How to buy a ski helmet? With so many features and designs on the market the choice can be overwhelming! This is our practical guide to finding the perfect ski helmet for you.
Roll back a decade and the majority of skiers and snowboarders did not wear helmets. How times have changed! High profile injuries and better awareness have made helmets as vital as wearing goggles.
So, you need to protect your noggin but with so much choice where do you start?
How to buy a ski helmet
From simple and functional designs, to stylish patterns, faux-fur linings and in-built sound systems. The choice and range of helmets on the market is huge and ever evolving.
But whether a helmet is purely practical, or to fulfil a fashion statement you need to get the right one to do the job. Ultimately there are many factors to consider when you buy a ski helmet:
Size
Helmet size is usually measured in centimetres and refers to the circumference of your head. To find out your size, wrap a tape measure around your head, just above your ears.
Then check the manufacturers recommendation for the size of helmet to purchase.
Fit
Always try a helmet on before buying. Even if buying online, go to a shop to make sure the one you want to purchase is a suitable shape for your head.
A helmet should feel snug but not uncomfortably tight. Ideally, it should sit just above your eyebrows. One that rises up any higher will probably be too small and if slides down towards your eyes, it’s too big. Kinda obvious!
Check that there are no gaps that might cause the helmet to move, or points where is is overly tight. Make sure that the chinstrap stays in place without restricting your ability to move your jaw.
If you think you’ve found a good fit, have a go at shaking your head about a bit. This is to check that it doesn’t shift about and that the ear pads stay over your ears.
Goggles
Always take goggles when trying on a helmet otherwise you might nee to buy a new pair. For a good fit, there should be a neat seal between your goggles and helmet at the front. You shouldn’t be able to see any skin there.
Worn over the top of your helmet, your goggles should sit comfortably on your face. The strap needs to have plenty of adjustment in it and you should be able to rest your goggles on the front of your helmet when you’re not wearing them.
Some helmets, like the Ruroc range, have built in goggles with the helmets.
Safety standards
Ski helmets work by allowing the hard outer shell to protect your head from knocks and scrapes. Whilst the inner foam-liner absorbs the impact.
All ski helmets should have been tested and certified for aspects such as their strength, ability to absorb impact and performance under different temperatures.
Check that the helmet you’re buying carries a certification. Look out for CE (European), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) or Snell RS-98 (Snell Memorial Foundation).
A recent development is the introduction of MIPS technology, such as in the Smith Quantum helmet. MIPS is a thin sheet that in a collision allows the helmet to slide reducing the impact on the brain.
Be sure to check out our ski and snowboard helmet reviews to help you decide which lid to buy.
