Alpina Ski Goggles from Snowhead.co.uk

Besides adding comfort and boosting performance on the slopes, helmets provide an all-important safety element. Here are the basics to help you choose the styles best suited to your activity and the prevailing weather conditions.

Helmet basics Ventilation Shells Full vs. open faced Visors Helmet styles Full shell Short shell Competition Youth How to fit a helmet

To find the right helmet size, simply measure the circumference of your head where a hat would sit. i .e. just above your eyebrows. Sizes are in centimeters

Helmet basics

Most helmets designed for wintersport use are appropriate for both skiing and snowboarding
The type of activity--be it recreational or competitive participation--as well as the terrain and your own personal preference should determine the helmet that best suits your needs

Ventilation
If you plan to ski in warm spring conditions or in temperate locales, or if you tend to work up a sweat, consider a helmet with good ventilation that will provide airflow and thus add to your overall comfort
Non-ventilated snowboard helmets restrict airflow and are generally preferable for wet, snowy, or extremely cold conditions

Shells
Most ski helmets have a UV stabilized polycarbonite shell that provides high strength and light weight
The helmet interior is usually made of expanded, double-density polystyrene (18mm) with additional lining for comfort and protection

Full vs. open faced
Generally, full-face helmets are designed for competition--such as speed and slalom events--in which the wearer is at higher risk of falling forward or hitting objects straight-on
Open-face helmets are more common--and less cumbersome--for recreational use
Visors

Many ski helmets come with a built-in visor, and those that don't often accept visor attachments
Oftentimes, it is easier to fit goggles to helmets that don't have a built-in visor, but you should check a model's specifications to be sure

Visors can cut overhead glare and can help protect your face in wet or windy weather

Helmet styles

The type of ski helmet style you purchase depends on how and where you ski.

Full shell
Full shell models provide complete coverage and seal out wind, precipitation and other elements normally encountered on the slopes
Some also have venting to help regulate temperature
These are recommended if you are planning to do a lot of tricks or some faster skiing

Short shell
Short shell models offer comparable protection to full shell styles, but give less coverage and have a less armored and constrictive feel
Many include venting and removable liners
Buy this type of helmet if you are uncomfortable with the full helmet

Competition
Competition helmets feature densely padded liners, structured open ear zones inside the shell, and add-on jaw pieces for speed and slalom events
This may be too much if you are a strictly recreational skier, but is highly recommended if you plan on participating in some serious downhill competition

Youth
Youth helmets are simply proportioned to smaller heads
Look for the same safety standards as adult helmets
Most have pads that can be inserted or taken out to adjust to a child's head size

How to fit a helmet

Helmet Sizing and Fit

You wear a helmet to protect your head from injury, but you won't get the maximum protection unless it is properly sized with a snug, aligned fit. The information below is designed to guide you in achieving a safe, secure helmet fit.

Fit Tips Look at the bike helmet example to the right. A helmet fits properly when: It sits squarely on the head with the front of the helmet low on the brow to protect the forehead The padding exerts firm, uniform pressure all around the head so that the skin on the forehead moves as the helmet is rotated from left to right and from front to back If the harness isn't correctly adjusted, it's possible for the helmet to be knocked off or out of place. The harness is correctly adjusted when: The helmet sits squarely on the head with the front low on the brow to protect the forehead The front and rear straps form a "Y" just below and forward of the ears There is no slack when the chin-strap is fastened General Tips: Do not wear a helmet tipped back on the head. Even if you can form the "Y" around the ears and eliminate slack, helmets worn on the back of the head are more likely to pop off and do not protect the forehead. Buckle the chin strap securely at the throat. Connect the buckle according to the instructions provided with your helmet, and pull on the strap until it is snug against your throat. This ensures that your helmet will not come off at high-impact