You’ve seen them before, the golden oldies, charging down ski slopes with cheeky grins, colorful outfits, and no ski helmet to speak of. Despite their decades of skiing, they seem reticent to even approach the topic, often starting conversations with, “back in my day, we didn’t even have helmets!”
While their wisdom and experience are likely second to none, when it comes to safety, anyone who argues against a helmet is in the very, very small minority. Helmets are almost ubiquitous with skiing now, but, with any product, the inevitable question surfaces: how do I pick the right one?
Why Ski Helmets are Important
Not to belabor the point, but helmets are fairly critical in most high-impact prone sports (think football, hockey, car racing, baseball, etc.). While no helmet can completely absorb impact shock or prevent concussions 100% of the time, wearing one can go a long way to making sure any injury is less serious than it could’ve been.
With more people hitting the slopes, increased traffic may well lead to an increased risk of injury. Wearing a helmet is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself out on the hill.
Size and Fit
When choosing a helmet, the most important factor is the fit. Similar to waist measurement, you can use a cloth tape measure (or a string) to figure out the circumference of your head, measuring just above your brow line.
Figure out what the distance is in centimeters (cm) (standard unit of measurement for most major helmet producers) and try out options within that range. When you try helmets on, there shouldn’t be any gaps, and all of the padding should be flush against your head.
When testing out helmets, pay attention to how easy the chin strap is to navigate. You want a snug fit that is easy to snap on and off. For the beardos among us, getting a chin pad might be a nice move to prevent itching and hair getting caught in the clip or strap itself.
Fit With Goggles
Also make sure that your helmet will fit with your goggles.
If you’re buying goggles at the same time as your helmet, try them on together. If you already have goggles, take them into the shop with you to try on helmets to make sure they are compatible.
You don’t want to have too much gap between the top of your goggles and your helmet (the dreaded gaper gap!) – and you also don’t want your helmet pushing too hard on your goggles into the bridge of your nose.
If you’re buying online and can’t try on in store, the safest bet is to go with the same brand for both helmet and goggles – that will give you the best chance of a good helmet to goggle fit.
Related: How to Choose Ski Goggles
Style Types
There are a few different styles to choose from once you’ve narrowed down your desired size. The most popular is a half shell, which has soft ear pads (usually removable) under a hard shell. A full shell includes hard sides over the ears. A full-face helmet has the features of a full shell with a built-in visor and chin guard.
The latter two varieties are often used in ski racing and competitive snow sports. For recreational skiers, a half shell is usually fine.
Features
Helmets come with a few features that are worth talking about, like ventilation. Modern helmets usually have a series of vents, which are especially beneficial during warm weather skiing. When the vents are closed, the helmet will keep you warm in colder conditions.
In some new helmets, audio compatibility is included. This is nice for listening to tunes on the slopes, but it opens up a larger safety issue; can you hear someone shouting to warn of an impending collision over the sound of your music?
For the half-shell variety, having detachable ear flaps can also be nice. It allows you to warm your ears in colder temps and shed the extra heat in the warmer months.
Some helmets come with a little visor at the front, which makes them look similar to some mountain biking helmets. While nice, the feature also makes it a little harder to pull your goggles up to a standing position above your face. In the end, personal preference reigns supreme, but the shape and appearance of the helmet are considerations when buying.
Safety
Every helmet you consider for skiing needs to have valid safety ratings. These safety ratings are issued by a few main bodies, the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), the European Committee for Standardization (CE EN), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The ratings you want to see are ASTM F2040, EN 1077A/B, and possibly EN12492.
ASTM F2040 is for non-motorized snow sports and tests roll off and strength retention. EN 1077A/B is specifically for skiing and riding; helmets are tested for blunt impact protection, sharp/pointed object penetration, chin strap resistance, field of vision, and clearance between the head and the helmet shell. The last rating, EN12492, is more for mountaineering helmets but could be useful in backcountry skiing situations because it tests for impact protection in case of rockfall.
Maintenance
The majority of ski and snowboard helmets are single impact helmets, meaning they are most effective for minor bumps and one serious incident. The material in the helmet will degrade over time, and all companies/retailers recommend replacing a helmet after it has been used in a serious crash. With slowly degrading materials and a single impact design, even if you never crash, it’s wise to replace helmets every 3-5 years.
For day-to-day maintenance, it’s recommended to wash your helmets regularly with warm soapy water to remove grime, odor, and residue. Make sure the helmet dries completely, either by hang drying, using hairdryers (carefully and intermittently), or even a ski boot air dryer.
The frequency will depend on how often you ski, but the helmet should be washed after a few consecutive days of outdoor adventure. Store your helmets in a cool, dry environment. Keeping a helmet in a humid place could invite bacterial growth and cause discoloration on the helmet. A storage rack off the ground or using a wall hanger are good places to store them.
Popular Helmet Choices (prices subject to change)
Here are just a few popular helmet choices recommended by some of the publications listed in the additional resources section at the bottom of the article.
- Smith: Holt (~$70)
- PRET: Cynic X2 (~$150)
- POC: Fornix SPIN (~$180)
- Oakley: MOD 5 (~$200)
- Giro: Envi MIPS (women specific) (~$260)
- Smith: Vantage MIPS (~$240-270)
Final Thoughts
With innovation, stylish looks, and the ability to keep your head warm in frigid conditions, purchasing a ski helmet should be a no-brainer. Occasionally, you’ll still see those old skiers ripping away without one, but industry trends (and accompanying science) are firmly against them. Keep your noggin safe!
Additional Resources:
How to Choose Ski and Snowboard Helmets. REI. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/snow-helmet.html
How to choose a ski & snowboard helmet & size chart. evo. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.evo.com/guides/ski-snowboard-helmet-size-fit#helmet-type
Laredo, I., Piper, S., Berkshire, W., & Bogner, A. (2020, Dec. 8). Best Ski Helmet of 2021. OutdoorGearLab. Retrieved from https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/snow-sports/best-ski-helmet
Ski Helmet Fact Sheet. CDC, (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/pdfs/helmets/headsup_helmetfactsheet_ski_508.pdf
Switchback Travel Staff. Best Ski Helmets of 2012-2022. (2021, Oct. 4). Retrieved from https://www.switchbacktravel.com/best-ski-helmets
The best ski helmets of 2021. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://freeskier.com/product-reviews/the-best-ski-helmets-of-2021
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