Piecing together the right snowboard gear is like forming a rock band. Snowboards are the obvious frontmen: flashy, attention-grabbing, soaking up more limelight than they鈥檙e due. But even the best boards are nothing without boots and bindings, the underappreciated drummers and bassists that keep the jams cohesive and the crowd dancing. Below, you鈥檒l find the makings of a killer rhythm section, no matter if you鈥檙e headlining the resort or touring the backcountry. These are our picks for the best snowboard accessories of 2024.

How We Test

Number of testers: 40
Number of products tested: 25+
States tested in: California, Nevada, Utah, Alaska, Washington, Wyoming
Countries tested in: Canada, Japan, Sweden
Number of Broken Boots: 2
Heli Days: 4
Lost Snowboard Bags: 1

This year, 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Snowboard Test returned to Sugar Bowl, an unpretentious mom-and-pop Tahoe resort with some of the best freeride terrain in the Lower 48. Mother Nature cooperated with a deep snowpack, and the park crew responded with a fun, flowy terrain park, while ski patrol opened up the fabled Palisades, a spiny cliff face reminiscent of Alaska. During the week of the test, we had all sorts of conditions on tap鈥揺xactly what we look for while testing鈥搑anging from light powder and Sierra cement to slush, corn, immaculate groomers, and crusty crud.

We couldn鈥檛 have asked for better testers, either. A crew of 40 riders joined the fray, ranging in age from early 20s to early 50s, and skill levels from solid intermediate to expert. Testers were mostly locals, including a splitboard guide for Blackbird Mountain Guides, several members of the Sugar Bowl park crew, a snowboard buyer for a local shop, banked slalom podium regulars, and a handful of snowboard coaches. While a ton of new blood kept the test fresh, the core of the crew consisted of test veterans, several of whom have been reviewing snowboard gear for 国产吃瓜黑料 for nearly a decade.

Especially when it comes to boots and bindings, it鈥檚 important for testers to break in gear, test durability, and gather feedback beyond our weeklong test at Sugar Bowl. As such, we put this season鈥檚 new offerings听 to the test as much as possible before and after our test week. The gear you鈥檒l find listed below was put through the wringer inAlaska, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Eastern Sierra, and even places farther afield like British Columbia, Canada and Japan.

After test rides, our gear nerds filled out feedback forms on all boots and bindings to assess听 everything from comfort and longevity to ideal applications and target audience.听 At the end of the whole process, our test director sorts through those feedback forms, crunches the numbers, and compiles the final reviews. Rest assured,the gear on this list is the best of the best.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Drew Zieff

Drew Zieff is a Tahoe-based freelance writer and a lifelong snowboarder. In addition to directing 国产吃瓜黑料 Magazine鈥檚 snowboard test, a role he鈥檚 handled since 2016, he directs Backcountry Magazine鈥檚 splitboard test, waxes on the Natural Selection and snowboard culture for Whitelines Snowboarding, and nerds out on snowboard gear and travel for REI, Gear Junkie, Gear Patrol, and Popular Mechanics, among others. He spends his winters testing snowboard gear in his backyard backcountry zones or up at Palisades, as well as chasing stories and storms to snowboard meccas like Alaska and Wyoming, British Columbia and Japan. His summers? They鈥檙e mainly spent at his desk, sifting through review forms and spec sheets, compiling our snowboard reviews鈥攁lthough he occasionally disappears in his custom-built 2006 Chevy Express for a few days when there鈥檚 swell on the coast.

The Reviews: The Best Snowboard Accessories of 2024

Editor鈥檚 Choice: Rome Katana Bindings ($400)

Size Range: S, M/L, L/XL

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If you like to tweak your bindings as much as you tweak your grabs, peep the Rome Katana. This high-performance binding is ultra-adjustable thanks to Rome鈥檚 PivotMounts鈥攎odifiable ankle strap mounting hardware that enables riders to swap between eight ankle strap positions per side, yielding a total of 64 possible听 configurations. Raising the ankle strap provides more rapid-fire responsiveness, while lowering the strap position translates to increased range of motion and a surfier ride. Additional adjustability comes courtesy of composite highbacks that pivot and cant for a more ergonomic, fine-tuned fit.

鈥淓xperimenting with different strap and highback configurations will enable you to find what works best for you,鈥� commented test director Drew Zieff, impressed by the versatility of the Katana system. 鈥淎nd if you鈥檙e swapping one pair of bindings between multiple boards in your quiver, or like to cruise one day and bomb everything in sight the next, the Katana allows you to make the most of your setup.鈥�

Adjustability wasn鈥檛 the only reason the Katana sliced through the competition. All-mountain riders appreciated its versatility鈥攊t proved responsive in technical lines yet playful in the air, a balanced approach that comes courtesy of the Katana鈥檚 mid-flexing highback and asymmetrical chassis. The board鈥檚 cold-resistant, closed-cell foam padding beneath the baseplate also offers unreal shock absorption.鈥淕reat dampening,鈥� reported snowboard guide Andrew Alissandratos. 鈥淚 took them to Mach 10 and had no chatter.鈥� Additionally, testers loved the geometric-patterned toe and ankle straps, which expand as you tighten the binding, providing a fit one Katana convert called 鈥渄amn-near vacuum-sealed.鈥�

Bottom Line: With more cushioning than the pillow aisle at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, the Katana is easy on the ankles of aging airtime addicts. Hyper-adjustable, these Rome bindings are also ready to rock鈥檔鈥檙oll on damn near every board in your quiver. If you want our testers鈥� advice, pair them with the Editor鈥檚 Choice-winning Lib Tech Apex Golden Orca for the slay-anything setup of your dreams.

Ride Torrent Boots ($570)

Size Range: 7-13

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There鈥檚 no braver gear tester than a boarder with blisters willing to shove his feet into fresh, foreign footwear. Cody Buccholz, a ripping rider, gourmet chef, and longtime board tester, did just that with Ride鈥檚 new Torrent boots, and his reports hint at the immediate comfort on tap. 鈥淭hese boots helped me forget about my blisters because of how well they lock your foot into place,鈥� he said. While a dual-BOA lacing system is somewhat standard these days, Ride uses lacing guides centered on the tongue and forefoot that help maintain even lace tension. 鈥淚 loved that I could keep the base of my foot tight and release pressure by popping the upper BOA on the lift,鈥� gushed Buccholz. Wasatch backcountry hound, Kordell Black, echoed his sentiments: 鈥淚 loved the inner liner鈥檚 lace system with the clip to the liner鈥搃t prevents pinch points.鈥�

In addition to the lacing dynamics, a structured Intuition liner with cored ankle pockets and J-bar supports helped keep testers鈥� heels locked down, while supportive insoles and a cushy foam midsole ensured out-of-the-box comfort. Testers also dug the overall profile of the boot鈥� 鈥渟lim profile, perfect for big-footed riders,鈥� reported Black鈥揳nd the aggressively lugged Michelin rubber outsole, which Buccholz reported crushed steep bootpacks and icy sidecountry scrambles. Ride ranks flex at a 7 out of 10, which our crew found to be accurate. As a result, we recommend them for all-mountain chargers and freeriders as opposed to the freestyle contingent.

Ride also equipped the Torrent with a velcro flap on the calf, an addition billed as a means to fine tune the fit and accommodate both smaller and larger calf shapes. Bonus: One听 tester found that the flap also functioned as an 鈥渦nintentional walk mode鈥� while splitboarding. However, another rider with thin calves who loves to crank his boots extremely tight relayed that the velcro popped and released before he could reach his preferred level of snugness.

Bottom Line: Next-level ride quality make these new Ride boots a top pick for our testers. Next-level focus on sustainable materials, like an EVA midsole derived from sugarcane and plant-based reinforcements on the toe and heel, make them a top pick for our planet.

Ride Duffel Bag ($150)

Volume: 80L

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鈥淏efore testing this Ride bag, I thought the perfect snowboard duffel didn鈥檛 exist,鈥� said Zieff. 鈥淣ow I know better, and I don鈥檛 go on shred trips without it.鈥� The 80-liter duffel is masterfully compartmentalized by the board nerds at Ride: the main section stashes clothes and outerwear, the burly bottom compartment is a perfect quarantine for rank, wet boots, a fleece-lined zippered pocket protects your goggles, and several smaller gear pockets and partitioned see-through mesh compartments allow for the organization of easy-to-lose items like chargers and sunscreen. The size isn鈥檛 overkill if you鈥檙e carpooling with friends on a powder day, and we happily used it on day trips and weeklong missions alike. Lug it like a duffle or deploy the shoulder straps for backpack mode.

Bottom Line: A sleek, well-designed duffel that鈥檚 purpose-built for shredding, you鈥檒l probably end up using this radical piece of luggage year round.

Jones Orion/Aurora Binding ($350)

Size Range: M-L (Jones Aurora available in S-M)

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Back for its second season, the Orion binding caters to all-mountain cruisers and creative freeriders who crave a responsive, reliable ride with an adjustable, mid-soft flex. And new for this season: Jones launched a women鈥檚 version, the Aurora, of this tester-favorite, doubling the overall size range to be more inclusive of riders with smaller boots.

Both the Aurora鈥檚 and the Orion鈥檚 highbacks are stiffer at the heel cup and softer towards the calf, offering a great balance of performance and play. 鈥淲hen transitioning from edge to edge, the highback gives you all the support you need,鈥� reported one rider strapped into the Orion. When you start playing with other directions鈥攐ff-axis tweaks, contorted carves, nose or tail presses, et cetera鈥攖he softness toward the top of the highback lets you twist like a yogi.鈥�

This edge-to-edge prowess also comes courtesy of Now Snowboarding鈥檚 revolutionary SkateTech, introduced by the British Columbia binding builder in 2012, which is at the core of all of Jones鈥� bindings. A baseplate pivots around the disc housing like a fulcrum, efficiently leveraging rider weight and transferring energy to four bushings at the corners of each binding. Not only does this system yield what our tester called 鈥渋nstantaneous response,鈥� but the rubbery, dampening bushings also 鈥渁bsorb more chatter than the NSA.鈥� Between the bushings and a thick EVA foam footbed, the Orion is so comfortable it fits the bill for 鈥渇irst-to-last-chair riding called for by late season powder days and closing weekend festivities.鈥� And if you like to customize your setup, the bushings can be swapped out for a stiffer or softer ride feel. What鈥檚 more, the flexy-yet-supportive ankle straps are customizable, too: swap the left and right ankle straps to bounce between freeride and surf modes. Freeride-mode locks in the ankle for straight-lining steeps and tackling technical faces, while surf-mode frees up range of motion for slaying side hits and flowy pow days. Pro tip: If you鈥檙e looking for a slightly stiffer all-mountain binding that utilizes the same NOW Snowboarding SkateTech, check out the .

Bottom line: The Orion is a customizable, comfortable, and approachable binding that can cruise one day and charge the next.

Union Atlas Pro ($450)

Weight: 2 lbs. per binding (M)
Size range: S-L

The versatile, bombproof, all-mountain is one of our all-time favorite bindings, so when Union debuted the Atlas Pro for 2023, our testers were damn near salivating. This drool-worthy build sports the same responsive highback (but stiffened for 2023) and Duraflex baseplate as the Atlas. However, the Atlas Pro is 15 grams lighter per binding and more responsive thanks to an ultra-reactive carbon footbed, streamlined toe cap, and more rigid, hypersensitive ankle straps. 鈥淭he Atlas Pro is a notch stiffer, lighter, and more responsive than the Atlas. Pair it with a big mountain board or beefy all-mountain shape and the carbon gas pedals let you approach light speed,鈥� said a tester who spent the majority of last season on the Atlas and this season on the Pro. His recommendation: 鈥淚ntermediate and up all-mountain riders who appreciate a balance of comfort and response will prefer the cushiness and canting of the Atlas, while aggressive freeriders and slow-sign-ignoring resort rippers will fall in love with the streamlined, elite build of the Atlas Pro.鈥�

Bottom line: A top-of-the-line binding for advanced riders who crave quality and won鈥檛 compromise on response.

Bent Metal Binding Works Stylist ($280)

Size range: M, L

Shred the mountain, not your budget with the women鈥檚 Stylist, an all-mountain binding that鈥檚 as capable as it is affordable. Performance stems from a boot-hugging, asymmetric highback; soft-flexing, compressible ankle straps; and a medium-stiff magnesium and EVA foam Drive Plate. Bent Metal鈥檚 technical riff on a traditionally simple binding tech, Drive Plates are swappable, padded, energy-transferring footbeds crafted using the same layering and lamination techniques as modern snowboards. 鈥淭he Stylist Drive Plate is responsive yet cushy. They have enough padding underfoot for comfort on hard landings, but enough structure for high-level performance and quick response,鈥� testified a snowboard coach who felt the design could take on anything from 鈥渟treet-style rails to bumped-out chutes.鈥� While she lamented the lack of an adjustable heel cup, overall impressions were through the roof from the jump, and that surprised her. 鈥淚 am picky about bindings, and even when I get a new pair of the bindings I鈥檝e had for years, they take a few days to break into where I am happy with them. So I was stoked to like these by my second run,鈥� she said. She recommended the Stylist for women who demand 鈥渉igh performance as well as high comfort levels鈥� from their kit.

Bottom line: Bent Metal鈥檚 affordable, all-mountain Stylist suits riders who want to rip the entire mountain without breaking the bank.

Thirtytwo TM-2 Jones ($425)

Size range: 6-13

If you don鈥檛 have space in your board bag鈥攐r budget鈥攁nd need a single pair of boots that can handle touring and resort riding alike, check out the TM-2 Jones. This boot is capable of pinning it down Palisades鈥� fabled fingers one day and skinning deep into Desolation Wilderness the next, thanks to an articulated calf and rugged outsole that allows the otherwise downhill-oriented boot to tour and scramble comfortably. The TM-2 is a softer, more versatile, and more approachable option than the beefier, ultra-stiff, mountaineering-ready Jones MTB. Still, a Sierra-scaling splitboard guide rated them high on traction and backcountry utility. He dug the 鈥淰ibram sole and crampon-compatible heel, combined with a reinforced toe for kicking steps.鈥� A lack of breakable lacing parts was also appreciated. 鈥淚 love laces and found the tension strap to be super utilitarian as a splitboarder,鈥� he said, although he did wish the laces went higher on the tongue. All told, he called the TM-2 Jones his 鈥渇avorite backcountry boots,鈥� and noted that snowboarders who can justify multiple pairs of boots may reserve the TM-2 exclusively for touring applications. While he appreciated the ride feel in-bounds, he admitted to preferring more streamlined but still responsive boots like the or in pure resort scenarios. However, on shred trips that involve both the front and backcountry, the decision is clear.

Bottom line: A versatile, stiff boot for riders who alternate between touring and tearing the resort to shreds. It has mountaineering chops, but it鈥檚 still a snowboard boot at heart.

Burton SLX ($670)

Size range: 7-13

Burton鈥檚 SLX is more overflowing with tech than Christmas stockings in Silicon Valley: a welded backstay, a Dyneema-wrapped shell, and a Carbitex-buttressed ankle zone give the boots their backbone. Usually, boot builders reserve such bells and whistles for ultra-stiff, freeride-focused boots, but the SLX plays the middle ground with grace, and the resulting flex is responsive enough for technical charging and still tweakable when airborne. 鈥淚 tested these boots on sled laps and a steep heli day in Alaska, spring storm and corn cycles in Tahoe, and resort days in Utah, riding everything from pow to ice to side hits,鈥� relayed an all-mountain tester. He appreciated the workable yet reliable flex, found Burton鈥檚 proven yank-to-tighten Speed Zone lacing simple, secure, and easy to adjust on the fly, and reported: 鈥渢he nominal outsole footprint makes toe and heel drag a thing of the past.鈥�

One point of concern: after 20-plus days of testing this spring, we did notice a slight crease forming where the upper meets the lower, and we鈥檝e read a few customer reviews citing newer construction doesn鈥檛 last quite as long as older SLX iterations. Also, Burton has plenty of cheaper boots in a similar medium stiffness profile鈥攚e鈥檙e big fans of if you want to save some dough. That said, if you鈥檙e an advanced all-mountain rider who spends more than 30 days annually on snow, the high-performance SLX is well worth the high price tag.

Bottom line: A premium all-mountain boot that鈥檚 maxxed out with tech and boasts a minimal footprint.

How To Buy Snowboard Gear

Shopping for snowboard boots, bindings, and accessories can be overwhelming. Here are a few tried-and-true tips to make the process as smooth as possible.

If possible, shop for boots before you shop for boards and bindings. Some boots, like the Burton SLX, have compact footprints, which means you鈥檙e less likely to have toe or heel drag on a narrower board. If you end up buying a boot with a bigger footprint, or you have a size 10.5 boot or higher, you may want to consider a mid-wide, wide, or volume-shifted board.

Invest in insoles. Even high-end snowboard boots often sport garbage insoles (as reported by a tester who fits boots for a local shop), and one of the best ways to improve fit, comfort, and performance is with an aftermarket insole. We鈥檙e partial to Green Superfeet. Oh鈥揳nd don鈥檛 forget to heat mold those new boots, too!

If you can, support your local snowboard shop. If you prefer to shop online, buy from a reputable online retailer like REI or Backcountry, that has a decent return policy.

More 2024 Gear Guide Reviews

• The Best Snowboards of 2024
• The Best Splitboard Gear of 2024

Back to the Winter Gear Guide

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A good helmet and pair of goggles are key for staying safe on the hill. But not all are created equal. Our 2022 Winter Buyer鈥檚 Guide features the five best goggles and four best helmets of the season. Here are the other top contenders that you should know about, too.

Smith Proxy TNF Collab ($140)

The Proxy鈥檚 strap听is crafted from 50 percent post consumer waste, but it鈥檚 as smooth and silky as any goggle strap I鈥檝e ever tried. That鈥檚 a nice green story, but we loved this brand new medium-fit goggle for its performance and value, too. Smith was an industry leader in developing light-filtering tech to excel in different conditions, and their Chromapop lenses never disappoint when it comes to low-light contrast in the mountains. We found the spherical lens offered crystalline optics. We also liked the price. This is not a quick lens-change goggle, but if you take care of your gear and are happy skiing in one lens, the Proxy poses an excellent value.听 鈥�Marc Peruzzi (Ski Test director), goggles test manager

Revo X Bode Miller ($229)

Revo is rededicating itself to the goggle market in the wake of a new partnership with Bode Miller. Does that seem like just another celebrity endorsement? Not so. There are few people better qualified to offer feedback on goggle design. Downhill racers, traveling as they do at over 70 miles per hour, have always been among the most demanding consumers. On top of that Miller, who has blue eyes, suffers from light sensitivity. The Bode Miller edition goggle features Revo鈥檚 industry leading photochromic tech, which we鈥檝e found is faster to adjust than most photochromics, so they get darker quicker as conditions get brighter. (As with all photochromic lenses, the downside is that they aren鈥檛 the greatest at going from full sun to shade as you change aspects or dip in and out of the trees). We also love the brand鈥檚 take on lens tuning, called Light Management System. It doesn鈥檛 just attempt to manage one or two wavelengths of light, but the entire spectrum. The contrast is impressive. Just in terms of light, the Bode goggle was one of the most versatile I鈥檝e tried.听鈥擬.P.

Anon Marek Wavecel ($320)

You wear a helmet for safety, and this helmet delivers it in spades. It uses , a honeycomb-like liner that redistributes impact forces. Helmets with WaveCel have been found to absorb 73 percent more rotational forces than helmets without, according to a peer-reviewed . But you also need your helmet to feel like a cozy yet breathable hat. The Marek鈥檚 19 massive adjustable vents allow you to customize your temperature. Keep them open for maximum airflow on a spring day, shut them down if it鈥檚 stormy, or open half the vents if it鈥檚 between. A Polartec sweatband on the inside keeps you warm on frosty days and catches drips before sunscreen burns your eyes on hot ones.鈥�Joe Jackson and Megan Michelson, helmet test managers

Bern Watts 2.0 ($100)

The Watts 2.0 is half to a third of the price of any helmet that made our cut this season, and by many testers鈥� estimation it had the best steeze. Bern鈥檚 classic Watts styling looks like a five panel hat and a helmet that had a love child, which made one tester who chased a toddler around all season feel young again. But it doesn鈥檛 just look cool. The front brim and an extended back offer bonus protection. That, plus brain-protecting 听(a feature we rarely see at this price point), meant we felt just as safe as we did wearing helmets twice the cost. Twelve non-adjustable vents throughout the top and at the back of the helmet meant that it excelled in temps above 40 degrees. It was so airy we could even use the Watts 2.0 as a bike helmet. But the venting proved uncomfortably cold in temps below the low听30s. 鈥擩.J. and M.M.

The post Runner-Up Review: The Helmets and Goggles That Almost Made Our 2022 Winter Buyer鈥檚 Guide appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

A top-performing helmet will fit a majority of average-size noggins. What sets the winners apart is supreme functionality. If the vents don鈥檛 let in enough air or the chin buckle is clunky or the whole unit feels heavy or constricting, that helmet isn鈥檛 going to earn a place on your head. And that means it won鈥檛 serve its primary job, which is to protect you in case of impact. These lids do all that and more.

Sweet Protection Trooper 2Vi MIPS ($300)

When the original Trooper debuted in 2004, with its aerodynamic silhouette and lightning-bolt-shaped carbon-fiber streaks, it looked like a lid you鈥檇 wear to ski fast and hit cliffs. Indeed, it remains popular among 颅big-mountain skiers but has always been too flashy for the rest of us.

Now? The new Trooper is made with 颅thermoplastic-laminated carbon fiber and weighs just 1.5 pounds. That鈥檚 7 percent less than the last model, which had a two-layer hard shell with carbon reinforcements. At the same time, the update has a beefier shock-dampening foam liner and a whopping two layers of MIPS, which lessen rotational forces on your brain. All together, Sweet claims the new Trooper offers 16 percent more impact defense. Its features are on point, too: a magnetic chin-strap buckle, a durable rubber goggles strap on the back, and enough venting above the forehead and at the back of the neck for moderately sweaty boot-packs.

Thankfully, its new understated aesthetic fits in whether you鈥檙e charging steeps or out for a mellow tour. Yes, it鈥檚 seriously expensive, but you鈥檒l notice the difference.

Smith Survey Helmet with ChromaPop Visor ($270)

Best New Age Helmet

Historically, we鈥檝e found that helmets with integrated goggles鈥攊ncluding past iterations of the Survey鈥攍ook ridiculous and don鈥檛 handle fogging well. Smith鈥檚 latest update surprised us. It鈥檚 downright stylish in the lift line, thanks to a slim profile with 16 subtle vents and an integrated visor that鈥檚 barely distinguishable from a big spherical goggles lens. Meanwhile, there鈥檚 ample ventilation at the bottom corners of the visor plus two fixed forehead vents, which keeps fogging at bay. The optics are insanely crisp, which we appreciated during stormy tree skiing. The lack of a traditional frame also boosts peripheral vision, so we could see skiers coming into our blind spots.

POC Meninx RS MIPS ($250)

Best for In-Bounds

Brilliant in its subtlety, the Meninx RS MIPS hides a slew of technical details behind a clean, racing-inspired silhouette. The helmet鈥檚 crown has 28 Skittle-size vents in four V-like rows, which you can open or close with a simple glove-friendly slider. When the mechanism was fully shut, our heads stayed toasty even while getting hammered with wet snow on a 31-degree day. To create optimal airflow for groomer laps on a 35-degree day, we positioned the slider in the middle, to close every other row. Keeping the vents fully open was a spring-skiing delight. Two 颅three-inch-long fixed slits on the forehead add more heat-dumping capability. Icing on the cake: the magnetic chin buckle and hardy rubber goggles strap adjust single handed.

Salomon QST Charge MIPS ($200)

Best for the Backcountry

The Charge is ridiculously light and airy. Case in point: testers in Oregon鈥檚 Siskiyou Mountains didn鈥檛 even think to remove it for the skin back uphill between laps during a 颅fitness-focused skinning session on a day in the mid-thirties. Airflow is top-notch, with two individually adjustable pairs of vents on the left and right, in addition to two fixed openings at the front and six at the back. Porous ear pads allowed us to hear friends clearly, even when they were out of breath, and vented well during a blazing-hot spring day on Mount Shasta. Still, a pocket of dead space kept our ears warm and cozy while we waited 40 minutes in a lift line on a 颅25-degree 颅powder day.

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Kari Fraser was out for a trail run on Mount Sanitas, in Boulder, Colorado, in the winter of 2015 when she slipped on some ice and knocked her head. The impact resulted in a black eye, a severe headache, and a concussion. Fraser, who was 53 at the time, went to the ER and was told she鈥檇 be OK, but she didn鈥檛 know what to expect when she left the hospital. For months after her visit, she had an extreme sensitivity to loud noises that made her 鈥渁lmost violently irritable,鈥� she told me, and she couldn鈥檛 run downhill without feeling a painful shaking sensation in her brain. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 given any information about what my recovery might look like,鈥� she says.

Fraser鈥檚 experience isn鈥檛 unique. Most people who crack their helmet in a bike accident or ding their head while climbing want to know the severity of their injury and what to expect during recovery. Currently, answers to those questions can be frustratingly imprecise. But that could change as researchers turn to biomarkers鈥攕ubstances found in the blood that can alert doctors to what鈥檚 happening in the body鈥攖o improve diagnosis and learn more about how the body recovers.

The number of serious head and neck injuries in extreme sports is on the rise, yet doctors are still working on ways to measure and quantify what happens in the brain when someone sustains a concussion. There鈥檚 no bloodwork and no imaging tests available鈥攄octors make a diagnosis based on patient history and clinical evaluation, looking for signs of concussion such as dizziness and headaches. But many of these symptoms can be caused by other factors, according to Breton Asken, a neuropsychology fellow at the University of California at San Francisco. And while an MRI or CT scan can reveal life-颅threatening swelling or bleeding in the brain, a scan that appears normal doesn鈥檛 mean you don鈥檛 have a concussion, says Linda Papa, an emergency physician at Orlando Regional Medical Center and a concussion researcher. What鈥檚 more, CT scans are expensive and expose patients to a hefty dose of radiation. MRIs, while more detailed, are even costlier, and it can take a while to get results.

This is why researchers are turning to biomarkers, hoping to find a better way to assess the severity of head injuries. With simple blood analysis, doctors may be able to make a clear diagnosis and identify patients who can be spared a CT scan or an MRI. In 2018, the FDA approved a new blood test that could help with the latter, although it鈥檚 not yet widely available. The test looks for two brain proteins that can indicate damage to brain tissues: ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). 听in 2019, Papa and her colleagues measured UCH-L1 and GFAP levels in more than 700 trauma patients. They found that patients with no head trauma had the lowest levels of these biomarkers; those who鈥檇 hit their heads but weren鈥檛 diagnosed with concussion had higher levels, and those who鈥檇 sustained concussions had the highest of all. Of the two proteins, GFAP was the most useful for distinguishing among the three groups. UHC-L1 also rose with orthopedic wounds, suggesting that it isn鈥檛 specific enough to isolate head trauma.

While these are promising findings, researchers caution that concussion injuries颅鈥� and the damage they can cause to the brain鈥攁re so varied and complex that multiple markers are necessary to provide an accurate diagnosis and track patient recovery. In January, Michael McCrea, a neuropsychologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and his colleagues published in JAMA Network Open looking at GFAP, UCH-L1, and other biomarkers specifically in relation to sports concussions. The team compared blood samples from more than 250 concussed college athletes with samples from non-concussed athletes in contact sports, and with a control group of athletes who didn鈥檛 play contact sports or have concussions. Similar to previous studies, they found that athletes with concussions had elevated levels of GFAP one or two days after injury, and in some cases longer than that. Levels of UCH-L1 also went up in athletes who had concussions.

Biomarkers like GFAP may also help doctors identify previously undetected injuries. Some knocks to the brain don鈥檛 produce noticeable symptoms but cause damage to neurons and tissue that can diminish brain function, especially if someone experiences multiple head injuries. A test that recognizes subconcussive injuries鈥攖hose that don鈥檛 produce symptoms鈥攚ould be game-颅changing, says Adnan Hirad, an M.D. and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Rochester who studies brain injuries in football players. In the NFL, for example, trainers could make sure that players who need more recovery time after a hit don鈥檛 return to the game until they鈥檝e healed.

Another challenge for doctors, says Amaal Starling, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic, is to separate concussion sufferers likely to make a complete recovery after a little rest (the vast majority) from those who will need extra time and treatment. On that front, researchers are looking at two additional biomarkers, IL-6 and IL-1RA, that show promise in identifying injuries that may require a longer recovery period. A blood test for these could prevent athletes from returning to risky sports too soon and receiving another blow to the head. Studies have also shown that after a concussion, risk of musculoskeletal injuries rises twofold, perhaps due to small remaining deficits in the nervous system, according to Thomas Buckley, a concussion researcher at the University of Delaware. If these deficits impair balance or delay reaction times, the result could be a sprained ankle or torn ACL. And while people with head injuries might worry about chronic traumatic encephalopathy鈥攖he neurodegenerative disease making headlines in connection with former NFL players鈥攖he science seems pretty clear that CTE results from repeated hits, not a single event, Hirad says.

Researchers caution that studies on biomarkers are new and inconclusive. A simple blood test to detect concussion or identify athletes who need extra recovery time is years away, if it ever arrives. In the meantime, if you receive a head injury, your best bet is to use extreme caution and see a doctor. And before jumping back into your sport, listen to your body. Like Kari Fraser, it will likely tell you if you need more rest.

Get Smart

A knock on the noggin doesn鈥檛 always lead to a concussion. Here鈥檚 a rundown of important facts related to head injuries.

颁辞苍肠耻蝉蝉颈辞苍听

Sometimes called a mild traumatic brain injury. A diagnosis considers the patient鈥檚 medical history and whether they show symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and slowed reaction times.

Traumatic Brain Injury (Moderate or Severe)

The seriousness of a TBI is determined by one or more diagnostic tests. If a person is unconscious or mentally out of it for 30 minutes to 24 hours, it鈥檚 a moderate case. More than 24 hours indicates a severe injury.

厂办耻濒濒听贵谤补肠迟耻谤别

A crack in your cranium that may or may not break the skin. Look for clear discharge from the nose or ears, bruises around the eyes or behind the ears, and blood in the eardrums. If the fracture injured the brain, symptoms such as seizures, vomiting, and confusion may develop.

CTE

Neurodegenerative disease associated with memory loss, mood disorders like depression, and cognitive decline. A definitive diagnosis can be made only by examining the brain post-mortem.

Epidural Hematoma

When blood pools between the brain and the skull. Symptoms may appear soon after the injury and include headaches,vomiting, and seizures.

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Smith Altus MIPS ($180)

The traditional hallmarks of a good backcountry lid鈥攈eaps of vents, inventive fit systems, bright colors鈥攐ften make them ugly. No longer. Muted aesthetics and a low-profile shell made the Altus MIPS a tester favorite for style. But that unfussy exterior hides a massive amount of intelligent, useful design. Two adjustable vents on top use a butterfly closure mechanism that swivels out from inside the top center. Push a Chiclet-size nub along a two-inch track to open or lock the holes, even with gloves on. Smith also carried over the fit system it uses on many mountain-bike helmets: a dial ratchet tightens or loosens an interior head cradle, which adjusts up, down, forward, and back for the perfect level of snug. The exemplar of the Altus鈥檚 backcountry chops, though, is a hearty dose of Koroyd鈥攁 honeycomb of impact-absorbing polymer that鈥檚 incredibly breathable and light. (This helmet weighs just one pound.) Testers wore the Altus for multiple self-powered laps up southern Oregon鈥檚 Mount Ashland on a 50-degree afternoon, never wanted to take it off, and came away with dry hair.

Giro Envi MIPS ($280)

Best for the Backcountry

If your helmet feels like a bowling ball, you may opt to leave it in the car. This is why we like Giro鈥檚 new women-specific Envi MIPS (and the unisex Grid MIPS). At a mere 14.1 ounces鈥攁bout the weight of a paperback book鈥攊t feels barely noticeable on your head. That doesn鈥檛 mean it sacrifices safety, though. It sports a proprietary version of MIPS: two layers of light, 颅impact-reducing foam that rotate independently of each other to protect the brain from linear and rotational forces without adding much weight or bulk. Sixteen well-placed vents mean the lid is suitable for uphill endeavors. Bonus: the sleek magnetic closure on the chin strap is easy to click open and shut with gloves.

POC Fornix SPIN ($180)

Best for the Resort

Thanks to a 颅voluminous yet 颅micro-adjustable fit and well-positioned interior padding, the unisex Fornix SPIN is supremely comfortable on a wide range of noggins. While some helmets squeeze on the sides, this one has ample 颅doughnut-shaped ear pads that make it easy to hear your friends wahoo-ing through the trees. Its safety bona fides are 颅top-notch, too. POC鈥檚 SPIN technology, a gel-like silicone membrane inside the cushioning, is the star: in addition to giving your head the sensation of being in a waterbed, it dampens shock from oblique impacts. For ultimate protection, the top of the helmet also has panels of aramid, a strong and 颅lightweight synthetic fiber that鈥檚 颅often used in aerospace equipment.

Sweet Protection Looper MIPS ($170)

Best on a Budget

We鈥檝e never tested a Sweet Protection helmet we didn鈥檛 like. But the company鈥檚 products are consistently the most expensive in our tests. So we were particularly excited about the Looper, which retains the fantastic fit and rich feature set we have grown accustomed to at a much lower price. The rear adjustment dial is smaller than most, which lends a sleek look and an unencumbered feel, but it connects to a set of large teeth, so it still holds strong. The thick rubber goggle catch is the sturdiest we tested, and it鈥檚 颅usable one-handed with a glove on. Perhaps most significantly, the Looper is remarkably breathable, with two slits each at the front and back of the helmet connected by internal channels. Air comes in the front and cools your temples as it travels out the back.

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Giro Terra MIPS ($160)

Let鈥檚 be honest, no one gets amped about strapping on a helmet. But these hard-shell insurance policies protect our heads in the event that we eat it. There are lightweight options that make staying safe feel less burdensome, but they鈥檙e often flimsy or look like they belong on a skimo podium. Giro finally solves that with the women鈥檚 Terra and men鈥檚 Jackson. Despite having the sturdy look of an in-bounds lid, the Terra, at 14 ounces, is lighter and breezier than many others we tested. Testers said it was so comfortable, it felt like skiing in a hat. And it has all the protective qualities you need, including a tough polycarbonate shell bonded to a shock-absorbing foam liner, and MIPS technology to help reduce the rotational effects of side impacts. Discreet venting offered enough cooling for a casual boot-pack on a warm day. For those who don鈥檛 like helmets, Giro鈥檚 practically disappears while getting the job done.

听

POC Obex Pure ($140)

Best Deal

We鈥檝e been consistently impressed over the years with the comfort, style, and feature set that POC brings to its lids. But that excellence has always come at a price鈥攚e rarely test a helmet from the Swedish company that costs less than $250. The Pure is the most stripped-down model in the Obex line, and it鈥檚 the first helmet POC has put out at such an accessible price point. Thankfully, the only thing testers found missing was the sticker shock. We were able to easily tighten and loosen the fit with thick ski gloves on, a benefit of the Pure鈥檚 straightforward single-wheel system. And ample cushioning, coupled with hollowed-out ear pads, made the helmet just as comfortable as those costing twice as much.

Sweet Protection Ascender ($160)

Best for the Backcountry

In the past, our touring testers had two options: either sweat it out literally in a helmet overbuilt for the skin up, or do so figuratively in a minimalist climbing lid that was so flimsy, it had them fearing for their lives on the ski down. Lucky for them, the Ascender is a climbing helmet that鈥檚 also certified for skiing. And it kicks ass. There are no fewer than 105 vents鈥攖he most on any helmet we鈥檝e ever tested鈥攁nd they were extremely effective, dumping heat during spring missions in the Siskiyou Mountains. The Ascender felt substantial enough despite its hyperlight 13 ounces, but be warned: that low weight involves some compromise. The helmet doesn鈥檛 have the cushy comfort of its more resort-oriented counterparts; its half-inch-wide strips of padding are spartan.

Smith Liberty MIPS ($200)

Best for the Resort

Often the highest compliment we can pay a helmet is to call it a reliable workhorse. The new Smith Liberty (and men鈥檚 Level) is exactly that, with the warmth and full-颅coverage protection you need on storm days. Testers loved the unbreakable elastic in back for holding goggles, as well as the coziness of the brushed-fleece liner and removable ear pads, which kept them snug in a squall in Lake Tahoe. One gripe: the Liberty felt bulky while strapped to a backcountry pack. But in-bounds, the venting鈥攁djusted with a sliding lever that鈥檚 easy to operate with gloves on鈥攑revented us from overheating as we sidestepped to back bowls. Get the MIPS version for added insurance in a crash, or skip that feature and save 30 bucks.

听

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Where gear is concerned, we all want the best. That鈥檚 why twice a year, in our summer and winter Buyer鈥檚 Guides, we bestow the top performers in certain categories with Gear of the Year honors.听But the best usually comes with a high price tag, and sometimes spending top dollar isn鈥檛 an option. Luckily, there鈥檚 plenty of gear on the market that offers many听of the same technical benefits, with some trade-offs, for听much lower price tags.听

Top Pick: Eddie Bauer BC EverTherm Jacket ($499)

Eddie Bauer鈥檚 Thindown insulation consists of听down听pressed into sheets that听stays in place without stitched baffles, which can let in cold air through the needle holes. Thanks to听that technology, plus听a 15-denier waterproof outer shell, the 听offers the packability of down with a high degree of weather resistance.

More Affordable Pick: Columbia OutDry Ex Gold Down Jacket ($250)

If you want a lightweight, packable, waterproof puffy that avoids the cold-air seepage typical of sewn baffles, Columbia鈥檚 is a great alternative. It uses regular down feathers for insulation instead of a sheet construction like Eddie Bauer听but听has the same no-sew benefits:听the baffles are welded (not stitched), which means no needle听holes for cold air to seep through. Plus, the outer nylon shell is a waterproof-breathable membrane in and of itself, so you (and your down insulation) stay dry without overheating.

听

Top Pick: Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS Helmet ($249)

What earned the its place as our Gear of the Year pick was its extremely dialed fit鈥攏o fancy engineering solution, just a shape and level of padding that all testers loved. Plus, 22 vents (controlled by a single knob) turn the lid from insulated to breezy in seconds, and the magnetic chin strap is easy to use with gloves on.

More Affordable听Pick: Salomon Sight Helmet ($180)

Sure, we鈥檇 all prefer a helmet that fits just right without any fidgeting, like the Sweet Protection. But of all the adjustment mechanisms our crew tried last season, the Custom Air fit听system鈥攁n internal air bladder that inflates and deflates for a snugger or looser fit鈥攐n the was the resounding favorite. Press a button on the back to pump up the bladder, and push a different button to let air out. The Sight doesn鈥檛 have as many vents as the Switcher, nor the convenient chin-strap magnets, but testers loved its sleek, simple look听and the fact that the air bladder didn鈥檛 deflate throughout the day.

听

Top Pick: Outdoor Research Interstellar Jacket ($300)

Pretty much every company that makes a shell markets it听with words like waterproof, breathable,听and stretchy.听Outdoor Research鈥檚 balances those traits better than most of its competitors, thanks to a membrane woven from electronically charged polymers. Our testers听found it to be the most vapor-permeable rainjacket they鈥檇 ever tried.

More Affordable Pick: Sierra Designs Neah Bay Jacket ($90)

When it comes to rain shells, a price tag under $100 usually means you鈥檙e sacrificing something significant鈥攙apor permeability, next-to-skin comfort, durability, refined features, etc. Not so with the . It鈥檚 shockingly breathable and stretchy given its two-layer construction, and the seam-taped shell never wet out (our test director wore the jacket for a long, rainy hike under a loaded pack). Plus, with harness-friendly pockets and a helmet-compatible hood, the jacket is equally as capable for climbing.

听

Top Pick: MSR Hubba Tour 3 Tent ($750)

The 鈥檚 floor space, 43 square feet,听is nothing out of the ordinary for a three-person tent. But add in the 25-square-foot vestibule鈥�big enough for stashing loads of gear and using as a changing room鈥攁nd you get a tent that鈥檚 comfortable even when you鈥檙e holed up听during poor weather. An external pole system lifts the tent and fly together for speedy setup when the weather turns abruptly.

More Affordable Pick: Eureka Midori 2 Tent ($160)

The doesn鈥檛 have the oversize听vestibule that our test crew loved in the Hubba Tour 3, but it does offer significant floor space and head room鈥攋ust over 30 square feet听and a maximum height of three feet听six inches, respectively. And the two doors each have their own ten-square-foot vestibule. The tent鈥檚 calling card is an extra-long ridgepole near the head (the one running widthwise across the top), which extends the peak height from door to door rather than just at the tent鈥檚 center point.

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Safety first! In this episode of The 101, contributor Bryan Rogala walks us through the basics of buying a ski helmet and goggles. Of course, style has its place, and at the end, he provides insights on how to avoid gaper gap.

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Preferably one with gobs of comfort and safety features

Sweet Protection Switcher MIPS ($249)

After more than a dozen testers placed the Switcher on their noggins, all agreed that it was the most comfortable helmet they鈥檇 worn. It accommodated a wide range of head sizes (pressure points were nonexistent) and handled temperature swings with aplomb. We鈥檙e talking 50-颅degree corn-harvesting days at Snowbird and ten-degree bone chillers with 60-mile-per-hour winds on the summit of Oregon鈥檚 Mount McLoughlin. Credit the abundance of vents鈥�18 on top and two at the front鈥攁ll of which can be micro-adjusted using a single knob. 鈥淓ven with gloves on, this helmet can easily be changed from the warmest on the planet to something a cyclist would wear,鈥� one tester said. The Switcher ticked all the important boxes for a stalwart lid鈥攊ncluding MIPS construction, to help reduce rotational forces in the event of a crash鈥攁nd it nailed the little stuff, too, like a magnetic closure on the strap. But what really pushed it into Gear of the Year territory was the fact that male and female testers alike loved their respective versions. 鈥淒efinitely not shrinked and pinked,鈥� as one put it.

听

Scott Symbol 2 Plus D ($220)

Best for the Backcountry

The Symbol 2 had the most venting of any helmet in our test, dumping heat in seconds. All that breathability, coupled with featherweight construction (at 1.2 pounds, it was the lightest we tested), made this the top pick for working hard in the backcountry. Testers didn鈥檛 get clammy while skinning up peaks in southern Oregon and Northern California. Sometimes the Symbol 2 vented a little too much; it was drafty on a 15-degree powder day at Big Sky, although nothing some strategic Buff placement and fine-tuning of fit couldn鈥檛 solve. Big-eared buyers, beware: the pads may make you claustrophobic.

POC Obex Spin ($200)

Best for the Resort

The Obex Spin earned points for eschewing the bulbous, chunky construction so common in resort models. 鈥淭his helmet is one of the classiest I鈥檝e tried,鈥� a tester said. 鈥淚t sits close to my head and is stylish, lightweight, and minimalist.鈥� The vents are easy to adjust with gloves on, and audible clicks let you know exactly where they鈥檙e positioned. The side pads are well designed, cupping the ears, not smushing them, and 鈥渒eeping you warm without leaving you deaf,鈥� said a tester. The only knock on the Obex: the front vents don鈥檛 close all the way, which gave testers ice cream headaches in below-freezing temperatures.

Salomon Sight ($180)

Best Fitting

The women鈥檚 Sight earned its spot with a clever innovation: an inflatable air bladder, rather than a dial or strap system, adjusts the fit of the helmet. Push the button on the back five or six times to firm everything up; a separate release button lets the air out. While this may sound gimmicky, it鈥檚 incredibly effective, and testers gave the helmet high marks for comfort. One who had a background in thermodynamic engineering couldn鈥檛 wrap her head around how well the bladder kept its shape despite the pressure change that comes with a 7,000-vertical-foot ski descent. Said another: 鈥淏eyond the air bladder, it鈥檚 sleek and elegant. The Sight breaks the mold of women鈥檚 helmets.鈥�

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This week, we scanned Amazon's bestseller list for the highest-rated ski and snowboard helmets, then pulled the best, most authoritative reviews for each.听

Lucky Bums Multi-Sport ($30)

“This is a very nice and comfortable helmet. It has a fleece padded liner and the circumference is easily adjustable using the wheel in the back. It can be adjusted while wearing the helmet, which makes it easy to get the perfect fit.”

Smith Aspect ($100)

“I bought this helmet for a four-day ski trip to Park City, Utah. It鈥檚 very comfortable, it fit as expected, and kept my head well insulated when I was at the top of the mountain. At lower elevations, where the temps were warmer, I liked having the vents. Highly recommend.鈥�

Giro Seam ($80)

“This helmet is comfortable, easy to adjust, keeps me warm, and looks good. What else could I ask for? My only regret is going too conservative and choosing black. Everyone has black. It's hard to find your friends when they all look the same! I should've gotten a louder color such as orange, red, or royal blue.”

Outdoor Master Ski ($35)

“This is a great ski helmet. I thought I was going to have to pay a lot of money but this helmet fits great and is a third of the price of most. My ski goggles fit perfectly over it and it is very comfortable to wear.”

Anon Blitz ($70)

“This helmet protected my noggin from a couple nasty falls its first day out on the mountain. I am very happy with my purchase. The straps are easy to adjust, it fits snug, and is warm to wear while riding in low temps.”

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