Ski Helmet Buying Guide

When buying a Ski Helmet there is a wealth of available attributes to consider to find the best Ski Helmet for you.

This Buying Guide will talk you through the benefits of these features and you can refer below to the 'How To' Fit Your Ski Helmet when trying a Ski Helmet for the first time.

Fit: A precise fit is vital. An adjustable Ski Helmet will enable you to fine-tune the fit, not just initially when you are selecting the right model but also through out the day if necessary, for example if you want to wear a lightweight beanie in the morning but are over-heating by lunch time. If the fit is right your helmet will be as safe as possible. It will also perform to the best of its ability and keep you comfortable all day long.

Goggle Integration: Your Ski Helmet must fit precisely with your Ski Goggles as well as your own head shape. If you wear a Smith Ski Goggle with a Smith Ski Helmet the vents will align, allowing moist, goggle-fogging air to be eliminated as you ski. A good Ski Goggle/Helmet combo will ensure that your Ski Helmet is not pushed up away from your head, nor will you be left with a large gap between the two which prevents the vents from working in unison and leaves an exposed area of skin vulnerable to the elements. A Ski Goggle Clip will keep your Goggles in place wherever you end up!

Impact Protection: All of the Ski Helmets that we sell meet stringent CE EN Class B (non full-face helmet) standards. Smith Ski Helmets are also safety tested to gain the American ASTM mark. The main methods of construction are:

Hybrid Shell Construction: Combines separate and distinct areas of ABS and In-Mold technology, thus optimising the favorable traits of each material in a revolutionary process. This produces a Ski Helmet with a modern design, that is lightweight, low-profile and perfectly fitting. A great example of this technology being the Smith Vantage Ski Helmet.

In-Mold Shell construction: Uses a thin polycarbonate (PC) shell filled with a very dense expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner. This produces a very lightweight, neat and comfortable Ski Helmet. Additions such as Koroyd material can be used within the EPS liner to increase impact resistance and to enable even more vents to be incorporated within the helmet.

Bombshell /ABS/Hardshell Construction: Is an injection-molded ABS (acrylonite butadiene styrene) shell which is super tough and impact resistant plastic. Tough and rigid expanded polystyrene is then bonded to the inside. This type of Ski Helmet tends to be heavier and bulkier with a more skate-style.

Climate Control: The various venting systems are designed to vent warm, moist air away from your head so that you don't overheat. The more vents a Ski Helmet has, the more control you will have over your temperature. Good Ski Helmets incorporate systems that can close up the vents keeping the heat in, so that you don't freeze when it's really cold.

Comfort Details: Look out for removable linings that can be machine washed, customisable foam linings that can be used to fine-tune fit, ear pads that can be used for extra warmth and removed on spring days. Adjustable webbing chin straps allow your Ski Helmet to fit snugly under your chin. A fluffy chin pad will make sure it stays comfortable all day long.

'How To' Fit Your Ski Helmet:

When first trying on your new Ski Helmet you will need to familiarize yourself with its individual fitting mechanisms which might be a dial at the nape of the neck or there could just be an elasticated strap at the back; on the Smith LFS fit system there is also a system of poppers on either side of the strap for extra adjustment. Smith's BOA FS360 Fit System (on the Smith Vantage Ski Helmet) has a lateral adjustability dial and vertical adjustment too.

1. Put the helmet on your head (pressing down well if you have thick hair) and it should fit snugly without doing up the chin strap.
2. Use the adjusters to adjust the fit to your head.
3. Wiggle your head around; you want it to hold itself steady on your head and not fall off.
4. Check for any uncomfortable pressure points; bear in mind that these will be exacerbated with day-long wear.
5. Often there will be some adjustability within the interior padding, changing this around may just give you the fit that you need to eliminate a pressure hot-spot.
6. The chin strap should then be fastened so that it's comfortable, allowing space to talk and move about comfortably.
7. Keep the helmet on around the house for a little while to check that it stays comfortable with time.

Tick off all these points and you are well on your way to comfortable skiing with a well-protected head!

To view all our SKI HELMETS please click HERE

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