Smith Vantage 2 MIPS Ski Helmet Review: Top Lid Gets Subtle Upgrades

The cold wind gusts directly onto my face as I ride the Lenawee Mountain chairlift at Arapaho Basin. Feeling the bitter cold whip into the plentiful vents of the Smith Vantage 2 MIPS ski helmet reviewed here, I reach to the top of the lid and slide forward two small tabs. Instantly, the vents close, blocking the wind and warming my head significantly.

This is just one of the many tricks the Smith Vantage 2 has up its sleeve. Alone, not a big deal. But when comfort, protection, adjustability, convenience, and build quality come together, this helmet stands high on the podium among a crowded helmet market.

I had a chance to test the Vantage 2 well ahead of its release during the winter of 2025. Just hitting the market today, Smith improved upon arguably the top helmet for most experienced skiers. Read on for my impressions of this exceptional ski helmet.

In short: The Smith Vantage 2 MIPS ($295) ski helmet builds on its predecessor with improved hybrid shell construction that makes it lighter while maintaining protection. An additional ABS shell adds to the tri-shell hybrid construction, which combines two ABS shells at the crown of the helmet with a lightweight PC shell in the lower portion. In testing, the redesigned ventilation system works extremely well, giving skiers the ability to dial the perfect amount of venting.

Speaking of dials, the BOA fit system gives easy-to-use and precise fit adjustments. Thoughtfully placed foam on the ears and around the head is a cherry on top of a plush, comfortable helmet you’ll happily wear all day long. A Fidlock magnetic buckle rounds out this premium helmet’s improvements.

Check out our other top lid choices in the Best Ski Helmets buyer’s guide.

Smith Vantage 2 MIPS Ski Helmet Review: Protection

The Vantage 2 is one step down from Smith’s highest-priced helmet, the Nexus MIPS. But for most skiers, the Vantage 2 is all the helmet they’ll ever need.

Every ski helmet sold in North America must pass stringent testing benchmarks. As such, the Vantage passes tests to achieve ASTM F 2040, CE EN 1077:2007 CLASS B, CPSC, and CE EN1078 certifications.

Smith uses an interesting and unique material called Zonal KOROYD to absorb impacts while still offering ventilation. Launched in 2013 in bike helmets, KOROYD looks like a honeycomb of short straws stacked side by side. And since then (winning GearJunkie Best In Show awards along the way), it’s proven durable, protective, comfortable, and light. KOROYD forms the backbone of the Smith Vantage 2 MIPS helmet.

But Smith goes further, adding MIPS, a low-friction surface inside the helmet that lowers rotational forces on angular impacts. MIPS, while not required, adds another layer of protection for skiers that helps reduce the potential for injury.

Last but not least, the three-piece hybrid shell construction uses durable ABS plastic on the top and sides of the helmet, which are most prone to damage. It uses a lighter plastic on the back and lower areas to save weight.

The result is a helmet that will protect your head from many impacts. Of course, no helmet can save you from every possible accident, but the Vantage 2 will certainly help in many situations.

Comfort

This is one place most skiers will notice immediately. The Smith Vantage 2 is downright cush. It has thick, warm foam covering the ears, which wraps around the base of the skull and up to the temples. Removable padding sits above that, providing a snug but nice fit on the forehead and side of the head.

The top of the helmet suspends away from the skull with thin mesh, which allows lots of airflow to let sweat and moisture dry.

The only downside of the comfort equation may be weight. My size medium test model weighed 20.56 ounces, while Smith claims 18 ounces for the same size medium. Regardless of the discrepancy, that’s a very average weight for a ski helmet, but lighter models do exist. It shouldn’t affect the experience of resort skiers at all, but backcountry ounce-counters can find models around 12 ounces. For instance, the Bern Watts 2.0 weighs 12.3 ounces, and the Smith Method MIPS is 14.1 ounces.

It’s worth noting that Smith added a Fidlock closure for the buckle. This magnetic closure system is super-quick and easy to open and close with gloves on and is a nice improvement versus the original Vantage.

Warmth

Another area in which the Smith Vantage 2 excels is warmth. I tested the helmet on a frigid day with howling winds, and with the ventilation closed, was entirely warm and comfortable inside the helmet. And as noted above, it’s like a chameleon in its ability to adapt to warmer conditions. Just open the vent and let the cool air in!

For warmth yet versatility across various weather conditions, the Vantage 2 is a 10 out of 10.

Ventilation

The Vantage 2 MIPS has excellent ventilation. I counted 32 vents on my test model. However, it doesn’t just have lots of ventilation — it is also customizable to the situation.

As mentioned at the beginning of this review, the wearer can quickly flip two small latches to entirely close the vents on the helmet. By doing this, it blocks wind coming from any direction. But because it uses two switches (instead of one in the old Vantage), the wearer can also choose to shut just one portion of the vents, allowing some ventilation, but not all of it.

I found this incredibly useful in testing on cold, windy days. I was able to customize the vents exactly to my liking to maintain comfort in various weather conditions.

Durability

I’ve only worn the Vantage 2 for about 10 days so far, but it’s showing no signs of wear. Every component seems well-made, and I expect it will hold up as well or better than the original Vantage. The ABS plastic on the top of the helmet is well-proven to hold up to hard use, as is the KOROYD material.

While it’s possible to break BOA systems, they are also repairable. I’ve had no problem with this one yet. As I’m still early in the testing of this helmet, I don’t want to go into much more detail. I’ll update this review as I get more days on the slopes.

Smith Vantage 2 Review: Who Should Buy It

The Smith Vantage 2 is among the very best ski helmets on the market, but it doesn’t come cheap. At about $295 retail, it’s on the higher end of the price spectrum.

Is it worth it? I would say, if you can afford it, absolutely. Supremely comfortable, warm, versatile, and stylish, the Smith Vantage 2 checks every box I look for in a ski helmet.

It’s a great fit for resort skiers first and foremost. For serious skiers or snowboarders who want one helmet that can do it all, it’s a great choice. For those who also ride backcountry, it’s still a solid choice, with the only downside being a few ounces of weight to carry on the skin track.

Those focused solely on the backcountry can probably do better with a lighter helmet. Those who may face rockfall should definitely look elsewhere for a helmet also rated for rock impact.

But for the vast majority of intermediate to expert skiers and snowboarders, the Smith Vantage 2 MIPS ski helmet is a great choice. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one and enjoy it for seasons to come.