Snow Sport Helmets

[Charlie Schuessler]

Although I wear a helmet when I ride motorcycles or bicycles, I have never worn one while skiing. In the past the thought of wearing one for skiing was quickly forgotten. However this summer, the thought of wearing one to protect the few remaining brain cells is not vacating my thoughts....

I'm interested in other's thoughts on what they looked for when selecting a helmet and what they liked or disliked after the purchase and ultimately it's use on the mountain.

[thetrailboss]

I bought mine after Sonny Bono and Mr. Kennedy died in the same season. The two high profile cases really made my parents nervous back then (98 I think). I own a 1999-2000 Boeri Axis helmet and really like it. I will not ski without it (and have even returned home losing 20-40 minutes of skiing to get it!).

Best thing to do is to try them on. At the time, I was looking for a vanilla model, but a friend of mine was like, "go for this one...it is not much more $$$." Entry models then were about $85-100, and this model listed at $130, but I got mine for $100. It vents well, looks good, fits well, is light, and never gets too hot or cold. The right one should be snug, but not too tight and warm, but not hot. All will have similar venting and liners too. Be sure there is a google clip on the back.

I've worn mine in -20F all the way through 60F and it has been comfortable.

I find that a lot of other serious skiers also wear one. When my GF picked up the sport this season, I demanded that she wear a helmet and we got her the Boeri Myto Sport and she loves hers as well.


There are a lot of good models out there including Boeri, Marker, Ovis (I think), Giro, etc. Look for a good warranty as well (Boeri is life including if you crash).

Boeri was very good to me giving me free helmet bag(s) and google clips for my model.

[David Metsky]

I bought one a few years ago and now never ski without it. Besides being nice and warm on the typical Feb day...

I have a Giro 9 that I bought on Sierra Trading Post. They have a few for sale now.

-dave-

[riverc0il]

bought a gyro 9 last year and love it. wouldn't ski without it any more except late spring skiing when it's really hot and expert terrain is closed any ways.

[sledhaulingmedic]

I have a fat head (To quote Mike Myers in "So I married an axe murderer...": "It's a virtual planetoid! It's got it's own weather system!")

My problem has been finding one that fits. That's the first criteria. Next is good ventilaltion, as I tend to run warm. Finally, I need to be able to put an ear piece for a radio.

I've had good luck with Boeri and Leedom.

[jimme]

I got one before the 01/02 season because to me it made sense to wear one when skiing glades, tree and woods.* Also, it should help if someone runs into me.

Jofa was (is) the only company I know of that still makes the old school helmet style (Jofa World Cup 2500) which is a large part of the reason I chose it. Also, they meet the European CE Standard. I'm now warming up to the other various styles available and will probably change when the time comes to buy a new one. Why? The chin strap rises from under my chin , needing adjusting for each run and chair ride. The goggle guide fell off until I epoxyed it on, then it fell off again and got lost. A 'nipple' to block a hole fell out and got lost. Can't say I'd reccommend Jofra for those reasons. I've heard that a helmet should meet Snell standards, but I don't ride a motorcycle. Is this what they use? http://www.smf.org/stds.html

What I like about the helmet is that it's very warm. I don't feel it interferes with my vision or hearing.

There's tons of inforomation on this subject and I found this pretty straight forward. http://www.smf.org/stds.html



Jimme

Whether it will really help is debatable, but I tend not to ski fast, especially off trail.

[hammer]

Originally Posted by jimme

Whether it will really help is debatable, but I tend not to ski fast, especially off trail.

Based on what I've read about the subject, wearing a helmet is kinda like driving with a seat belt...if you are going fast enough when you hit something, nothing's going to save you, but at slower speeds, having the protection can make all the difference.

In any case, I wear a helmet all the time. Makes me feel much more secure as I dodge around all the other beginners and novices on the green and blue trails, and I usually don't have to worry about my head getting cold.

[ChileMass]

Never have had one on my head except when I raced competitively as a kid, and the state of Maine mandated us to wear helmets when doing giant slalom. However, I am considering it as I get into my mid-40s. Not quite as confident or as stable as I used to be, although I still don't worry much even when I am ripping down some blue or black trail. But, I have more to lose if some knucklehead jumps out in front of me.

[uphillklimber]

I got one after my first two trips skiing, finding I loved it. That summer, when I was gearing up at all the sales, it did include a comfy helmet. I got my kids helmets. When I met my soon to be wife, I bought her one. She soon after bought her daughter one. I demand that my adult kids wear their helmet, since I'm buying the lift ticket. (For the rcord, they have 3 broken bones and some half dozen days lost on the slopes from landing wrong on their backs and butts) Their track record is not that good in the common sense department, so I try to mandate safety for them, including wrist guards.(They board).

I wear my helmet all the time, as does my wife. I did find myself actually contradicitng myself on May 1st this year at the "River. It was so hot, I didn't wear it.

That helmet is comfy warm, too. On those cold days last winter, my head was never cold under the brain bucket. I wore backlavas also. Now, the helmet is part of the outfit. I ain't dressed to ski without it.

All that being said, I couldn't help but notice that there is a huge hole in the front of my helmet, right where my face is. If I was on a flyaway, out of control, downhill descent, I wonder how much that hole in front would help me out. I could see myself turning my head as I cringe for impact. Maybe that will help. But, as Hammer stated:

Based on what I've read about the subject, wearing a helmet is kinda like driving with a seat belt...if you are going fast enough when you hit something, nothing's going to save you, but at slower speeds, having the protection can make all the difference.

There is always a reasonable chance that it will make a difference.

I did read an article in a newspaper or ski magazine, that had the sound of truth to it. (It was sponsored by an outfit that had a lot to gain by proving the effectiveness of helmets). It reported that helmets were very effective for beginners and skiiers generally traveling under 10 mph. I believe they quoted a speed of 8-10 mph. At that speed and ability, falls backward were common, and the helmet pads the impact. Same with falls to the side and glancing off trees and other objects. There was mention of the strain on neck muscles from the extra weight, as well as the adjustments required to compensate for the weight. (This article, call every shat it saw, either pro or con, which is why it had the sound of truth to me).

The most ominous statement in the article was that at higher speeds, the benefits of the helmet were dubious. By nature of what skiing is, you will be going forward, right where the hole for your face is. If you manage to turn your face, expecting impact, it is likely that you will turn your whole body also and thus the skiis, avoiding impact. If you manage to turn your face, but not your body, it may be very likely that you are going so fast at impact that no "seatbelt" would have helped.

I used to be known for doing "the turtle on it's back" quite often. I found the snow to be a soft landing platform, and I wore plenty of padding. The bindings were set at beginner's (Later at intermediate) and the skiis always came off only when I needed them to. I've never been injured on skiis, thankfully. I suspect that slippery shell helmet helped guide my head when I tumbled onto my back.

Yep, I believe in helmets, and wear them. I trust them. But I do not believe they are a "force field of invincibility" around me. They have never been intended to be that.

[hammer]

The most ominous statement in the article was that at higher speeds, the benefits of the helmet were dubious. By nature of what skiing is, you will be going forward, right where the hole for your face is. If you manage to turn your face, expecting impact, it is likely that you will turn your whole body also and thus the skiis, avoiding impact. If you manage to turn your face, but not your body, it may be very likely that you are going so fast at impact that no "seatbelt" would have helped.

Thanks for the additional detail, uphillklimber.

I may have read the same or a similar article, and the whole thing about the benefits being dubious at higher speeds did bother me a bit. My main hope is that, as I get more comfortable with skiing at higher speeds, I'll keep it under control so I'll never have to "test" my helmet.

Given that the potential benefits of wearing a helmet are so much greater for beginners, I'm surprised that the industry hasn't done more to push the idea of wearing helmets from the start...