Giro Ledge - Matte Black

Helmet Buying Guide

Helmets come in a variety of different constructions. Below are the most common ones and their benefits:

• Hardshell helmets are typically the best pricepoint and are a bomb-proof construction. In this method the shell and hard foam insides are formed separate and then added together. These hold up to a lot of wear and tear.
• In-mold helmets are the most common nowadays. They are much lighter compared to hardshells. The outer shell and the harder foam are formed together in one process, resulting in a lower profile helmet.
• Hybrid helmets seek to take the best benefits from both options. It puts hardshell in places that are likely to have high impacts for maximum protection and softshell in less crucial areas to save weight.

Materials

Most helmets used expanded polystyrene as the main protecting agent. This hard foam is designed to take immense amounts of force before it fractures. Having a helmet crack is not a sign of a flaw but rather that it has done its job and taken the full blunt force. For this reason after any solid impact it is recommended changing your helmet in order for it to provide the same protection.

Some newer models use a material called Koroyd. This lightweight material resembles hundreds of straws put together in a honeycomb type pattern. This is designed to crush upon impact when absorbing the force. Like foam, with any hard impact you need to replace the helmet as it will never be able to absorb an impact the same twice.

Ventilation

Ventilation changes in ability as you go up the line in helmets. Pricepoint options will have a more basic static venting. This venting cannot be adjusted. It does a good job at letting in some air on warm days without allowing too much in on colder days.

Many helmets get an upgraded adjustable venting system with closable vents in different zones. This keeps everything warm on the coldest days, and plenty of vents keep everything cool on the spring days.

Liners

Liners may seem pretty basic, but a nice liner can make a difference. At their most basic, a liner is a few pieces of material designed to add a bit of comfort. Newer liners can provide many technical features including insulation, moisture wicking, and odor control. If you ski a fair bit this will make a noticeable difference over time. You shouldn’t have to worry about wearing a beanie under your new helmet as the liner will be plenty warm enough and better fitting without.

Buckles

For the most part helmets have had a fairly standard buckle system. The Fidlock buckle was introduced a few years ago and makes things easier out on the snow. This buckle has magnets and a self locating design, making it easy to buckle your helmet even with gloves or mitts on. You can find this feature in most higher end options.

MIPS and SPIN

Nearly every crash out on the snow involves some sort of rotating impact rather than a direct impact to one spot. These proprietary systems work in conjunction with the movement of the brain inside the skull in order to reduce stress on the brain in a collision. This is becoming the standard in the wintersports world.

Every helmet brand fits slightly different, so trying on a few different ones can help you to find the best one for yourself. Most brands have equally safe helmet options, but it’s good to find one you’ll be comfortable in all day. Helmets come in different sizes that correlate to a range of measurements in centimeters. If you take a measurement of the circumference of your head, you can easily find the correlating size. Women’s and unisex helmets fit the same, but offer different colorways.

Kids helmets range from smaller fits to the same fit sizes as adults, but are usually a bit more minimal in regards to adults.

Fit Systems

All helmets come with a fit system that allows them to be fine tuned for the best fit. Some helmets are a simple elastic system while others have a dial that has a broader range. A few helmets have 360 degree fit systems or a shell that can be adjusted to size. This is helpful for people who generally find helmets too big and wide or fall between sizes.