Smith Optics Variant Brim Helmet - About: So this is the Variant Brim Helmet from Smith Optics. This helmet was an I.D. Magazine Best Design award winner. And I'm going to show you the features that really make it stand out, and make it perform better on the mountain than nearly anything else out there. The most important thing when you look at the Variant Brim, I think, from your standpoint as a consumer, is the over all reduced volume. The Variant Brim is about 20 percent less volume than a comparable helmet that's out there on the market right now. We've done that by using a two-part shell construction, on mold, and in mold, which allows us to reduce volume. And it's also allowed us to put the shutter vents right below the surface of the helmet. This is a great feature because, as you know, when you take a head plant, or it's snowing really hard, cavities get packed with snow. It's going to melt on your head, usually an unpleasant experience on a lift. So with the vent shutters closed you have a perfectly flush surface, and you're ready to rock. The Variant Brim also comes with a goggle helmet clip, so you can clip the strap down to your helmet back there. And we have the Helmet Fit System. Helmet Fit System functions a lot like a bicycle helmet. And this thing will just tighten and loosen, to give you a customized fit every time. One of the things that's really important with this Smith Optics helmet/goggle system is our ability to integrate goggles and helmets together. And we do this by putting an AirEvac system, and the AirEvac system is a system of vents and channels within the helmet, that helps pull air up through the goggle, and out the top of the helmet. And also keep you head cool. And those are two things that lead to goggle fogging. Helmets have a tendency, if it's a good fit, to block the top vents on a goggle, which the most critical to keeping your goggle from fogging. We created a solution in AirEvac. And these are the channels you see on the top of the helmet. Air moving over the surface of the helmet is going to pull the warm air up through the goggle chamber, and out the top, and allow it to have fresh cool air circulating through the goggle chamber while you're moving. The Variant Brim is available in a variety of really nice colors, and color schemes that are coordinated with our goggles. And also with a wired audio system for people that want to take a little bit of music or their cell phone on the mountain. Or we also have a Skullcandy Bluetooth-enabled phone and audio program that comes with this helmet as well. So get out to the shop and check it out.
