Fresh Produce | Smith Mainline Full Face Helmet

Smith makes some great open-face helmets and has quite the range to pick from. However, when it comes to full face protection, they take more of a quality over quantity approach. The Smith Mainline is the brand’s one-and-done full-face helmet, suitable for both enduro and DH riding.

The Mainline is lightweight but still packs all the high-tech safety features for when things get hairy. You’ll find both Mips and Koroyd safety tech incorporated in this one. It’s reassuring to see Smith hasn’t left any stone unturned with the Mainline. Protecting your head is no joke!

It comes in at 770g which is right in the ballpark with its competitors like the Fox Profame (760g) and the Lazer Cage (920g).

This is a helmet we’ve seen floating around the Enduro World Cup scene for quite a while now, and it’s been great to finally get our hands on one.

Smith Mainline key features

Safety Tech

The Mainline’s first line of defence is located in the shell of the helmet. Here you’ll find Koroyd’s honeycomb-like absorption lining. This high-performance core is made up of various micro-tubes linked together, which crumple under impact, absorbing as much force as possible, before it reaches your noggin.

Smith Mainline and its Koroyd’s honeycomb-like absorption lining — Koroyd’s safety tech is a core made up of hundreds of micro-tubes linked together, which crumple under impact, absorbing as much force as possible.

The next layer of protection is found in the Mips lining. This technology has been a well-respected industry leader for quite a while now. It’s designed to rotate on impact, deflecting the force of the hit to the helmet.

We’re stoked to see both of these technologies utilised in a helmet that is drawn towards the gnarly side of mountain biking.

Smith Mainline's Mips lining — Mips lining, an industry leader in regards to safety tech.

Smith Mainline with both Mips and — Great to see both Mips and Koroyd incorporated.

Comfort and Fit:

With a full face helmet that is designed to be pedaled uphill, comfort is key. If it’s not, you’ll likely end up reaching for your open face lid. We are pleased to say that the Mainline is one of the more comfortable full face helmets we’ve tested. It comes with a variety of pad options, so dialing in the fit is easy and hassle free. An added bonus is that the lining employs Hybrid X-STATIC and Ionic+ fibers aimed to reduce the washing intervals.

Smith Mainline check pads — The Mainline comes with a variety of pad sizes to help dial in the fit.

Airflow isn’t an issue with the Mainline, as it has 21 vents and an open mouthpiece at the front of the chin bar. The opening on the chinbar is a dividing feature as it optimizes airflow but also increases the risk of getting dirt in your mouth. After riding this in the mud, we’d probably opt for slightly less airflow in exchange for a grate of some kind.

21 air vents to keep that noggin of yours nice and cool.

The opening at the front lets a lot of air in, but also mud.

We tested this helmet with Smith’s own Rhythm goggles and a pair of Heatwave MXG-250s. Both fit really well, and we had no fogging issues with either. However, Smith does claim that pairing the Mainline with their goggles best optimises the anti-fog AirEvac ventilation system.

Smith Mainline paired with their Rhythm goggles for seamless integration. — Seamless integration when paired with Smith goggles. Definitely a neat fit.

Flow’s Verdict

The Mainline has become quite popular on the enduro scene and we now see why. Its good looks paired with sound safety makes for a reassuring and safe product.

If we knew we had a gnarly day of riding with quite a bit of pedaling, we’d be grabbing this one for sure. The comfort is there and, without doubt, so is the coverage for your cranium.