Professional Ski Expert

Best Ski Helmets

Featured On:

Selecting the right ski helmet is all about fit. Fit, of course, is critical and based upon your individual head shape. Also important is personal comfort. Some individuals like the warmer earflaps on their lids, while others prefer the “shortie” style helmet, which does not completely cover the ears.

Given the importance of fit and comfort, one of the main aspects I focused on for this review is adjustability, because any helmet that fits too loosely and cannot easily be adjusted can be highly unsafe.

Even though all helmets are (or should be) certified for safety (e.g. toughness of material), different helmets are tested by different organizations based on differing testing standards. I therefore decided to test only helmets that are made by either a well-known company with a history in safety spanning all their products, or a company that specializes manufacturing helmets.

Note: There really does not appear to be any difference between snowboard and ski helmets, except that you may find that each target market may prefer different colors and decorative designs. If you already have goggles that you like, make sure to take them with you to the store as the may or may not fit the helmet's shape.

Best Ski Helmets by Dino Haak

The Best You Can Get

Carrera Nerve Ski Helmut

Dino says: The Carrera Nerve is a great helmet with a more narrow fit. I tested this one on a very cold day on Snoqualmie Pass, and it did keep my head very warm. If you want a helmet that keeps you warm, this may be the one for you. I especially enjoyed the comfort of having earpieces and still being able to hear clearly what was happening on the slopes around me.
- ?Open Hearing Zone?: Earflaps have openings to ensure good hearing
- An active ventilation system that keeps air moving throughout the helmet
- A special, comfortable material Carrera calls ?dry wave? designed to absorb humidity
Red Frequency Ski Helmut

Dino says: The first thing that struck me about the Red Frequency was its comfortable fit and easily adjustable ventilation system. And most important to me (who notoriously, and possibly foolishly, keeps on choosing hats over helmets) the helmet is extremely light weight. From the point of safety, this helmet gets as high marks as you can get and comes close to the perfect fit simply by adjusting the circumference of the helmet liner.

I also love the fact that I can remove the ear-pads for those spring skiing days here at Snoqualmie Pass when ski jackets and pants are swapped for t-shirts and shorts.
- Very light-weight design
- A liner that can easily be adjusted for a perfect custom fit
- Easily adjustable venting system that can even be maneuvered with gloves or mitts
- Removable ear pads
Giro G9 Ski Helmut

Dino says: Another light-weight helmet with one of the best air ventilation systems of all helmets I tested. With all the vents open you can really feel the air moving through. What’s really nice is the fact that you have the ability to plug some of the vents, which does help on colder days. The padding in this one may not be as soft or thick as in other helmets, but I personally liked the feel as I sometimes forgot that I was actually wearing a helmet. That also had to do with the helmet’s great peripheral vision due to a wider front cut.
- A fit that is easy to adjust even when wearing gloves
- Includes ?vertical adjustment capability? that ensures a perfect fit for all head shapes and goggle types
- 12 vents for great airflow
- Removable and washable liner
Salomon Impact Ski Helmut

Dino says: This is also a very light helmet with great fit even though you cannot adjust the headband. The ventilation system works very well and can be adjusted by a lever.

I loved the feel and weight of this helmet, and it happened to fit me perfectly. Try this one on, definitely.
- Light-weight design
- Removable ear pads
- Very good peripheral vision
- Very good hearing even when using the ear pads
Head Stratum Supershape Ski Helmut

Dino says: The liner’s suede fabric feels different from any of the helmets I tested, and wow, is it comfortable! I was really happy to hear that the liner has added Agion to kill bacteria and mold. Very helpful for a season of sweating in the Moguls! The removable ear pads make this one very comfortable in all weather conditions.
- Agion lining (a material that releases silver ions to inhibit bacteria, mold, and mildew)
- Very easy to use and quick chin buckle adjustment
- Very soft suede liner fabric
- Removable ear pads

You will be happy with any of these

Smith Holt Ski Helmet

Dino says: Featuring a basic design, the very reasonable price of the Smith Holt Helmet will surprise you. This helmet has a simple yet stylish and unique look. It offers an effective ventilation system that can be adjusted by adding or removing elongated plugs. Includes a lifetime warranty.
- Adjustable ventilation system
- Removable ear pads
- Sleek fit and appearance
Bern Macon Hard Hat Ski Helmet

Dino says: This is a very basic helmet, and I really liked it. In my opinion, this is one of the cooler-looking helmets that really does have the appearance of a worker’s hard hat. And it is extremely reasonably priced! This helmet features soft Brock™ foam interior, which reforms to its original shape after an impact. Brock™ foam is a material that also evaporates moisture quickly and has a fast drying time. The liner features a visor, which is especially helpful on those bright sunny days on the slopes.
- Knit visor liner for sun and snow protection
- 11 vents for very good ventilation
- Very light weight design
- Multiple-impact Brock? Foam
RED Hi-Fi Ski Helmet

Dino says: Another good helmet from RED with a very reasonable price. This one struck me as being the lightest of the bunch, and the ear pads are easily added and removed. Very warm and soft inside.
- Ultra-light Helmet
- Soft liner, extremely comfortable feel
- Nicely padded chinstrap
- Quick clip ear pads
POC Skull X Ski Helmet

Dino says: This is a wonderfully well-fitting, streamlined helmet, and it looks amazing! It is probably one of the safest helmets on the market, and although it’s built like a tank, it doesn’t look like one and is extremely lightweight. The helmet features a hard shell on the outside and an impact-absorbing liner for advanced head protection on the inside.

Between the liner and the shell you will find a layer of “Memory” foam that conforms to the shape of your head making for an incredible fit. The two air vents at the front are beautifully integrated into the design, and are reinforced with steel mesh to prevent penetration. I am told that POC's semi-hard shell is popular among extreme skiers and those who want to ride or ski hard and fast. I can understand why!
- Hard shell protection coupled with an impact-absorbing liner
- Very good, well-designed, steel mesh enforced ventilation system
- Memory foam that conforms to the shape of your head to ensure a perfect fit
- Lightweight
Boeri Tactic Ski Helmut

Dino says: This is a lightweight, state-of-the-art helmet soled at a very reasonable price. And any of the eight stylish designs are sure to make you stand out in a crowd! The Boeri Tactics ten-vent ventilation system is superb - one of the best I have seen - because you can actually dial in your individual airflow preference. Another personal comfort feature is the unique strap adjustment system that ensures the perfect fit for any shape of head. We all know how funky liners can get after a long season, so the removable and washable liner is certainly an added plus.
- Easy and highly-effective adjustment system to provide your perfect fit
- 10 vents that can be opened or plugged for your preferred level of ventilation
- Removable earpads
- Washable liner