Warmth / Venting
In the last month or so of wearing the Allure, I have experienced a wide range of coastal mountain conditions, including spitting rain; cool, damp temperatures; heavy, wet snowfall; warm bluebird days; and some chilly, clear mornings. While I haven’t gotten to ski in the frigid, sub-zero temperatures I grew up with on the East Coast, when hunkering down on Whistler’s Peak Chair in the gusting wind, the fleece-lined ear pads have addressed the frozen ear problem I had with the Receptor Bug.
The fleece is nice and soft, but on days where it was raining or snowing, the area on the front of the ear pad would get a little wet and gross. And on warmer days where I was spending more time in the trees, the fleece resting on my forehead would get sweaty pretty fast (this section is easy to remove, though).
The helmet is warm, but the venting system is simple and works well. The lining either covers the vents, folds down to reveal them in the front and back, or can be completely removed to allow for even more airflow through the helmet.
Justin Bobb described in his review of the Smith Maze how the vents above the eyes are two directional, which sends air both to the top of your goggles and the top of your head. So far, these—in addition to the vents on the top and back of the helmet—have prevented overheating and my goggles from fogging.
Goggle Integration
I have no problems to report with the Allure/Smith goggle integration. I wear the I/OS every day and the two, not surprisingly, work well with each other. I have also tried on the Smith I/O and Phenom goggles, and even though they feel a little large for my face, they sync nicely with the Allure.
Although I haven’t been able to check the compatibility with too many other brands, one older pair of Electrics left me with a pretty big goggle gap. I had initially been really impressed how well my I/OS goggles fit with my POC helmet, though I can’t say which goggles from other brands will comfortably fit with the Allure.
Durability
I was initially skeptical that the shiny black finish would scratch more easily than matte. Although I have only had it for six weeks (and will update this review when I have more time in the Allure), I have been a little rough on it. It has been either strapped on the outside of my pack or bouncing along inside next to my shovel when touring, thrown along with skis, boots, and other pointy gear into car trunks, and dodging abuse from sharp tree branches at high speeds. There is already a small dent on one side in the front above the ear pads, as well as number of scratches (I am sure this could be avoided by using a helmet bag or being a little more careful, but I also think a helmet should be able to withstand some abuse). I was impressed, though, that while the helmet has scratches, they can only be seen upon close inspection, even with the shiny finish.
Bottom Line
The Smith Allure is an incredibly comfortable, light, and stylish helmet with well thought out and easy-to-use adjustments. It performs well in colder temperatures but can be quickly modified for warmer days, too. Its light weight and sleek look make it a good choice for touring or for those who like a helmet with a minimal feel.