Springtime Has Me Thinking About Riding Bikes And Smith Has Released A New Hardline And Forefront 3 Helmet.
Smith's new Hardline helmet comes with a whole host of safety features, as well as a fairly light weight considering the DH certification. Available in both fiberglass composite and carbon fiber models, the Hardline comes with a variety of pads to tune fit, a D-ring closure, and a few color options to suit your style.
The Hardline utilizes Koroyd crumple zones throughout the helmet to help diffuse blunt impacts, and also features a Mips Safety System to mitigate rotational damage. The bottom of the helmet features a collarbone impact zone, designed to minimize the risk of collateral collarbone injury in the event of a crash.
The removable liners feature Ionic+ anti-bacterial fabric, and come in two different sizes to tune fit. The cheek pads, neck roll, and crown liners are all swappable, allowing for a wide variety of fits.
Certifications include EN 1078, CPSC, AS/NZS2063, and ASTM F1952 downhill, with some smart extra safety features included for good measure. The quick-release cheek pads are helpful in allowing first responders to remove the helmet without incurring any extra damage.
The Hardline Carbon weighs in at 910g, and retails for $520 USD / $750 CDN / $795 AUS /
€520.
The Hardline Composite weighs 990g, and retails for $390 USD / $480 CDN / $595 AUS / €520.
Smith's Forefront series of helmets have become quite popular, but they've continued to push the design to incorporate better safety features and improved ventilation. The Forefront 3 now features more airflow, full Koroyd protection, and a Mips Safety System for rotational impacts.
Six color options and three sizes should cater to a wide range of riders, assuming the fit and feel work for you.
The Forefront 3 features a deeper fit than the prior model, and should have better protection as a result. Despite the additional coverage, Smith says the ventilation has been improved by 25%, hopefully yielding a cooler lid when temperatures rise. For the price, it's disappointing to not see a magnetic buckle or camera/light mounts. The quoted 400g weight is a fair bit heavier than competing lids, but hopefully that translates into improved safety where it matters.
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