The Best Ski Helmets for Winter Sports Protection

Anon is owned by Burton Snowboards, and their helmets are first-class, whether you're skiing or riding. The Merak Wavecel is their flagship option—and yes, this sadly means expensive—but having worn it more than any other helmet for the past two seasons, I highly recommend it.

There's no MIPS here; instead Anon is using Wavecel, an advanced honeycomb of shock absorbers (the green in the picture) that works like the crumple zone on a car, meaning it dissipates forces on impact and also minimizes rotational impact injuries. It's also the first ski helmet technology to receive funding from the US National Institute of Health.

The honeycomb structure allows plenty of air to move around the head, while 19 ventilation channels do a great job keeping my sweaty head cool. It's not ultralight (1.05-pounds), but it feels great all day, and the superb BOA Fit System is located on the shell, making it refreshingly easy to tweak, even with mitts on. The Polartec liner is soft, and they've had the good sense to include a Fidlock magnetic helmet strap.

I've been wearing glasses almost as long as I've been skiing, and I started skiing when I was 5. The Giro Orbit solves one of the most nettlesome problems I've encountered in those decades, the challenges of keeping my glasses fog-free and dry while on the slopes, thanks to its integrated shield. Rather than scrunching your glasses against your face like standard goggles, this shield protects your eyes while also providing some airflow. It works remarkably well, only getting a small bit of fog a few times in my day of testing at Winter Park in Colorado.

I barely had to tinker with the adjustable filters, which mimic other Giro helmets I've used and liked. The shield is made of Zeiss' contrast-enhancing VIVID plastic, which lets in more blue light to bring out every visible nuance in flat white fields of snow. It's safe, of course, employing the new spherical MIPS which uses two fitted foam layers to better handle rotational impacts. Be prepared however, as separate lenses cost $125 —Martin Cizmar

You're right, it doesn't look especially cool, but if you're after a ski helmet that does all the key things brilliantly, without the need for any bling, the Brigade is for you. There's MIPS technology for rotational impact protection, plus Salomon's own PS 4D, which absorbs an additional 30 percent of shocks from oblique impacts, and it only weighs 1.12 pounds (510 grams) for a medium.

Available in three sizes and eight fashionably muted colours, this unisex lid fits snugly thanks to a robust 360-degree dial adjustment. The earpads are cushy (and removable), and the front face fits most goggles I tried. It also has a rugged rubber goggle strap that holds onto your goggles with ease.

The ventilation is good too, but you can't close off the vents if the temperature drops. I'm always hot, so this isn't an issue for me, but in reality it's the only noteworthy issue I identified with this superb value design.

From my very first first turns, I loved the Deep Space MIPS helmet from Swedish protection specialists Flaxta. It fits my big skull without making me look like I'm wearing a plastic mushroom. The earpads are deep and cushioned, there's a generous layer of Primaloft Gold insulation, and 14 adjustable air vents help heat escape quickly.

It's an expensive lid, however, so I'm pleased they've gone the extra mile, with the class-leading Fidlock strap and opting for 100 percent recycled EPS. They also give you the chance to customize the design. Costing $20 extra, Flaxta ID allows you to choose helmet color, preferred silicone goggle clips color and hard-shell top piece. You can also buy the accessories separately, meaning you can update your look as colors and styles change, without having to replace your whole lid.

For anyone in the UK looking for even more features, the Deep Space Alpha Mips helmet (£220) offers the same safety and comfort, but also has twICEme and RECCO technologies to aid first responders if the worst does happen.

With the medium-sized helmet weighing just 13.4 ounces (380 grams), this phenomenally light option has been designed for the sport lover who might not have space in the kit cupboard for multiple lids. Impressively, Mammut has managed to get the helmet triple certified for skiing (CE EN 1077), climbing (CE EN 12492), and cycling (CE EN 1078), making it great for year-round use, and in particular, ski touring and snowy mountaineering.

This hybrid hard shell and EPS foam design has a huge amount of ventilation to keep you cool and prevent fogging. This is great when touring or hiking to untouched powder stashes, although I'm glad they throw in a thin-but-warm compatible beanie for downhills and frigid days.

Given the low weight, it's impressive that Mammut has included a dial wheel to adjust the fit evenly, plus neat extras including a secure goggle clip and elastic strap for a head light.

Smith Optics offers a complete range of youth-size helmets, including advanced race and free-ride designs for the gnarliest of little rippers. The Glide Jr. Mips is an impressively affordable, lightweight design (12 ounces/350 grams for the medium size), with all the features you'll find on an adult helmet.

There's Mips for rotational impacts, the one-piece EPS foam is super durable and can handle all the dinks and bashes that come with children, and the dial-fit promises a snug, comfortable fit.

It's available in XS (18.9–20.5 inches), S (20.1–21.65 inches) and M (21.65–23.2 inches). The ventilation is fixed open, so a thin beanie might be needed on super chilly days, but there's plenty of fleece warmth inside.

But, aside from the advanced impact protection, the most important feature is the fact it's available in the boldest colorways, including bright blue, yellow, and pink, which makes it easier to spot them on the trails when they inevitable start going faster than you.