Below are my pics of the best snowboard helmets for 2020. They are all lightweight, easy to adjust, and designed to take a few knocks – an inevitable part of snowboarding!
Best Men’s Helmets
Giro Jackson Helmet
Anon Prime Helmet
Smith Maze Helmet
Salomon Sight Helmet
What to look for when buying a helmet
Your helmet is the most important piece of protective gear, you should only consider buying a helmet if it adheres to minimum safety standards. All reputable brands and all helmets stocked by reputable retailers will meet these standards. But if you are unsure, check for the following codes on the packaging or product info.
In the US – The American Society of Testing Materials, International (ASTM)
In Europe The European Committee for Standardization (CE EN).
Having a helmet that fits correctly is really important for it to be able to do its job correctly. As a starting point use the chart below to find the correct size. Simply take a soft measuring tape and wrap it around your head at its largest point. If you don’t have a soft measuring tape, use a piece of string, mark where it wraps fully around your head and then measure the piece of string.
Snowboard Helmet Size Chart
| Helmet size (Adult) | Head Size (cm) | Head Size (In) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 52 – 55 cm | 20.5" - 21.75" |
| M | 56 -59 cm | 21.75" - 23" |
| L | 60 - 62 cm | 23" - 24.5" |
| XL | 63 - 65 cm | 24.5"+ |
Heads come in different shapes as well as sizes so it’s important that you try the helmet on as well. Most quality helmets come with a good amount of adjustment so that you can fine-tune the fit.
To test the fit, firstly make sure the top of your head is touching the inside of the helmet, and that there are no points around your mead when it feels like it is squeezing too tight. Next, shape your head from side to side and up and down, the helmet shouldn’t budge!
So now you know a helmet fits and meets the minimum requirements, what other features should you look for which can improve the performance of your helmet?
MIPS Snowboard Helmets
MIPS stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System which means there is a low-friction layer integrated into the helmet. This layer is designed to move within the helmet as the result of an impact and reduces rotational motion transferred to the head.
When you fall at an angle and your head hits the ground, it creates rotational force. This is often the case with snowboarding/skiing falls. Research has shown that our brains are very vulnerable to these rotational forces. The MIPS system helps to reduce the rotational motion and in doing so reduces the risk of concussion and injury to the brain.
Many of the top brands now have MIPS built into their higher-end helmets
How To Adjust Your Helmet
All helmets have some system to adjust how the helmet fits around the head. However, I’d suggest going for a helmet with an Adjustable Wheel or Boa® System
These kinds of helmets have a dial at the back which turns to adjust the fit. This means you can easily fine-tune the fit to get a snug, even fit around your head. It’s a fast lightweight solution that can be adjusted on the fly without having to take off the helmet.
Removable Ear Pads
If you want to wear your helmet over the top of your beanie and goggles then you’ll need to remove the ears. Most freestyle orientated helmets have this feature. Make sure your helmet fits securely and still passes the shake test. A badly fitting helmet that slides around if you crash is no use to anyone!
Best Mens Helmets 2020
- In-Mold Construction
- In Form™ 2 Fit System
- MIPS
- Polartec® Power Grid™ Padding
- Removable Goggle Retainer
- Removable Earpads
- Compatible with Aftermarket Giro Audio Systems by Outdoor Tech (Sold Separately)
Its clean, low-profile shape uses a minimum of effects to effectively maximize airflow and keep your head cool. The Stack Vent in the rim of the helmet is positioned to allow warm air to flow out of the goggle and stop them from fogging when you’re standing in the lift line after a run. This works best with Giro goggles which are designed to perfectly line up with the vent.
The Inform 2 Fit Is Giro’s version of the Boa system which uses a dial at the back of the helmet to achieve a perfect custom fit in seconds. The system also allows for a lower profile helmet so you don’t end up looking like you’ve got a huge head!
Inside the Polartec liner absorbs moisture away from your head to help maintain a consistent temperature and keeps down the growth of odor.
- Hybrid 50/50 Shell Construction
- Active Ventilation
- BOA® Fit System
- Easily removable ear pads and liners
- Fidlock® Snap Helmet Buckle
- Audio Accessory Compatible
Anon is the goggle and helmet brand from Burton and produces great styling products which are designed to work together.
The helmet’s shell uses MIPS tech to keep you safe and includes 23 air vents to keep air moving and to cool your head and stop your goggles from fogging.
The helmet is held in place with a super-fast custom fit from the Boa Fit System which also works when the integrated ear pads are removed, so it can be worn with a beanie.
Anon has also integrated the ICRdot Emergency ID service which allows your details and location to be shared in the event of an emergency.
Also, the helmet is Audio Accessory compatible so you can block out the ski chat in the lift lines.
- Lightweight In-Mold Construction
- AirEvac Ventilation
- Self-Adjusting Lifestyle Fit System
- Easily removable ear pads and liners
- Beanie Compatible
- Compatible with Outdoor Tech™ Audio Systems
At just 350g the Smith Maze is the lightest helmet on our list. Its shell is made of a super lightweight Polycarbonate for the most unobtrusive fit. Like the others, it uses MIPS technology to create a low-profile, slender helmet which keeps your noggin safe without making it look like a cannonball.
Where it differs from the others is that it doesn’t use BOA or similar to keep in place. Smith’s Self-Adjusting Lifestyle Fit System uses an elastic section in the rear of the liner to adjust the size and shape of your head.
Its Airflow Climate Control allows hot air from your head and goggles to be drawn up, flow through the shell of the helmet, and be extinguished out the vents in the rear.
- EPS 4D Liner
- Active Ventilation
- Custom Air® Fit System
- Easily removable ear pads and liners
- 100% Washable Liner / Easy to Remove
- Audio System Compatible
Perhaps the feature that helps the Salomon Site stand out most from the crowd is their Custom Air® Fit System. Essentially it does the same hob as the BOA system but their system uses an air pump at the pack of the helmet to inflate a cushion and held the helmet in place for a truly custom fit.
It also has an EPS 4D Liner which combined with MIPS offers a superior impact absorption from all directions – up to 30% more than the industry standard according to Salomon.
Also, the helmet offers great ventilation which keeps the head cool and helps to keep the goggles fog-free.
Best Women’s Helmets 2020
- Articulating Hard Shell Construction
- Stack Ventilation
- MIPS
- Fidlock® Magnetic Buckle Closure
- Removable Earpads
- Compatible with Aftermarket Giro Audio Systems by Outdoor Tech
In this top-end women’s helmet, Giro has used an articulated hard shell construction, which allows the helmet to literally form to your head shape by allowing the 2 pieces of the shell to expand and contract with the turn of a dial. It features a durable, semi-flexible construction that wraps around the head to create a super low-profile, neat-fitting helmet.
The Stack Vent in the rim of the helmet is positioned to allow warm air to flow out of the goggle and stop them from fogging when you’re standing in the lift line after a run. This works best with Giro goggles which are designed to perfectly line up with the vent, so you should defiantly consider this helmet if you already have Giro goggles.
Finally, the helmet is secured with the super easy-to-use and fast Fidlock Magnectic Snap helmet buckle. This uses magnets to help snap the buckle into place making it easy to click in and out of even with gloves on.
- Lightweight In-Mold Construction
- Regulator Adjustable Climate Control
- Adjustable Dial Fit System
- Aerocore™ Construction
- Audio System Compatible
The women’s equivalent of the popular men’s Maze helmet, the Mirage has many of the same features. The shell is made of a super lightweight Polycarbonate for the most unobtrusive fit. The shell uses MIPS technology to create a low profile, slender helmet which keeps your head safe without making it look like a lolly pop.
Where it differs from the others is that it doesn’t use BOA or similar to keep in place. Smith’s Self-Adjusting Lifestyle Fit System uses an elastic section in the rear of the liner to adjust the size and shape of your head.
Its Airflow Climate Control allows hot air from your head and goggles to be drawn up, flow through the shell of the helmet, and be extinguished out the vents in the rear.
- In-Mold Shell Construction
- Passive Ventilation
- Fidlock® Snap Helmet Buckle
- Easily removable ear pads and liners
- Audio System Compatible
Anon is the goggle and helmet brand from Burton and produces great styling products which are designed to work together.
The helmet’s shell uses MIPS tech to keep you safe and uses multiple air vents to keep air moving to cool your head and stop your goggles from fogging.
The helmet is held in place with a super-fast custom fit from the Boa Fit System which also works when the integrated ear pads are removed, so it can be worn with a beanie.
Anon has also integrated the ICRdot Emergency ID service which allows your details and location to be shared in the event of an emergency.
Anon uses Fidlock® in its buckle to make it super easy to secure even with bulky gloves on. Fidlock’s SNAP helmet buckle lets your open and close with one hand, by using magnets to guide the buckle into place.
- Advanced Hybrid Shell Technology
- OneTurn Ventilation
- OcciGrip Turn Dial Fit System
- 3D Shaped Vented Lining
- Audio System Compatible
Sweet has a long history of making the toughest, most sturdy of helmets. The Switcher keeps you safe to the highest level by incorporating MIPS into its lightweight hybrid shell.
Sweet’s version of the BOA system – cciGrip Turn Dial Fit System – provides a truly customizable fit that prevents the helmet from rolling on your head.
Adjustable Wide Split Divider for Straps
22 adjustable air vents, keep your head from overheating after a long run, and prevent goggle fog. Vents are easy to regulate without having to remove gloves as is the quick magnetic chin strap closure. This helmet is extremely user-friendly.
Wrapping up
You may have noticed that the helmets listed above don’t include any budget models. That’s because, whilst they’re are cheap helmets on the market, in my opinion, it’s not worth the risk. All the helmets above are not either the most expensive, but they all have features that I think will do a great job of keeping your head safe. Plus they all look good!
