Ski Snowboard Bike Skate Helmets Fitting Guide

We stock an extensive range of Snow Helmets and Goggles by brand leaders Smith Optics and Bern.

A helmet is an important part of your gear and of late,  is fast becoming a legal requirement in a number of Ski resorts. In time it is expected that ALL Ski resorts will follow suit on this. That said there are still a few of us that prefer just to wear a beanie and while the law in some resorts still allows then that’s your call.

All our Snow Helmets all conform to the EN1077 , or the American standards ASTM 2040 or Snell RS-98 Snow Helmets standard. We would recommend that children ALWAYS wear a helmet as we are sure you are aware, a knock to the head can have far reaching consequences when they are at such a young age. A helmet can give you and your family piece of mind when on the slopes.

All our helmets are chosen for their stylish design, protection, functionality and goggle compatibility.

Don’t be tempted to wear a regular bicycle helmet  helmet as they are not designed withstand the cold temperatures and can easily crack and could invalidate an insurance claim if you were unlucky to sustain a head injury while wearing one.

1. MEASURE YOUR HEAD

Take a soft measuring tape and wrap it around your head about 1 inch above your eyebrows and ears. Most helmets are measured in centimeters, so unless you love calculations, measure your head in centimeters. For example, if you measure the circumference of your head and it is 56 cm, you will wear a 56 cm helmet or Medium (55-59cm) depending on the helmet’s size scale.

Don’t have a soft tape measure? Take a piece of string and wrap it around your head and then measure the string.

click here to view the Bern 2018/2019 sizing chart

2. TRY IT ON

After you receive your helmet put it on. The helmet should feel snug. A properly fitting helmet needs to be snug all the way around your head so that it doesn’t move around. You don’t want any excess space between the helmet and your head. Be careful to pay attention to any pressure or pain points.

3. SHAKE TEST

4. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR FIT

5. GO SKIING, SNOWBOARDING, BIKING, SKATING!

ADJUSTABLE WHEEL OR BOA®

With the turn of a dial, you get even, fine tuning adjustability to make sure your helmet fit as snuggly and comfortably as possible. It’s lightweight, fast, secure, and can be adjusted on-the-fly.

IN FORM FIT SYSTEM

Dialed adjustability at the touch of a wheel or ratchet that tightens and loosens the helmet’s head fit as well as vertical adjustability. Say goodbye to that gaper gap.

PAD SYSTEMS

Removable pads add thickness to the interior of your helmet increasing snugness and comfort at the same time. This system is great for anyone that wants to ride with a beanie, and can also be good for children so that you can remove the pads as they grow without sacrificing safety.

AIR FIT

Air-fueled comfort in the form of a low-profile headband attached inside the helmet. At the touch of a button, you can add or decrease air to fine-tune fit your helmet and avoid pressure points.

HELMET CONSTRUCTION

Most helmets are designed for a single large impact. In the occurrence of an impact where the hard foam interior collapses or cracks to soften impact, the helmet should be replaced as it is no longer safe. Soft Shell (EPP) helmets are the exception, but may not be ceritified.

IN-MOLD

In-molded construction utilizes a thin, hard plastic outer shell that is molded to an EPS foam liner to absorb shock. This setup allows for less rebound during impact because it will collapse under hard impact. It is also lightweight.

HARD SHELL ABS

ABS construction uses a thick, tough ABS plastic shell that is pre-formed and glued onto a pre-molded hard foam interior and liner. This design offers good protection that is still budget-friendly.

SOFT SHELL

These helmets are often designed for multiple, less intense impacts, but there are exceptions. Many soft shell constructions now feature 2 foam densities, with a softer foam against your head transitioning to a harder foam against the outer shell for hard impact protection.

MIPS

MIPS is used to reduce the rotational forces to the brain in the case of an oblique impact. Smith helmets are created to absorb direct impacts very efficiently and when combined with MIPS, Smith helmets absorb oblique forces better by allowing a small rotation of the outer shell relative to the liner.

HELMET VENTING

VENTING

Almost all helmets have some form of open, passive venting built into their design that allows for excess heat and moisture to escape. These systems are generally simple and cannot be personally adjusted. Each company sets up their venting systems in different ways to reflect what they see as necessary.

ADJUSTABLE VENTING

Helmets with adjustable venting systems give you the ability to open or close the holes to fit your needs depending on the weather conditions. A variety of adjustable systems are used by companies including plugs, sliding mechanisms, and one-push buttons. Choosing a specific system is mostly up to your personal preference.

WHAT ABOUT MY GOGGLES?

You want your goggles to fit comfortably with your helmet. Your goggles should fit comfortably with your goggle strap over the helmet. There should be no gap between the top of your goggles and the helmet; this is referred to as a “goggle gap” or sometimes “gaper gap” or “punter gap” Besides, “goggle gap” can give you a brain freeze.

It has become increasingly popular to wear goggles underneath helmets. This is mainly for style and should only be done if the helmet fits properly over your goggles.

HELMET STYLES

There are three types of helmet styles: Full Shell, Half Shell, and Full Face.

HALF SHELL

Half Shell helmets are the most popular, incorporating soft ear pad protection (in the case of winter helmets) into standard helmet design. This allows for a more comfortable fit and better hearing.

FULL SHELL

Full Shell helmets provide complete coverage and help block out the elements. Racers and sometimes halfpipe riders wear full shell helmets, and kid’s helmets are often full shell, too. If you go fast and hard, attempting tricks and new moves, this helmet provides full ear coverage that can help increase protection to the side of the head and ears.

WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR HELMET?

*Replace All Helmets Every 3-5 Years	Experts recommend replacing helmets every 3-5 years of use due to the breakdown of materials (see below).
EPS Liners (most common)	“Single Impact” – Helmets with EPS constructions necessitate replacement after a single crash or drop from 2+ feet.
EPP Liners (less common)	“Multi Impact” – Helmets with EPP constructions are designed to withstand multiple mild to moderate crashes.

It’s important to know that most helmets are not built to last a lifetime. With the vast majority of action sports helmets using EPS (expanded polystryene) liners — essentially plastic beads and air packed tightly together — EPS has a tendency to compact and/or crack upon impact. This jeopordizes the protectiveness of the helmet for the next go round. Consequently, most EPS helmets are rated for “single impact.”

The other common impact absorbing material used in ski/snowboard helmets is EPP (expanded polypropylene). Helmets constructed with EPP liners are generally rated for “multiple impacts.” Although they have a slightly lower safety threshold than their EPS compadres, EPP helmets are increasingly common amongst freestyle/park skiers and snowboarders as they don’t necessitate replacement after a single crash.

So if I never crash, I don’t need to worry about helmet replacement? Not exactly. Most experts in the field recommend replacing your helmet after 3-5 years of use. This is primarily due to material breakdown as a result of exposure to sweat, hair products, cleaning chemicals, and exposure to the elements.

CRASH REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS

Many companies — like Bern, & Smith — have crash replacement programs that are worth your consideration when buying. These programs typically involve a significant discount on a replacement helmet after being compromised by a fall. Regardless of these programs, it’s important to note that while helmets might seem expensive, they’re certainly cheaper than the potential medical bills and life-long trauma caused by an otherwise preventable head injury.

2017/2018 Bern Helmet fitting chart

click here to view the Bern 2018/2019 sizing chart