Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet

Review by Erin Trail

The Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet is a light weight aerodynamic helmet that’s ideal for fast racing.  I have an older Smith aero helmet (2020) that I love, but my main complaint is that it had zero ventilation.  No ventilation meant that the helmet would cook my head on days warmer than 85 degrees. When Smith came out with an updated aero helmet – with vents – I jumped on the chance to test it out.

Product Details

Protection

• Zonal KOROYD® coverage for lightweight, energy-absorbing and ventilated impact Protection
• Mips® Brain Protection System reduces rotational forces caused by angled impacts to the head
• Complies with U.S. CPSC Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets for Persons Age 5 and Older as well as CE EN 1078

Fit / Integration

• VaporFit dial adjustment system offers 270-degree fit adjustment with the turn of a dial
• Low-profile Y-strap divider provides a secure fit to reduce wind noise and aerodynamic drag
• Magnetic visor with option of ChromaPop™ or clear lenses, ChromaPop™ lenses enhance contrast and natural color to make the details pop

Features

• Five strategically placed vents for optimal airflow
• Ionic+® antimicrobial lining offers sweat-activated odor control
• Lightweight, low-bulk single layer webbing
• Weight: (Size M, Mips®): 14 oz / 410 g

Detailed Review

I’m training for a 70.3 distance Ironman and have been spending a lot of time outside, in the heat, on my TT bike.  I wear a size small helmet in other Smith helmets (road and mountain) and found that a size small worked well for me with the Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet.

The Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet is super easy to take on and off, even in a race environment.  The ear flaps are well designed so they don’t crunch your ears as you pull the helmet on.  The VaporFit dial is also really easy to find and twist, even while riding.

The visor is improved from my 2020 version.  The magnets are VERY stout – I have zero worry that the visor will go flying if I hit a bump.  I also love that the visor has three ventilation holes at the top, which gives nice air movement across your forehead as you ride.  The venting isn’t so much where the breeze makes my eyes water.

The three vent holes in the front and two vent holes in the rear provide a medium amount of ventilation.  You can definitely feel air movement across the top of your head as your ride, but I had higher hopes for even more air movement.  Still, I could ride in 90 degree temperatures and my head didn’t feel hot.

The Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet visor has incredible field of view and clarity, due to the ChromaPop lenses.  I had no issues seeing what was in front of me while I was in aero. I also had no issues looking over my shoulder for cars and seeing behind me. I do wish that the white helmet had a fun mirror color like the black option does.

I love that the helmet comes with 2 lenses: dark and clear.  I usually use the dark lens but I have had races where it was rainy and the clear lens was perfect.

Smith has also ditched the annoying rubber visor nosepiece that always seemed to fall off.  The bottom of the visor is nicely rounded and while the visor would touch my nose when I was in aero, it never felt uncomfortable.

It’s been a while since I’ve worn an aero helmet with a tail on it.  The tail never felt obstructive or in the way; instead it felt like a natural extension of the helmet.

I also got a LOT of compliments from other triathletes in the parking lot before and after my ride.  Looking fast is sometimes just as important as being fast.

One consideration for this helmet is the size, due to the tail.  This helmet is LONG.  And when the helmet is packed in the case, it’s pretty substantial. The helmet won’t fit in the helmet compartment of my transition backpack and takes up a LOT of space in luggage.  Not a big deal for local races, but it can take up a fair amount of real estate when traveling to races.

Closing Thoughts

The Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet is an aero helmet with all of the features and safety that we expect from Smith, with an improved look and feel from the prior aero helmet iteration.  The ventilation is a big improvement over the previous model, with 3 visor vents and 3 helmet vents, allowing the rider to keep their head a reasonable temperature as race conditions heat up. The Smith Jetstream TT Mips Helmet is a fantastic option for a triathlete looking for some easy racing speed.

Erin Trail