Smith Glide Jr. Mips Ski Helmet
Glide family · 26/27
Technology
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 a child’s head.
In-Mold Construction
The outer shell is fused to the EPS foam liner in one lightweight piece — how the Glide Jr comes in at about 350g so a kid barely notices it.
DFS2 Dial Fit System
A dial-adjustable cradle a parent or child can tune by hand, so the fit stays snug over a thin beanie and can grow with the season.
Features
- ·Light 350g in-mold shell a young skier forgets they are wearing
- ·Mips plus the same ASTM/EN certification the adult helmets carry
- ·DFS2 dial to snug the fit over a beanie or as a kid grows
- ·Youth sizes from 48 to 59 cm
- ·Pairs with Smith youth goggles for a gap-free fit
- ·Also offered without Mips at a lower price
The Smith Glide Jr. Mips is Smith’s lightest junior helmet, and the point is comfort: a helmet a young skier will actually keep on because they forget it is there. An in-mold shell keeps weight to about 350g in Youth Small, and Mips manages the rotational forces of an angled impact the same way the grown-up Smith lids do. Certification is ASTM F2040 plus CE EN 1077:2007 Class B — the same standard the adult helmets meet, not a lesser kids rating.
Fit is handled by the DFS2 dial, which a parent or the child can turn by hand to snug the cradle over a thin beanie, and it holds through a day of laps. Youth sizes run from 48 to 59 cm, and the shell is cut to pair with Smith’s youth goggles so there is no forehead gap. It is the sensible choice for a kid who is skiing regularly and has grown out of a hand-me-down lid.
A note for parents: buy to fit now, not to grow into — a loose helmet does not do its job. If your budget is tight and you are comfortable skipping the rotational layer, Smith offers the Glide Jr without Mips for less. And once a head passes 59 cm, it is time to move up to a small adult helmet like the Smith Method.
Safety — read this
No helmet prevents all injury, and this is true for kids too. The Glide Jr meets ASTM F2040 and EN 1077:2007 Class B; Mips is an impact-management system, not a guarantee. Fit is everything with a child: the helmet should sit level and snug with the dial firm, never loose to "grow into," and it should be replaced after any significant impact even if it looks fine.
Strengths
- +Light 350g in-mold shell kids keep on without complaint
- +Mips rotational protection plus full ASTM/EN certification
- +DFS2 dial snugs the fit over a beanie or as they grow
- +Youth sizing from 48 to 59 cm
Best For
Young skiers and riders who need a light, dial-fit helmet with Mips in youth sizes from 48 to 59 cm.
Limitations
- −Youth sizes only — measure the head before buying
- −A loose "room to grow" fit undoes the protection
- −The non-Mips Glide Jr costs less if you skip that layer
Not For
Kids whose heads measure over 59 cm — size up to a small adult helmet like the Smith Method — and parents on a tight budget who are willing to skip Mips, which the cheaper non-Mips Glide Jr covers.
Specs
- Weight
- 350g / 12oz (size YS)
- Construction
- Lightweight in-mold — Smith’s lightest junior helmet
- Rotational Protection
- Mips (a non-Mips Glide Jr is offered for less)
- Fit System
- DFS2 adjustable dial
- Certifications
- ASTM F2040 · CE EN 1077:2007 Class B
- Sizes
- YXS 48-52 · YS 51-55 · YM 55-59 cm
- Goggle Integration
- Designed to pair with Smith youth goggles
Common Questions
- Does the Smith Glide Jr have Mips?
- This version does. Smith also offers the Glide Jr without Mips at a lower price if you choose to skip the rotational layer.
- What sizes does the Glide Jr come in?
- Youth sizes: YXS (48-52 cm), YS (51-55 cm), and YM (55-59 cm). Measure your child’s head just above the ears and buy the size that fits now.
- How does the fit adjust as my child grows?
- The DFS2 dial tightens or loosens the cradle by hand, so you can snug it over a beanie and take up a little room across a season — but always to a firm, level fit, never loose.
- When should my child move up from the Glide Jr?
- When their head measures over 59 cm, the Glide Jr has run out of room and it is time for a small adult helmet such as the Smith Method.
