonetheless had occasions when my head has felt noticeably hotter than when carrying different aero highway helmets.

I feel a part of that is all the way 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 entire airflow, warmth switch, and due to this fact air flow.

Crash safety is, after all, the principle purpose to put money into a helmet, even an aero-road one. Nonetheless, it’s not an space we are able to notably take a look at voluntarily. Smith has included a number of crash safety options within the Ignite with the intention of creating it one of many most secure available on the market. 

As beforehand talked about, the helmet makes use of Koroyd on the entrance temples and throughout the two facet vents. This construction is designed to soak up the excessive vitality 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 situations of concussion. 

Each of those do add just a little to the load, and doubtlessly influence the air flow, however are arguably price it for added security. Nonetheless, when seeking to third-party crash safety validation, the same old Virginia Tech Helmet Score is just not 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 putting 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 isn’t 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 quick. Given the high-quality end, general consolation, and a number of further security options of the Smith Ignite, it might current cheap worth regardless of its downsides.  

For many who desire a helmet with further security options, the Smith Ignite might 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 swimsuit 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 side 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, partially possible as a result of it’s an older mannequin but in addition resulting from a few of these further security options. 

For many who desire a helmet that doubtlessly provides further influence safety, though not third-party validated, then the Smith Ignite could also be price contemplating. For these solely performance-focused, look elsewhere.