Helmet Guide

Select your area of interest from the options below.

Construction Tech Features Safety Fitting Guide Still Not Sure?

Construction

Not something to lose too much sleep about, but there are two key techniques used to construct a ski helmet.

Injection Moulded ABS Hard Shell

The classic construction. A thicker hard shell is glued to the inner foam. Often more durable, and cost less than other designs.

In Mold

Often lighter and cooler than traditional helmets, they allow better ventilation systems and can achieve a lower-profile look. Often considered to be a premium approach.

Tech Features

Safety

MIPS

Multi-directional impact protection system. Designed to reduce brain injuries, by allowing the shell and liner to slide over each other.

View Our Wide Range of MIPS helmets

Carbon Fibre

You hear about it in F1 cars and TDF bikes, so it must be cool? Pretty much. Offering unbeatable strength to weight ratio, so you can get a super light, super tough helmet. Just don't mention the price!

Soft Shell

A brand new technology that combines a flexible outer shell with an impact absorbing liner to manage low and high impacts.

EPS vs EPP

EPS is the classic foam that is used in ski helmets. The cells crush on impact, which slows the head down gently. EPS is designed for one big impact. EPP has started to appear in some premium helmets in recent years, and offers a multi-impact solution. Whilst this foam still crushes on impact, it has a higher memory, which allows it to return back to shape after a crash. Ideal for park riders.

Standards

Everything we sell will meet either the US ASTM F2040 or the European EN1077. This is a minimum standard, and most helmets will be far tougher.

Fitting Guide

The most important consideration when purchasing a helmet is the fit. If a helmet doesn't fit correctly, it may not perform properly in the event of an accident.

MEASURE YOUR HEAD

Simply wrap a fabric tape measure around your head, just above the eyebrows to gain the circumference of your head. This measurement should be in centimetres, and in a nutshell (LOL!) this is your helmet size!

TRY IT ON

While pulling outward on the straps place the front edge of the helmet just above your brow and roll the helmet onto your head from front to back. This step should result in the front of the helmet being positioned level above your eyebrows. Tip: Make sure the front is low on the forehead otherwise it will not fit or protect correctly.

HOW DOES IT FEEL?

Make sure the helmet is seated all the way down on the head. With the chinstrap fastened, try to gently roll the helmet off your head in both a front-to-back and side-to-side direction. The helmet should not roll front to back or side to side with obvious ease. If the skin on the user's forehead moves as you roll the helmet, the user has a good fit.

THE GOGGLE TEST

Make sure your goggles are fitting properly while wearing the helmet. Look out for gaps between the helmet and goggles, and make sure the goggles are not being pushed down onto your nose. This will not only create discomfort and obstruction of vision but it will also destroy any remaining style points that you may have had!

KIDS - It may sound obvious, but get a helmet that fits! We hear a lot of parents telling us they want to buy a helmet that will last a few years. A helmet that is too loose is not going to be safe and can actually be dangerous. Kids' heads grow relatively slow so it is better to get one that fits today. Equally, more and more helmets have adjustable fit systems, so you should be able to get a few trips out of one lid. The only time you may want to go for a slightly larger one is if their head is right in-between sizes.

Still not sure?

Helmet FAQS

Below you will find the most common questions we're asked about helmets.

Which helmet size do I need?

Different manufacturers break up their sizes in different ways, and this will often depend on the fit system used. As a result, we recommend that you measure your head before buying a helmet. Use our fitting guide to help.

Will all of your ski helmets fit my goggles?

All of the helmets we sell are designed to work with goggles. As many helmet brands also produce goggles, you will often find that the optimum fit can be found by integrating the two products.

What are the largest and smallest helmets you offer?

Our biggest helmets are produced by Smith. Their XL features a BOA fit system that goes from 63-67cm. Alternatively, Giro's XL goes from 62.5-65cm. In terms of small helmets, check out the Bern Camino/Camina, Smith Holt Junior, Anon Rime and Giro Crue MIPS. All of these have adjustable fit systems that can be cranked down to a tiny 48cm!

Are your helmets certified?

Yes, all of our helmets surpass either the European EN 1077 or US ASTM 2040 standards.

Will my head get too hot wearing a helmet? Is the liner removable?

All of our helmets feature venting systems. The more expensive the helmet, often the more sophisticated the ventilation. Look out for rider-controlled set-ups, so you can open things up when the sun is blitzing, and shut them when snow is in the air. Liners are removable in almost all of our helmets, so you can ride with a beanie if you prefer, but more importantly you can give it a wash at the end of a week's hard shredding!

What is MIPS? Why should I buy MIPS?

MIPS stands for multi-directional impact system. According to MIPS themselves:
"MIPS sets a new standard in helmet safety. Developed by brain surgeons and scientists to reduce rotational forces on the brain caused by angled impacts to the head. In a helmet with MIPS Brain Protection System the shell and the liner are separated by a low friction layer. When a helmet with MIPS Brain Protection System is subjected to an angled impact, the low friction layer allows the helmet to slide relative to the head".
Found across a number of our key brands - Smith, Giro, POC, Scott - this is a technology we wholeheartedly endorse. In short, the technology has been developed to protect your brain more effectively from the reality of ski crashes, which rarely involve direct impacts. SHOP FOR MIPS

Which helmet will fit my child?

Helmets are not sized by age. Every child is different, so we recommend that you measure their head before buying a helmet. Use our fitting guide to help.

Contact Us

If you are still not sure what you are after then please contact us:

CALL US

01780 783932

EMAIL US

info@rxsport.co.uk