It’s easy to assume that your boots are the most important piece of ski and snowboard gear because we often tell people that your boots are what determine how comfortable you’ll be while skiing or snowboarding.
However, the truth is that no matter how great your boots fit or how much pop you’re getting out of your skis or snowboard, your helmet is without a doubt the most important piece of gear you own.
For this reason, we’ve put together a short guide to what to look for when buying a ski helmet below. Check it out and find the perfect helmet before stepping on the snow.
Your Helmet Should be Snug but Not Tight
The most important thing to look for in a helmet is whether or not it fits your head. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what a properly fitted helmet feels like. For starters, a helmet should feel snug against your head, but not tight to the point of squeezing and causing pressure points.
Deciding if your helmet is snug, loose, or too tight is easier said than done though, so there are a few tests you can try to tell if the fit is right. For example, you can try shaking your head with the helmet on and seeing how much it moves. Ideally the helmet will not move separately from your head. Still unsure? Put both hands on each side of the helmet and shift it around on your head. Your skin and helmet should move together, so if the helmet is sliding over your skin then it’s too loose.
Don’t Plan on Wearing a Beanie Under Your Ski Helmet
New skiers and snowboarders may think that since a helmet has vents they need to wear a beanie or other warm hat underneath it, but the truth is that doing so can make your helmet unsafe.
As we mentioned earlier, a helmet is meant to fit snug to your head. If your helmet is big enough to fit a beanie underneath it then it is too big and won’t protect your head as well as it should. Modern helmets are warm enough to keep your head warm, so don’t plan on warning a
beanie underneath your helmet.
Look for a Fitting System if You Can’t Find the Right Size
Everyone’s head is shaped a little differently, which means some people may feel like they can’t find a helmet that fits their head perfectly. If that sounds like you, then you may find the answer in a helmet that has an adjustable fitting system.
Some helmets allow the wearer to adjust the size by simply removing or adding some padding inside the helmet. Others take a more advanced approach with a ratchet system located on the back of the helmet. These systems allow a helmet to be custom fitted to the wearer which means even better protection for your head, so if you’re having trouble finding the perfect fit look for a helmet with an adjustable system.
Make Sure There’s No Goggle Gap
Even if you have a helmet that fits perfectly, don’t buy it until you try it on with your goggles.
Ideally the top of your goggles should fit snuggly against the top of your helmet, leaving no exposed skin on your forehead, also known as, “goggle gap.” Make sure you try a helmet on with goggles to make sure they fit the helmet to avoid discomfort when you finally get to the
mountain.
If you have any questions about which helmet is right for you, ask the pros at ASO mammoth or the staff at your local ski shop for advice so your head is as protected as possible on the mountain.