The Smith Pilot Mips is a mountain bike helmet that immediately makes sense on paper. It comes from a premium helmet and eyewear brand, weighs a claimed 370g in a medium, includes Mips rotational impact protection and costs less than £100. For newer mountain bikers, trail riders and eMTB users who want a proper off-road helmet without jumping into £150-plus territory, that is an appealing combination.

This review of the Smith Pilot Mips comes from using it as a trail helmet rather than judging it purely on price. The result is a helmet that feels comfortable enough for proper mountain biking, light enough not to become annoying, nicely styled and breathable on warmer rides. It does not feel like a bargain-bin lid from a premium brand. It feels like a sensible, stripped-back trail helmet that has focused on the essentials.

There are compromises. You do not get a Fidlock buckle, the peak is fixed rather than adjustable, and the Mips system is a simpler setup than the higher-grade safety systems found on more expensive helmets. But the Smith Pilot Mips does enough right to feel like one of the more interesting MTB helmets under £100. If you are comparing it with other affordable trail lids, our MET Shelter Mips review is a useful place to start.

Smith Pilot Mips: Review

Comfort and fit

The Smith Pilot Mips is comfortable in the way a good everyday trail helmet needs to be. It does not feel overbuilt, awkward or heavy, and it sits securely enough for normal mountain bike and eMTB rides. Once the fit is dialled in, it feels easy to live with.

The rear adjustment dial gives enough range to fine-tune the fit, while the low-bulk straps help the helmet feel neater than some budget options. It is not as plush or refined as Smith’s more expensive MTB helmets, but it does not feel cheap either. That is the important distinction. The Pilot feels like a pared-back Smith helmet, not a basic helmet with a premium logo.

At a claimed 370g in medium, it also feels light enough for longer rides. It is not an ultra-light race helmet, but for trail riding, family MTB loops, gravelly off-road routes and everyday eMTB use, the weight is well judged. Riders who want something more protective and premium-feeling may prefer a helmet like the Bluegrass Rogue Core Mips, but the Smith is easier to justify if you want a lighter, simpler option under £100.

Ventilation and trail use

Ventilation is good for a helmet in this price bracket. The Smith Pilot Mips has 13 fixed vents, and on warmer rides it breathes well enough to avoid feeling stuffy. It is not the airiest trail helmet on the market, but that would be an unfair expectation under £100.

For UK trail riding, the airflow feels well balanced. It is breathable enough for climbs and warmer days, but still has enough coverage to feel like a proper mountain bike helmet rather than a road lid with a peak. That makes it a strong option for riders who want one helmet for trail centres, local woods, mellow eMTB rides and mixed-surface exploring.

The styling also helps. The Pilot has a clean, modern shape without looking too aggressive. It looks like a Smith product, and for a helmet at this price, that will matter to riders who want affordable kit that still feels considered. If you are riding faster and on steeper terrain and want more coverage, it is worth comparing it with higher-end options such as the Troy Lee Designs A3 Mips or Endura MT500 Mips.

Safety and features

The Pilot Mips uses a standard Mips liner, which is a welcome feature at this price. It gives the helmet rotational impact protection, but it is not the more advanced or more integrated type of system you will find on some premium helmets. There is no Koroyd, no Mips Air, no Mips Integra and no published Virginia Tech rating at the time of writing.

That does not make it a poor safety choice. It still meets the relevant safety standards and includes Mips, but riders should understand where it sits. This is an affordable trail helmet with useful safety tech, not a flagship lid with every premium protection feature available.

The fixed visor is another clear compromise. It sits in a sensible position and works fine for general riding, but it cannot be raised or lowered depending on light, goggles or personal preference. Riders interested in more unusual safety-led helmet design should also read our Canyon Deflectr review, which takes a very different approach with Canyon’s RLS system and HighBar retention design.

What is not so good?

The Smith Pilot Mips misses some of the features riders now associate with premium MTB helmets. There is no Fidlock buckle, no adjustable peak and no higher-grade Mips system. None of those omissions ruin the helmet, but they explain how Smith has kept the price below £100.

The fixed visor is probably the most noticeable compromise in day-to-day use. It works well enough, but adjustability would make the helmet more versatile. The lack of Fidlock is also understandable at this price, though once you have used magnetic buckles on other trail helmets, a standard buckle feels less polished.

I would not mark the Pilot down heavily for ventilation, because it was breathable on warmer days and performs well for its category. The bigger point is that it gives you the essentials, not the full premium feature list.

Final verdict

The Smith Pilot Mips is a very convincing trail helmet under £100. It is comfortable, light, breathable and nicely styled, with enough protection and fit adjustment for proper mountain bike and eMTB use. It feels like a smart way into a premium helmet brand without paying premium helmet money.

The trade-off is that it misses some desirable features. There is no Fidlock buckle, the visor is fixed and the Mips system is more basic than the systems found on higher-end lids. But those compromises are easy to understand at this price.

For riders who want a good-looking, comfortable and breathable MTB helmet from a premium brand without spending big money, the Smith Pilot Mips is easy to recommend. It is not trying to be a flagship trail helmet. It is trying to be a dependable one, and it does that job very well.

Smith Pilot Mips competition

Smith Pilot Mips – FAQs

Is the Smith Pilot Mips good for trail riding?

Yes. The Smith Pilot Mips is well suited to trail riding, lighter MTB use and general eMTB rides. It is comfortable, light enough for longer rides and has enough ventilation for warmer days.

Does the Smith Pilot Mips have Mips?

Yes. The Smith Pilot Mips uses a Mips Brain Protection System to help reduce rotational forces in certain angled impacts.

Is the Smith Pilot Mips lightweight?

Yes. Smith lists the Pilot Mips at 370g in size medium, which feels light for an affordable open-face MTB helmet with Mips protection.

Does the Smith Pilot Mips have an adjustable visor?

No. The Smith Pilot Mips has a fixed visor. It is positioned well for general riding, but it cannot be adjusted like the visor on many more expensive trail helmets.

Who should buy the Smith Pilot Mips?

The Smith Pilot Mips is best for riders who want a comfortable, good-looking and breathable MTB helmet from a premium brand for under £100. It suits trail riding, family MTB rides, entry-level eMTB use and riders who want essential protection without paying for premium extras.