SMITH PAYROLL HELMET REVIEW

SMITH GOES E-BIKE FRIENDLY AND ADDS AN ALECK CRASH SENSOR WITH THEIR NEW HALF-SHELL

Words by Travis Reill  |  Photos by Sourpatch

Smith added a new half-shell Trail Helmet to their lineup. Released this spring, the Payroll has been an excellent option for Smith patrons looking for a familiar helmet with some added safety and tech. I first got my hands on a Payroll at a media event Smith was a part of in Sedona, Arizona. I later added to my Payroll collection when Smith sent one to The Loam Wolf—this time with the Aleck Crash Detection Sensor. After a few months and many miles, here are my thoughts on Smith’s Payroll helmet.

ABOUT THE SMITH PAYROLL HELMET

Smith’s newest half-shell helmet – the Payroll – is designed with Enduro, Trail, and E-bike riders in mind. An E-bike certification means the Payroll had to undergo more rigorous testing than other helmets in similar categories. We contacted Smith about the extra testing that goes into E-bike certification. They explained that passing E-bike certification means focusing some design and engineering around “test lines” that sit lower on the head than the other standards they build helmets to. Smith also had to consider an increased test drop height, resulting in faster speeds upon impact. This meant beefing up the Payroll in certain areas, and it explains why it has a slightly more stout profile than the Forefront 2. It should provide improved protection as a result.

Along with an E-bike certification, Smith continues to work with MIPS to protect riders against rotational forces during an impact and incorporates zonal Koroyd coverage to absorb those impacts. Koroyd is a honeycomb-looking layer between the helmet’s EPS foam and MIPS layer. Its job is to crumble and crush, absorbing the kinetic energy from a significant impact. “Zonal Koroyd coverage” in the Smith Payroll means that the Koroyd layer is only fitted in the sides of the helmet, above the ear. Other Smith helmets provide complete Koroyd coverage, meaning a layer of Koyord is throughout the helmet.

Continuing in the safety vein, Smith has also teamed up with Aleck to incorporate a crash sensor into the helmet. Located within Smith’s VaporFit dial adjustment system, the sensor is camouflaged into the helmet and doubles as the Payroll’s fit dial. Using Aleck’s crash sensor requires downloading their app and setting up an account, which is free. Then you will be automatically instructed to pair it with the Payroll, or any other Aleck device.

If you are in a crash with a significant impact on the helmet, an alarm and 45-second countdown will begin happening on your phone via the app. If everything is okay, you can simply cancel the countdown. If the countdown expires, Aleck will notify the emergency contacts you’ve established in the app and can notify nearby emergency services as well. Aleck can ping your last known location and share it with emergency services regardless of cell service. It can also notify other Aleck users in the area who aren’t in your network, provided those settings are turned on.

Aleck’s Crash Detection Sensor is only available on one of the Smith Payroll helmets – their limited edition Matte Black/Topo colorway. The additional protection from Aleck adds only $20 to the Payroll’s cost. The crash sensor battery needs to be charged fairly regularly (I charged mine every few rides), so you can add it to the list of mountain bike-related things you’ll need to plug in. Its potential implications to safety may well make it worthwhile, especially if you frequently ride alone.

THE DIRT

I’m a sucker for Smith helmets. I’ve had my melon in several of them over the years, and I just can’t get over how damn comfortable they are. The Ionic+® antimicrobial liner pads offer plenty of comfort and support, helping eliminate the stink from sweat while keeping a reasonably minimal profile. Along with the antimicrobial liners, the Payroll also has 19 separate vents, allowing for quite a bit of airflow while I was riding. While I don’t believe I stayed as cool as I did in the Forefront 2, I was impressed with how breathable the Payroll is, especially since it is common for vents to go when a helmet needs beefing up for an e-bike certification. Plus, with the Payroll being less than a pound, I hardly noticed it sitting on my head.

Along with the Payroll being very comfortable, all the little things that Smith does right push the brand to the top of the list for me. The Y-strap divider keeps the straps laying perfectly flat around my ears and down around my chin, preventing any rubbing from the straps. I also like the adjustable visor with integrated slots to hold sunglasses, and enough room to squeeze goggles underneath when I’m feeling real “enduro-bro.”

While I never had any crashes that resulted in my head hitting the ground, I felt secure and confident knowing that Smith incorporated a lot of safety technology into the Payroll. This includes the Aleck Crash Sensor, which I feel is absolutely worth the additional $20, but it did come with some hiccups.

First and foremost, while the app is relatively easy to navigate, it is another added piece of technology that some may want to avoid. We are already charging derailleurs and E-bikes, downloading apps, and being worried about connectivity. It is understandable if someone doesn’t want one more thing to charge. On the other hand, some may find adding a helmet to their list of things to plug in the night before a ride isn’t a big deal. That said, while it wasn’t annoying to have to charge, I realized that I was riding with a dead battery for a bit and had to begin plugging the Payroll in after every few rides so I would remember.

Another potential crash sensor problem I ran into concerns phone updates. I ride alone early in the mornings most days, something my wife isn’t jazzed about, especially when I forget to tell her where I’m going. I was excited to show her the new Payroll and how it would notify her if I were in a serious crash, so I hit the helmet on my thigh hard enough to trigger the sensor. The helmet began beeping, but when I went to my phone, the app prompted me to log back in, which I imagine took longer than the 45-second countdown. I realized that my phone had been updated the night before, and it had logged me out of the app. To remedy this and hopefully other tech issues, I tried to create a habit of making sure I opened the app and confirmed the Payroll was paired before every ride. Again, some may not want to hassle with this, but I ultimately like the idea of my helmet notifying help if I’m in a nasty crash. Who knows, it could just save my life.

Lastly, I found it interesting that despite the Payroll being E-bike certified and having an optional crash sensor, it didn’t come with complete Koroyd coverage. This was another thing I asked the folks at Smith about. Smith explained that it had to do with where the Payroll sits in their helmet lineup. The Payroll sits between the Forefront 2 – which has complete Koroyd coverage – and the Session with zonal coverage. The Payroll has slightly more Koroyd coverage than the Session, but is still a zonal setup nonetheless. Smith also pointed out that they strategically placed Koroyd to protect the temple area “where most bike head incidents will happen.” While I am sure zonal Koroyd coverage is more than adequate, it would have been nice to see another half-shell offering with complete coverage.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Smith’s new Payroll helmet has a lot going for it. Whether you opt for the Aleck Crash Sensor or not, Smith has once again created a comfortable helmet for aggressive trail riding that does a lot of things right. It breathes well, looks good, and can hold your glasses on the climbs. Oh, and we really like that e-bike certification, too!

Price: $200-$220
Website: Smithoptics.com

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