Ski gear is getting weirdly expensive. You walk into a shop in Aspen or even just browse online, and suddenly you’re looking at six-hundred-dollar carbon fiber buckets that claim to make you aerodynamic enough to break the sound barrier. It’s a bit much. Most of us just want to go fast, stay warm, and—most importantly—not turn our brains into oatmeal if we catch an edge on a hidden patch of ice. That brings us to the Smith Level MIPS helmet. Honestly, it’s the sweet spot. It doesn't have the "look at me" price tag of the Smith Vantage, but it steals almost all the tech that actually matters.
I’ve spent years watching people obsess over gear specs. They get bogged down in grams and vent counts. But if you’re actually out there on a Tuesday in February when the wind is whipping at thirty miles per hour, you realize that a helmet is basically a survival tool that needs to be comfortable enough to forget you're wearing it. The Level manages this trick better than almost anything else in Smith’s lineup.
What’s Actually Happening Inside the Smith Level MIPS Helmet?
Let’s talk about MIPS. If you don't know, it stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It’s that yellow liner you see inside. It looks like a cheap piece of plastic, but it’s probably the most significant advancement in head protection in twenty years.
Standard helmets are great at stopping a direct, "hammer-to-the-head" style hit. But that’s not how most people fall. You usually hit at an angle. This creates rotational force. Your brain is essentially floating in fluid inside your skull, and when your head stops suddenly but your brain keeps spinning, that’s where the real damage happens. MIPS allows the helmet to slide a few millimeters independently of your head. It’s a tiny movement. It’s subtle. But it redirects that energy away from your gray matter. In the Smith Level MIPS helmet, this system is integrated so tightly that you don't even feel the "slip" during normal use.
The Koroyd Factor
Then there's the green stuff. If you peer into the vents of a Smith Level, you’ll see these things that look like tiny green drinking straws bundled together. That’s Koroyd.
Traditional EPS foam (the white stuff in every helmet) is basically one-and-done. It crushes and absorbs energy. Koroyd does it better. It’s a "crumple zone" that collapses more consistently than foam. The beauty of it in the Level is that Smith uses it in strategic impact zones. They don't cover the whole head in it—that would make the helmet stiff and hot—but they put it where you’re most likely to take a digger.
Ventilation That Doesn't Make Your Ears Freeze
One of the biggest gripes with mid-range helmets is the "all or nothing" venting. You're either sweating through your goggles or your forehead is numb. The Smith Level MIPS helmet uses a hybrid shell construction. This is a fancy way of saying they put a tough, durable "bombshell" on the top and a lighter "in-mold" construction on the bottom.
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This allows for 20 vents. That’s a lot.
But the real win is the regulator. You can slide the vent cover with your gloved hand. It’s chunky. It’s tactile. You don't have to take your mittens off and fumble around while you're on the chairlift. I’ve seen people struggling with the tiny tabs on cheaper helmets, and it’s just frustrating. The Level makes it easy.
- Front Vents: These pull air through your goggles to stop fogging. Smith calls it AirEvac. It works.
- Top Vents: These dump heat when you're hiking a ridge or just working hard in the bumps.
- Rear Vents: These act like an exhaust.
If you wear Smith goggles—like the Squad or the I/O Mag—the fit is seamless. No "gaper gap." The brim of the helmet meets the top of the goggles perfectly. This isn't just about looking cool; it’s about keeping that freezing wind from hitting your forehead and giving you an instant ice cream headache.
Fit and Feel: The VaporFit System
We’ve all had that helmet that feels like a vice on the temples but loose on the back. It sucks. The Smith Level MIPS helmet uses the VaporFit system. It’s a dial at the back. You turn it, and the liner cinches down around the circumference of your head. It feels less like a plastic bucket and more like a snug beanie.
The liner is XT2 antibacterial performance stuff. Basically, it’s designed not to smell like a locker room after three days of spring skiing. It’s soft. It feels premium. Unlike the cheaper Smith Mission or Aspect, the Level feels "plush" the second you put it on.
Why Choose the Level Over the Vantage?
This is the big question. The Vantage is Smith’s flagship. It’s more expensive. It has more Koroyd. It has a slightly lower profile.
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But here’s the reality: The Smith Level MIPS helmet is more durable for the average user. Because the Level uses a beefier top shell, it handles being tossed into the back of a car or dropped in the parking lot much better than the thinner, ultra-lightweight Vantage.
The Vantage is for the person counting every single gram for backcountry touring. The Level is for the person who spends 90% of their time on the lift and wants a helmet that will last four or five seasons without looking beat up. Honestly, most people can't tell the difference in weight once it’s actually on their head.
Weight and Dimensions
We are talking about roughly 550 grams for a size medium. It’s light. It’s not "I forgot I was wearing a head" light, but it’s significantly better than the old-school hardshells that felt like wearing a bowling ball.
What Most People Get Wrong About Helmet Safety
I see this all the time: people buy a MIPS helmet and then wear a thick, chunky knit beanie underneath it. Stop doing that.
If you put a thick hat between your head and the MIPS liner, you’re basically negating the safety tech. The MIPS system needs to be close to your skull to work properly. If you’re cold, the Smith Level has plenty of insulation in the ear pads. If you’re still cold, wear a very thin, technical balaclava. But leave the bobble hat in the lodge.
Also, helmets have an expiration date. EPS foam degrades over time. It gets brittle. If you’re still rocking a Smith helmet from 2015, it’s time to upgrade. The materials in the Smith Level MIPS helmet are far superior to what was available a decade ago.
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Real-World Performance: The "Shred Test"
Let’s be real for a second. Most gear reviews are done in a lab or for five minutes on a sunny day. I’ve seen the Level in the PNW rain, Colorado cold, and California slush.
In the rain, the hybrid shell is a godsend. It doesn't soak through as fast as pure in-mold helmets. In the extreme cold (we’re talking sub-zero wind chill), the ear pads provide surprisingly good windproofing. They are also "audio compatible." You can unzip the ear pads and drop in some Aleck or Outdoor Tech chips. No wires, just music. It makes those long, slow triple-chair rides much more bearable.
The Drawbacks
Nothing is perfect. The Level can feel a bit "tall" on some head shapes. If you have a very narrow, small face, it might look a bit like a mushroom. It’s not as sleek as the Smith Maze (which is basically a park lid with zero vents).
And the goggle clip on the back? It’s a bungee-style cord. It works, and it’s actually easier to use with gloves than a plastic snap, but some people think it feels a bit "budget." I disagree. I’ve broken dozens of plastic snaps in the cold. I’ve never broken a bungee.
Actionable Steps for Buying the Right Level
Don't just click "buy" on the first one you see. There are a few things you need to do to make sure the Smith Level MIPS helmet actually works for you.
- Measure, Don't Guess: Use a soft tailor's tape. Wrap it around your head about an inch above your eyebrows. If you’re between sizes (say, 59cm), go with the Large. You can always cinch a slightly big helmet down, but a helmet that's too small will give you a headache within twenty minutes.
- Check Your Goggles: If you don't own Smith goggles, bring yours to the store. Most modern goggles (Oakley, Anon, Giro) will fit fine, but some oversized "spherical" lenses can push the helmet up or get pushed down onto your nose.
- Color Matters (Sorta): The matte finishes on the Level look incredible, but the darker colors (Black, Slate) get hot if you ski in high-altitude sun like Arapahoe Basin or Mammoth. If you run hot, consider a lighter gray or white.
- Inspect After a Crash: This is the big one. If you take a hard fall in your Level, replace it. Even if it looks fine. The Koroyd and EPS have done their job and "crushed." They won't do it a second time. Smith often has a crash replacement program where you can get a discount on a new one. Use it.
The Smith Level MIPS helmet is basically the "Toyota 4Runner" of the ski world. It’s not a Ferrari. It’s not a budget sedan. It’s a rugged, well-engineered tool that does exactly what it’s supposed to do without any unnecessary drama. It protects your head with the best tech available today, keeps your goggles clear, and doesn't cost as much as a season pass.
If you want the best balance of safety, airflow, and durability, this is the one you grab. Spend the money you saved on a better pair of gloves or a round of drinks at après. Your brain will thank you, and your wallet won't be screaming.