Smith Optics, known for creating sunglasses suitable for winter sports, cycling, and a variety of other athletic activities, has released an innovative new helmet that redefines conventional standards.
Most eye-catching is its honeycomb-like interior, but thanks to the AEROCORE construction—which bonds an EPS core to a honeycomb structure made of polymer tubes called Koroyd—it achieves superior impact absorption while remaining lightweight and highly ventilated.
Smith Optics “FOREFRONT” Mountain Helmet ¥31,000 (excl. tax)
An all-mountain and XC helmet that has won numerous design awards, including the product design award, reddot award, and design & innovation award.
It is designed to easily stow sunglasses and comes equipped with a goggle strap holder, as well as mounts for lights and cameras. The AEROCORE construction creates efficient airflow inside the helmet, designed to prevent sunglasses and goggles from fogging.
Smith Optics “OVERTAKE” Road Helmet ¥33,000 (excl. tax)
Protection, ventilation, aerodynamics, and lightweight—this road helmet combines these elements at a high level through its AEROCORE construction. Above all, I believe its sophisticated design, unlike anything seen before, sets it apart from other helmets. (It goes without saying that I bought one immediately myself.)
Its low-profile shape provides a great, secure fit, and when used with frameless sunglasses like the Smith PIVLOCK series, it ensures a wide field of vision. The alignment between the top of the eyewear and the helmet line provides excellent ventilation and reduces wind resistance, and because the sides of the helmet do not interfere with the temples of the eyewear, the eyewear’s original fit is never compromised.
Furthermore, the ability to smartly store eyewear when not in use, along with a design that seamlessly integrates the helmet and eyewear, is something unique to Smith. It seems they have already begun supporting the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.
While the colors currently in stock for both the FOREFRONT and OVERTAKE are limited, other colors are scheduled to arrive soon, so please stay tuned.