eude supply professional and honest service.
OVERALL
SCORE
REASONS TO BUY
Good, versatile fit
Cozy
Excellent venting
Adjustment system
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
17.7 oz |MIPS
The Smith Vantage MIPS has been our favorite ski helmet for years now, with a feature set that makes it a repeat favorite for our testers. We love the easily adjustable Boa dial fit system, which eliminates pressure points and provides a comfortable, custom fit regardless of head shape. The versatile ventilation system allows you to choose which vents to open so that you can tailor the amount of airflow. The Vantage uses MIPS technology to better absorb the rotational impact forces commonly associated with brain injuries. It also employs a generous amount of Koroyd, which is a welded tube structure designed to absorb the impact forces and decrease your chances of serious injury from direct hits. These features, plus the helmet's tight, high-quality construction, make it an easy choice for any die-hard skier.
The only real downside to the Smith Vantage MIPS is its high price. The best-of-the-best doesn't come cheap, but there's value in spending more to get more, especially when it comes to head protection – as they say, you only get one of them! The Vantage MIPS is appropriate for any skier or rider simply looking for the best ski helmet available on the market. If you can't quite swing the cost of this premium helmet, we also really like the more affordable Smith Mission MIPS.
Read more: Smith Vantage MIPS review
The Smith Vantage earns points for both style and functionality.
Credit: laredo
OVERALL
SCORE
REASONS TO BUY
Adjustable vents
Dial for fit customization
MIPS
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier weight
Larger profile
21.7 oz |MIPS
The Giro Ratio MIPS strikes an impressive balance of value and performance. The Ratio MIPS includes a premium set of features, but utilizes a cost-friendly hardshell construction to keep the price reasonable. The ventilation system is excellent, with six adjustable vents that allow you to micro-manage the airflow and your temperature. The helmet uses a harness system for an adjustable fit, controlled by an oversized dial that is easily adjusted while wearing gloves. Unlike some other helmets at this price point, this helmet is outfitted with MIPS technology to protect against rotational impact forces – proving that you don't have to pay top dollar for additional protection.
While beneficial for cost savings, the hardshell construction is also our biggest complaint with this helmet. The increased weight and size is more noticeable while riding, and the bulkier appearance detracts slightly from its style. But for skiers and riders looking for a high-quality helmet on a budget, the money you save far outweighs these minor drawbacks. The Giro Ratio MIPS is an excellent option for casual skiers looking for a new lid that offers great features, top-notch protective technology, and avoids the sticker shock of many top models in this review.
Read more: Giro Ratio MIPS review
We found the Ratio to fit longer, oval head shapes the best.
Credit: laredo
OVERALL
SCORE
REASONS TO BUY
Ample and adjustable ventilation
Protective features
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Less stylish
Earpads are tricky to remove
16.9 oz. |MIPS
The Smith Mission MIPS is our recommendation as a budget-friendly helmet for those who frequently split their time between riding chairlifts and the backcountry. Purchasing a helmet for each activity can be a financial burden and unnecessary depending on one's touring goals. The Mission achieves an equitable share of front and backcountry needs in a helmet. It is a well-balanced model with many favorable features of a resort helmet like adjustable vents, a warm liner, MIPS, and Koroyd, all in a lightweight, low profile, backcountry-ready package. It is only a few ounces heavier than the lightest helmet in our review but offers more utility to the standard ski tour. For the average recreational backcountry skier, the marginal weight increase is a reasonable tradeoff for enhanced impact protection and other amenities this helmet provides. This unique balance of features and performance led to the Mission being one of the first helmets our testers reached for, whether you are spending the day riding groomers or touring out of our favorite trailhead.
Our snowboarding reviewer's main hesitation when reaching for this helmet was its styling. Fortunately, this is subjective, and anything can look stylish if you own it. Additionally, removing the earpads was more complicated than other models. When removing the pads, it felt similar to breaking the plastic insert. Because the pads are integrated into the harness system, you need to remove the harness attachment near the temple area of the helmet. Despite these minor quirks, this helmet's lightweight, functional, breathable, and protective nature makes it an affordable option for those who want one helmet for front and backcountry use.
Read more: Smith Mission MIPS review
The Smith Mission has a lot to offer for such an affordable helmet.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
OVERALL
SCORE
REASONS TO BUY
Very comfortable
MIPS Spherical
Warm
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavier weight
Pricey
Moderately bulky
22 oz |MIPS Spherical
The Giro Tor Spherical is our recommendation for dedicated freeriders. This product combines warmth, comfort, and premium features with innovative protection technology. A microfleece breathable liner helps make this helmet one of the warmest in our review while adding to the impressive comfort levels. The adjustable harness system accommodates various head shapes and provides a secure fit that is hard to notice while riding. Giro teamed up with MIPS to design the Spherical technology, which uses an EPP foam inner liner and ball-in-socket design to aid in protection against rotational impacts. The helmet rounds out with premium features that enhance the user experience, like a user-friendly magnetic buckle, a wide chin strap, and an easy-to-use goggle strap. The streamlined venting, freeride-oriented style, enhanced levels of protection, and premium features set make this a standout helmet for dedicated hard-chargers.
The most notable downside of the Tor is the higher price. This helmet is far from cheap because it employs premium features. It's also slightly bulkier and heavier than traditional in-mold products because of the added inner liner associated with the Spherical system. The pros far outweigh the cons of this product, however, and we are happy to recommend the Giro Tor to devoted skiers and riders looking for a premium helmet.
Read more: Giro Tor Spherical review
A versatile helmet that provides warmth, comfort, and innovative protection.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
OVERALL
SCORE
REASONS TO BUY
Magnetic buckle
Style
Protection features
Adjustable harness
REASONS TO AVOID
Fixed vents
price
17 oz. |WaveCel
The Anon Logan WaveCel is our recommendation for freestyle riders because of its comfort, ventilation, and protective features without losing out on style. The Logan is a relatively lightweight and low-profile model, making it easy to forget about atop your noggin. This model incorporates WaveCel technology to increase its protective merit. WaveCel is a protection technology designed to flex, crumple, and glide to help dissipate force and prevent injuries from rotational impacts commonly experienced in ski accidents. The Logan is also a very well-ventilated helmet. The new-school skate-inspired styling is at home whether you are freeriding or in the terrain park. This helmet makes no compromises to ensure it's one you will wear.
Its lack of adjustable vents only holds back this light and comfortable helmet. It was a bit airy when traveling at speed and on very cold days. While it offers impressive ventilation due to the vent structure and Wavecel, we needed a thin beanie on colder days to stay warm. Ultimately, this helmet is excellent for freestyle riders or those who generally don't like wearing a helmet for style reasons. Its overall comfort and protective features make this helmet a no-brainer.
Read more: Anon Logan WaveCel review
We love riding the park in the protective and stylish Anon Logan WaveCel.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
OVERALL
SCORE
REASONS TO BUY
Triple certified
Very lightweight
Great ventilation for climbing
Flexible and easy-to-pack adjustment system
REASONS TO AVOID
Dents easily
Helmet carry system is challenging to use with gloves on
15.8 oz. |MIPS
The Smith Summit is our recommended model for backcountry users looking for a specific model for touring and mountaineering. At 15.8 oz for a size large, this lightweight helmet provides an impressive feature set and protection value. The flexible BOA adjustable harness greatly increases durability compared to the standard plastic harness and makes it easier to pack. There are no compromises to the protection value of this helmet with the integrated MIPS and Koroyd. The Summit is a triple-certified helmet that meets international alpine skiing, climbing, and mountaineering standards. The ventilation system is functional and efficient to manage heat while climbing yet didn't let blowing snow or spindrift through.
The Smith Summit isn't a perfect helmet for all situations; it's a backcountry-specific helmet. The minimalist liner and fixed vents require an extra hat or balaclava to provide warmth. Its lightweight in-mold construction is more susceptible to dents and scratches. The built-in helmet carry system provides a secure ride but is challenging to operate and maneuver with gloves. Depending on your current pack, it may be harder than the current system. The Smith Summit appeals to backcountry skiers and mountaineers looking for a stylish, lightweight helmet that doesn't compromise on protection to take on their next outing. The Petzl Sirocco is another great crossover helmet that is certified as a ski mountaineering helmet, though it's definitely not designed for folks riding at the resort.
Read more: Smith Summit MIPS review
The Smith Summit is our top choice for backcountry skiing with its triple-certification, lightweight, and backcountry-specific features.
Credit: Danny Kern
80
77
$24076
76
$32574
The company is the world’s best custom snowboard helmet supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
$25071
71
$27070
$16069
69
$20067
$18066
$27064
64
$15562
$25061
$23055
$85In style smiles and palm hits during a backcountry transition near Lake Tahoe, CA.
Credit: Steven Tata
Our review process started with hours of research into the market, where we analyzed the best ski helmets and chose the top 17 for purchase and side-by-side testing. We assess each ski helmet through extensive field testing, and over the last seven years, we have tried over 30 different models. Our testers ski and ride as much as possible and frequently switch helmets, terrain, and conditions to ensure well-rounded information. We evaluate the comfort and warmth of each helmet with different head shapes, goggles, and temperatures. We assess the ventilation and weight through measurements and by feel when skiing and riding. We even poll a wide variety of users to gauge the style of each model. To obtain comprehensive data, we took them out time after time to use them ourselves, gave them to friends, and compiled all the feedback into this review. Our goal is to help you find the perfect ski helmet for how you want to enjoy the mountain.
Our testing of ski helmets is divided into six rating metrics:Our testing of ski helmets is divided into
Sam Piper, Wes Berkshire, Alex Bogner, and Isaac Laredo are the experts behind this review. Wes is an avid skier who spends 150+ days a year outside using and testing gear. Sam brings a wealth of emergency services experience and training, having worked for Denali Rescue and as a ski patroller. He holds certifications in Avalanche Level II, swift water rescue, and Wilderness EMT-B. Alex went to school in Vermont for Mountain Recreation Management at Lyndon State College (now Northern Vermont University). He usually skis about 100 days a season and has managed to ski every month of the year. With a professional background in ski patrol and ski guiding, Alex often pushes his gear to the limit. Isaac reviews all things snowboarding. He has designed his life in pursuit of the perfect turn. Isaac spends 5-6 days a week strapped into his snowboard each winter and early spring, either ski guiding, teaching avalanche courses, or personally freeriding. He is meticulous about his gear and understands its capacity to make or break your experience. Our experts bring valuable knowledge to the table to provide you with the best possible recommendations.
Fun-having while cycling through helmets on our local ski hill in South Lake Tahoe.Testing goggle strap compatibility with the Mod5.We spent hundreds of hours comparatively testing these products to score them across a strategic set of metrics. For detailed insight, the individual metrics should give you a better idea of how each helmet performs in particular categories and allow you to make the best decision for your preferred activities and budget. Continue reading to see our findings and top performers in each metric.
The past few decades of material science have changed helmet design to offer more protection than ever before. A proper helmet is an incredibly worthy investment and is not the piece of gear to skimp on. Our advice is to purchase a comfortable and reliable ski helmet that's suited to your riding style, even if you have to spend a few extra dollars. The appropriate helmet always ends up on your head, and the wrong one will be a burden to wear or, even worse, not be worn at all. That said, we all come to the table with different budgets, and we have tested a multitude of helmets to be able to recommend quality ski helmets for a wide range of budgets. Generally, we found that performance is strongly correlated with price; the most expensive models were the highest performing and offered the best protective technology. However, great values exist, and a few find this balance while standing out for their performance at a lower price.
The Smith Vantage is one of the best helmets money can buy.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
Protection is priority number one. Fortunately, most helmets offer MIPS versions (or similar technology) of helmets for a marginal price increase. We recommend indulging in a rotational impact system (MIPS is just one example). It is mainly the features and molding process that drive up the price. Our testers' favorite, the Smith Vantage MIPS, comes in at a high price, but due to its category-leading performance, we still find it a solid value for those who have the means or find it on sale. If you're looking for a middle ground between features and price, then the Smith Mission MIPS and Giro Ratio MIPS offer outstanding solutions at half the cost of the top-tier models but perform much better than "half" as good. The former is more versatile, handling resort and backcountry sliding well, while the latter costs less. The Giro Ledge is the least expensive product in this review. However, we generally recommend springing for the MIPS version. It increases the price to almost as much as the Ratio (which we feel is a better ski helmet all around).
An uncomfortable ski helmet can detract from your day on the mountain, and eventually, that helmet will find itself in a stack of unused gear. You are more likely to wear a helmet if it is comfortable, especially for those who dislike the feel of helmets. For these reasons, comfort is one of the highest weighted metrics at 25%. The molding, padding, shape, and fit of the ski helmet all play a role in overall comfort. Ideally, a comfortable helmet should adjust easily to provide a proper fit and then be forgotten about when you are sliding on snow.
The Smith Vantage, Scott Symbol 2 Plus D, Smith Mission, Pret Cynic X2 MIPS, Smith Nexus, Giro Tor, and Anon Logan WaveCel are our highest-rated helmets for comfort. All these models have a solid, well-built feel that leaves you feeling well-protected immediately. The Vantage, Mission, and Nexus share some traits associated with the Smith brand that add to their comfort. The Vantage uses the BOA Fit wheel for smooth and effective personalizing of the interior fit. The Nexus utilizes a larger dial conveniently located for use with gloves on. The Anon Logan also uses a BOA adjustable harness system. The fit wheel is located on the helmet's shell, making it easier to find and adjust when wearing gloves. One of our favorite adjustment systems was on RCS Fit System the Pret Cynic X2, as it uses a very large dial with large contours and an audible click that helped us make adjustments with gloves on.
The BOA system offers great micro adjustability to fine-tune the helmet's fit. Pictured here is the Smith Vantage.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
The earpads are thick and well-padded on all the Smith helmets other than the Summit, like mini pillows for your ears, perfect for a long day on skis.
Even when things are great on top of your head, a scratchy chinstrap that doesn't sit well can be a real deal-breaker. The Scott Symbol 2 Plus D was one helmet with a unique chinstrap that was extremely comfortable. The chin strap is flat, soft, and wide, unlike any other helmet tested in this review. Also specific to this helmet are the earpads equipped with Scott's "360-degree Pure Sound" tech. It allows you to have improved hearing capabilities while keeping your ears warm and toasty. We were initially skeptical but can report it is an improvement over most ear covers that greatly muffle sound and impede hearing.
Being easy to use is also a factor in comfort. Magnetic buckles like this one on the Oakley Mod5 are very convenient.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Giro Tor Spherical impressed us with its In Form 2 fit system and cupped ear pads. This system is similar to Smith's BOA system — it's an adjustable wheel at the back of the helmet that will snug up the interior harness to better fit your head. While many systems feel like they only operate from the back, the In Form 2 was snugging our heads all the way around. Giro's ear pads are a more cupped design. They're still very well padded, but the ear is cradled rather than pressed against the padding like most helmets. We found that the cupped design added a little wind noise at high speeds, but they were great from a comfort standpoint.
The Right Fit
The fit is the most important factor in purchasing a helmet. A helmet that doesn't fit properly is likely to be uncomfortable and, more importantly, can compromise your protection. Some helmets are more suited to round head shapes, while others suit oval head shapes. Many helmets come with adjustable internal padding, which is useful in dialing in the fit to your head. Don't be afraid to use them to customize the helmet's fit to your head shape.
The Giro In Form 2 system is a flexible and adjustable harness system to fit different head shapes.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
Nothing is worse than being stuck on the top of the mountain, shivering. Of course, you should start with your favorite base layer and add clothing as needed, but keeping your head warm is just as important, and we weigh this metric at 25% of the overall score. Ski helmets are, by and large, warmer than wearing a hat or hood while skiing. With a tight-fitting goggle/helmet combo, it's easy to feel completely protected from a raging blizzard. To evaluate warmth, we wore each helmet in various temperatures without skull caps and performed a series of heat-producing activities like hiking to gauge heat retention.
The most prominent design consideration to negatively affect warmth are fixed vents, i.e., vents that don't close. Whether you wear a beanie under your helmet or not, having cold air flowing through at all times can be pretty chilly. Another factor that plays into warmth is the ear pads. These hug the ears, and whether they can perform without being too tight is key. Tight ear pads can cause significant discomfort after hours on the hill. Lastly, some helmets aren't padded and insulated that well, making them better suited for warmer environments.
The Smith Vantage, Smith Nexus, Giro Tor, and Scott Symbol 2 were some of the warmest in the review. They have adjustable vents, full liners, and comfortable yet tight earpads.
The earpads of the Tor are comfortable and draft-free but hearing is a challenge.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
The Shred Totality NoShock provides a toasty on-hill experience at a lower price than those listed above. It has a soft interior lining that goes around the circumference of your head to provide additional warmth. The earpads are comfortable and draft-free. The vents are fixed but covered with a metal mesh sheet. In our testing, the mesh seemed to increase the helmet's warmth by limiting air movement compared to fixed-open vent models.
The Pret Cynic X2 is one of the warmest helmets in the review despite its technically fixed vents, bucking the trend. The model employs a liner of blended wool and recycled polyester fleece to add plenty of warmth. Its Level One Ventilation has hidden flaps on the underside of the liner that can be deployed to block the vents and essentially close them. Our testers didn't appreciate that you need to remove the helmet and liner to "close" these vents with liner flaps. In general, open, fixed vents provide less warmth than those that open and close.
The Shred Totality Noshock has fixed vents covered with a wire mesh. It blocked some air movement and remained relatively breathable in our testing.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
Ventilation is the helmet's ability to cool you down and reduce head sweat, and we gave this metric a 20% weight in the overall score. Ventilation for helmets comes in two flavors — vents and the ability to remove the earpieces. Vents that open and close allow for the most regulation, but having any vents at all will help pull air through the helmet. We skied on warm days and found that not all vents are created equal. Some of the helmets we tested look like they'll vent well, but the vents' configuration didn't work to create airflow. Additionally, many helmets have removable earpads that can quickly be stashed in a jacket pocket mid-run. We strongly prefer this ability to customize our temperature regulation on the go.
Removable earpieces increase the ventilation potential of a helmet. Removing the earpieces is enjoyable for warmer days. Still, it is more challenging to accomplish on the mountain than simply opening vents. Most models in our test feature removable earpieces.
The Salomon MTN Lab has vents for days.
The Salomon MTN Lab is easily the most vented helmet we tested. With huge, subdivided vents running the length of both sides of the helmet, airflow was never an issue. This ample ventilation is very welcome in ski mountaineering and touring situations. The Sweet Protections Ascender MIPS offers substantial ventilation, too. Rather than using big ventilation channels, the Ascender uses a strategic flow channel and a network of 108 small vents to move air out effectively. There is a cover that has a 2mm gap between the vents to block snow and spindrift from entering the helmet.
The Sweet Protection Ascender features 108 small vents!
Credit: Isaac Laredo
The Smith Summit takes a similar approach, employing more medium-sized vents to maximize airflow but limiting spindrifts or drafts. Each of these backcountry-focused helmets is comfortable to walk uphill in.
The Smith Nexus employs a strategic ventilation pattern to ensure maximum airflow. The helmet features 24 vents, 18 of which are fully adjustable. It provides some of the best ventilation found in a resort-focused helmet.Theemploys a strategic ventilation pattern to ensure maximum airflow. The helmet features 24 vents, 18 of which are fully adjustable. It provides some of the best ventilation found in a resort-focused helmet.
The Smith Vantage also vents very well, with options to close all or just some vents at a time. The Giro Tor, Smith Mission, and Giro Ratio all have adjustable vents, and they vent well. The Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS, POC Fornix MIPS, and Scott Symbol 2 Plus D are also vented very effectively.
Adjustable vents, like those on the Smith Vantage, can make your helmet more versatile across different weather conditions.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
The WaveCel construction of the Anon Logan increases the overall ventilation of the helmet. The WaveCel insert has a lot of negative space that allows air to move freely throughout the helmet. This model had one of the best ventilation scores despite only having ten vents.
The WaveCel construction of the Anon Logan enhances its ventilation performance, a secondary benefit to its added protection.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
All of the helmets we tested are certified to meet specific protection standards through the American Society for Materials and Testing and/or the European Committee for Standardization. That means they've passed rigorous testing and met specific criteria to ensure that they will keep your noggin as protected as possible as you zoom downhill. There's no truth to the idea that a heavier, bulkier helmet automatically means a safer helmet. The difference in weight and size stems from different construction techniques. We weighed each model and then evaluated the helmet's overall profile by how it felt when skiing and its ability to fit under the hood of a ski jacket. Of course, this can depend on the helmet you choose and the ski jacket you wear. Therefore, we used the same coat for each test. This metric has a 10% influence on each product's overall score.
In-mold helmets are usually lighter and lower profile, while injection-molded models tend to be heavier and bulkier.
The lightest ski helmet we tested is the Salomon MTN Lab, weighing just 12.7 oz on our scale. The Smith Summit was a contender weighing in at 15.8 oz (size large) The Smith Maze and Giro Ledge also land on the lighter end of things. The Smith Mission is another lightweight option at 16.9 oz for a size Large. It's less noticeable than heavier models when riding.
The Smith Mission uses in-mold construction that produced this wonderfully lightweight helmet.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
The slimmer, in-mold constructed helmets, such as the Smith Vantage and Sweet Protection Ascender, fit better and easier under hoods than injection-molded models like the Oakley MOD 5 MIPS or the Giro Ratio.
Features inevitably add weight to helmets. A few models that we really like, such as the Giro Tor, are not high scorers in the weight metric. Although some are a little on the heavy side, they come with all the bells and whistles that make helmets super desirable. These few extra ounces are worthwhile for most resort riders as they can improve the helmet's fit and overall user experience with only a slight weight penalty.
We loved the lightweight Smith Maze for resort laps as well as the skin track.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Your helmet and goggles should work in tandem, creating a tight seal between the two on your forehead. Goggles and helmets should fit seamlessly, meaning there should be no gap between the two, and they also should not be competing for real estate. Leaving a gap provides space for freezing air to blast against your forehead. Alternatively, pressure points and headaches can arise if the helmet presses down on the goggles. We assessed goggle compatibility by trying each helmet out with different goggles from various brands and evaluating the helmet shape and goggle retention system. This metric has a 10% weighting in the overall scores.
A seamless intersection between the helmet brim and goggles with the Giro Ratio.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
Another aspect of this integration is fog prevention. Goggles fog from warm air from your body interacting with cold air from outside, causing condensation. Goggles have a ventilation system to flush away the warm air, and some helmets have intake vents to direct airflow to the goggle, which should decrease fogging. Several helmets like the Scott Symbol 2 Plus D, Shred Totality NoShock, Giro Ratio, POC Fornix, and more have vents in the front to help promote airflow directly onto the goggles to prevent fogging.
The Smith Vantage, Smith Maze, Anon Logan, Pret Cynic X2, and Oakley MOD5 seem to fit the widest variety of goggles. They all managed to create a good goggle/helmet seal without compromising the space between the bridge of the nose and the helmet's brim. They all also formed a good seal between goggles and helmets at the user's temples.
Seamless goggle compatibility with the Anon M2 and Smith Maze helmet.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Smith Vantage, Giro Tor, and Sweet Protection Ascender have very secure and durable bungee goggle retainers that are user-friendly and discreet. We like this feature and feel it is a welcome change from the standard, sometimes thin plastic hook found on many helmets.
The Smith Vantage features a bungee on the back to hold your goggles in place, and the leather pull tab on the bottom is easy to operate when wearing gloves.
Credit: Isaac Laredo
The modular design of the Oakley MOD5 might appeal to you, especially if you employ a rotation of goggles for your skiing needs or you can't try before you buy. It has two brims of different sizes to adjust to fit multiple goggle frame sizes. It takes a screwdriver and a few minutes, so this isn't an on-the-hill kind of exchange, but doing it at home is easy.
Oakley's Modular Brim System.
Style, like the fit, is crucial to your ski helmet purchase. If you don't like the way it looks, you might not end up wearing it, and that does no good at all! Style is an entirely subjective category — so as long as you like the look of the helmet you choose, that's all that matters. We did go to the effort of asking our ski partners, friends, and even some random strangers their general opinions on each model, and we give this metric a 10% weight in our scoring system.
As we've mentioned above, in-molded helmets like the Smith Vantage tend to be sleeker in shape. In contrast, the injection-molded models have a bulker, more prominent profile, such as the Giro Ratio or Giro Ledge. Many of these helmets come in various colors, making them easy to pair with your favorite ski jacket, and some are two-tone or offered in a variety of colors, which can help match even more.
Skate-styled helmets like the Anon Logan and the POC Fornix are often highly desired styles. For more details and pictures of each helmet in use, see the individual review of each model we tested.
Zero fun was had while assessing these helmets. No, indeed, none at all.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Poster:
Poster: A snowHead
Very new to skiing as in never. Purchased two goggles recently on sale along with a Sweet Protection helmet. Axis come with Vivid Zeus Ember lens @ 35% while the Smith came with Blackout Chromapop Sun Black @ 12%.
Both fit the helmet well tho the Smith seems bang on fit wise while Giro is v close with minor to almost no gap. Here’s the issue. The Ember lens during the bright day was a great clear view while the Blackout was just a v dark shade.
Is it simply that I need to buy a 3rd different more everyday lens from Smith and the clarity sharpness will be the same? I want to keep the Smith as they have great reviews plus fit perfectly.
If so, which lens is recommended as I see some everyday ones plus a photochromic version.
Any guidance and direction would be very helpful as I will need to return one as soon as stores open.
Thanks in advance.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviouslyisn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@NickL007
, Welcome ; can't help, but some knowledgeable person should come along shortly,,,
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@NickL007
, the Smith chromapop blackout lens is a very dark lens, likely only useful in full sun. I have the original chromapop sun lens (which is marginally darker) and it only comes out late in the season when the sun is really strong and there are no clouds anywhere. As soon as there is any haze, clouds or shade it's just too dark.
You need to
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.@NickL007
, as@mgrolf
, suggests get a smith everyday lens, I like the green one, gives everything a pink tint!, but the everyday violet also works really well. As suggested above the everyday works from very low light to very bright pretty well.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I have the giro Axis with two vivid lenses, A jade lens for overcast to full sun and another low light lens (sort of a faint rainbow mirror) which I can't remember the name of. Best goggles I have owned and both lenses seem to have an extraordinarily wide usage zone, I got caught out in full sun with only the low light sense and was perfectly comfortable.......
I haven't had any Smith goggles since the mid eighties so can't comment on chromapop lenses etc.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Thu 9-04-20 11:40; edited 1 time in total
You'll need to
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.Thanks so far. Yes, both goggles came with two lenses. If I didn’t read any reviews, I’d choose the Giro but then it’s really apples to oranges with the lens shades. I’m hoping to find an everyday Smith lens I can try as a comp to the Giro ember everyday lens.
Then you can post your own questions or
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports ...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...You say you've never skied, were you just trying the lenses at home, or on snow? A bright day on snow is one hell of a lot brighter
My Smith goggles came with a fairly dark lens (can't remember the name but similar to the Sun Green Mirror, just not chromapop) and then a lower light lens (like Storm Yellow Flash, maybe a bit darker, but again not chromapop). These are good for the majority of conditions but I also picked up a clear lens (the goggles only cost £36 so didn't mind paying a bit more for an extra option). I only really use that if I end up skiing late or conditions are really poor.
The bright lens is good for generally sunny days and fine if the sun is passing behind clouds. The mid-range lens is fine for basically any other conditions that are enjoyable to ski, and still okay for all but the brightest day.
After all it is free
After all it is free
After all it is freeYes, a bright sunny day not on a ski hill. We live on a lake/bay that freezes over winter and there were many such days prior to C-19 causing ski shutdowns. I had an upcoming Vail ski trip planned hence was getting prepped before everything got cancelled.
I think I need to try a 3rd everyday lens such as the chrompop green or red.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.So even tho the chromopop everyday is what you recommend, you personally prefer the giro now?
Zorrac wrote:
@NickL007
, as@mgrolf
, suggests get a smith everyday lens, I like the green one, gives everything a pink tint!, but the everyday violet also works really well. As suggested above the everyday works from very low light to very bright pretty well.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads@NickL007
, You wanted suggestions to get another lens for the smiths, so everyday chomapop green is what I would suggest. However I prefer my emerald vivid giro's, but not the ember (red) version. nowhere near as good. For me the emerald giro lens works really well, but all of this depends on your eyes, what works for me may not work for you.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@NickL007
, bear in mind that what works for me, or@Zorrac
for that matter, may not work for you. Different people prefer different tints, and are more or less sensitive to bright light. I'd pick whichever goggle you prefer (for whatever reason), try it whenever you get to go skiing, and then think about a different lensif
you feel you need one having used the lenses in anger.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I've got the grey chromopop, platinum? I think it was similar to the green in terms of
I found it great for any condition bar actually snowing.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very muchThx mgrolf, zorrac, makes sense. The difficulty at this time is getting access to various goggles and actually trying them out. With none in stock, I have to order in, try and keep/return - hence trying to get some help.
Ordered the everyday red mirror and will return the sun black. Thought about buying a 3rd lens but given I won’t be a big time skier, didn’t want to spend the extra $. Hoping the everyday red is close to the clarity of the giro.
Thanks again. Stay safe all.
For more custom motorcycle hip padsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.