These two helmets were tested last week head to head (and back to back on the same runs!) in the Sierra mountains. The review is on the "overall" fit and functionality of the products, rather than a particular lens to use on a particular day. It was a super sunny day....so we used the "sunny day" lens.
Smith Vantage and iOS Goggle Combo
Sizes tested: Large, and iOS is a "Medium" sized Goggle
Design: NGT
Combo:
Smith came out with the venerable Vantage helmet and iOS Goggle some 3 years ago. It's a time-tested design, that is undeniably the most popular helmet on the market today. Smith is long the leader in Goggle/Helmet combos. The combo fits PERFECTLY with no gaper gap, and perfect fitment all around.
Helmet:
The Vantage fits my round head perfectly. Vents are fantastic and there are two of them on the top of the helmet that are easy to work with gloves in any conditions. They are adjustable--namely you can let in a little or a lot of air. Pretty good feature for this "hot-head".
The Biggest ISSUE with this helmet, in my experience, is the location of the BOA adjuster on the back of the helmet; namely, it's too low on the neck and when you turn your head, the helmet either loosens or tightens, if even a few clicks. VERY annoying.
Goggle:
The iOS goggle is a tried and trued design, and the lenses haven't changed all that much...I currently have the red and green Sol-X, the Blue Sensor, the Rose Persimmon, and the High Intensity Yellow. Seems to go throughout the range from high sun to low light.
Negatives on the goggle include *some* fogging issues, easy scratching both on the outside and the INSIDE of the lens (and yes, I know not to wipe the inside of the SMITH lens), lots of airflow transmitting to the eyeballs (I wear contacts, and it's very sensitive to air flow), and lens quality (more about this later).
Giro Range mips and Contact Goggle Combo
Sizes tested: Large, and the Contact is a Large/Oversized Goggle
Design: new for 2015/16
Combo:
The Giro Range/Contact combo fits perfectly together, as expected by any company doing both a goggle and helmet (and both these are at the top end of their range).
Helmet:
The fit of the Giro Range is an interesting one. The helmet wraps around the bottom of the head more than the Smith, and when you pull the BOA closure (which is perfectly located) it doesn't just pull the inside of the helmet around your head, but rather innovatively, Giro has made it so that the entire helmet moves larger or smaller. Kind of a cool design.
The helmet fits those with a round to oval head. Not a full oval/egg shaped, but definitely not as "round" as the Vantage. I felt a bit of pinch in the lower head/upper neck area when I first put on the helmet, although after re-adjusting and skiing with it I didn't experience too much discomfort. "Different" is the word I would describe the fit. My test-partner (my dad) doesn't report any such issues.
This helmet needs quite a bit of adjustment when you put it on to get set into the head--you place it on the head, pull it down with the BOA fully loose, and then tighten accordingly. No "grab and go".
Venting is not as good as the smith, as there isn't the option that the smith has with the two vents on top of the head.
Another negative is that the helmet is VERY noisy--a lot of wind gets into the ear flaps when you ski. Not an issue with a balaclava, but if you're like me and you like a bare head, the wind compared to the Smith is rather annoying.
Goggle:
Whoa. The Zeiss lens tech is SIMPLY AMAZING. WAY better than the Smith lens quality. Optics were spot on, and upon changing goggles from the smith to the Giro, it looked like the Smith was basically "muddy" and wasn't near as clear.
The Giro lens also didn't allow any wind to get in. These goggles are TOP NOTCH, and optical clarity and snow detail is awesome. I could literally ski faster in these goggles because of the little things I could pick up on the snow, and the fact that I felt as if no wind was penetrating thegoggle.
By far the best goggle I have ever used.
Smith Vantage and iOS Goggle Combo
Sizes tested: Large, and iOS is a "Medium" sized Goggle
Design: NGT
Combo:
Smith came out with the venerable Vantage helmet and iOS Goggle some 3 years ago. It's a time-tested design, that is undeniably the most popular helmet on the market today. Smith is long the leader in Goggle/Helmet combos. The combo fits PERFECTLY with no gaper gap, and perfect fitment all around.
Helmet:
The Vantage fits my round head perfectly. Vents are fantastic and there are two of them on the top of the helmet that are easy to work with gloves in any conditions. They are adjustable--namely you can let in a little or a lot of air. Pretty good feature for this "hot-head".
The Biggest ISSUE with this helmet, in my experience, is the location of the BOA adjuster on the back of the helmet; namely, it's too low on the neck and when you turn your head, the helmet either loosens or tightens, if even a few clicks. VERY annoying.
Goggle:
The iOS goggle is a tried and trued design, and the lenses haven't changed all that much...I currently have the red and green Sol-X, the Blue Sensor, the Rose Persimmon, and the High Intensity Yellow. Seems to go throughout the range from high sun to low light.
Negatives on the goggle include *some* fogging issues, easy scratching both on the outside and the INSIDE of the lens (and yes, I know not to wipe the inside of the SMITH lens), lots of airflow transmitting to the eyeballs (I wear contacts, and it's very sensitive to air flow), and lens quality (more about this later).
- Who is this setup for? Accessibility, or those who buy it because it's "available" and popular.
- Who are they not for? Racers and those looking for the top in lens quality. Those who want to change lenses all that easily.
- Insider tip: This product has been around for a while, so buy later in the year or summer to get the best prices on last year's color-ways.
Giro Range mips and Contact Goggle Combo
Sizes tested: Large, and the Contact is a Large/Oversized Goggle
Design: new for 2015/16
Combo:
The Giro Range/Contact combo fits perfectly together, as expected by any company doing both a goggle and helmet (and both these are at the top end of their range).
Helmet:
The fit of the Giro Range is an interesting one. The helmet wraps around the bottom of the head more than the Smith, and when you pull the BOA closure (which is perfectly located) it doesn't just pull the inside of the helmet around your head, but rather innovatively, Giro has made it so that the entire helmet moves larger or smaller. Kind of a cool design.
The helmet fits those with a round to oval head. Not a full oval/egg shaped, but definitely not as "round" as the Vantage. I felt a bit of pinch in the lower head/upper neck area when I first put on the helmet, although after re-adjusting and skiing with it I didn't experience too much discomfort. "Different" is the word I would describe the fit. My test-partner (my dad) doesn't report any such issues.
This helmet needs quite a bit of adjustment when you put it on to get set into the head--you place it on the head, pull it down with the BOA fully loose, and then tighten accordingly. No "grab and go".
Venting is not as good as the smith, as there isn't the option that the smith has with the two vents on top of the head.
Another negative is that the helmet is VERY noisy--a lot of wind gets into the ear flaps when you ski. Not an issue with a balaclava, but if you're like me and you like a bare head, the wind compared to the Smith is rather annoying.
Goggle:
Whoa. The Zeiss lens tech is SIMPLY AMAZING. WAY better than the Smith lens quality. Optics were spot on, and upon changing goggles from the smith to the Giro, it looked like the Smith was basically "muddy" and wasn't near as clear.
The Giro lens also didn't allow any wind to get in. These goggles are TOP NOTCH, and optical clarity and snow detail is awesome. I could literally ski faster in these goggles because of the little things I could pick up on the snow, and the fact that I felt as if no wind was penetrating thegoggle.
By far the best goggle I have ever used.
- Who is this setup for? Speedmongers. Those who want the absolute best in quality and performance out of a lens. Those with an oval-ish head who don't want a BOA that is constantly annoying and comes loose or tight when you move your head side to side.
- Who are they not for? Anyone on a budget, or those with a round head (helmet).
- Insider tip: Make sure to get a goggle that matches your poles, @Philpug says this is most important. (And make sure to get the proper lens for the condition you are going to ski. Although the goggle comes with two lenses, they differ depending on the color of the goggle you're purchasing.)