I ride a Recumbent AZUB etrike.. 7" off the ground.. I chose the Forefront 2 because of the full koroyd, MIPS helmet because of the extra protection it offered.. Recumbent riders need to consider different impact zones. The side of your head is especially vulnerable. I was broad sided at an intersection when a driver was texting and driving, she ran the light and clipped the inside of my crank arm.. Bent it and twisted my frame flipping me over a couple times. The ER doctor who removed my helmet, said,, "the only reason your alive is because you have a really good helmet.. Any lessor helmet would have cracked in half and your brain would have not have survived.." I consider myself fortunate..Today, I only ride with a Forefront 2 or a Mainline helmet that is NTA-8776 rated for ebike speeds.. I trust SmithOptics helmets to protect me.
I wish helmet manufacturers would study the special impact zones of recumbent riders and develop a helmet just for them.. It is a growing industry and way to cycle..
@@FanatikBikeCo That is very kind.. Always video record all rides.. Always call it what it is a collision, Always call the police to get a report. Always contact a bicycle collision attorney if there is property damage or physical injury. Otherwise insurance companies will not pay. They play the numbers game.. if only .5 % of bike riders submit a bill, and only 5% of that .5% get a payout, they save money rather than simply paying out what the law requires.. I was fortunate that i knew what to do and what information to collect at the scene...Then i got a good attorney that worked strictly on contingency..
These have great protection... if you want the Dutch NTA-8776 certified safety rating, the Mainline offers a Ebike rating for up to 28mph impact protection.. Europe requires this NTA rating. And the Mainline is the only one in the Smith line with Koroyd, MIPS and NTA-8776 rating.. This is the highest level of protection you can get in a light bicycle helmet.. The next step would be the DOT and SNELL rating in heavy Motorcycle helmets.. (well unless you fork out $599 for a light carbon fiber DOT, SNELL motorcycle helmet.)
I like my Session plenty for the most part. I wish the fit was better for me, but I think that’s a personal problem. Ventilation could be a bit better on it, I’ve heard the Forefront suffers a bit there as well. My biggest issue with these are the finicky straps though. Adjusting them to fit flat against your face is virtually impossible, and that just seems like an oversight for helmets in this price point. Hoping they figure out a new strap design on the next one, great helmets otherwise though.
Got my smith optics FOREFRONT 2 MIPS helmet today (€230). Due to the lack of proper padding, it real hurts the upper back of my head to wear it. I´ll return it immediately, can´t recommend it. I´d expect for a this expansive helmet more comfy than just the 5mm strip of padding at the forehead. 😞
Tried this helmet at my local shop but I just don't understand the sizing. My head circumference is 60cm and size M is too small but when I try L, it fits like an army helmet. As far as circumference goes, I can get it dialed in, but helmet "falls into" my head and sits on my eyebrows. Have I missed some other way of adjusting the size?
It may just be that this particular helmet doesn't work well for you. The only other adjustment is to move the ratcheting system that sits on the lower part of the back of your head up or down, but I don't think that will take care of the issues you're experiencing. I would try a few other brands and see if you can find one that works well for you. TLD and Bell also have great options, as well as many others. - Dan at Fanatik
@@FanatikBikeCo Thanks for the reply. I've actually been to the local shop again and tried lowering the ratcheting system and it made the helmet fit so much better but still not perfect. With Bell I have the same issue, I'm in between sizes. Interesting thing but so far the only perfect helmet in regards to sizing that I've tried was some cheap Decathlon one.
![The FOREFRONT 2 MTB Helmet by Smith [Review]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0o7wa1yRDNU/mqdefault.jpg)
I ride a Recumbent AZUB etrike.. 7" off the ground.. I chose the Forefront 2 because of the full koroyd, MIPS helmet because of the extra protection it offered.. Recumbent riders need to consider different impact zones. The side of your head is especially vulnerable. I was broad sided at an intersection when a driver was texting and driving, she ran the light and clipped the inside of my crank arm.. Bent it and twisted my frame flipping me over a couple times. The ER doctor who removed my helmet, said,, "the only reason your alive is because you have a really good helmet.. Any lessor helmet would have cracked in half and your brain would have not have survived.." I consider myself fortunate..Today, I only ride with a Forefront 2 or a Mainline helmet that is NTA-8776 rated for ebike speeds.. I trust SmithOptics helmets to protect me.
I wish helmet manufacturers would study the special impact zones of recumbent riders and develop a helmet just for them.. It is a growing industry and way to cycle..
So glad you're okay! Helmet safety is no joke, especially where cars are involved!
- Dan at Fanatik
@@FanatikBikeCo That is very kind.. Always video record all rides.. Always call it what it is a collision, Always call the police to get a report. Always contact a bicycle collision attorney if there is property damage or physical injury. Otherwise insurance companies will not pay. They play the numbers game.. if only .5 % of bike riders submit a bill, and only 5% of that .5% get a payout, they save money rather than simply paying out what the law requires.. I was fortunate that i knew what to do and what information to collect at the scene...Then i got a good attorney that worked strictly on contingency..
@@rdkuless Thanks for the good info! I'm glad it all worked out!
These have great protection... if you want the Dutch NTA-8776 certified safety rating, the Mainline offers a Ebike rating for up to 28mph impact protection.. Europe requires this NTA rating. And the Mainline is the only one in the Smith line with Koroyd, MIPS and NTA-8776 rating.. This is the highest level of protection you can get in a light bicycle helmet..
The next step would be the DOT and SNELL rating in heavy Motorcycle helmets.. (well unless you fork out $599 for a light carbon fiber DOT, SNELL motorcycle helmet.)
Amazing gear Smith makes the best stuff and has great customer service
Is Rich going for the Calvin from ParkTool look?! Cheers guys!
It's a lifestyle. Calvin over at Park Tools gets it
I like my Session plenty for the most part. I wish the fit was better for me, but I think that’s a personal problem. Ventilation could be a bit better on it, I’ve heard the Forefront suffers a bit there as well. My biggest issue with these are the finicky straps though. Adjusting them to fit flat against your face is virtually impossible, and that just seems like an oversight for helmets in this price point. Hoping they figure out a new strap design on the next one, great helmets otherwise though.
Dan didn't get to be in the video because when he handed in his test helmet Rich said, "cool looking Frisbee."
Fortunately I always carry my MIB neuralyzer, so I just erased their memory and carried on with my ride. - Dan at Fanatik
Got my smith optics FOREFRONT 2 MIPS helmet today (€230). Due to the lack of proper padding, it real hurts the upper back of my head to wear it. I´ll return it immediately, can´t recommend it. I´d expect for a this expansive helmet more comfy than just the 5mm strip of padding at the forehead. 😞
You lost me at "The helmet has exploded" lol 3:25
Like it a lot
Tried this helmet at my local shop but I just don't understand the sizing. My head circumference is 60cm and size M is too small but when I try L, it fits like an army helmet. As far as circumference goes, I can get it dialed in, but helmet "falls into" my head and sits on my eyebrows. Have I missed some other way of adjusting the size?
It may just be that this particular helmet doesn't work well for you. The only other adjustment is to move the ratcheting system that sits on the lower part of the back of your head up or down, but I don't think that will take care of the issues you're experiencing. I would try a few other brands and see if you can find one that works well for you. TLD and Bell also have great options, as well as many others.
- Dan at Fanatik
@@FanatikBikeCo Thanks for the reply. I've actually been to the local shop again and tried lowering the ratcheting system and it made the helmet fit so much better but still not perfect. With Bell I have the same issue, I'm in between sizes. Interesting thing but so far the only perfect helmet in regards to sizing that I've tried was some cheap Decathlon one.
Ad