Trying to pick a new bike helmet when there are hundreds of options can be a daunting task. And while all bike helmets鈥攊ncluding road, gravel, and mountain biking鈥攈ave to meet the same safety standards, that doesn鈥檛 mean all helmets are created equal. Beyond type, there are multiple factors to consider to determine what your next purchase might look like: fit, ventilation, weight, and comfort are just a few.

Our testers put the latest helmets through the wringer to determine the best options. Whether you’re a roadie, you relish grinding gears in the gravel scene, you eschew those for the lure of single track, or you prefer the thrill of machine-sculpted berms and big air, these are the best bike helmets to protect the delicate gray matter between your ears.

At a Glance

Mountain Bike Helmets

• Best for Protection:听
• Best Three-Quarter Coverage:
• Best Convertible:
• Best Lightweight Full Face:
• Best Carbon Full Face:

Road/Gravel/XC Helmets

• Best Fit:
• Most Stylish:
• Best on a Budget:
• Best High-End Option:
• Buying Advice
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Best Mountain Bike Helmet for Protection

Specialized Tactic

Weight: 380 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揕

Pros and Cons
鈯� 5-Star Virginia Tech safety rating
鈯� Price
鈯� Struggled to get a tight fit

This is a super affordable lightweight helmet that meets the strictest safety certifications for this category: It has the highest Virginia Tech safety rating (five stars) for half-shell mountain bike helmets. In addition to a fixed visor and eyewear storage, the Specialized Tactic features Mips Evolve, an integrated fit system for precise adjustments.

We did find the fit system (which is designed to accommodate variations in head shape/occipital base) functional, but our tester felt like it was a 鈥渓ooser fit鈥� than they prefer, which they couldn鈥檛 remedy. Overall the helmet was comfortable with good airflow, and if safety is your priority, this is a super solid option to keep you safe while shredding singletrack.

Best听Three-Quarter Coverage Mountain Bike Helmet

Bluegrass Jetro 3/4

Weight: 595 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揕

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extended back head and jaw coverage
鈯� Competitive price tag
鈯� Runs a little small and tight
鈯� Ventilation slightly lacking

The Bluegrass Jetro 戮 mountain bike helmet is a great solution for when you want extra protection without adding a chin guard. This distinctive looking, extended coverage half-shell received a 5-star rating from Virginia Tech and is certified for e-bike use (NTA 8776, the Dutch standard that requires helmets to pass specific impact tests).

The helmet features MIPS-C2 (a more advanced variation of Mips that provides rotational impact protection with a redesigned slip plane to redirect rotational energy away from the head in event of an impact), a Fidlock magnetic buckle, a breakaway visor, an internal adjustable cage for a dialed fit, and 21 vents for increased airflow.

Testers appreciated the range of features and safety components of this helmet, but did note it was a little tight and runs a bit hot when pedaling. All in all, it’s the right choice for those seeking extended coverage without the claustrophobia of a chin bar.

Best Convertible Mountain Bike Helmet

Bell Super DH Spherical

Weight: 878 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揕

Pros and Cons
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 bounce around
鈯� Removable chin bar
鈯� Robust safety features
鈯� Runs a little hot with chinbar affixed
鈯� A tad heavy

Tis convertible helmet is a mighty competitor in a stacked field of high-protection, full face helmets. It utilizes a polycarbonate shell with multiple layers of EPS foam featuring Spherical Technology (a ball-and-socket design that helps redirect impact forces away from the brain), an adjustable visor, a dial adjustment system, and a removable chin bar. The helmet retains the ATSM F-1952 downhill certification (the highest American rating safety certification standard available), and was our testers’ top-pick convertible helmet based on safety and comfort.

While it runs a little hot (it is DH-rated, meaning it offers more robust protection at higher speeds), the ability to remove the chin bar for climbs is an often underrated feature that comes in handy for those of us who like to earn our descents. 鈥淭his is a convertible helmet that inspires confidence on the descents while allowing for comfort on the climbs,鈥� said Oregon-based tester Annick Chalier.

Best Lightweight Full Face

Fox Proframe RS

Weight: 836 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揕

Pros and Cons
鈯� Excellent ventilation and air flow
鈯� Super adjustable fit and stability when riding
鈯� Compatibility with variety of eyewear
鈯� Expensive

This lightweight, breathable, full-coverage helmet checks all the boxes when it comes to protection and versatility. Featuring Mips Integra Split (a variation of Mips that offers the same rotational protection technology, placed between an EPS and EPP foam) for low- and high-speed impact protection, an adjustable visor, a BOA fit system for tightening, and generous venting, the Proframe RS is our testers鈥� top-pick enduro racing helmet on the market.

While it is slightly heavier than similar options, it offers outstanding ventilation with a more protective and secure feel when going warp ten, thanks to the BOA fit system that includes an internal adjustable cradle. That cradle allows the rider to adjust the helmet to fit higher or lower on the head, as well as a BOA dial to fine-tune adjust once on. The Proframe RS is not inexpensive, but it鈥檚 worth the hefty price tag to keep your noggin safe on those rowdy single-track trails.

Best Carbon Full Face

Sweet Protection Fixer 2Vi Carbon

Weight: 1104 g
Size Range: 齿厂鈥揦尝

Pros and Cons
鈯� Snug but spacious fit
鈯� Wide field of vision
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Runs a little small

The recently released Sweet Protection Fixer 2Vi is our choice for your most extreme mountain bike riding where more robust materials and a more secure fit are key. It鈥檚 鈥渇ixed鈥� with a two-layer safety system developed in conjunction with Mips for increased performance and comfort, multi-density EPS impact shields, break away visor, ample venting, double D-ring buckle, and the appropriate safety certifications.

This helmet comes in five sizes to offer a tailored fit, along with a very roomy goggle port for a less claustrophobic feel. While I normally wear a size small in most helmet brands, I tested the size medium Fixer 2Vi and it was still a snug fit. I would recommend sizing up if you are unable to try the helmet on.

The Fixer 2Vi is slightly lighter than competitors thanks to use of a carbon shell, but that comes with a higher price point. If you are looking for solid protection and comfort, and money is no object, this helmet is worth a go.

Best Fit Road/Gravel Helmet

Smith Triad Mips

Weight: 290 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揦尝

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comfortable, deep profile fit
鈯� Competitively priced
鈯� Available with Aleck Crash Sensor
鈯� Integrates best with Smith brand eyewear
鈯� Best for round heads

The Smith Triad is my go-to helmet for solo gravel adventures. Some of its standout features are a combination of Mips technology and for energy-absorbing impact and rotational forces protection, 19 fixed vents, dial fit adjustment, and the option of purchasing with or without a crash sensor. The fit of this helmet was superb thanks to the VaporFit system, which allows for micro adjustments (the tester with a more round, less oval-shaped head preferred the Triad).

Testers liked that its high level of comfort and the added safety of the Aleck Crash Detection Sensor, which is a worthwhile add-on () that sends alerts to emergency contacts in the event of a crash. It sets up and connects via Bluetooth to the Aleck phone app. The helmet is lightweight and airy with ample ventilation for hot days, and the deep profile fit gave it an edge up in rider confidence in more challenging terrain.

Most Stylish Road/Gravel Helmet

POC Ventral Air Mips

Weight: 260 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揕

Pros and Cons
鈯� Excellent ventilation
鈯� Super lightweight
鈯� Unique and stylish
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Shallow fit

The POC Ventral Air Mips is a boldly designed lightweight riding helmet that provides a highly adjustable 360-degree fit system. Testers found the fit was suitable for a variety of head shapes. The helmet features Mips Integra, a fully wrapped unibody polycarbonate shell with EPS liner, an 鈥渆ye garage鈥� to securely store sunglasses, and precisely placed ventilation ports with internal channels to control air intake and release. Fancy, huh?

While this helmet is expensive, it does come in a wide range of colors and options such as wide fit (for rounder shaped heads) and comes with Near Field Communication (NFC), a medical ID device designed to communicate with other devices or systems. This helmet excels on hot days, offers the protection you need, and will have your friends hankering.

Best Road/Gravel Helmet on a Budget

Lazer Strada Kineticore

Weight: 290 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揦尝

Pros and Cons
鈯� Affordable
鈯� Optional LED easily affixes to helmet
鈯� 5-Star Virginia Tech safety rating
鈯� Adjustment system can be finicky

This budget pick cycling helmet hits all the marks in comfort and performance, including that coveted 5-star Virginia Tech safety rating, without a heft price tag. The helmet offers a variation of Mips style rotational impact protection called Kineticore, along with Lazer鈥檚 ScrollSys fit adjustment system, ample venting, and an optional ULED light that affixes to the back.

The ScrollSys provides a solid and secure fit, although it is unique and a little finicky, as it utilizes a dial on the top of the helmet, unlike the clickwheels located on the nape of the neck of most helmets. Testers agreed this is a very reasonably priced helmet with decent performance and top-notch safety features鈥攁 lightweight, stylish, safety-oriented helmet that will not break the bank.

Best High-End Road/Gravel Helmet

Kask Protone Icon

Weight: 230 g
Size Range: 厂鈥揕

Pros and Cons
鈯� Aerodynamic look and feel
鈯� Excellent air flow in all conditions
鈯� Internal adjustment system loosened up on rides
鈯� Helmet padding felt a little scratchy

The “Made in Italy” label is synonymous with quality craftsmanship and luxurious design, which is no better exemplified in the helmet world than by Kask. And if Tom Pidcock can win an Olympic gold in a Kask helmet, then maybe you can, too?

The Protone Icon is a longstanding favorite among roadies. This is a high-end aero helmet equipped with a rubber dial adjuster to tighten the fit, Rotational Impact WG11 Tested (an effective alternative to Mips), CoolMax quick-drying internal liner (made of polyester fibers and designed to be moisture-wicking), and ample venting.

While it’s a pretty hefty investment, the helmet lives up to the hype and excels in lightness, breathability, and safety. The only issues testers ran into were with the fit system, which loosened up on bumpy descents, and the interior fabric, which was a bit scratchy for some, but overall we’re content with the comfort鈥攁nd its truly excellent its air flow.

Bike Helmet Buying Advice

Buy New

Rule number one when buying a new bike helmet? Don鈥檛 buy used, no matter how 鈥渓ightly-used鈥� the previous owner is claiming it to be. You just never know if one minor crash or hit to the pavement compromised the helmet to the point where it鈥檚 not safe to wear anymore.

Consider Use Case and Features

Consider the type of terrain you鈥檒l be biking on to help you prioritize which features you need. Will you be doing a lot of uphill? Make sure your helmet of choice has enough ventilation; one trend we’re fans of is the use of internal channeling to promote airflow. Other premium features to look for: a compatible spot to hold your eyewear when not in use, and a magnetic buckle. If you鈥檙e planning to bomb laps at the bike park, you might want to opt for a full-face helmet. If you鈥檙e still not sure which type and fit is the best for you, head to your local bike shop and they鈥檒l point you in the right direction.

Full-face helmets are ideal for bike parks or more technical riding and racing with higher riding speeds鈥攚hich mean more severe consequences if you crash and land on your face. A full-face includes a built-in chin bar that offers protection to your nose and mouth (teeth) that 戮 and half-shell helmets do not. A 戮 helmet is like a full-face helmet but without the chin guard. It covers 戮 of the head and offers added protection around the head and jaw as compared to a half-shell design. The 戮 design is beneficial for anyone who wants a little added protection with a wide field of view thanks to the open-face. Half-shell helmets are the most popular style for mountain biking, and the only helmet type you will see in road and gravel cycling.

Budget vs. Safety Considerations

How much is your head worth? At first glance, a two-hundred-dollar price tag might seem excessive, but once you’re riding regularly, you鈥檒l realize a quality helmet is worth every penny.

Across all categories (road, gravel, and mountain biking), we primarily considered fully-featured helmets that come with industry-leading protection technology, such as Mips. Many modern helmets use a rotational impact reduction system like Mips to dissipate the forces applied to the rider鈥檚 head during a crash. We believe that helmets featuring Mips or comparable impact protection, while pricier, are a worthy investment because they tend to offer better protection in the event of a crash.

If you see a Virginia Tech rating, that’s a reference to Virginia Tech鈥檚 state-of-the-art, independent testing lab. They have been testing helmets since 2011 using a consistent testing protocol to produce a single score (i.e. safety rating) that is proportional to overall risk of concussion during cycling.

What Are Aerodynamic (Aka 鈥淎ero鈥�) Helmets?

Modern cycling helmets come in two general categories: traditional multi-vent designs and more optimized aerodynamic options. Traditional shells provide many vents to promote heat dissipation and a low weight. Aero helmets emphasize aerodynamic properties, often with minimal ventilation. While the aero designs are becoming more mainstream, they still remain a subcategory to lightweight, breathable, high-performance lids.

Sizing and Fit

Consider your head shape when looking for a helmet and try before you buy. Most helmets are designed with either an oval or a round shell. Your local bike shop will have a selection available and a knowledgeable staff to help point you in the right direction.

How We Test

• Number of products tested: 9
• Number of Testers: 3

Helmets were selected with input from Pinkbike staff, three testers, and industry colleagues. Testing was mostly done in the vicinity of Hood River, Oregon, from late summer through the fall months of 2024, with some long-term testing input pulled from Pinkbike staff feedback. All the testers are accomplished mountain bikers who spend a lot of time in the saddle riding, coaching, or racing.

The main trails where we tested helmets in Hood River were located in the iconic Post Canyon network, just on the outskirts of town. Post Canyon offers a vast network of forested trails that drop 3,000 vertical feet from top to bottom, with a mix of jumps, drops, berms, and rocks. We also tested on the 44 Trails system, located on the flanks of Mount Hood some 45 minutes south of town as well as in the infamous Gifford Pinchot National Forest (which hosted multiple editions of the Transcascadia Enduro race) just across the Columbia River and an hour north.

Fall is the perfect time for testing in the Pacific Northwest, as the dry summer heat fades away and the fall rain makes for some epic trail conditions. We encountered a variety of temperatures, from below freezing to uncomfortably sunny and hot.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Nikki Rohan has been mountain biking for close to 20 years, and testing mountain biking gear for Pinkbike for almost a decade. She resides in Hood River, Oregon, with her husband, three kids, two dogs, and a grumpy cat. She spent a chunk of time competing in the pro women category in enduro races in the PNW, as well as events like Trans BC, Trans Provence, Downieville Classic, Grinduro and the occasional CX or gravel race. When she is not working, cooking, or parenting, you will find her on the local trails or exploring the endless forest roads.

is a longtime Pacific Northwesterner. She has a passion for all things cycling and has been a mountain bike coach, raced road bikes professionally, raced cyclocross and dabbled in some endurance mountain bike racing. Through the years of training for racing, mountain biking always remained the counterbalance to the structured intervals, a way to be creative and connect with nature, dance down the trail hootin鈥� and hollerin鈥� with friends and find distance from the outside world by being focused on the moment with the bike.

has been riding mountain bikes since the mid 1990s, racing Enduro and downhill since the early 2000s.听 He loves riding alpine backcountry in the fall, building free ride lines in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, and doing ride trips with family and friends. He calls Hood River home where he works as a senior software engineer and resides with his wife, two kids, and rescue dog.

The post The Absolute Best Bike Helmets for Every Type of Ride appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

A听 of this article originally appeared on Pinkbike.听

What do you look for in a helmet? Price, style, weight, ventilation and comfort are all important considerations, but the main purpose of a helmet is to keep your head safe when it hits the dirt. One piece of advice you’ll often hear is to buy the best one you can afford. But are more expensive options any safer? And do anti-rotation inserts like MIPS reduce the risk of concussion? Do mountain bike helmets protect your head better than road helmets?

If you want to know how good a helmet is at cushioning your brain, it’s not a good idea to experiment on yourself. Fortunately, the engineering department at听听has a state-of-the-art, independent helmet testing lab. They’ve been testing all sorts of sports helmets since 2011 and have put 235 cycling helmets including 73 mountain bike lids through their repeatable but realistic testing protocol.

How are they tested?

Virginia Tech has developed a test that’s specific to cycling helmets. You can read the full details听 but the basic version is that each tester is fitted onto a standard dummy “head” complete with acceleration and rotation sensors. The helmet is then dropped onto a hard surface such that it strikes it at six different impact locations around it. This is done at two different impact speeds (4.8 and 7.3 meters per second, or 17.3 and 26.3 kph). The lower speed is designed to replicate the most common impact speeds seen in the real world and the second is the most likely speed that results in concussion鈥攖hese numbers are derived from helmets that had been recovered from real-world crashes.

This is repeated twice, resulting in 24 test impacts for each model. For each test, the linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the dummy head are measured, and an algorithm is used to convert these numbers into an overall score. The scoring system uses the rotation and acceleration measurements to estimate the risk of concussion for each impact, then these results are weighted depending on how common each type of impact occurs during real-world cycling. This produces a single score that is proportional to the overall risk of concussion during cycling.

The lower the score, the lower the chance of concussion.

Any score below 14 gets a five-star rating. A model has to score below 19 to get four stars and be considered recommendable by Virginia Tech.

Are More Expensive Mountain-Bike Helmets Safer?

Sort of.

Of the four helmets costing $50 or less, none got close to a five-star rating (a score below 14); of the sixteen models costing $200 or more, all but one got five stars. All of the helmets that cost more than $100 received at least four stars (scored below 19), making them at least worthy of consideration according to Virginia Tech.

More expensive options tend to be safer on average, but there’s a lot of variation and many outliers as you can see in the scatter chart.

So the old maxim that you should spring for the best helmet you can afford isn’t a bad rule of thumb, but if you start with the data from Virginia Tech you can pick a very safe model without spending too much.

Which Helmets Stand Out?

The safest mountain-bike helmet tested so far is the , a three-quarter style version which scored 8.41 and costs $270. But the biggest outlier on the price-to-safety spectrum is the , which scored 8.55 and costs just $110. Based on Virginia Tech’s testing, that’s the model I’d suggest if the style and fit suit your needs.

Are Mountain-Bike Helmets Safer than Road Options?

Not really.

Some of the best (lowest scoring) models tested by Virginia Tech are road helmets, as are some of the worst, which could reflect the fact that more road versions have been tested. Looking at the scatter chart above, there is an even weaker relationship between cost and safety in the road world, perhaps because high-end road helmets are chasing aerodynamics more than impact absorption.

Impressively, three road models costing $80 or less scored below a 10. Chapeau to Giant, Lazer and Specialized for those.

Are MIPS Helmets Safer?

According to this data, yes.

The lowest-scoring (safest) mountain-bike helmet without MIPS is the beautifully named 6D ATB-2T, which scored 10.03, putting it in 12th place for mountain bikes. It has a conceptually similar technology called Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS). The next best is the POC Tectal Race SPIN, which ranked 29th and scored 11.67. It too has a similar technology called SPIN (Shearing Pad Inside), which POC has since听 in favour of MIPS.

So, the 11 best-scoring mountain-bike helmets all have MIPS; only two of the best thirty don’t have MIPS, and both of them have something similar.

However, the vast majority of the models on test have MIPS, especially the more expensive ones, so this isn’t as surprising as it sounds. Even so, the nine poorest-performing mountain-bike helmets all lack MIPS, and five of those cost $99 or more.

Also, the Troy Lee A1 Classic MIPS scored a respectable 11.65, while the MIPS-free Troy Lee A1 Drone scored a damning 19.35.

Some have suggested that the benefit of a MIPS liner may diminished in the real world because the rider’s hair (for those who have it) creates its own slip plane which does a similar job. But even if a thick head of hair can allow the helmet to rotate relative to the skull, that’s not to say it works as well as a MIPS liner, especially in听combination with hair. According to MIPS, hair isn’t as slippery as you think once the G-forces are pressing your head into your helmet during a crash, whereas MIPS liners are designed to slide even under these huge compressive loads.

Besides, even if all that MIPS achieved was to improve outcomes for the bald, it would still be worth helmet manufacturers using it.

Are Full-Face Options Safer?

It’s not clear.

Virginia Tech isn’t testing face-on (chin bar) impacts, where full-face helmets obviously have an advantage. If you’re likely to land on your face, best to wear a full-face helmet. But when tested in the same way as open-face helmets, using the same six impact locations, the full-face helmets don’t score better. This is perhaps surprising given they are designed for downhill and enduro use, including racing.

Virginia Tech has only tested four full-face helmets so far, which isn’t enough to make broad conclusions, but they don’t stand out as you might expect鈥攖he best full-face helmet (Bluegrass Vanguard) ranks 15th among mountain-bike helmets. Having said that, all four received five stars (scored less than 14), and the average score was 12.2, slightly better than open-face mountain-bike helmets, which averaged 13.3. We would need more data to know if full-face helmets generally do better or worse on Virginia Tech’s test procedure, but the four tested so far are merely midpack.

So while full-faces offer better coverage, they’re not necessarily offering better protection when tested on the same impact locations.

Limitations and Conclusions

It’s worth underlining that Virginia Tech haven’t tested every helmet on the market and some on their database are older than others, so it’s probably not fair to make general comparisons between brands or to say that the best they’ve tested is the best there is.

As with any laboratory test, there is a tradeoff between repeatability and realism. Virginia Tech can’t simulate every type of crash, impact speed or head shape. A different test with different variables might come up with different rankings, but Virginia Tech’s is probably the best independent data that’s publicly available. How a helmet fits your unique head is important for safety as well as comfort so it’s a good idea to try a few helmets on in a real-life bike shop, then pick one that scores well and fits well.

The post How to Pick a Safer Helmet, According to Science appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In its 2021 Olympic debut in Japan, surfing took place at a nice little beach break, and it made for a fun watch. 2024 has been an entirely different animal. Held at Tahiti鈥檚 infamous Teahupo驶o, a storm brought thick, house-sized barrels detonating onto razor-sharp coral reef while the world鈥檚 best surfers deliberately put themselves in harm鈥檚 way in the quest for gold. But medals weren鈥檛 the only hardware on display.

If you鈥檝e been watching the competition, this is likely the first time you鈥檝e seen surfers wearing helmets. Even if you spend a lot of time at the beach, you鈥檝e probably never seen them on surfers before. In round one of the Olympic surf competition, a whopping 17 out of 24 female surfers wore a helmet, and five of the men did, too.

We didn鈥檛 have to wait long to see why helmets were so popular. Early in the contest, France鈥檚 started without a helmet, then wiped out on her first wave and went headfirst into the reef, splitting her forehead open. She immediately requested a helmet, which staff delivered to her via jet ski and put onto her still-bleeding head. She would later require four stitches, but she was extremely lucky that the impact wasn鈥檛 worse. Not everybody has been so fortunate recently.

Check out our coverage of the winning mountain bikes and the at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

A Brief Helmet History

I reached out to team (Lenny is arguably the best big wave surfer in the world), who has some experience with this subject. Earlier this year Lenny went down on a seemingly innocuous wave at Oahu鈥檚 famous Pipeline. It was one of the first times he wore a helmet surfing, but something that morning told him it was a good idea.听 He ended up driven into the reef with so much force that the impact split his helmet in half. Lenny was somehow able to get himself to shore, but he was badly concussed, and has virtually no memory of the incident. He spent months recovering and dealing with all of the nightmarish brain-injury symptoms you hear about from NFL players. It鈥檚 almost certain that and the debate about wearing a surf helmet has picked up since then.

That said, surf helmets aren鈥檛 actually all that new. Surfers have been wearing them at hard-bottom breaks since at least the early 鈥�90s. Australia鈥檚 Tom Carroll famously wore a helmet during his dominant performance at the 1991 Pipeline Masters contest. Takayuki Wakita, Naohisa Ogawa, and Atsushi Imamura were a trio of legendary Japanese chargers who all donned helmets. Even more recently, France鈥檚 Jeremey Flores and Australia鈥檚 Owen Wright each won first place while wearing helmets in the Tahiti Pro (also held at Teahupo驶o) in 2015 and 2019, respectively. So, surf helmet use is by no means unprecedented, but it鈥檚 never been common, which is why seeing nearly half of the surfers at the Olympics feels like something of a sea change moment.

The Gath Eva Hat helmet ($169) (Photo: Courtesy Gath)

Anatomy of a Surf Helmet

Broadly speaking, there are two types of surf helmets: Soft and hard-shell. As the name suggests, hard helmets have a plastic shell on the outside with a layer (or multiple layers) of foam underneath. These are more akin to bike helmets and ski/snowboard helmets. Most are uniform round shells for less drag in the water, with significant ports around the ears to prevent water from accumulating there. The soft helmets look a bit more like something you鈥檇 see in a martial arts competition. While they鈥檙e lighter and more comfortable, they also don鈥檛 offer quite as much protection. As far as I could tell, everybody in the Olympics contest was wearing variations of the hard-shell design.

The three biggest players in the surf helmet game are and hard shells, and . Gath helmets look not-unlike bowling balls, with bits of ventilation here and there, and they typically go for $170-$190, depending on the model. They offer solid protection for the top, back, and sides of your head. Simba helmets go a bit further, with helmets that stretch downward from the sides to cover more of the sensitive jawline, which gives them more of an intense gladiator look. They go for about $200. ($79) offers the least protection, but it鈥檚 made with a soft, non-absorbent foam to keep it from getting waterlogged. It鈥檚 also the lightest and one of the cheapest options.

There are other brands that make surf helmets as well, and it鈥檚 not unusual to see kayak-helmets used for surf. Kai Lenny is now developing his own surf helmet, which will have carbon fiber. Like bike helmets, plastic surf helmets are actually designed to break on impact to help diffuse the energy of the blow. Carbon fiber breaks, too, but as it does it distributes the force more evenly around the entire shell, theoretically decreasing the energy transferred to your skull and brain. There’s no word yet on the timing of its release or how much it will cost.

Some Olympians, like Defay, were wearing what appeared to be bike helmets in the lineup, with cutouts all over them for ventilation and drainage. They had some ear coverage, too, so I don鈥檛 believe they were literally bike helmets, but the point is any protection may be better than nothing if you鈥檙e heading into some heavy water.

To Wear or Not to Wear?

There are a few reasons helmets aren’t ubiquitous at the beach, though. While it鈥檚 universal that it鈥檚 preferable to have a helmet on if you鈥檙e going to hit a hard object such as a reef, a rock, a surfboard, or even a hard-packed sand bottom, those are still thankfully rare occasions. What you are almost guaranteed to encounter in every surf session, however, is turbulence when duck-diving or tumbling in the whitewater, and that鈥檚 where surf helmets may actually be a disadvantage. Because they increase the relative mass of your head, that means more torque on your neck when it鈥檚 being pushed around underwater, which could potentially increase your chances of getting neck-strain or whiplash. That鈥檚 one of the reasons you want to make sure you absolutely nail the sizing, and wear it as tightly yet comfortably as you can. The helmet can act like a sea-parachute and pull your neck back if too much water gets inside.

The other reason is the cool factor, or lack thereof. A lot of surfers are afraid that wearing a helmet will make them look like a kook. It鈥檚 worth noting, though, that helmets were practically non-existent at ski resorts through the 1990s, yet now they鈥檙e everywhere, regularly worn by pros, and nobody thinks twice when they see them. There were so many notable surf-related brain injuries this year that I think we鈥檒l see more influential pro surfers get on board. Jamie O鈥橞rien, Koa Smith, and Kai Lenny are all notable proponents, and as demand grows, the helmets will continue to evolve and improve.

Personally, I鈥檓 going to pick one up myself. I probably won鈥檛 wear it on smaller days, or at my local beach break, but the next time I paddle out when it鈥檚 big and heavy, and there are lots of rocks around, it will give me peace of mind to have my noggin protected. I actually started snowboarding better once I wore a helmet regularly, so who knows鈥攎aybe that will happen in the waves, too.

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Nearly 20 years ago, my brother, Miles, crashed into a tree while skiing too fast down a slick run at . I was skiing in front of him, and neither of us were wearing helmets. Ski patrol responded immediately, and Miles was air-lifted to the nearest trauma hospital, where he spent weeks in the intensive care unit. He survived, miraculously, but for the next several years, my brother fought to come back from a traumatic brain injury that altered his life and mine. I always wear a helmet while skiing now. So does he.

Related:

I鈥檓 not alone in that. These days, skiers consider a helmet a must-have safety item on the mountain. According to the National Ski Areas Association, helmet use has increased from just 25 percent of skiers in 2002 to 90 percent of skiers in 2022. At the same time, none of us want to sacrifice comfort or style. Which means the perfect helmet is one that meets today鈥檚 safety standards but also comes in a lightweight package that fits just right and is easy to throw on. We scoured the top helmets on the market and these get our seal of approval.

The Winners at a Glance

• Editor鈥檚 Choice: Salomon Brigade MIPS
• Best For Plus-Size Heads: Giro Owen
• Best For Backcountry Use: Marker Confidant Tour
• Best For Eco-Conscious Skiers: Boll茅 Eco Ryft Pure MIPS
• Best For Park and Freeride: Smith Method
• Most Cushioned: Uvex Ultra MIPS

The Reviews: The 6 Best New Snow Helmets of 2024

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Salomon Brigade MIPS ($200)

Weight: 510 grams (M)
Sizes: S (53-56 cm), M (56-59 cm), L (59-62 cm)
Protection: MIPS, plus EPS 4D, Salomon鈥檚 patented technology that absorbs an additional 30 percent of shocks from oblique impacts
Pros:

• Clean design
• Adjustable fit
• Most durable rubber goggle retainer we鈥檝e seen

Cons:

• Comes with six well-placed vents, but they are permanently open; testers wished for better vent control

In an age when some products are overcomplicated and overdesigned, the Salomon Brigade MIPS helmet won over testers for its understated minimalism. 鈥淢y favorite helmet of the test. It鈥檚 fairly simple and not feature rich but comfortable, good looking, and performed well,鈥� wrote tester David Anhalt. Others praised its sleek, low-profile build. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a flashy, 鈥楬ey, look at me!鈥� helmet,鈥� wrote one tester. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more like a 鈥業鈥檓 dialed and don鈥檛 need to show off,鈥� helmet.鈥� Some helmets come with an attached plastic clip on the back to hold your goggles in place, but they tend to break or fall off. Salomon solved that problem with an integrated rubber strap that鈥檚 not going anywhere. The chin buckle is old-school but easy to use. The Brigade comes in a MIPS and non-MIPS version (which is $70 less). The MIPS one has an extra layer between the foam and the liner to help divert rotational impacts to the brain in case of a fall.

Bottom line: Resort skiers and riders looking for a safety-first, streamlined look will appreciate this helmet鈥檚 no-frills style.

Best For Plus-Size Heads: Giro Owen ($240)

Weight (size medium): 440 grams
Sizes: S (52-55.5 cm), M (55.5-59 cm), L (59-62.5)
Protection: Giro鈥檚 Spherical Technology, which is developed in partnership with MIPS.
Pros: Intuitive magnetic chin strap that isn鈥檛 bulky and was easy to use with gloves on
Cons: A hard foam over the ears made it tough to hear friends talking on the chairlift (could be a pro, depending on who you鈥檙e with)

Tough, comfortable, and good looking are words testers used on repeat to describe the Giro Owen, a favorite amongst our test crew. If you ski the resort and the backcountry, chances are you want one helmet that can handle both environments. The Giro Owen is built for resort shredding but it performed well in the backcountry, too, thanks to lightweight construction and an easy on-off magnetic chin strap that made transitions a breeze. One tester really put the Owen through the wringer, launching off a windlip in low visibility and smacking his head on impact. 鈥淚 hit my head pretty hard, and I was glad I had this helmet on,鈥� tester Dan Abrams wrote. You鈥檝e got to take the helmet off to open or close the eight vents, but the control function is nice to have. Bonus: The fleece liner on the inside comes with an antimicrobial treatment, a boon for those who sweat and stink up their helmets on hikes. In terms of fit, this is a spacious helmet鈥攃omfort is king鈥攁nd it might work best for those with rounder or larger-sized melons.

Bottom line: A versatile inbounds or backcountry helmet for those with plus-size heads.

Marker Confidant Tour ($140)

Weight: 363 grams (M)
Sizes: S (51-55 cm), M (55-59 cm), L (59-63 cm)
Protection: Marker鈥檚 360掳 RTS system, which keeps the head centered in the helmet for maximum security.
Pros: Super lightweight with ample vents for the backcountry
Cons: No vent closures and a lot of extraneous straps

Marker鈥檚 new Confidant Tour helmet uses the same general design as Marker鈥檚 existing Confidant helmet but lightens the load for the backcountry. This is an ultralight, fully featured helmet designed for ski mountaineering and big backcountry days where every gram matters. A strap in the back holds your goggles in place, the straps up front secure your headlamp for dawn patrol missions, and it has a magnetic chin strap. Most of all, testers praised the Confidant Tour for its adjustability to fit a wide range of heads and for its featherweight feel. 鈥淭his helmet convinced me that I should add a backcountry specific helmet to my quiver,鈥� wrote tester Molly Street. 鈥淪o lightweight, but unlike many backcountry-specific helmets, this one maintains comfort and fit.鈥� It鈥檚 padded like a resort helmet, but weighs next to nothing. 鈥淢agic?鈥� one tester asked. The earpads easily Velcro on and off if you want to slim it down further. This helmet is also safety certified for cycling if you want to ride your bike to the backcountry trailhead or streamline your helmet quiver.

Bottom line: As one tester said, this helmet is 鈥淐ustom built for a dawn patrol couloir bagger.鈥�

Best For Eco-Conscious Skiers: Boll茅 Eco Ryft Pure MIPS ($220)

Weight (size medium): 545 grams
Sizes: S (52-55 cm), M (55-59 cm), L (59-63 cm)
Protection: MIPS, plus Boll茅鈥檚 AViD Progressive EPS, which combines strategic ventilation with progressive shock absorption.
Pros: The most ventilated resort helmet in the bunch
Cons: A little on the heavy side

You know you鈥檙e wearing a good-looking headpiece when you get compliments from strangers on the chairlift about your helmet. That鈥檚 what happened to one tester who was wearing the Boll茅 Eco Ryft Pure MIPS. But the reason you鈥檒l choose this helmet is because it鈥檚 got some of the best ventilation of any we tested. Six well-placed vents release hot air, and testers didn鈥檛 overheat even on steamy in-bounds hikes. 鈥淚 appreciated the easy-to-find vent adjustment and the oversized cinching dial that was easy to turn with gloves on,鈥� tester David Anhalt wrote. Other testers described the fit and padding as both 鈥渧acuous鈥� and 鈥減lush.鈥� Everything in this helmet鈥攐uter shell, straps, earpads, goggle retainer, padding鈥攊s made from recycled or bio-based materials. The helmet also comes in a non-MIPS version called the Ryft Pure for $50 less.

Bottom line: If you run hot and appreciate recycled goods, this is a great helmet for you.

Best For Park and Freeride: Smith Method ($140)

Weight (size medium): 400 grams
Size range: S (51-55 cm), M (55-59 cm), L (59-63 cm), XL (63-67 cm)
Protection: MIPS, plus Smith鈥檚 zonal Koroyd, which crumples and absorbs energy in the event of a crash.
Pros: An out-of-the-box perfect fit.
Cons: No vent control, no fit adjustment.

鈥淒amn, was this helmet comfy,鈥� one tester commented. The new Smith Method helmet embraces minimalism with a clean, gimmick-free design that gets the job of protecting your head done without being over-the-top in any way. 鈥淭his helmet was bare bones, which might be its most standout feature: simplicity,鈥� reported another tester. With no extra bulk and minimal padding, the helmet feels extremely lightweight, but since it has fixed vents and runs a bit warm, we wouldn鈥檛 recommend it as a backcountry helmet. The Method comes with the MIPS system for brain protection from rotational impacts; select colorways come in a $110 non-MIPS option, making this the most affordable helmet in the test. For those with jumbo heads, it comes in a wide range of sizes. One colorway of the Method is a collaboration with Japanese accessories brand Oyuki, with graphics illustrated by Australian artist and muralist Mike Shankster. The earpads are removable if you prefer to wear a beanie underneath. It pairs seamlessly with Smith and non-Smith goggles.

Bottom line: Perfect for the park or freeride skier who wants a steezy, lightweight helmet without anything extra.

Most Cushioned: Uvex Ultra MIPS ($225)

Weight (size medium): 550 grams
Sizes: S (51-55 cm), M (55-59 cm), L (59-61 cm)
Protection: MIPS
Pros: Durable, sturdy feel with maximum protection
Cons: Less breathable than other helmets we tested

Testers couldn鈥檛 find much to quip about with the crowd-pleasing Uvex Ultra MIPS. This is the hardhat of skiing: dependable, deliberate, and nothing too fancy or decorative. Want the best in protective headwear? Of course you do. Equipped with MIPS, this helmet has a low-friction layer between the liners that offers subtle, multi-directional movement that blocks rotational forces to the brain in the event of an angular impact. The vents look like a pasta colander鈥攕mall holes dot the top of the helmet鈥攁nd though testers appreciated the adjustability, they didn鈥檛 seem to let out quite enough steam. 鈥淎mple padding and tiny vents equal a hot head,鈥� wrote one tester. (Upside: You can replace or pull out and wash the inner lining if you sweat a lot.) That cushion did help with a secure, solid fit, though, and a big knob on the back ensured a custom, dialed-in feel. A ratchet system on the chin strap felt new and novel, but 鈥渞eleasing the chin strap with gloves on was tough,鈥� wrote one tester.

Bottom line: A reliable workhorse of a helmet for a wide range of all-mountain skiers.

How to Buy

You know it鈥檚 time for a new helmet if your existing helmet has been damaged from a big crash or if it鈥檚 been more than a few years of heavy-duty use. Look for helmets equipped with a safety system like MIPS, which stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. This is a thin layer of lining between the shell and the foam that allows the helmet to rotate on impact, cutting rotational forces to the brain if you take a big fall. Some brands have developed their own proprietary technology that offers similar protection to MIPS.

In terms of fit, look for a helmet that鈥檚 snug but not tight. To figure out what size you are, measure your head circumference with a soft tape measure just above your ears and about an inch above your eyebrows. Most helmet brands use centimeters in their size ranges. If the helmet shifts on your head, it鈥檚 too big. If it鈥檚 pinching, it鈥檚 too small. Many helmets come with an adjustment knob on the back to fine-tune the fit. Don鈥檛 forget to try your helmet on with your goggles to make sure there鈥檚 no dreaded gap.

How We Test

• Number of Testers: 10
• Number of Helmets Tested: 13
• Inches of Snow Tested In: 710
• Number of Multi-Day Backcountry Hut Trips Taken: 3
• Major Impacts to the Head During Testing: 1

To test snow helmets, we recruited ten skiers鈥攁ll with medium-sized heads鈥攚ith discerning tastes and a wide range of backgrounds. Testers included a ski coach, a ski-industry product developer, a graphic designer, a mustachioed chef, a lift maintenance electrician, a doctor who volunteers with ski patrol, and one very brainy guy who builds surgical robots. All testers were based in North Lake Tahoe, California, during the area鈥檚 second snowiest winter on record. In between long bouts of shoveling and snow removal, testers wore these helmets inbounds everywhere from Mammoth Mountain to Snowbird and on long-haul days in the backcountry from the Sierra Nevada up to British Columbia.

Meet Our Testers

Category manager and 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor Megan Michelson is a freelance journalist and lifelong skier based in Tahoe City, California. She鈥檚 been covering the ski industry as an editor and writer for over 15 years and contributes regularly to SKI. She鈥檚 skied off volcanoes in Iceland, down couloirs in Chile, and through waist-deep powder in Japan鈥攁nd called it all 鈥渨ork.鈥� Other key testers quoted here include Peak Design CFO and sauna enthusiast David Anhalt, graphic designer and backyard backcountry skier Molly Street, and Flylow Gear founder and dumpling connoisseur Dan Abrams.

More from the 2024 Winter Gear guide

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Climbing helmets were once cumbersome and uncool, and it was thought that with proper technique, you could avoid having to wear one if you climbed carefully enough and avoided an upside-down lead fall (newsflash: even careful climbers have found themselves dangling heels over head). With today鈥檚 helmets, however, there really aren鈥檛 any excuses for not wearing one. They鈥檙e so lightweight and low-profile that you often forget there鈥檚 one on your head. 鈥淔or me, a good helmet is like a safety blanket,鈥� one of our testers noted. 鈥淚t gives me the confidence I need to rip the heck out of a climb without soiling my diaper.鈥� We put seven of the year鈥檚 newest climbing helmets through their paces鈥攖hese are the three that stood out as the best of the batch.

Winners at a Glance

Black Diamond Vapor

Edelrid Zodiac 3R

Trango Halo

How We Test

Number of Helmets: 7

Number of Testers: 7

Total Number of Pitches Climbed: 119

Total Vertical Feet Climbed: 10,760

Range of Temps Climbed In: 40-80潞贵

Range of Head Circumferences: 54-60cm

Number of Times We Were Grateful for Head Protection: No major incidents; but we鈥檙e happy to be protected every time we go out.

We recruited climbers in Reno, Nevada as well as Climbing magazine staff in Boulder, Colorado to put the newest climbing helmets on the market through their paces. Our test crew included climbers with varying head shapes and sizes鈥攐ne tester even wears kids helmets sometimes. Testers hopped on routes of all types, from single pitch sport to multi-pitch trad in Lake Tahoe, the Eastern Sierra, Boulder, and Yosemite. They tracked how many pitches they spent wearing the helmets, while keeping notes on how breathable, comfortable, adjustable, and functional each helmet proved to be.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Our category manager is Ula Chrobak, a freelance journalist and climber of 12 years. Based in Reno, Nevada, she has access to some of the country鈥檚 best granite鈥攆rom Donner Summit to Tuolumne Meadows. She鈥檚 also part of a network of multi-sport adventurers, which she tapped into to take the helmets out on their journeys. That means the helmets went through the wringer鈥攐ne tester, Peter Throckmorton, managed to rack up 33 pitches in two weekends.

The Reviews: The Best Climbing Helmets of 2023

Black Diamond Vapor ($140)

Weight: 186 g (S/M) / 199 g (M/L)
Size: 53-59 cm (S/M)/ 58-63 cm (M/L)
Construction: Softshell
Pros: Lightweight; Breathable
Cons: Strap system irritated ears of one tester; One tester with a 54-centimeter head circumference found the S/M too big

Black Diamond鈥檚 updated Vapor is one of the lightest helmets on the market, which takes away the biggest excuse climbers have to not protect their noggins. The 18 triangular cutouts provide superior breathability, with one tester, Anthony Walsh of Climbing magazine, finding it comfortable enough to wear on 12-mile glacial approaches in British Columbia. Despite it being an ultra lightweight foam construction helmet鈥攁nd thus generally more fragile鈥攁nother tester, Nathaniel Dray, noted that after tripping and falling backwards onto the helmet attached to his backpack, it only had a small dent in the polycarbonate crown. Walsh liked that the bright red color option stood out in photos, and both testers thought it was stylish. No trade-offs between good looks and safety here.

Bottom Line: A lightweight helmet for any climbing adventure, though, as with any foam helmet, extra care is needed to keep it in good shape.

Eldrid Zodiac 3R ($85)

Weight: 370 g
Size: One size, 55-61 cm
Construction: Hybrid
Pros: Durable; Comfortable; Easy to adjust
Cons: Only comes in one size; Our tester with a 54-centimeter head said it fit her head awkwardly

The new 3R looks surprisingly sporty for a hardshell helmet, with black and green colors, angular design, and a lower-profile fit to the previous Zodiac. It鈥檚 also ten grams lighter. One tester noted that the wheel adjustment at the back is intuitive and the buckles are nice and snappy. But what鈥檚 most unique about the 3R is that it鈥檚 made entirely of recycled materials鈥攊n fact, the polyamide shell is sourced from rope production leftovers. Overall, it鈥檚 easy to wear, easy on the eyes, and easy on the environment. That said, the one size might not fit everyone.

Bottom Line: A solid option for a durable, long-lasting helmet that gets extra points for its impressive sustainability chops.

Trango Halo ($100)

Weight: 220 g (S/M), 225 g (L/XL)
Size: 48-56 cm (S/M), 54-62 cm (L/XL)
Construction: Hardshell
Pros: New S/M option accommodates smaller heads; Comfortable; Good ventilation
Cons: Magnetic buckle can be fussy

This season, Trango added another size option to the Halo lineup. The new small-medium comes in a trendy lavender color and was a hit with our tester, Natalie Bladis, who thought it was the best fit she鈥檚 ever found for her small, 54-centimeter head. 鈥淚 loved it, it鈥檚 the only helmet I鈥檝e tried that is more comfy than my Smith cycling helmet.鈥� However, she found that the magnetic chin clasp was tricky to undo one-handed. Still, the hardshell helmet performed well on the wall, providing Bladis peace of mind on a traverse pitch directly below a roof on the Jelly Roll Arch at Donner Summit. 鈥淚 was super grateful to have a well-fitting, lower-profile helmet as I crouched below the roof traversing,鈥� she said.

Bottom Line: A lighter-weight hardshell helmet that鈥檚 comfortable, yet more durable than soft foam helmets. The new S/M offers smaller sizing than some other helmets.

How to Buy

Hardshell vs. Softshell

The main two categories of climbing helmets are hardshells鈥攚ith a foam core that鈥檚 fully wrapped in a layer of hard plastic鈥攁nd softshells鈥攚hich are mostly foam to shed ounces. While they can weigh about half that of hardshells, softshells tend to be more sensitive to abuse. Meanwhile, a hardshell is tougher and generally lasts longer, but can feel heavier and may get sweaty on hot days if the venting system isn鈥檛 well designed..

Budget and Weight

The main buying considerations are your budget and how you intend to use the helmet. Hardshells start around $60 and can be thrown around the crag, while softshells are generally more expensive and require some extra care. While you can use either type for your preferred style of climbing, softshells really shine where weight matters鈥攍ong alpine days or projecting sport routes at your limit.

Feature Set and Fit

Other aspects to keep in mind: the presence of headlamp clips for climbers that start early or stay out late, how the helmet fits over a beanie for climbing in cold temps, and of course, whether it鈥檚 the right shape and size for your head.

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