Smith Forefront 3 Review: Premium MTB Protection with a Catch

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Now in its 3rd generation, the Smith Forefront 3 has long been a staple in Smith’s helmet lineup and sits at the top of the price range. For $300 USD, it asks the price of a premium helmet, but does it deliver? The first thing I noticed was the absence of a Fidlock buckle, which I really like on a helmet, but it makes up for it with a host of other features we’ve come to expect from some of the best MTB helmets on the market.

The Forefront 3 is quite comfortable in terms of fit and packed with features, but as someone who runs pretty hot and prioritizes ventilation in a helmet, it falls a little short of keeping my head cool. But if you want an excellent fit and a super safe MTB helmet and don’t mind the lack of ventilation, this might be a contender for your next brain bucket.

Overview

• MSRP: $300 USD
• Sizes: Small, Medium (tested), Large
• Features: MIPS Air Node, KOROYD, BOA Fit System closure, Sunglasses storage.
• Weight: 410g Claimed for size MD (412g tested)

Fit

Helmet sizing can be tricky between brands, not for lack of sizing charts, but due to the variations in shell “roundness”. Not all helmets hit the mark for every head out there, and Smith is definitely more targeted toward oval head shapes, which I happen to sit somewhere between oval and spherical. That being said, the Smith Forefront 3 fits great in a size medium. I wear a medium in almost every helmet out there (depending on how long my hair is), and I’m glad to see the Forefront 3 offered in a decent size range that fits anyone with a head circumference of 51-62cm.

The Boa Fit System is super easy to adjust to dial in the final fit, and the MIPS Air Node liner fades into the background without any protruding plastic edges or rubber grippers to snag hair. The peak is adjustable and, for a trail helmet, on the shorter side, which I don’t mind at all, especially when mounting an action camera or light. 

The buckle is a “low-tech” traditional buckle (no Fidlock), which is one thing I didn’t love. For a helmet at this price point, I’d expect to see that as a feature, but nothing is perfect.

Features

The Forefront 3 uses a KOROYD impact protection insert throughout the helmet, and if it’s good enough to be used in fighter pilot helmets for the USAF, I’m sure it can handle whatever G’s a mountain biker can dish out.

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The MIPS Air Node is another safety feature that Smith has tapped into for the Forefront 3, and it’s a slimmed-down liner that claims the same rotational impact protection as the much bulkier systems that we’ve seen in years past. This means no more snagged hairs or uncomfortable plastic parts tickling the head.

The peak is adjustable in three positions that feel pretty secure.

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The BOA Fit System is unobtrusive, easy to live with, and very light. As with other helmets that use this system, it’s a premium-feeling fit and function, with a very minimal rear cradle that doesn’t use any super-rigid plastic to keep it in place, making for a super comfortable hug from the helmet.

Testing

Overall, the fit is great on the Forefront 3, and I’ve always gotten along really well with Smith helmets because of it. I really love the shorter peak on the helmet, and the sunglasses storage feels secure, plus you have two storage options (front and rear). The BOA Fit System is super comfortable, and the weight is pretty competitive, especially considering the KOROYD inserts, but that is a bit of a dual-edged blade.

The glaring issue I have with the Forefront 3 (and with any other helmet featuring KOROYD inserts) is the ventilation. Although the shell has 20 fixed vents throughout, KOROYD just doesn’t suck in the air like an open vent.

I run pretty damn warm, and with pretty thick hair, I love a helmet that breathes, and while the Forefront 3 doesn’t have terrible ventilation, it’s not great, and I found myself squeezing out the pads pretty early on in each ride to evacuate all the sweat that began running down my face.

Not having the Fidlock buckle is a small gripe, but as someone who rides with wired earbuds, I really like the magnetic buckle for stashing the unused earbud; it’s also much easier to open and close.

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