Helmet and Goggles

[UVSHTSTRM]

So, today I decided I am going ahead and getting a helmet. Along with the helmet I am going to get a long overdue pair of goggles. I haven't gotten either yet, but would like to hear what you all would recommend. FYI, I have a huge melon, XL. I tried a couple on today and I seem to like the Smith Variant and the Giro Seam, the Seam seem to fit best, but I noticed on the two or three Giro Seams I tried on that the vents didn't always close all the way. Some of the vent holes seem to always have a slight gap in them when they were closed, is this common? What do you think of these two helmets? Any other suggestions. Trying to keep it in the 140-170 range. As for goggles I didn't even no where to begin. I have always liked Oakley, but am open to other brands. Trying to keep the goggle price in the 100-150 range. Goggles have never been a huge deal to me, but I want something with the option of changing out the lense depending on light, snow, etc. So what say you....thanks!

 

[vonski]

Not sure if they still make them, but the Giro Fuse fits my fat melon really well. I have XXL. Only helmet that ever fit my round melon right. I would not wear one if I had not found this one. It has vents that open and close and some others that are plug pieces that come out or go in. The ear muffs also pull off, so in the spring it can be worn on those hot days and my head has never been cold even on the longest day.

Goggles, make sure that the top of the goggle fits flush to the brim of the helmet. I have one pair of goggles where there is a dip in the middle above the nose area on the top of the lenses. It creates a little gap that on the real cold days gets really cold in that one spot on my forehead!

 

[Hawkshot99]

Last year i wore the Smith Varient Brim. I really like the helmets design. It vents very well on the warm days, but is still warm on cold days. It looks real nice as well. The helmet just didnt fit my head right. The medium had to be tightened to the tightest setting, and the small could not even fit on my head.

This year I have a Giro Seam. It just fits on my head like it is not even there. It was made for my head. It looks like it will vent very well like the Smith, but i have not used it yet. By the design of the Giro it weighs less than the Smith as well.

As far as goggles go.....Choose which helmet you want first. Then take that helmet to a shop with a large selection of goggles. Every goggle will fit differently for every person. You need a goggle that will fit inside the helmet correctly, while still fitting your face shape correctly. I personally have the Smith Stance.
As far as changing lenses, I just get more than 1 pair of goggles. Go with a bit cheaper goggle, and you should be able to get 2 pairs inside your goggle budget. This way you do not damage or have to struggle with the lenses changing them out.

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Last year i wore the Smith Varient Brim. I really like the helmets design. It vents very well on the warm days, but is still warm on cold days. It looks real nice as well. The helmet just didnt fit my head right. The medium had to be tightened to the tightest setting, and the small could not even fit on my head.

This year I have a Giro Seam. It just fits on my head like it is not even there. It was made for my head. It looks like it will vent very well like the Smith, but i have not used it yet. By the design of the Giro it weighs less than the Smith as well.

As far as goggles go.....Choose which helmet you want first. Then take that helmet to a shop with a large selection of goggles. Every goggle will fit differently for every person. You need a goggle that will fit inside the helmet correctly, while still fitting your face shape correctly. I personally have the Smith Stance.
As far as changing lenses, I just get more than 1 pair of goggles. Go with a bit cheaper goggle, and you should be able to get 2 pairs inside your goggle budget. This way you do not damage or have to struggle with the lenses changing them out.

Nice, thanks....I found the same thing with the Giro Seam, fit just perfect. When I put on other helmets I would put it on then my wife (former ski shop worker) told me I had to push it forward, which would make it feel more comfortable on the front of my head, but then the back/top would feel odd and I would have this need to push it back. This would then expose my forhead and looked funny. I think I am going to go witht he Giro Seam....man having a big head sucks. I think the place I went to had just a few large and extra large and thankfully they had the Giro in my size..

 

[UVSHTSTRM]

Not sure if they still make them, but the Giro Fuse fits my fat melon really well. I have XXL. Only helmet that ever fit my round melon right. I would not wear one if I had not found this one. It has vents that open and close and some others that are plug pieces that come out or go in. The ear muffs also pull off, so in the spring it can be worn on those hot days and my head has never been cold even on the longest day.

Goggles, make sure that the top of the goggle fits flush to the brim of the helmet. I have one pair of goggles where there is a dip in the middle above the nose area on the top of the lenses. It creates a little gap that on the real cold days gets really cold in that one spot on my forehead!

Thanks!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

The vents should close all the way, never seen a helmet Giro, Smith or Bern, where the vents didn't close all the way. Don't know what to tell you other than they should close. All the helmets you have mentioned are good helmets.

The Oakley Splice, new last year, is made to easily change lens, the rimless goggles mentioned in another thread are easy to change out and come with a light and a dark lens. Scott has a new lens technology called Illuminator, checked them out the other day, the best lens yet IMHO that works well with both bright sun and cloudy dark days. The new Oakley Signature series are totally sick goggles. Lots of great lens and frame graphics. The Tanner Hall is totally cool but being an old fart I have to like the Shane McConkey model too.

 

[bigbob]

I have a 63 mm melon. Bought a POC Skull X XXL, fits like a glove. To bad Leadom stopped making helmets, they had choices for people with large noggins, well ventilated too.

 

[billski]

Venting is important if you are a hot head. These helmets are warmer than you might imagine. I have ne of the earliest ski-specific helmets and it only had vents on the side. Great for those cold January mornings in Maine, but hell in the spring skiing. I got a Giro Fuse, which has maximum venting, since as it turns out, I ski the woods a lot and get pretty hot (no wind, lots of turns).
Sorry I have no experience on the others, but can say that adjustable venting is important. When it's cold, I tend to open the vents in the lift line and close them when I'm at the top.
The absolute only bad thing about venting is that if you take a good wipeout in pow, you'll have some cleaning out of the vents to do afterwards! The Variant is similar in profile to the to the Fuse. Make sure you can remove the ear pads for spring skiing if that's important to you. Same comments apply to the Giro Seams.


von is right, make sure the goggles fit. I went through a few pair till I got it right. First, if not wide enough, your temples will get freaking cold. Second, if it doesn't fit well at the top, where it meets the helmet, I get a "wind headache" on those days I'm cruising on the groomers.

 

[polariso]

Giros are the only helmets that fit my head, same for my girlfriend.

 

[gmcunni]

Giro has some of the best customer service i've ever encountered.

 

[RootDKJ]

Giro has some of the best customer service i've ever encountered.

+1

 

[deadheadskier]

Helmets

whatever fits your dome. Giro did not fit me well. Marker did.

Goggles, I've got a couple of pairs of Smiths, both bought for around $50ish at discount. The 2nd pair I got this year at the TJ Max sale. I will be getting a different color lense for it. I think having 2 different goals with different lenses is more practical than switching out lenses.

 

[Frank101]

I don't mean to thread jack, but I figured it's best to post here since there is no need for another goggle post.

I just bought a pair of Bolle Nova Goggles and was wondering if it is normal for the bottom of the lens to come out of the rubber (or whatever it is) lining? I figured it is, but I'm not sure. Are they broken or is it done this way to let you swap lens?

They stay firmly in place when I correctly secure them in their slot and the top part is firmly in place, but I don't want them to be a hazard if they aren't supposed to be like that.

Thanks for any help

 

[Hawkshot99]

I don't mean to thread jack, but I figured it's best to post here since there is no need for another goggle post.

I just bought a pair of Bolle Nova Goggles and was wondering if it is normal for the bottom of the lens to come out of the rubber (or whatever it is) lining? I figured it is, but I'm not sure. Are they broken or is it done this way to let you swap lens?

They stay firmly in place when I correctly secure them in their slot and the top part is firmly in place, but I don't want them to be a hazard if they aren't supposed to be like that.

Thanks for any help

The lense does come out of the frame, but should require you to pull them pretty hard for it to happen.

 

[Frank101]

The lense does come out of the frame, but should require you to pull them pretty hard for it to happen.

PERFECT!

Thanks. As I said once in they are pretty hard to get out. I just wanted to make sure this was the case as the last two goggles I had did not work this way.

 

[Geoff]

Helmets are like ski boots. Go to a shop that carries quite a few different brands and select the one that fits. Don't have any preconception about brand or model. As people say, the more venting control the better.

 

[Geoff]

Goggles, I've got a couple of pairs of Smiths, both bought for around $50ish at discount. The 2nd pair I got this year at the TJ Max sale. I will be getting a different color lense for it. I think having 2 different goals with different lenses is more practical than switching out lenses.

The nice thing about Smith is that you can get all kinds of different lens tints for the goggles from their web site. I have three different lens tints that I pop in and out depending on lighting conditions. I use yellow when it's socked in. A mirrored rose that lets in 70% of the light in midwinter eastern light. RC36 that lets in 36% of the light at high altitude on sunny days. I use their "turbo" goggle so I can just flip a switch to clear the lens if I have any fogging issues. For people who wear glasses, they have an integral lens holder system and the little electric fan keeps the lenses from fogging.

I bought a pair on eBay for $36.00. I wouldn't suggest paying retail for them since they're stupidly expensive.