Skiing and snowboarding are the types of sports that can give you the risks of head injuries when you perform them. It’s best for you to protect your head with the best ski helmet that can provide you with the best protection and safety during your skiing or snowboarding session. This simple guide can help you choose the right ski helmet for you.
Ski Helmet Features You Need to Consider
Not all ski helmets are the same. Each model of ski helmet offers certain features other models might not provide for you. Also, each ski helmet model will provide you with their own advantages and disadvantages.
The features provided by the ski helmet can help improve your experience during your skiing and snowboarding activities, so you need to pick the helmet that can provide the best features you can use later. Here are some ski helmet features you need to consider:
- Outer shell and padding. The first aspect you need to look for in a ski helmet is the durability and comfort aspect. The outer shell of the ski helmet needs to be durable enough against physical forces, abrasions, and sharp objects, and it should also be able to absorb shocks in the best possible way. Then, you also need to look for its padding. The padding inside the helmet needs to provide enough comfort for you throughout the time when you wear it during your skiing or snowboarding activities.
- Air vents. The air vent is another feature you need to look for in a ski helmet. The air vents should provide you with the smooth air flows within the helmet, allowing you to receive cool breezes while throwing out the warm air from inside the helmet. Also, it’s best for you to pick the helmet that has adjustable air vents, so you can change the air flows inside the helmet according to your preferences.
- Goggle attachments. Most of the time, you will want to wear goggles alongside your helmet when you are skiing or snowboarding. Thus, it’s best for you to pick the ski helmet that allows you to have a direct goggle attachment on the helmet. Also, it’s important for you to pick the helmet that meets with the safety standards for the goggle attachments.
- Camera mount. It is very common for those who enjoy skiing or snowboarding to bring a video camera with them at all times. The action camera helps them to film their actions during their skiing and snowboarding activities, allowing them to create their own memories from their experiences. It’s best for you to pick the ski helmet that allows you to mount an action camera upfront with no additional accessories.
- Storage or travel case. Carrying your ski helmet around with all its related accessories can be difficult sometimes. This is the reason you need to pick the ski helmet that provides you with the storage or travel case for easy carrying. With the storage or travel case, it’s easy for you to carry your ski helmet from one place to another place with no hassles.
- Liners. The liners in the ski helmet will help you keep the warmth of your head during your skiing or snowboarding activities. Skiing is a sporting activity that can give your body a cold temperature in a prolonged period, which is the reason you need to pick the ski helmet with liners to keep you warm during your skiing or snowboarding session. Even better, the ski helmet should provide the detachable ear pads to allow you adjust your own warmth.
- Built-in audio. It’s also best for you to pick the ski helmet that has the built-in audio ready for you to use. It means you can use it to listen to music while you are skiing or snowboarding. Or, you can use the built-in audio to communicate with other people via cellphone and 2-way radio.
Choosing between In-mold Helmets and Hard-Shell Helmets
There are two primary types of ski helmets you can find on the market today, which are the in-mold helmets and the hard-shell helmets. The in-mold helmets have unified foam and shell, meaning that these two aspects of the helmet get molded together to provide you with a softer yet durable shell, while keeping it lightweight with the best airflow. The shell on the in-mold helmets will be softer than the hard-shell, but it will still be durable enough to absorb shocks and physical impact.
Meanwhile, the hard-shell helmets (often called injection-molded helmets) are the type of ski helmets that offer a more durable hard plastic outer shell, with padding foam molded in separate ways inside it. It will be more durable for you to use against physical impact, shocks, or sharp objects, but it will also give you more weight compared to the in-mold helmets. Also, the hard-shell ski helmets will have an inferior airflow system when compared to the in-mold helmets, as it has a hard plastic outer shell.
You can choose between in-mold helmets and hard-shell helmets depending on your preferences, as each helmet type will offer you different comfort level, durability, weight, and safety level.
About the Helmet’s Safety Certifications
Ski helmet is the type of helmet that you need to wear during your skiing or snowboarding activities. Just like with any sports, ski helmets need to follow certain safety standards to protect your head during your sporting activities. There are two primary safety certifications for ski helmets you can find today.
The first safety certification is ASTM F2040. This is the safety certification used for most snow helmets in circulation today. It is the safety certification released in the United States for all snow helmets, which include ski and snowboarding helmets.
The second safety certification is CE EN1077. This is the safety certification for snow helmets released in Europe. It applies for both skiing and snowboarding helmets in circulation today, which guarantee the helmet’s safety when you wear it during your skiing and snowboarding activities.
Depending on the helmet’s market area, you might find either the ASTM F2040 or the CE EN1077 safety certification on the helmet. However, it doesn’t matter which safety certification you have on your helmet. The important thing that matters is that it has the safety certification sticker inside the helmet to ensure that it meets the international safety standards for snow helmets.
Please note that the safety certifications don’t guarantee 100% protection against head injury. So, please perform your skiing and snowboarding activities with caution and avoid any stunts that might cause severe head injuries when you perform it.
Important Tips to Pick the Right Ski Helmet for You
How can you find the right ski helmet from among hundreds or even thousands of models available today? It’s important for you to pick the ski helmet that can provide you with the best comfort when you wear it. Also, be sure to pick the one that you will enjoy wearing for the long-term. Here are some important tips to pick the right ski helmet for you:
- Brand. It’s best to buy a ski helmet released by a reputable and popular brand, as it will ensure the quality of the helmet itself. The helmet brand plays an important role in determining the overall quality of the helmet, allowing you to use it for long-term with no problems.
- Build quality. Pick the ski helmet that has a strong build quality, so it will have a better durability when you use it. The better the build quality, the better it will be in protecting your head area from various potential head injuries.
- User reviews. Nowadays, it’s hard to overlook the user reviews before purchasing anything. A good ski helmet should come from a reputable brand, and the item itself should have 4 to 5-star user reviews on various ecommerce platforms.
- Built-in features. The more features that the helmet offers, the better for you to use it in your skiing and snowboarding activities. Pick the helmet that offers you the built-in features you will need the most, even though you might need to pay more for that.
- Comfort. The ski helmet should provide you with great comfort when you wear them, even more so during your skiing activities. The padding should feel soft when you wear the helmet.
- Helmet type. You can choose between the in-mold and hard-shell helmet type according to your preferences. Remember, they have their own advantages and disadvantages.
- Size. Pick only the ski helmet that fits with your head size. Be sure to measure your head size before purchasing any ski helmet, even more so if you are ordering it online.
- Safety. Make sure that the ski helmet meets with the US or EU safety certifications. This is to ensure the maximum safety and protection when you wear the helmet in your skiing and snowboarding activities.
Conclusion
Finding the right ski helmet is important for you to protect your head area during your skiing or snowboarding activities. Follow these tips to find the best ski helmet you can get for yourself, with the features that you can use to enhance your experience in enjoying your favorite sports.
