Put a lid on it! Protect those noggins with our pick of the best unisex ski helmets of 2024
A pick of the best ski helmets of 2024 are featured here online – for the full list of helmet reviews you’ll have to buy the digital edition (£3.50) of the 2024 Gear Guide – including hundreds of models of skis, boots, outerwear, layers, airbags (the kit list goes on…)
- Atomic Backland
- Bollé Eco Atmos
- Dynafit TLT
- Giro Owen Spherical Mips
- Head Rev
- Oakley Mod5 Mips
- Petzl Meteor
- Salomon Husk Pro Mips
- Scott Blend Plus
- Smith Summit Mips
- Sweet Protection Igniter 2Vi Mips
Atomic Backland £190
The design may not suit all tastes but it’s insanely comfy, and certified for alpine skiing, climbing/alpinism and cycling. The in-mould construction is light, weighing just 350g in a small. It’s a bit pricier than the UL version, but it comes fitted with a more comfortable, removable and washable full-cap liner. You also get the slimmer, lighter ski-mo liner the UL has, plus head torch clips and elastics on the rear and sides to keep goggles from sliding off the back when you’re going full ski-mo race mode. atomic.com
Bollé Eco Atmos £120
This award-winner comes with a host of sustainable creds, thanks to recycled and eco materials being used for most of the soft lining, straps and plastic components (plus 20% of the EPS liner is cork, which dramatically decreases how long it takes for that liner to break down at the end of its useful life). They even ensure the packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible. bolle.com
Dynafit TLT £130
Available in a range of brilliantly bright colours, the TLT is a triple-certified lid, weighing a weeny 310g in the S/M size. Ideal for gram-counting fast and light skiers who also like to earn their turns on two wheels in the summertime, it comes with an adjustable and removable visor, so you look the part all year round. Durable, stylish and super protective, pair it with Dynafit’s TLT goggles and/or Ultra sunnies and get after it. As with the Atomic Backland, the TLT is the perfect helmet if you’re into cycle ski touring, a fave among the Scottish vanguard. dynafit.com
Giro Owen Spherical Mips £210
This is new, building on the success of the Tor, and similarly using the new Spherical system, powered by Mips. This system was developed by Giro Bell in collaboration with Mips. The ball and socket design sees an EPP foam layer on the inside that can rotate within the EPS liner, attached with elastomer connectors. It’s lower profile than the Tor, and uniquely has the venting adjuster inside the helmet. This keeps a clean outline, and the helmet looks surprisingly low profile, which is a little crazy when you consider the safety enhancements. It’s also one of the most comfortable helmets we’ve ever tested. giro.co.uk
Head Rev £150
The Radar and Rachel visor helmets by Head have been a massive success, and the Rev, and Rita for women, takes what’s great about those, but drops the visor. A rear mounted BOA dial snugs the helmet right around your head for an almost unparalleled fit without any pressure points. It’s like wearing your favourite beanie, but with safety to boot. The in-mould construction is light, and there’s a hard shell around the edge for durability. Adjustable venting allows you to control the flow, but you also get Mips and a Fidlock buckle, delivering pretty great value. head.com
Oakley Mod5 Mips £221
The newly redesigned Mod5 looks so much better than the old Factory Pilot, and is inspired by the Mod7, but without the hassle of having to integrate a visor. Mips takes care of rotational impact worries, and this sliding layer has a mass of holes, so venting’s not compromised. There’s a top mounted venting control, and a BOA dial cinches in around your bonce. Unsurprisingly, it’s super comfy and we didn’t really notice it when skiing. There’s loads of colour options, and for an extra £25 you can get it with the Twiceme system, so rescue services can scan an embedded chip to get your emergency info. oakley.com
Helmet gobbledegook explained
❄ In-mould helmets bond a lightweight plastic shell to an impact-absorbing foam liner. They are a lightweight option, but are more likely to suffer from small dings and wear and tear than hard shell ones because they deform more easily.
❄ Hard shell helmets do exactly what they say on the tin – they are more impact resistant and they’re stronger too. They often comprise an injection-moulded ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) shell that is fused with a foam liner.
❄ Hybrid construction helmets combine the two ideas described above. Hard plastics are added to key, high-impact areas in a bid to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to top-notch noggin protection.
❄ MIPS technology was developed by brain surgeons and scientists to reduce rotational forces on the brain caused by angled impacts to the head. If you take a big crash the outer helmet rotates independently around your head, redistributing the impact.
❄ Boa’s 360° Fit System is used by many helmet brands. It gives a precise fit, with the added advantage that you can make easy micro-adjustments with the turn of a dial.
❄ Fidlock is the award-winning designer of a new breed of ultra-fast and secure fasteners. Their magnetic helmet buckles are easily operated with one hand.
❄ Ear pads are removable on most lids. Some linings are also removable so you can wash them. You can get helmets with fixed or adjustable vents, or a mix of both.
❄ Audio-compatible helmets allow you to add audio kits, which are sold separately from various companies. They usually have zippered or Velcro pockets in the ear pads. A few helmets have a built-in audio system so you can just plug in and play.
