Price: $250
Weight: 275g
The right helmet for: Riders who want a light road helmet with high-end features
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The Smith Trace replaces the company’s top-end Overtake road helmet that was discontinued at the end of 2018. It retains the previous model’s best feature: Aerocore, panels of a honeycomb-like material called Koroyd that is said to increase airflow and, along with the EPS foam, absorb more energy upon impact. But compared to the Overtake, the Trace has better aerodynamics, improved eyewear integration, and a sleeker look.
What’s New for 2019?
I’ve been wearing the Overtake during fall and winter rides for the past few years. And while I appreciate its ability to hold warmth on colder days, I’ve always felt it’s a little too warm on hotter ones. Smith addresses this with the new Trace by adding two open vents (without Aerocore panels) on the top of the helmet that allow excess heat to escape while also increasing airflow to improve cooling on hot days. Better ventilation, however, doesn’t mean that the Trace is no longer an option for cold-weather rides. I was able to wear it on chilly days without layering a cap underneath, and my head stayed plenty warm. By improving the one drawback I found with the Overtake—ventilation—Smith made its new Trace a helmet that can be worn year-round, especially for riders like me who tend to run a bit hot.
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The overall appearance of the Trace is sleeker than its predecessor, as well. The shape and placement of the vents create a more rounded look that’s not as angled at the back like that of the Overtake. (Smith claims the new shape produced less drag during wind-tunnel testing than any other helmet in its class.) The Trace also boasts improved eyewear integration in the form of a gap between the outer shell and Aerocore panel, which creates enough space to accommodate the arms of your sunglasses via channels on both sides.
Lots of Protective Tech—MIPS, Aerocore, Koroyd, EPS
MIPS—a low-friction layer within the helmet that slides a few millimeters in all directions to reduce rotational damage to your brain in the event of a crash—comes standard on the Trace. As do the Aerocore panels of Koroyd, miniature tubes that are thermo-welded together to create what looks like drinking straws if you were to look straight down on them. Smith claims that by including Aerocore, the EPS foam used throughout the rest of the helmet is able to absorb more energy upon impact. Though this construction tends to retain more heat than if the vents were fully open, the Trace still provides plenty of ventilation—with the bonus of added protection. Three levels of height adjustment and a micro-adjustable Vaporfit dial system let you fine-tune the helmet’s fit.
Overall Impressions
I’ve always been a big fan of the Overtake and had been riding in it right up until the Trace showed up. This new model has all the parts I loved about the old one, in a more attractive, better ventilated, and easier-to-use package. The ventilation is so improved, in fact, I consider the Trace an all-year, all-around road helmet that I can grab no matter the weather, and no matter where I ride.
Matt grew up riding BMX in the UK and has ridden across Europe and the US, and now he’s putting those miles to use testing road, mountain, and city bikes for Bicycling. His ideal ride includes includes steep rock gardens, sweeping berms, and fast descents followed by a cold beer.
