Giro Combyn Soft-Shell Helmet

www.giro.com
Those few skiers and snowboarders who are still not wearing a helmet just ran out of another excuse. Available this August, Giro will introduce the Combyn, which they’re calling a “soft shell” helmet. It uses an impact-absorbing liner made with vinyl nitrate foam constructed into two distinct layers to handle both high- and low-energy impacts. Unlike most helmets on the market, this liner is compressible and flexible, and, when paired with a proprietary shell material similar to that found in hockey and football helmets, makes for a very comfortable, flexible fit without sacrificing any safety features. The helmet will have eight vents, a removable goggle holder, three fit kit sizes, and will be fully compliant with CE EC 1077 safety regulations.

$120

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Bern G2 Helmet

bernunlimited.com
As one tester who’s spent over a decade urban cycling can attest, 2012 marked the year of the hard helmet. Legions of single-speed city riders (like our tester) have gotten over the vanity of biking sans protection. And most of ‘em have eschewed the cycle-obsessed, aerodynamic designs for skateboard-inspired models like those made by Bern. In East Coast locales it seems as if Bern has cornered the market. With helmets like their G2, it’s easy to understand why. But let us not pigeon-hole the G2 as solely a cycling helmet. Bern has made its mark on the ski and riding scene as much as in urban cycling circles, and this versatile helmet is equally at home on the slopes as it is in the saddle. The all-weather helmet is made of Bern’s proprietary “Zipmold” hard foam, a liquid foam-injection process that delivers better weight-to-strength ratio, resulting in a lighter, low-profile helmet that meets all the safety standards. The snap-in winter liner adds additional warmth—a feature we loved on blizzard-condition days, or when we faced temps in the teens during our daily commute. Up top, an easy-access slide lets you adjust the airflow through eight strategically positioned vents, which is a great feature as you ride (or ski or bike) into spring. And when the snow melts and you are relegated to just the bike, swap out the winter lining for the EPS Summer Comfort Liner ($15) and keep on pedaling. We tested it in warm fall temps, and didn’t overheat (thanks especially to the vents), but we suspect the helmet could prove hot in the humid, 100-degree-plus days of late July and August (likely something specific to this helmet). One bit of advice: before ordering, assure your fit is spot-on. Unlike some bike and snow helmets, there’s no fit adjustment here, a feature that certainly reduces the weight but also could prove prohibitive if your hair style (and corresponding hair volume) varies more than David Bowie’s.
The helmet includes a goggle strap clip in the back; audio knit liners with speakers in the ear pads are available for $60

$140

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Smith Optics Maze Helmet

www.smithoptics.com, 11.5 ounces
Smith’s Maze is the world’s lightest certified snow helmet. I prefer it to any helmet I have ever used because it looks cool, keeps my ears and head warm, and it can be stripped down for warmer missions or for wearing a beanie or balaclava underneath. It has less venting and airflow features than other helmets, but that adds to its clean look and warmth in storm days. Often, airflow features open and get crammed with snow and ice in the event of blowing snow or high-speed tomahawks in powder. The straps are adjustable and allow me to cinch the forehead down for high-speed use like wing suit flying and ski racing, or to simply be sure to eliminate dorky looking “goggle gap.” We used these helmets during the filming of Transformers 3 while flying wing suits in downtown Chicago and we looked and felt pretty bad-ass when doing so.
-JT Holmes

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$100

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Smith Optics Vantage Helmet

www.smithoptics.com, 15.5 ounces
By now we’ll just assume that you already wear a helmet while skiing or riding, and not bother describing unplanned accidents or how your confidence and skiing ability will dramatically improve. Instead, we’ll state that the low-profile Smith Optics Vantage is the perfect next helmet. It’s incredibly warm, but 21 vents (regulated by two slides discretely integrated along the helmet’s dome) let’s you dump heat faster than a dip in an icy lake, making it one of the most versatile helmets on the market. The hybrid shell construction offers serious protection, while the internal lining is as plush as a goose-feather duvet (and easily removed for a quick wash when things get funky). The Vantage uses a Boa system, like those found on modern mountain bike helmets, to let you adjust how the helmet fits—a nice touch when conditions inspired you to wear something like a neck gaiter under the helmet (in helmets with a more constrictive set fit, this can lead to uncomfortable bulk). Ditch the clip-in ear pieces during days with unseasonable warmth, or unzip the ear pieces and slide in the Skullcandy audio system ($50 and up) for hands-free audio. One tester who ran with the visor version of the Vantage reported that it can impede raising the goggles onto the forehead, so plan according if you opt for that style. But either way, you’re set for many seasons to come (especially considering that the helmets come with a lifetime warranty).

$180

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Shred Half Brain Helmet

shredoptics.com
Ever watch Olympic downhill racers take out multiple gates during spectacular crashes and then get up to run another race? One of the secrets is a top-notch helmet. Race-specific helmets can cost hundreds of dollars. But the same technology is now available for recreational skiers and riders—and Shred is arguably the coolest brand on the mountain. The brain-child (pun intended) of Olympic skier Ted Ligety, Shred is at the forefront of durability and quality with cutting-edge designs and graphics. Their new all-mountain free ride helmet has a vent system that keeps sweat from building up, but still provides protection from bone-chilling wind and blowing snow. The helmet is CE EN1077 and ASTMF2040 certified—safety standards that are a must when it comes to ski/ride helmets. The lining is soft and comfortable and the ear pads are removable when your downhill commitment demands that you ski or ride well into the spring.
Available in sizes M (54-58) and L (59-64).

$119

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