A good ski helmet can keep you safe on the mountain, keep your head warm or cool, and help keep your goggles fog free. The wrong ski helmet can make you feel uncomfortable and not provide the safety you are looking for. Ski helmets come in a wide variety of styles and prices with features such as MIPS, WaveCel, and BOA. We spend our time on the mountain putting gear to the test so we can help you find the perfect ski helmet this winter. Our testers agree that the Smith Vantage MIPS is the best ski helmet of 2023. It has so many features it’s hard to image a better helmet. It has tons of adjustable ventilation with 2 zones, MIPS and Koroyd, lots of warmth, and doesn’t weigh much either.
Our Pick
Smith Vantage MIPS Snow Helmet
The Best Ski Helmet of 2023
The Smith Vantage MIPS has almost all the features of the flagship Smith Quantum for a lower price. It has koroyd energy absorber, MIPS, tons of ventilation with dual zone control, lots of insulation, is lightweight and it’s audio compatible too.
How we test
We ski throughout the winter in a variety of conditions. We ski everything from east and midwest icy conditions to powder out west. There is no one helmet that is perfect for all conditions. We try to use everything we test and review in as many situations as we can. We considered performance, features, safety tech, and price, in our ski helmet recommendations.
The 15 Best Ski Helmets Of 2023
Best Overall Ski Helmet
Smith Vantage MIPS
Best Budget Ski Helmet
Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS
Best Women’s Ski Helmet
Smith Vantage Women’s MIPS
Best Ski Helmet for Resort Skiing
Oakley MOD5
Best Ski Helmet with Visor
Smith Survey MIPS
Best Ski Helmet on Amazon
Outdoor Master Emerald
Best Ski Helmet for Freestyle and Park Skiers
Smith Maze MIPS
Best Ski Helmet for Backcountry and Skimo
Smith Summet MIPS
Best Ski Helmet for Freeride
Giro Tor Spherical
Best Ski Helmet Value
Smith Mission MIPS
Best of the Rest
Oakley MOD1
Wildhorn Highline MIPS
Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS
Salomon Husk Pro
Anon Merak WaveCel
- How we test
- The 15 Best Ski Helmets Of 2023
- Best Overall Ski Helmet
- Best Budget Ski Helmet
- Best Women’s Ski Helmet
- Best Ski Helmet for Resort Skiing
- Best Ski Helmet with Visor
- Best Ski Helmet on Amazon
- Best Ski Helmet for Freestyle and Park Skiers
- Best Ski Helmet for Backcountry and Skimo
- Best Ski Helmet for Freeride
- Best Ski Helmet Value
- Best of the Rest
- 1. Smith Vantage MIPS and Smith Women’s Vantage
- 2. Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS
- 3. Oakley MOD5
- 4. Smith Survery MIPS
- 5. Outdoor Master Emerald
- 6. Smith Maze MIPS
- 7. Smith Summit MIPS
- 8. Giro Tor Spherical
- 9. Smith Mission MIPS
- 10. Oakley Mod1 MIPS
- 11. Wildhorn Highline MIPS
- 12. Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS
- 13. Salomon Husk Pro MIPS
- 14. Anon Merak WaveCel
- Ski Helmet Guide
- Ski Helmet FAQ
- You might also like:
1. Smith Vantage MIPS and Smith Women’s Vantage
BEST OVERALL SKI HELMET
BEST WOMEN’S SKI HELMET
Specifications
- Construction – Hybrid in-mold with Zonal Koroyd honeycomb
- MIPS – Yes, Optional
- Weight – 1 lbs 2 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable, dual zone
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Lightweight design
- Dual zone adjustable vents
- Goggle defog vents
- Available with MIPS
- Honeycomb construction for better energy absorption and extra ventilation
- Compatible with most goggles
- Available in regular and round head fits
- BOA adjustable fit system
What we didn’t like:
- MIPS version sizes small
- Chin could be longer
- High cost
Bottom line:
The Smith Vantage MIPS is lightweight, warm, with enough adjustable ventilation to work on any day hot or cold. It uses the latest in-mold construction combined with honeycomb energy absorber.
The Smith Vantage MIPS is a lightweight snow helmet full of advanced features. It is available in both a men’s and women’s version. It is no longer at the top of the Smith lineup with the introduction of the Quantum and now Nexus. It has almost every feature any skier could want.
It has a modern look with lots of visible vents and a small brim on the front. It will work with both low and high profile goggles. The AirEvac defogging vents are designed to work with Smith goggles. They will improve the defog performance of almost any ski goggle.
The Vantage has 21 adjustable vents that make it work well for almost any cold or hot ski day. The vents in the front and back can be adjusted separately. It’s almost light enough to work for backcountry use at 1 lb 2 ounces. There are lighter weight helmets out there but not with all the features of the Vantage.
The fleece lining of the Vantage makes it one of the warmest helmets on cold days. There is enough fleece in the liner and chin strap to be comfortable without feeling bulky.
It is available in both MIPS and non-MIPS versions. We always recommend going with MIPS on any ski helmet. The MIPS versions of the helmet run small. If you normally need a medium ski helmet, you should look for a large. The helmet also comes in a round head fit version.
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2. Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS
BEST BUDGET SKI HELMET
Specifications
- Construction – In-mold
- MIPS – Yes
- Weight – 15 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
Overall Score
What we liked:
- MIPS and ASTM2040F-18 certification
- Goggle anti-fog vents
- Very comfortable to wear
- Adjustable vents
- Polycarbonate In-Mold construction
- Lightweight
- Wide ear pieces that are comfortable with speakers installed
What we didn’t like:
- No nonsense skateboard helmet styling
- No XL or Asian fit sizes are available
Bottom line:
The Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS is a great value MIPS helmet. It is very comfortable to wear and lightweight.
The Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS is a great value ski helmet. It is one of the cheaper MIPS helmets out there. Don’t let its cheapness fool you. It is a great ski helmet with a lot of great features.
It uses in-mold construction with a polycarbonate shell. It comes in at 15 ounces total weight making it a very lightweight ski helmet. It has MIPS for extra safety. It has adjustable vents. It has enough ventilation to work for anything except for backcountry skiing with a lot of hiking. It has plenty for warm or cold resort skiing days. We have tried out the goggle defog vents on a few horrible foggy wet days at Whitefish and they worked well.
The Diamond helmet is very comfortable to wear. It has enough padding in the liner to feel good. It doesn’t have any pressure points on my head in the front, back or sides. It has wider depth ear pads that work well with most Bluetooth audio speakers. It’s one of the few helmets I can wear with speakers that don’t feel like they are pressing my ears too much. The chin strap is padded and has enough adjustment to fit most head shapes.
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Use the Coupon Code ERO2022 for up to 20% off at OutdoorMaster.com
3. Oakley MOD5
BEST SKI HELMET FOR RESORT SKIING
Specifications
- Construction – Hybrid In-mold
- MIPS – Available
- Weight – 1 lbs 6 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Oakley style
- MIPS safety performance
- Hybrid construction for less weight
- Hidden adjustable venting
- Very comfortable to wear
- BOA adjustable fit
- Goggle defogging vents
- Magnetic fidlock buckle
What we didn’t like:
- Not as much venting as other designs
- Heavier weight
Bottom line:
The Oakley MOD5 is stylish and functional for those who want to stand out. It is very comfortable and has MIPS, hybrid construction, and innovative hidden adjustable venting.
The Oakley MOD5 has been redesigned for winter 2022/23. It has a more lean and clean look than the old model while still maintaining a unique Oakley style. It retains most of what we loved about prior versions. It has hybrid construction with a mix of in-mold and ABS hard shell construction. It has a comfortable fleece lining and audio compatible ear pads. It has a BOA fit system for adjusting size. It has MIPS for extra safety.
The MOD5 is very comfortable to wear and doesn’t feel like it’s squeezing your ears. The fleece lining has just enough padding without feeling overly bulky.
The helmet has adjustable venting with the vents hidden along the character line. The ear pads are removable to adjust the helmet for warmer conditions. The helmet brim works well with almost any set of goggles. You will get the best fit and defog performance from Oakley goggles. The helmet no longer has the Modular Brim system that the old MOD5 had. The brim is big enough to cover the tops of thicker goggles like Oakley Fall Line and Flight Deck.
The MOD5 retails for $260 making it cheaper than the Smith Vantage and quite a bit cheaper than the Smith Nexus. At this price, it is a good value for a high end ski helmet with full features such as hybrid construction and MIPS.
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4. Smith Survery MIPS
BEST SKI HELMET WITH VISOR
Specifications
- Construction – In-Mold
- MIPS – Yes
- Weight – 1 lb 9 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Integrated Visor
- Audio Compatible – Yes
What we liked:
- Works better for people wearing glasses than a set of OTG goggles. Less fogging and more comfortable
- Adjustable vents make it comfortable on warm and cold days
- Available lenses good for any light conditions
- Available with photochromic lenses
- Audio compatible ear pads
- Lightweight compared to a regular helmet and goggles
What we didn’t like:
- The visor is large and bulky. Not as easy to carry an extra as a standard goggle lens
- The seal along the bottom edge of the lens is not as good as a set of goggles. You will get some air leak blowing over your face
Bottom line:
The Smith Survey MIPS has a futuristic look that you will either love or hate. The visor works great for people wearing glasses who want a more comfortable less foggy option than OTG goggles.
The Smith Survey MIPS is their ski helmet with a visor. It brings everything you love about Smith snow helmets and Smith ski goggles in one. You get a comfortable and warm helmet with good ventilation. You get a visor with a ChromaPop lens with an excellent field of view.
People either love or hate the visor look. It has some real practical advantages. It is a more comfortable option for people wearing glasses. My friend who always skis with glasses loves her visor helmet and says it is the best thing she has ever skied with. It has more room for glasses and it’s easier to take the visor on and off over glasses.
The helmet has in-mold construction and plenty of ventilation. It works well on both cold and warm days for resort skiing. It is on the wider side similar to the fit of a Smith Mission helmet.
The visor does not seal along the bottom as well as a set of goggles. You will have some air flow up across your face. The visor is also much larger than a goggle lens. It is not as easy to carry a spare lens in your pocket to switch as the light change. I would look at the photochromic lens options.
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5. Outdoor Master Emerald
BEST SKI HELMET ON AMAZON
Specifications
- Construction – ABS Hard shell
- MIPS – No
- Weight – 1 lb 3 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Low cost with lots of features
- Has adjustable vents and goggle defog vents
- Audio compatible earpads
- Wide and roomy fit
- Sturdy ABS hard shell construction
- Bungee goggle strap attachment
What we didn’t like:
- No MIPS version is available
- Chin strap could be longer
Bottom line:
The Outdoor Master Emerald is a good entry level starter helmet with lots of features for it’s price.
The Outdoor Master Emerald Ski Helmet is the latest entry level helmet from Outdoor Master. Their older Kelvin helmet is the most popular helmet on Amazon. The Emerald keeps the very low price of the Kelvin but adds several nice features.
The Emerald has a similar basic ABS hardshell construction with a size adjuster and removable fleece liner. It adds adjustable venting, goggle defog vents, and audio compatible ear pads. All of those were missing on the Kelvin helmet. The fit is a bit wider and larger which is an improvement. The chin strap is still on the short side.
The Emerald makes a really good starter ski helmet for anyone just starting out who doesn’t want to pay much. It still has ASTM 2040F safety certification. There is no MIPS version which we would like to see.
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Use the Coupon Code ERO2022 for up to 20% off at OutdoorMaster.com
6. Smith Maze MIPS
BEST SKI HELMET FOR FREESTYLE AND PARK SKIERS
Specifications
- Construction – In-Mold
- MIPS – Optional
- Weight – 12 oz
- Ventilation – Fixed
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very lightweight
- Available MIPS
- Low profile skater look
- Removable ear pads that are audio compatible
- Removable goggle clip
- Goggle defog vents
- Good goggle compatibility especially with Smith goggles
What we didn’t like:
- Fixed vents
- No size adjustment dial
- Not a lot of ventilation
Bottom line:
The Smith Maze MIPS helmet is a lightweight freestyle helmet that offers great protection and style. It is one of the lightest helmets available and still has MIPS.
The Smith Maze MIPS helmet is a lightweight freestyle ski helmet. At 13 ounces, it is one of the lightest ski helmets made. It is designed with a simple low profile skater look. It uses in-mold construction with optional MIPS. We always recommend getting the MIPS version of a helmet. It’s worth the extra few bucks.
The Maze has no dial for adjusting the size. It uses an elastic band combined with removable foam pieces to adjust the size. It works okay but the fit can’t be fine tuned as well as helmets with a dedicated size adjuster. It’s one of the items that was left off the helmet to get it as lightweight as it is.
The helmet has fixed vents. There is enough venting to work for most resort skiing. There is not as much venting as helmets with adjustable vents. Most skiers will need a thin hat for colder days.
Goggle compatibility is excellent, especially with Smith goggles. Smith Mag Squad goggles with flat lenses look great with this helmet.
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7. Smith Summit MIPS
BEST SKI HELMET FOR BACKCOUNTRY AND SKIMO
Specifications
- Construction – Hybrid with Koroyd
- MIPS – Yes
- Weight – 1 lb
- Ventilation – Fixed
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – No ear pads
What we liked:
- Triple certified for skiing and mountaineering use
- Lightweight minimalist design
- Packable BOA size adjuster
- Includes a beanie hat to wear underneath on colder days
- Built in headlamp routing
What we didn’t like:
- The helmet doesn’t have ear pads.
- Vents are not adjustable
- Not as warm as resort style helmets
Bottom line:
The Smith Summit was designed for backcountry skiing and mountaineering. It is lightweight with a lot of ventilation. It is triple certified and has MIPS for safety.
The Smith Summit was purpose designed for backcountry skiing and mountaineering. It is a lightweight minimalist helmet with lots of ventilation. It is triple certified for skiing and alpine use with ASTM F 2040, CE EN 1077: 2007 CLASS B, EN 12492 certifications.
The helmet has MIPS protection and Koroyd construction. They didn’t sacrifice on any safety feature while making a lightweight helmet
It has several innovative features that make it good for mountaineering and skiing. The most noticeable thing is the lack of ear pads. The goal is lightweight and lots of ventilation so you won’t overheat while climbing. The good news is that Smith includes a thin beanie hat you can safely wear under the helmet to make it warm enough for cold days.
It has a BOA size adjuster that can collapse inside the helmet for packing in smaller spaces.
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8. Giro Tor Spherical
BEST SKI HELMET FOR FREERIDE
Specifications
- Construction – HYbrid with Hardshell upper and In-Mold lower
- MIPS – Yes – Spherical Tech
- Weight –
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
What we liked:
- Spherical impact protection tech
- Lots of adjustable ventilation
- Comfortable feeling liner and helmet
- Deep ear pads that are comfortable with speakers
- Modern stylish design
- Anti-microbial fleece lining keeps it fresh
What we didn’t like:
- Fix position chin strap pad
- High price
Bottom line:
The Giro Tor Spherical is for skiers who want style and the safest helmet. The Spherical Tech adds upon MIPS making it one of the safest helmets available.
The Giro Tor Spherical is the latest helmet from Giro. It comes with a slew of advanced features. The most significant is the Spherical safety technology. Spherical uses 2 layers of energy absorbing foam instead of 1. The 2 layers can rotate like a ball and socket. They have different stiffnesses. The outer layer is tuned for hard impacts. The inner layer is tuned for less severe impacts. A MIPS layer on the inside rounds out the system.
The Tor has a modern look with low profile vents and a small bill to cover the top of your goggles. The vents are adjustable and there is enough venting to cover most warmer days on the mountain. The liner features anti-microbial fleece that will keep the helmet fresh longer.
The helmet is a little shallower than other helmets because of the thickness of the Spherical tech. The chin strap padding is fixed. It can’t slide along the chin strap. If you need to lengthen the chin strap to fit your head, you will have a chin pad that is way off center.
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9. Smith Mission MIPS
BEST SKI HELMET VALUE
Specifications
- Construction – In-mold with Koroyd honeycomb
- MIPS – Available
- Weight – 1 lbs
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Roomy and comfortable
- Fleece lining is warm and comfortable
- Goggle defog vents
- Available MIPS
- Koroyd energy absorbing honeycomb construction
- Adjustable vents
- Lightweight at 1 lb total weight
What we didn’t like:
- Size adjuster feels a bit cheap
- Earpads are difficult to remove
Bottom line:
The Smith Mission MIPS helmet is a solid mid level ski helmet good for resort skiing. It is comfortable with MIPS and Koroyd energy absorber and goggle defog vents.
The Smith Mission MIPS is a mid-level helmet from Smith Optics. It is an excellent helmet for resort skiing with all the features most skiers will ever need. The Mission MIPS has adjustable venting, a removable fleece lining, goggle defog vents, and a size adjuster.
It uses in-mold construction with a polycarbonate shell and EPS foam energy absorber. It uses Koroyd plastic honeycomb in place of the EPS shell around the sides of the head. This gives it better energy absorption. It also allows venting through the honeycomb without giving up any structure. The helmet comes in at a very light 1 lb.
The helmet has audio compatible earpieces that are removable. They are not easily removable. You have to unhook the size adjuster from the helmet to remove the single piece ear pad.
The helmet feels comfortable and roomy. I have no problem fitting a small hat underneath on the MIPS version of the helmet. The size adjuster has enough range to fit people who are in between sizes.
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10. Oakley Mod1 MIPS
Specifications
- Construction – In-Mold
- MIPS – Available
- Weight – 15 oz
- Ventilation – Fixed
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – No
What we liked:
- Durable tough construction
- Lightweight design
- BOA adjustable fit system
- Removable goggle clip
- Goggle defog vents
- Removable low profile ear pads
- Fidlock magnetic buckle
- Anti-microbial linings
- Available in Regular, Round Fit and Youth versions
What we didn’t like:
- Fixed vents
- Not a lot of ventilation
- Ear pads aren’t audio compatible
Bottom line:
The Oakley MOD1 MIPS is designed to be the ultimate freestyle ski helmet. It is lightweight, has thinned out ear pads, optional MIPS protection, and an aggressive skater look.
The Oakley MOD1 MIPS was designed for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. Top professionals such as Eileen Gu use it during competition along with Oakley Line Miner goggles. The Mod1 is a lightweight helmet with a simple skater look. It offers full protection on the mountain.
The MOD1 is available in regular and MIPS versions. We always recommend the MIPS version when it is available. It uses in-mold construction with low profile ear pads. The ear pads are thinner than most other helmets allowing you to easily hear around you. They don’t feel bulky or thick. They do not have pockets for placing speakers. This ski helmet uses a BOA fit system to provide a more secure fit.
The helmet weighs in at 15 ounces making it very light weight. It doesn’t have the modular brim system of the MOD3 and MOD5 helmets. It integrates very well with Oakley Goggles such as the Line Miner or Flight Deck. It has goggle defog vents to keep goggles clear.
The MOD1 has fixed vents. It doesn’t have a lot of ventilation compared to other helmets. It has enough to stay comfortable for a day in the park or any other resort skiing.
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11. Wildhorn Highline MIPS
Specifications
- Construction – In-Mold
- MIPS – Yes
- Weight – 15 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
What we liked:
- Very light weight
- Good ventilation with adjustable vents
- Anti-microbial helmet lining
- Magnetic buckle
- Audio compatible removable ear pads
- Overall comfortable fit and feel
- Goggle defog vents in front
- Adjustable size
- MIPS for added safety
What we didn’t like:
- No size XL or round fit available
Bottom line:
The Wildhorn Highline MIPS helmet has all the features you need including MIPS safety for a very reasonable price. It has styling that looks like a much more expensive helmet.
The Wildhorn Highline MIPS Ski Helmet is a great value at just over $100. It has most of the features of high end ski helmets at half the cost. It has advanced in-mold construction with MIPS technology for added safety. It weighs in at 15 oz making it one of the lighter helmets out there.
The Highline has a Polycarbonate shell with in-mold EPS foam liner. They uses a 2 part mold to give it a bit more character with 2 tone appearance. It has adjustable vents with plenty of vent for anything you will do at a ski resort.
Inside the helmet is an anti-microbial fleece lining that is removable for washing. The removable ear pads are fleece lined with pockets for putting speakers. It uses a magnetic buckle for easy on and off.
Goggle compatibility is good with most ski goggles. The Wildhorn Pipeline goggles are a good affordable choice that completes the look with the Highline helmet.
There really isn’t much to dislike about the Highline helmet. Our only complaint is there isn’t an XL size available for people with larger heads. There is no round head fit version either.
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12. Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS
Specifications
- Construction – Hybrid
- MIPS – Optional
- Weight – 1 lbs 4 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
What we liked:
- Impact shields inside helmet that provide better load distribution
- Advanced hybrid construction that matches stiffness with protection needs
- MIPS protection
- Fidlock magnetic buckle
- 20 adjustable vents with independent front vent adjustment
- Goggle defogging vents
What we didn’t like:
- Heavy weight
- Doesn’t have much padding on top of head
- Higher cost
Bottom line:
The Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS has one of the best adjustable vent systems along with added protection of impact shields and it looks good too.
The Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS has one of the best adjustable vent systems out there. It has 20 vents that can be opened and closed with a dial on the back of the helmet. The dial is smooth and easy to operate. The 2 vents in front of the helmet can be opened and closed independently of the rest of the vents. This helmet has a lot of adjustment for controlling temperature.
The Switcher has hybrid construction with MIPS technology on the inside. It also has impact plates that help distribute the load better in critical spots. This helmet goes beyond a simple EPS foam liner for absorbing impact energy.
The helmet is comfortable. It does not have a lot of padding on top of the head. Depending on your head shape you may or may not notice the hard feeling top. The size adjustment dial works well for fine tuning the helmet to different head sizes. The ear pads are removable with zipper pockets for speakers.
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13. Salomon Husk Pro MIPS
Specifications
- Construction – Hybrid
- MIPS – Optional
- Weight – 15 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
What we liked:
- EPS4D dual density EPS foam liner for better energy absorbtion
- Adjustable vents with lots of ventilation
- Goggle defog vents
- Audio compatible revocable ear pads
- MIPS technology for added safety
- Comfortable to wear
- Lightweight design
What we didn’t like:
- No XL or round head fits sizes are available
- Not as commonly available as other helmet and goggle brands
Bottom line:
The Salomon Husk Pro is a solid free ride ski helmet with the added protection from their ESP4D Dual density foam liner and lots of adjustable ventilation.
The Salomon Husk Pro MIPS ski helmet has Salomon EPS4D liner for better safety. Salomon has been well known for making skis, bindings, and boots for a long time. They also make some really good ski helmets and goggles. Their helmet follows the Salomon way of being reasonably priced and innovative.
The EPS4D system uses dual density EPS foam. You have the standard high density foam liner. You have low density softer foam in critical areas giving you more protection. This means that the helmet will soften the blow more than with a standard single density EPS foam liner. Salmon claims that it can absorb up to 30% more energy than is required. It handles oblique and off-center impacts better too.
The Husk Pro has adjustable vents with a large amount of vent area. It has all the other features you expect on a high end ski helmet such as audio compatible removable ear pads and a BOA size adjuster.
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14. Anon Merak WaveCel
Specifications
- Construction – Hybrid
- MIPS – WaveCel
- Weight – 1 lbs 1 oz
- Ventilation – Adjustable
- Goggle Defog Vents – Yes
- Audio Compatible – Yes
What we liked:
- WaveCel safety technology for absorbing impacts and rotational energy
- 19 vents to keep your head cool
- Fidlock magnetic buckle
- Goggle defog vents
- Removable ear pads with speaker pockets
- BOA size adjuster mounted on the back of helmet shell
- Hybrid helmet construction
What we didn’t like:
- Very high price
- Only 8 vents are adjustable
Bottom line:
The Anon Merak is a top of the line ski helmet offering improved safety with WaveCel technology. It has lots of venting and a comfortable fit.
The Anon Merak WaveCel ski helmet is the latest innovation from Anon Optics. Anon is the goggle/helmet brand of popular snowboarding brand Burton.
The Merak’s standout feature is the WaveCel technology. WaveCel is a new competing technology trying to equal or perform better than MIPS. It is designed to be a better energy absorber than the standard EPS foam. It reduces risk of injury due to rotational forces in a similar manner to MIPS. The WaveCel structure can rotate inside the helmet.
The Merak has 19 vents which will keep you cool on hot days in the resort or backcountry. Only 8 of the large vents are adjustable. It doesn’t have dual vent zones like the Smith Nexus for a similar price.
The helmet has a Polartec fleece lining that is removable for washing. The helmet uses a BOA size adjuster. The BOA dial is mounted on the back of the helmet shell. This means the shell can extend lower for better protection. It doesn’t give you a plastic band digging into your neck like some size adjusters.
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Ski Helmet Guide
There are a lot of ski helmets out there to choose from in a wide range of prices and styles. What helmet is best for you? Let’s discuss some common ski helmet features so you can better understand what to look for when you go shopping.
1 – Safety Certifications
The 2 most common safety certifications for ski helmets are ASTM2040F and EN1077. ASTM is the US certification. EN is the European certification. Ski helmets sold in the US will comply with one or the other. We would not recommend any helmet that isn’t certified. They both involve hitting a ski helmet with an impactor and measuring forces. Both standards produce helmets that are equally safe. You will find a sticker or tag inside your ski helmet that shows which standards it is certified to.
2 – Price
Ski helmets can run from $25 to over $500. How much do you need to pay to get a safe ski helmet? Every ski helmet sold in the US has to comply with some safety standard. The 2 common standards are ASTM2040F and EN1077. Even the cheapest of helmets will meet these and provide some level of protection.
A $50 to $100 ski helmet will not have MIPS or other features such as adjustable vents. Almost all of these helmets will be missing features you will want as an experienced skier. There are a few exceptions such as the Outdoor Master Diamond MIPS that is full featured (adjustable vents, MIPS, goggle defog, audio compatible) for under $100.
You will find that ski helmets in the $100-$200 range can have all the most popular features. These include MIPS, adjustable vents, goggle defog vents, size adjuster and audio compatible ear pads. This is where the best value is found in ski helmets.
When you go above $200 you are getting features such as Koroyd or Spherical energy absorbers. When you go above $300 you are buying the latest and greatest helmet from any vendor. You are only getting small improvements over the $200 helmets and for most people they are not worth it.
3 – Ski helmet construction
Ski helmets use 3 main types of construction these days. They each have advantages and disadvantages. The construction types are hard shell, in-mold, and hybrid.
ABS Hard Shell
Hardshell is the most simple and cheapest ski helmet construction. It consists of an ABS plastic outer shell and an EPS foam liner. The foam liner is molded separately from the ABS shell. They are glued together to make the finished helmet. This construction is cheap to make. Vents and other features cannot be as intricate with hard shell construction. Helmets with hardshell construction tend to look plain with too many features. ABS is heavier and more scratch resistant than polycarbonate.
Polycarbonate In-mold
In-Mold construction ski helmets use a single mold to make both the outer helmet shell and EPS foam liner. The outer shell is made from polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is lighter and stronger than ABS plastic. It is 3 times more expensive than ABS plastic. Polycarbonate also scratches easier than ABS. To make an in-mold helmet, a polycarbonate outer shell is created. The foam is molded and attached directly to the shell in the mold which is where the name in-mold comes from. In-mold construction is lighter weight, allows more venting channels and detail in the vents and other features. The downsides to this method are higher cost and easier to scratch.
Hybrid
Hybrid ski helmet construction is a mix of In-Mold and Hard Shell. They use a hard ABS shell for the top of the helmet. They use in-mold for the sides of the helmet. The top of the helmet will have a harder surface for absorbing impacts and not getting scratched. It makes an overall lighter weight helmet as well. Hybrid construction can be cheaper than pure in-mold construction but it depends on how intricate the molds and parts are. It can also cost a lot more than in-mold construction.
4 – Safety technologies
There is safety tech that take ski helmet performance beyond the basic ASTM and EN certifications. The most common is MIPS. There are several others such as Spherical and WaveCel and more are on the way. What do these technologies do?
MIPS
MIPS stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. It uses a separate plastic layer inside the helmet that can slide and rotate relative to the EPS foam liner. When you hit something at an an angle or glancing blow that tries to rotate your head, MIPS slips and reduces the load on your head. Most real world accidents don’t involve perfectly head on impacts. I always get MIPS version of any ski helmet I am buying.
Spherical
Spherical is an enhanced version of MIPS. It uses 2 layers of foam in the energy absorbing liner. A high density layer outside and a low density softer layer inside. The 2 layers act as a ball and socket joint. When you impact something, the 2 layers can rotate relative to each other. This further reduces the rotational impact load on your head.
The second benefit comes from the 2 foam densities. If you hit something not that hard, the softer layer of foam will absorb the impact. This means less impact on your head. If you hit something really hard, you will crush the soft layer and then the stiff layer will absorb the impact. This improves the overall safety of the helmet. Your head sees lower forces for both low severity and high severity.
WaveCel
WaveCel is an alternative technology to MIPS. It uses a wave shaped plastic energy absorber in place of EPS foam. The plastic wave can bend and crush to absorb impacts. It allows for softer or stiffer resistance depending on how the impact happens.
When you get hit by a glancing blow that causes the helmet to rotate, the plastic waves can rotate relative to each other and the helmet shell. This acts in a similar manner to MIPS. The WaveCel structure lets the helmet shell rotate without rotating your head.
EPS4D
EPS4D is a more advanced EPS foam energy absorber than the standard EPS foam liner. EPS4D uses 2 layers of foam with a softer layer in areas where your head is more prone to injury. This gives a softer impact force for your head. It also improves the effectiveness of MIPS by also allowing some rotation inside the EPS foam layers.
5 – Fit and Sizing
Ski helmets tend to come in adult or unisex sizes. Most helmets come in small, medium, and large. Some have an extra large size as well. Most ski helmets are unisex. A few helmet makers produce separate men’s and women’s versions. The difference is more colors than anything else. The size ranges may be shifter slightly smaller as well. There are a few ski helmets have also have a youth version. This is a size smaller than the Adult Small.
Round Contour fit or Asian Fit
For people with more round head shapes such as Asians, some helmets come in a “round contour fit” or “Asian Fit” version. This helmet has a wider profile than the standard adult helmet size. If you have a wider head, you may need to go up a size with a regular fit helmet. This will leave you with a helmet with lots of space in the fore/aft direction no matter how tight you make the size adjuster. The round fit version of the helmet solves this problem.
6 – Goggle Compatibility
Most ski helmets and goggles have a similar shape these days. Almost any new ski goggle will work with almost any ski helmet without giving you a goggle gap. There are some small shape differences. You will get more gap towards the edges of your goggles mixing some brands. Giro seems to have a little different shape than everyone else.
You want a tight fit between the top of your goggles and the bottom of your ski helmet. This helps the goggle defog vents work better. You won’t look like a Gaper (someone who doesn’t know what they are doing) to everyone on the mountain.
Every ski helmet will have some kind of clip or hook to hold goggle straps on the back. These can range from a plastic clip to a rubber strap to a bungee. This comes down to personal preference. I prefer bungee straps. A lot of people wear ski goggles inside helmets. They tend to prefer plastic clips because they are removable.
7 – Helmet ventilation
A ski helmet can function as an insulator on cold days. Every ski day isn’t cold. This is where helmet ventilation comes in. Air vents in the helmet transport hot air and sweat out of the helmet. More vents are better on warm days so your head doesn’t overheat.
Adjustable vents are preferred on almost all ski helmets. This means that the vents can be opened or closed depending on the temperature.
If a ski helmet has fixed vents then they are always open. This means you get cold air flowing through your helmet on cold days which will make your head cold. You will also get snow and if you are unfortunate rain going into your helmet through the open vents. A thin hat can help on cold days if you can’t close the vents.
Helmets meant for backcountry skiing or ski touring will have more vents. You build up a lot more heat while climbing, skinning, or walking with skis.
8 – Goggle defog vents
Some ski helmets have vents on the front that help draw air through your ski goggles. This reduces fogging in your goggles. It works quite well. If you get fog in your goggles while standing around, start skiing. The combined helmet and goggle vents will clear the fog right out of your ski goggles.
9 – Removable Ear Pads
Ski helmet ear pads can vary a lot from helmet to helmet. Removable ear pads are good for warmer spring days when the helmet is too hot with all the vents open. Ear pad material can vary from fuzzy fleece feeling material to smooth neoprene material. The Oakley Mod1 has a very thin smooth feeling earpad. The Outdoor Master Diamond has a very fuzzy thick feeling ear pad.
All earpads do not go on and off easily. Smith Optics earpads tend to be difficult to remove and need you to unhook the size adjuster to do it. Other brands can go on and off easier.
10 – Audio compatible ear pads
Some people like listening to music on the slopes. There are small Bluetooth speakers made to fit inside the ear pads of some ski helmets. Audio compatible ski helmets will have small pockets in the ear pads where you can place speakers. They will have neoprene or mesh where the speaker will go instead of fleece so you can hear the speaker better.
11 – Helmet weight
Ski helmet weights range from about 12 oz to 22 oz. A lighter helmet will not feel as heavy after a long day. The lightest helmets usually give up features to get that light such as size adjusters or adjustable vents. If you are backcountry skiing every ounce on you is another ounce you have to carry up climbs. If you are doing freestyle skiing, you want to be as light as possible for jumping and tricks. The average weight for a helmet for resort skiing is around 15 to 20 oz. (1-1.25 lbs).
Are you still confused about what to buy? Talk to an expert at Curated.com
Ski Helmet FAQ
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Doug Ryan
Co-Founder & Chief Editor
I grew up back east in Pennsylvania and learned to ski on a family trip to Killington, Vermont when I was 6. I immediately fell in love with the mountains and have skied across the US and Canada on the east and west coasts and the midwest. I have a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Reliability and am a complete gear nerd. Nothing excites me more than trying out new ski gear. These days I reside in Michigan by the Great Lakes and go skiing as much as possible.
doug@mountainskigear.com
