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Because it protects your head your ski helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you own. Here's how to make sure you get the right one for you.

Before the start of each ski season it's a good idea to take a close look at your helmet and see whether or not it's still in good condition and ready to do its job. If you helmet is over five years old, it's a good idea to replace it before you go skiing. Plastics do degrade over time - due to UV light exposure, and just due to age and an old helmet might not offer you the protection it once did. You can also add to the that the new safety technology we explore below, and you might decide it's a smart move to upgrade.

When Should Your Ski Helmet Be Replaced? 

Manufacturers guidance on this isn’t exact, but they say your helmet should be replaced ‘after any significant impact.’ For example if you have a fall and hit your head hard on firm snow or ice, and there’s a visible impression left on the helmet, that's a clear sign that it’s time to invest in a new helmet. 

That might seem a bit extreme, but after an impact the materials used in your helmetcan compressor crack and lose its ability to absorb and disperse energy. Although you can’t see it, hidden damage can dramatically reduce the helmet’s ability to do its job the next time you need it to keep your brain safe. 

When Should You Wear a Ski Helmet? 

The safest answer is ‘at all times when you’re on snow.’In fact, it’s wise to put on your helmet from the moment you get out of your vehicle at the ski field - we’ve all seen some nasty falls on icy parking lots. 

Skiing in a beanie might look cool, but they can’t absorb and disperse the energy of an impact like a Standards Approved ski helmet. Some people don’t wear a helmet in powder snow, thinking the snow is too soft to hurt them. But there can easily be sharp rocks lurking just below the surface even in waist deep snow – as the writer found out last season. The result was a hole in my helmet, but no damage to my head. If I’d been wearing a beanie I’m in no doubt that I would still be dealing with the after effects.

Ski Helmet Safety Technology to Look For 

Usually when you crash you hit your head a glancing blow. That might sound better than a straight impact, but it’s actually much worse. Angular impacts create a sharp rotational motion which is transmitted directly to your brain. Studies have shown that the twisting effect inside your skull is more dangerous to your brain than a straight impact and causes more concussions and severe brain injuries.  

Mips, Smith Koroyd, and Scott 3DO are technologies that are designed to lessen the effect of rotational forces on your brain. 

Mips For Ski Helmets

The most widely used technology is Mips. Mips stands for Multi-Impact Protection System. It’s a cage-like structure that fits inside the helmet between the hard shell and the lining. The Mips cage can move 10 – 15mm in any direction when there’s an impact. That ‘give’ helps absorb and reduce the amount of force transmitted to your brain. Usually the Mips layer is bright yellow and you can see parts of it when you look inside a Mips equipped helmet. You’ll find Mips in many POC, Atomic, SMITH and Scott ski helmets at Outside Sports 

SMITH Koroyd Ski Helmets

You’ll find Koroyd in SMITH ski helmets. Koroyd is a special material made of welded tubes that deform consistently on impact, absorbing the force of an impact in a controlled manner that minimises energy transferred to your head. Koroyd complements Mips in SMITH ski helmets. 

Scott D3O Ski Helmets

D3O is a Non-Newtonian material used to complement Mips in some Scott ski helmets. D3O is soft and flexible until it suffers an impact, and then it hardens instantly to spread out the energy over a wide area – in effect softening the blow. You also find D30 in body protection for skiing, mountain biking, and adventure footwear. 

Other Important Considerations

Fit  

A ski helmet should fit snugly - without being done up! With the helmet sitting level above your eyes, there should be about a gap of about one finger between your forehead and the front of the helmet. We’ll ask you to wear the helmet in the store for a few minutes to make sure there are no pressure points.  

Comfort 

Most helmets have several ways to adjust them for a comfortable fit, including pads for the lining and a dial at the back.Comfort is important because it your helmet doesn’t feel good then there less chance you’ll want to wear it – and that goes double for kids! Ideally you should be able to put your helmet on and then completely forgetyou’re wearingit. 

Goggle Compatibility 

You want a nice snug fitbetween the curved upper edge of your goggles and the brim of your helmet. The easiest way to ensure that your helmet and goggles fit together is to buy the same brand so the curves match perfectly. All the ski helmet brands we have at Outside Sports have a compatible range of goggles – many of which come in low bridge/Asian fit models. 

Ventilation 

Skiing can get warm, especially on sunny spring days. Many helmets have adjustable ventilation so you can control the airflow to maintain a comfortable temperature. If you have a head that heats up when you’re exercising, then it’s worth choosing a ventilated helmet like this POC Obex Mips.

Buckle Systems

Most helmets have the familiar plastic side-release buckles, but some have the magnetic Fidlock buckle system, which is easier to use when you’re wearing ski gloves or mittens. 

In-Built Audio Systems 

If you love skiing with music check out audio-ready helmets. Some have in-built speakers and others have ear-pads that let you slot in an ‘audio-chip'. The benefit of a helmet-based system over wearing ear buds is that you can still hear what’s going on around you – which is necessary to your safety and those around you when you’re skiing near other people. 

Price vs Quality 

Even cheap ski helmets are better than nothing, so why pay more for quality? It’s simple, a premium helmet with give you better protection, fit better, and be more comfortable. If you consider how much a healthy brain is worth, paying a bit more to get a high-quality quality helmet is a good investment. 

Shop the World’s Best Ski Helmets and Goggles at Outside Sports

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