10 Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets for the Winter Season
Why stay cooped-up inside this winter when you can ski or snowboard? Coordinating your jacket, pants, gloves, and goggles is one of our favorite parts of this winter sport — but you can't forget a helmet. Whether you're a newbie on the bunny slopes or a seasoned vet who doesn't flinch at the “Experts Only” warning signs, a helmet is an absolute necessity. Helmets can protect your noggin if you ski too close to a tree or if you have a yard sale off a side hit, so you can pop back up and live to ski another day.
To help you narrow down your choice from a wide variety of options, we've spent hours researching the latest and greatest technologies, talking to industry professionals, surveying user reviews, and personally testing many ski and snowboard helmets. We've even taken some hard falls in a few of these helmets, and were able to get right back up and ski down. Read on for our top picks.
Smith
Smith helmets are one of the most popular at many ski resorts across the country, thanks to their simple styles and affordability. The Level has a low-profile design won't weigh you down — a rarity in this price range!
The soft liner and removable ear pads are plenty of warmth for most winter days, but if you get too hot the vent slots on the helmet are adjustable. Likewise, the fit is adjustable with the turn of a dial. And when you want to bring your playlist to the slopes, the ear pads are audio chip compatible.
Smith
amazon.com
Ride freely with security and confidence thanks to Smith's newest offering — the Liberty MIPS helmet. It's the culmination of years of innovation, combining best-in-class protection with trend-setting style. Our editor, Andrew, protects his head with the Liberty MIPS helmet. And he sends it. Probably a little too hard.
Aerocore is Smith's hybrid helmet construction on display here. An integrated skeletal structure meets Koroyd — an open-cell, honeycomb-esque protective material that absorbs more impact and provides more airflow than traditional helmet materials.
Micro-adjustments can be made with a dial for the just-right fit, and the brim matches the curvature of Smith goggles for a seamless, gap-free look.
K2
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Want to protect your noggin without feeling bogged down? At just 11 ounces, K2's Route is the lightest helmet on the market! It has an abundance of small holes that reduce weight and maximize ventilation, and it comes with a stretchy waterproof cover that conceals the holes in cold weather.
The Route can be customized to your preference with removable headlamp clips, goggle clips, and ear pads, plus a fully adjustable Boa dial-fit system. It's even bike-certified, so you'll only need one helmet for year-round thrill-seeking.
OutdoorMaster
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If you're considering not wearing a helmet just to save some money on rentals (we know the cost adds up quickly!), think again! The Kelvin is budget-friendly, has 14 vents, a quick-dial to adjust the fit, and comes in nine different colors to match your jacket.
Pret
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We're a huge fan of Pret's helmets as an alternative to the more popular brands on the mountain (think Smith, Giro). In addition to a unique two-tone styling that we can't get enough of, this helmet's wool-blend liner is one of the most comfortable we've worn!
Although the ventilation isn't fully adjustable, some of its 12 vents have interior flaps that can be open and closed. And Pret has combined the MIPS system with added polycarbonate panels in areas where you need extra protection for some top-notch noggin protection.
Overall, the Cynic X is a complete helmet with some unique detailing that will help your friends spot you from across the mountain.
Giro
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The new Giro Terra MIPS Hemet is sleek, lightweight, and has all the necessary features to keep you comfortable when you're out on the mountain all day. An in-mold construction, which fuses the outer shell to the foam liner, keeps the Terra lightweight while delivering solid impact protection.
Giro's Terra also features industry-leading MIPS technology, which works by allowing two liners to move independently of each other when the helmet is subject to force, reducing rotational energy during certain impacts. If you've ever had a big spill, you understand why people pay extra for MIPS!
Sweet Protection
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Just a few years back, Sweet Protection infiltrated the North American market after plenty of success in Norway. Their prosperity is owed to top-quality helmets that prioritize safety, catering to skiers and snowboarders who don't mind paying a premium for peace of mind.
The Trooper MIPS is one of the most advanced helmets available, courtesy of the company's "Thermoplastic Laminated Carbon Fiber" (TLC) shell construction, which is strong enough to stand up to heavy blows, yet flexible enough to disperse energy.
For additional protection, Impact Shield inserts add even more shock absorption in the most crucial zones of your head. It's a small price to pay to live to ski another day!
WildHorn Outfitters
amazon.com
Looking for pro-level safety? Nobody needs more protection than an aerialist, and four-time Olympian Ashley Caldwell trusts this helmet most! Its outer shell is fused to the inner foam layer, which helps absorb impact and keep you safe.
Customizing the Drift helmet is a breeze, too. Tighten things up with the Fine Tune Adjustment dial, remove the music-compatible earpads on warmer days, and adjust its 13 vents to let cool air in and warm air out. With such a wallet-friendly price, there's no surprise this helmet is an Amazon Best Seller!
DEMON UNITED
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This Demon United helmet, speaker, and goggles combo is hard to resist. The helmet is made of a tough ABS shell while multiple vents keep you cool. Speakers are built right in, so all you have to do is plug in your device. Demon's adjustable, mirrored Supra snow goggles offer UV protection and are also vented for comfort. With this gear, you'll never want to get off the slopes.
Oakley
amazon.com
Oakley's Mod 5 helmet brings style, comfort, and compatibility to the hill. Their patented Modular Brim System has comes with two interchangeable brims — one small, one large – which provide a seamless fit with any Oakley goggles.
The Mod 5 has a lightweight shell, no-pressure ear cups, an integrated venting system to keep your head from overheating and your goggles from fogging up, and over 10 color choices to perfectly complement your flawless color-coordinating ski or snowboard outfit.
10 Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets for the Winter Season
Why stay cooped-up inside this winter when you can ski or snowboard? Coordinating your jacket, pants, gloves, and goggles is one of our favorite parts of this winter sport — but you can't forget a helmet. Whether you're a newbie on the bunny slopes or a seasoned vet who doesn't flinch at the “Experts Only” warning signs, a helmet is an absolute necessity. Helmets can protect your noggin if you ski too close to a tree or if you have a yard sale off a side hit, so you can pop back up and live to ski another day.
To help you narrow down your choice from a wide variety of options, we've spent hours researching the latest and greatest technologies, talking to industry professionals, surveying user reviews, and personally testing many ski and snowboard helmets. We've even taken some hard falls in a few of these helmets, and were able to get right back up and ski down. Read on for our top picks.
Protecting your head isn't something to be taken lightly. Shop these top-rated ski and snowboard helmets to ride with safety and style.
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