Smith Convoy vs. Giro Fixture – A Head to Head Comparison

Smith Convoy vs Giro Fixture- who will come out on top? We look into the features that are important in any mountain biking helmet to see which is better, and what kind of rider each will suit.

Smith and Giro have been creating high-quality protective gear for quite some time. They know how to design a comfortable and high performing helmet, and neither the Smith Convoy and Giro Fixture are an exception. 

Both helmets you are looking at are generally classified as budget helmets. They aren’t top-of-the-line helmets, which you would expect to pay up to 5 times the price, but are still very good options if you are looking for a protective and comfortable lid.  

What to Look For in a Helmet

When looking for a helmet, we would advise considering a number of things. This includes the ventilation, the comfort, the performance, and the safety features of the helmet. 

You want to look for an anti-rotational system, such as MIPS or SPIN, which reduce the energy transferred to the rider’s head from an angular crash. This is a technology we see as essential these days in a helmet! Both helmets are equipped with MIPS technology, which reduces the chances of getting a concussion or more serious brain damage from angular impacts.  

Another thing to look at is the fit of the helmet. Having a retention system allows for a better fit than a helmet that just sits on top of your head. The system generally means it doesn’t have any pressure points on your head, and it won’t slip around in a collision. 

For more info, see this post on what else to look at when buying a mountain bike helmet. 

Otherwise, continue reading to find out who wins the Smith Convoy vs Giro Fixture comparison.

Smith Convoy Mini Review 

Smith Optics Convoy MIPS Mountain Bike Helmet

A well ventilated and comfortable helmet for the trail rider who doesn’t hit the technical lines in the park, but just wants protection for the day-to-day trail riding.

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Pros

  • Well Priced 
  • MIPS Technology 
  • Reasonably well ventilated 
  • Great adjustment options 

Cons

  • Fixed Visor 

Punching well above its weight, the Smith Convoy delivers a good quality helmet for a low price. Being one of the lowest price helmets with MIPS technology, it has become quite the popular choice amongst entry or intermediate level riders.  

Smith has designed a highly protective helmet without any of the bells and whistles the majority of riders simply don’t need! 

Giro Fixture Mini Review 

Giro Fixture MIPS Adult Road Cycling Helmet

For the rider who wants to look like they spent more, doesn’t mind a fixed visor, but still wants all the other features that come with a more expensive lid.

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Pros

  • Comfortable 
  • MIPS Technology 
  • In-Mold Construction 
  • Durable 

Cons

  • Fixed Visor 
  • Tricky fitting system 

The Giro Fixture exceeds expectations. For a budget helmet, it does perform surprisingly well. It has MIPS technology to keep you safe following an angular crash, a solid EPS foam that is molded to the outer polycarbonate shell.  

The Giro Fixture is similar to the Convoy in that it provides high levels of protection without the unnecessary additions that cause the price to climb up! It still provides a comfortable and well-ventilated helmet that will keep you happy all day on the trails! 

Design and Construction Comparison 

The Giro Fixture is constructed using in-mold technology. This means the outer shell is molded to the inner foam (EPS) layer, creating a stronger and more durable structure. It is then less likely to split apart in a hard crash.  

The Smith Convoy comes in 3 sizes ranging from small to large and uses a retention system to fit the helmet to your head comfortably.  

Smith Venture MIPS Helmet Review
Smith Convoy making a casual trip down to the Beach!

The Fixture is made as a one-size-fits-all, but this is not as much of a niggle as you would expect. Unless you are at the very far end of the typical scales (a very large or very small head), the helmet can be adjusted to fit quite well! 

Giro Fixture for Beginners
Giro Fixture

On both helmets, the bottom edge of the helmet is left exposed (not wrapped by the outer plastic). This leaves it open to wear and tear, so just be careful in handling the helmet when it isn’t on your head.  

Both helmets also have a fixed visor. I personally find this annoying when riding while the sun is low. The visor does very little in this case as the sun shines in my eyes, which temporarily blinds me, whereas an adjustable visor allows you to block out that sun!  

Safety Comparison 

Both helmets are similar in terms of protective features. Both are equipped with MIPS technology to reduce the energy transferred to the rider’s head following an angular impact. 

The rear coverage of both helmets is not as great as some of the more expensive helmets, leaving the back of the head a little more exposed. However, it is still a large step up from a road helmet as at least a part of the rear of the head is covered.

If you want something that protects the head a little more, consider enduro-style helmets, or have a look at the Giro Chronicle or Fox Speedframe. Check out the Fox Speedframe vs. POC Tectal Race SPIN comparison here.

Comfort, Ventilation, and Weight Comparison 

The padding inside the Convoy is minimal but is not uncomfortable. And when it gets filled with sweat, it doesn’t tend to drip down into your eyes or eyewear. It does have a number of adjustment capabilities, such as tightening of the helmet, but also, you can set the helmet at different angles on your head. This helps get the fixed visor into the right position too!  

The Fixture is no exception to Giro’s line of insanely comfortable helmets. It’s Roc Loc fitting system creates no pressure points on the head and feels like an expensive helmet once it is on your head. The main disadvantage of this system is that you need to adjust the tightness before putting the helmet on your head. This is because the dial is tucked underneath the shell.

In terms of ventilation, the Convoy is much better than that of the Fixture. The Convoy has 21 generously sized vents, while the Fixture has only 18 vents. The Convoy actually vents similarly to many more expensive lids, such as the Troy Lee Designs A1 and A2.  

If having a cool helmet is important to you, have a look here at the best-ventilated helmets on the market! 

The Convoy is slightly lighter than the Fixture. They come in at 325 g and 343 g for a medium Convoy and Fixture, respectively. This difference is fairly minimal and unless you have been riding with lightweight helmets previously, you probably won’t notice the difference! 

Final Remarks 

So, in the Giro Fixture vs Smith Convoy face off, who comes out on top?

The helmets, as you can see, are fairly similar in terms of what they offer. The Smith Convoy does provide a better ventilated, lighter lid. But the fixture does tend to be more comfortable, and does come in at a lower price.

Both are great trail helmets, so it depends on whether you prefer the improved ventilation over the greater comfort or vice versa! I personally love the Giro Fixture. It is comfortable, fits snugly on the head, and as a bonus- it looks more expensive than it is! 

Leatt Airflex Pro Knee Pads

If you want a few more helmets to consider, check out these posts!