UPDATE: Check out our reviews of the Best Snowboard Helmets for 2020/2021 by clicking here.
In the past wearing a helmet may have classified you as… well, a helmet. But these days, more often than not, you’ll see your favourite riders rocking a noggin protector. Whether you’re any old Mollie in the park or a bona fide pro, you’ll be better off for it. There’s a gut busting array of styles to choose from, and with sizes ranging from peanut to pumpkin head there’s no excuse not to shove your dome into one.
Like intimate partners and Pick ‘n’ Mix, you’re going want to try before you buy with a helmet. Head into your local snowboard shop to try some on, unlike Woolworths they won’t escort you out and give you a lifetime ban for trying the goods prior to purchase. By trying a bunch of different models on, you’re staying ahead of the game (pun absolutely intended).
“Helmets have come on leaps and bounds in the past few years, and there’s a dizzying amount of tech packed into some of them”
A good helmet should fit like a glove, if you’ll pardon the analogy. It should feel snug round your bonce but not so tight that it’ll squeeze the precious brain cells out of you. Check out our in depth guide of how to choose a snowboard helmet here. Regardless of how snazzy your helmet is, you won’t want to wear it if it’s uncomfortable, so as difficult as it is for the discerning fashionistas among us, try not to buy one based solely on the colour.
Helmets have come on leaps and bounds in the past few years, and there’s a dizzying amount of tech packed into some of them. From built in speakers, to bluetooth walkie talkies, some of them even have built in action cameras. The general features you want to look out for are vents to offer some airflow, a fit system to make sure it’s tightened properly and a chin strap to stop it flying off as you’re riding. At the end of the day, whether you opt for a bog-standard lid or a tech infused skull cap, the premise is the same- protect your head from impact.
Perhaps the most popular update to helmets in recent years is the introduction of MIPS, which to cut the fluff allows your helmet to rotate slightly upon impact so it can redirect and absorb the energy more effectively. Lots of companies have now started using a version of this idea in their helmets, to better protect against brain injuries while snowboarding.
Whether you choose to rock a helmet or not, that’s up to you, but we can all agree that the only unacceptable form of head covering is anyone over the age of 10 wearing ‘wacky helmet covers’. We reviewed a whole bunch of helmets over the season, so dive in and check out our list of the best helmets for winter 2019/2020.
Scroll down to view all the best snowboard helmets, or skip to a particular brand using the links below
Anon Greta 3 | Anon Raider 3 | Giro Emerge MIPS | Giro Jackson MIPS | K2 Phase Pro | Oakley Mod 1 MIPS | SHRED. Slam Cap | Smith Holt | Smith Code Mips
Oakley Mod 1 MIPS Snowboard Helmet 2019-2020
