Thankfully, in recent years, advancements in helmet technology has seen an increase in features, safety and price ranges available to the market. With so much variety to choose from, selecting a helmet can get overwhelming. Whether you’re an avid skier who loves to tackle backcountry, or you’re about to plan your first ever ski holiday, there’s a helmet perfect for you. Here’s 7 of the best ski helmets to help you decide what safety gear you need:

 

1.      Smith Vantage MIPS

 

The Smith Vantage kicks our list off as it’s one of, if not the, best ski helmet on the market. It comes in at an expensive price tag, but they say you get what you pay for and that’s the truth here. The Vantage is truly a premium helmet with great features, a comfortable fit, a stylish look and of course it is super safe. The helmet is light and has extremely soft but protective padding. The BOA dial means you can fine tune it to perfectly fit your head. All of this in one helmet means it hardly feels like you’ve got one on.

 

The helmet has 21 vents for adjustable ventilation and all the technical safety features one could want in a helmet. If you want the best of the best (and have the cash) you won’t be disappointed with the Smith Vantage MIPS.

 

2.      Bern Watts EPS Snow

 

The Bern Watts helmet is a much cheaper option. To begin with, it does have its issues. For a lower price you will get less ventilation, that of which is non-adjustable, and the design of the helmet can impact on what goggles work well with it. However, if your googles fit, and ventilation isn’t an issue, this helmet is a great option to put on and go.

 

The Bern Watts EPS Snow is comfortable and a great fit thanks to the BOA adjuster. What really makes this a good value helmet is its ability to work in both seasons. It’s great for the snow, but you can also get summer fittings and use it for biking or even skating, meaning you’re sure to get great use out of this helmet.

 

3.      POC Receptor BUG Adjustable 2.0
 
 

This helmet is middle of the price range and sets out with the aim to be as durable as possible. The hybrid double shell build gives the helmet huge impact resistance which means it can protect you even from huge stacks. Usually a helmet constructed with a double shell struggles to breath and can get quite hot and heavy however the POC Receptor has 8 adjustable vents which work great. However, to keep this helmet lightweight, it does have thin padding which would be its biggest flaw.

 

The Receptor Bug can come as an adjustable or non-adjustable model in a range of vibrant colours. The hard double shell has great coverage and protection making this a no-fuss option for those who like to go hard!

 

4.      Smith Holt

 

The Smith Holt is the first real budget helmet on our list but don’t let the cheap price tag trick you. While keeping the price down, this helmet manages to keep a stylish low-profile look which is a huge bonus. The helmet doesn’t have a BOA dial but is adjustable by an elasticized band at the back of the helmet. The padding and liner are thick and comfortable to begin with, but a noticeably cheaper than the high-end models. This is a great helmet for casual snow-goers.

 

5.      Salomon MTN Lab

 

If you’re a backcountry skier or ski mountaineer you will know that most helmets get too heavy for all that work. That’s why the ridiculously light (10.6 oz) Salomon MTN Lab helmet is perfect for you. Although its feather light, the helmet provides great protection all around your head with huge vents which give great ventilation. 

 

Unfortunately, the lightweight and venting capabilities mean there’s a lack in proper padding and durability for this helmet, which means it can get cold. However if you’re doing hard skiing or physically demanding mountaineering, the lack of warmth won’t matter and this helmet will do you perfectly.

 

6.      Pret Helmets Cynic

 

Another helmet on the cheaper side with surprising quality, the Cynic gives you your stock-standard helmet with assured quality. The liner in this helmet is very comfortable and it has a great adjustable fit even without a BOA dial. The non-adjustable vents are a bit of a setback but its in-mold construction makes it a super light helmet. The lightweight helmet with the wool blend interior makes this an extremely comfortable and affordable helmet.