Anon Endure Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

The Anon Endure helmet contains some of the very latest in tech if you’re after a lid that’ll take multiple hits and still do its part to keep your head whole.

One of the first things you’ll notice with this is that the outer shell is pretty flexible. Fear not, however; it’s backed up by new G-Form padding, which feels soft but stiffens on impact. This is then layered up with stiffer HDPE foam to keep you protected.

We’re fans of the super clean black colourway here, and the fact that the ear-pads pop out with ease. Equally impressive are the Fidlock magnetic fastenings on the chinstrap. Place the two ends close near to each other and they’re drawn together, locking in place automatically. They then slide apart easily with the push of a thumb – simple technology, done well.

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Anon Striker Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

Anon’s Striker helmet keeps it simple, while offering pretty much all you could need from a lid.

Designed to keep you protected season after season, it has an Endura-Shell ABS construction that will certainly take a knock or two, and gives a feeling of solid protection around the whole head.

Removable ear pads take a little bit of force to pull and push into place, but lock in firmly and provide an effective seal against wind. They also provide housing for Skullcandy’s helmet audio systems (sold separately) and have a simple Velcro fastened channel to house wires, so you can keep them neatly tucked away instead of getting all tangled up.

Shown here in the Guerrilla Black colourway, the outer shell features top vents which draw air through the helmet to keep you cool, and a removable goggle clip at the back to complete another clean design.

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Bern Watts Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

Bern’s Watts helmet is now a long standing favourite. Available in tonnes of variations depending on your needs, its characteristic peaked design will be familiar to many – from the snowdome to the mountain to the streets, you’ll see them everywhere.

Part of this is due to the fact that there are so many different versions of the Watts lid going. The snow range last season included six, with Hard Hat, EPS and Carbon shells to choose from, as well as options for different audio systems.

Bern’s ‘Sink Fit’ provides a helmet that’ll surround your head nicely, and an adjustable crank on the back helps you customise things once you’ve selected the right basic size. The liner system is interchangeable too, so if you’re looking for a lid to use from January deep days to slushy park laps, simply get your hands on a summer liner and you’ll be ready to go.

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K2 Stash Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

Coming in with a clean shell and neutral colours, the K2 Stash helmet is a worthy investment. It’s bicycle and snowboard certified, so you won’t find yourself brushing off the cobwebs when autumn comes around, as chances are it’ll never go into summer storage in the first place.

Feature-wise it’s built on an Injection Molded shell with vents above the eyebrow and up top to keep air circulating, and a 360 dialled fit system that hugs your head in all the right places, regardless of the shape of your noggin.

Bonus bits include a removable liner, magnetic goggle clip that snaps shut with ease, and audio compatible low-profile earpads that you can clip out when you don’t need extra warmth.

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Lazer Dissent MIPS Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

The Lazer Dissent MIPS is an extremely versatile peaked lid that’s got plenty of features.

As the name suggests, it’s another lid that utilises the Multi-direction Impact Protection System to limit the effects of all knocks and crashes, and in the Dissent this is combined with a lightweight injection-moulded shell.

Thanks to Lazer’s Rollsys system, you can also custom fit the helmet to your head while you’re wearing it; and there’s even an external sliding switch that allows you to open and close the top vents.

The ear pads easily clip out and have space for an audio system as well as clips to keep your wires in order. Then the peak itself is removable with an Allen key if you want to remove that too. Finally, a large pull-tab on the back proves handy for clipping goggles in and out when you’re wearing gloves.

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Quiksilver Skylab 2.0 Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

Scoring high on the comfort scale, the faux-fur-lined Quiksilver Skylab 2.0 is the reincarnation of a favourite from years gone by.

Originally designed with the aid of Travis Rice, it’s got a lightweight in-mould construction with EPS shock absorber foam throughout, and an extra EVA piece behind the visor that helps with airflow. To strike the right breathability balance, there are subtle vents in the front and top as well as mesh points in the liner, which can also be removed altogether.

The click-wheel adjustment system in the back helps you dial in your fit, and the removable earpads can house an audio system if that’s your thing.

As an added bonus, Quik have also employed Fidlock’s magnetic auto-fastening buckle on the Sherpa chin pad, which makes single handed fastening (and unfastening) as easy as possible.

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Shred Slam Cap Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

The Shred Slam Cap may appear simple from the outside, but rest assured that there’s plenty of tech going on under the hood. They’ve combined in-mould design with their NOSHOCK honeycomb structure and EPS foam to give it additional strength, and to spread the effects of an impact around the shell.

The lid comes with two antibacterial, odour-reducing liners, so you can choose between skeleton padding or a full skull cap, and there’s even two stick-on comfort pads if you feel you need them.

The adjustable, removable click-wheel headband doubles as an attachment point for the ear pad system, which is audio system compatible; and extras like a small external switch to open and close vents prove handy – even if they are a little bit stiff to adjust on the move.

As Shred split their sizing for this two ways (between XS-M and M-XL), a little bit of extra caution with sizes is advised for those that sit in the middle ground. Our tester technically came in at the top of the XS-M scale, and found that it fit well but only once the fitting system arms had been snapped into the right position.

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Smith Vantage Snowboard Helmet 2015-2016

The Vantage sits at the top of the brand’s considerable helmet range, packed with tech to give you a safe and comfortable ride whatever the conditions.

Its Hybrid SL construction features stronger honeycombed Aerocore material on top which has allowed Smith to lower the profile without reducing safety, and on top you’ll find two switches that’ll allow you top open and close different zones on the 21 vents.

If you’re following the progress of MIPS in enhancing safety against rotational impacts, you’ll be pleased to hear that certain colour ways of the Vantage are available with that technology too; and a 360 degree adjustable Boa will ensure the best fit to limit the repercussions of impact too.

Final additions like antibacterial nanosilver lining, a removable goggle lock, and snap-on, audio compatible ear-pads round off the complete package that you’d expect from a lid at this price point.

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