Smith Nexus Mips Ski Helmet
Nexus family · 26/27
Technology
Complete Koroyd
Welded co-polymer tubes that crumple on impact to absorb energy while staying open for airflow; the Nexus runs complete Koroyd coverage throughout the helmet.
Exoskeleton
Added reinforcement built into the side-impact zones of the shell to enhance protection there, on top of the Koroyd coverage.
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 that reach your head.
BOA 360 Fit System
A dial-driven cable cradle that tightens evenly around the whole head for one-handed micro-adjustment on the move.
AirEvac Ventilation
Smith’s goggle-integration venting that channels warm, moist air up and out of the goggle interface to cut lens fogging.
Features
- ·Hybrid shell with complete Koroyd coverage for energy absorption and airflow
- ·Exoskeleton reinforcement in the side-impact zones
- ·Mips for rotational-impact management (select colorways offered without Mips)
- ·BOA 360 dial fit for one-handed micro-adjustment
- ·24 vents with front and rear adjustable airflow
- ·AirEvac goggle integration for fog-free lenses
- ·Fidlock magnetic buckle and removable ear pads
- ·Aleck audio compatible; ships with a Smith helmet bag
- ·Also offered in a Round Contour Fit for rounder head shapes
The Smith Nexus Mips sits at the protection-forward end of Smith’s all-mountain line, and its idea is layered impact management: a hybrid shell over complete Koroyd coverage, with an Exoskeleton reinforcing the side-impact zones where a shell alone can be thin. Complete Koroyd does the absorbing — welded co-polymer tubes that crumple to take energy and stay open so the helmet keeps breathing — and Mips manages the rotational forces an angled impact can send to your head. Certification is ASTM F2040 plus CE EN 1077:2007 Class B, the all-mountain standard.
Fit and venting come from Smith’s adjustable hardware. The BOA 360 dial micro-adjusts the cradle around your whole head one-handed, so you can snug it over a thin hat or ease it off late in the day without stopping. Twenty-four vents adjust front and rear to regulate airflow, AirEvac routes warm air out of the goggle interface to keep a Smith lens clear, and the Fidlock buckle closes one-handed with gloves on. A sweat-wicking, odor-fighting liner and removable ear pads round out the interior, and it ships in a Smith helmet bag.
What you pay the Nexus premium for is the Exoskeleton side-impact reinforcement on top of the same complete-Koroyd, BOA-360 platform as the Smith Vantage 2. The Vantage 2 costs less and actually carries more vents — 40 to the Nexus’s 24 — but it does not add that side-impact reinforcement. At 550g in size M it matches the Vantage 2’s weight, so this is not the lid to chase if you want something lighter; Smith’s 400g Method Mips is that helmet, with zonal Koroyd and a simpler fixed-vent, no-dial setup. And if a round helmet has always pressed on your forehead or the back of your head, buy the Round Contour Fit version instead: same helmet, a shape tuned for rounder heads.
Safety — read this
No helmet prevents all injury. The Nexus meets ASTM F2040 and EN 1077:2007 Class B; Koroyd, the Exoskeleton, and Mips are impact-management systems, not guarantees. Replace any helmet after a significant impact even if it looks undamaged, and make sure the BOA dial holds a snug, level fit before you ride.
Strengths
- +Complete Koroyd coverage absorbs impact energy while staying ventilated
- +Exoskeleton adds reinforcement in the side-impact zones
- +BOA 360 dial micro-adjusts fit one-handed on the move
- +AirEvac venting routes goggle fog out of the lens interface
- +Fidlock buckle closes one-handed with gloves on
Best For
All-mountain and resort skiers who want a dial fit, complete Koroyd, and added side-impact reinforcement in one helmet.
Limitations
- −Costs more than Smith’s Vantage 2 lid
- −At 550g in size M, not a light helmet
- −24 vents — fewer than the Vantage 2’s 40
- −Aleck audio system sold separately
Not For
Skiers who want a lighter lid or more vents for less money — the 400g Method Mips or the 40-vent Vantage 2 fit that better — and anyone whose head shape needs the Round Contour Fit, which is a separate version.
Specs
- Weight
- 550g / 19oz (size M)
- Construction
- Hybrid shell (durable exterior + in-molded shell) with complete Koroyd coverage
- Protection
- Exoskeleton reinforcement in side-impact zones
- Rotational Protection
- Mips (select colorways offered without Mips)
- Fit System
- BOA 360 dial, 360° micro-adjust
- Ventilation
- 24 vents · front and rear adjustable
- Goggle Integration
- AirEvac ventilation
- Ear Pads
- Removable
- Buckle
- Fidlock magnetic, one-hand
- Certifications
- ASTM F2040 · CE EN 1077:2007 Class B
- Sizes
- S 51–55 · M 55–59 · L 59–63 · XL 63–67 cm
- Fit Options
- Standard + Round Contour Fit
- Audio
- Aleck system compatible
- Included
- Smith helmet bag
Common Questions
- Does the Smith Nexus have Mips?
- Most colorways include Mips. Select colorways come without Mips at a lower price.
- What is the Exoskeleton on the Nexus?
- It is reinforcement built into the side-impact zones of the shell to add protection there, on top of the complete Koroyd coverage.
- Does the Nexus have a dial fit?
- Yes. It uses the BOA 360 dial to micro-adjust the fit around your whole head one-handed.
- Can I get the Nexus for a rounder head?
- Yes. It comes in a Round Contour Fit tuned for rounder head shapes, alongside the standard fit.
- Nexus or Vantage 2 — which should I buy?
- Both run complete Koroyd, a BOA 360 dial, and Mips. The Nexus adds the Exoskeleton for side-impact reinforcement; the Vantage 2 costs less and carries more vents. Want the added side-impact protection, buy the Nexus; want more airflow for less, the Vantage 2.
