Smith Cache Mips Ski Helmet
Cache family · 26/27
Technology
Hard-Shell ABS Construction
The outer shell is a tough ABS hard shell built for impact protection and all-around durability. That construction is the trade-off for its 550g weight in size M versus a lighter in-mold lid.
Mips
A low-friction layer inside the helmet that lets it move a few millimeters on an angled impact, designed to reduce the rotational forces caused by angled impacts to the head. Select colorways come without Mips.
Micro-Adjustable Dial Fit
A dial at the back of the helmet tightens or loosens the fit on the fly, so you can fine-tune tension over a beanie or bare-headed without taking the helmet off.
AirEvac Ventilation
Smith’s goggle-integration venting that channels warm air out of the goggle interface to cut lens fogging, fed here by eleven vents — six fixed and five adjustable.
Features
- ·Tough hard-shell ABS build for impact protection and durability
- ·Mips rotational protection; select colorways offered without Mips
- ·Micro-adjustable dial fit tightens on the fly, even over a beanie
- ·Eleven vents — six fixed and five adjustable
- ·AirEvac goggle integration helps keep a Smith goggle clear
- ·Removable Snapfit ear pads, audio-chip and Aleck compatible
- ·Also offered in a Round Contour Fit for rounder head shapes
- ·Beanie compatible; includes a Smith helmet bag
The Smith Cache Mips is Smith’s tough value all-mountain lid, and the story is durability with adjustability: a hard-shell ABS outer shell built for impact protection, Mips to manage the rotational forces of an angled impact, and a micro-adjustable dial fit you can set on the fly. Certification is ASTM F2040 plus CE EN 1077:2007 Class B, the all-mountain standard, with dual certification for all-season use. The trade for the hard shell is weight — 550g in size M.
Venting and fit are where the Cache earns its keep. Eleven vents feed Smith’s AirEvac channel to keep a Smith goggle clear, and the five adjustable ports open and close as the day warms up. The Snapfit ear pads pull out for spring laps and take an audio chip or an Aleck system, and the dial tunes tension over a beanie or bare-headed. Select colorways come without Mips at a lower price.
This is the lid for a skier who wants hard-shell toughness, a dial fit, and adjustable venting without paying up. If you would rather save weight, Smith’s in-mold Method is lighter at 400g, but it drops the dial for a self-adjusting fit and runs fixed vents you cannot close — and it costs more than the Cache. If you ride mostly warm days and want to open airflow wide, the five adjustable ports here do that. The Cache also comes in a Round Contour Fit for rounder heads.
Safety — read this
No helmet prevents all injury. The Cache meets ASTM F2040 and EN 1077:2007 Class B; Mips is a rotational-impact management system that reduces rotational forces caused by angled impacts, not a certification and not a guarantee. Replace any helmet after a significant impact even if it looks undamaged, and check that the dial fit sits snug and level before you ride.
Strengths
- +Tough hard-shell ABS build for impact protection and durability
- +Micro-adjustable dial fit tunes tension on the fly
- +Eleven vents with five adjustable ports you can open
- +Mips rotational protection at a value price
- +Removable Snapfit ear pads take an audio chip
Best For
All-mountain skiers and riders who want tough hard-shell durability, a micro-adjustable dial fit, and adjustable venting at a value price.
Limitations
- −Hard-shell build is 550g, heavier than in-mold lids
- −Some colorways ship without Mips — check before buying
- −Round Contour Fit for rounder heads is a separate version
Not For
Skiers chasing the lightest possible lid — Smith’s in-mold Method saves weight at 400g — and anyone whose head shape needs the Round Contour Fit, which is a separate version.
Specs
- Weight
- 550g / 19oz (size M)
- Construction
- Hard-shell ABS (impact protection and durability)
- Rotational Protection
- Mips (select colorways offered without Mips)
- Fit System
- Micro-adjustable dial fit
- Ventilation
- 11 vents — 6 fixed, 5 adjustable
- Goggle Integration
- AirEvac ventilation
- Ear Pads
- Removable Snapfit (audio-chip and Aleck compatible)
- Certifications
- ASTM F2040 · CE EN 1077:2007 Class B (dual certification)
- Sizes
- S 51–55 · M 55–59 · L 59–63 · XL 63–67 cm
- Fit Options
- Standard + Round Contour Fit
- Included
- Smith helmet bag
Common Questions
- How much does the Smith Cache weigh?
- About 550g in size M. Its hard-shell ABS construction trades some weight for impact protection and durability.
- Does the Smith Cache have a dial fit?
- Yes. The Cache uses a micro-adjustable dial fit system you can tighten or loosen on the fly, even over a beanie.
- How many vents does the Smith Cache have?
- Eleven total — six fixed and five adjustable. The adjustable ports open and close as conditions change, and the AirEvac channel helps keep a Smith goggle clear.
- Does every Smith Cache have Mips?
- No. Most colorways carry Mips for rotational-impact management, but select colorways are offered without Mips at a lower price. Check the specific colorway before buying.
- Is there a Round Contour Fit for the Cache?
- Yes. The Cache comes in a Round Contour Fit tuned for rounder head shapes, alongside the standard fit.
