The Best Ski Helmets & Goggles of Winter 2024 (plus what MIPS & VLT means)

Iain and Al cover the best new ski helmets and goggles for winter 2024, plus we explain all the jargon, including MIPS

This Special Episode of The Ski Podcast has been made possible by Ellis Brigham - the winter sports specialists.

They have 16 shops around the UK where you can find all the kit you need for this winter. Alternatively, simply go to their website at ellis-brigham.com to buy online now.

SHOW NOTES
Catch up with our previous episodes on the best skis, ski boots and ski jackets

Helmet terminology:
‘Fit is king’ (2:15)
Safety Standards (3:00)
What do EPS and MIPS stand for? (4:00)
The importance of the strap (5:45)
Passive v. active (adjustable) venting (6:00)
Visor Helmets (7:00)
The Spektrum Brunner helmet may be the greenest ever (8:45)
What is the natural life of a ski helmet? (17:00)

The Best Ski & Snowboard Helmets for Winter 2024

Sweet Protection Grimnir 2VI MIPS, £410 (10:00)
This is expensive but beautifully made. The shell is made using pre-preg carbon fibre for incredible strength to weight, ten vents with grill covers and their own MIPS 2VI system. This is available in other Sweet helmets, including the £230 Sweet Ingiter. Visit the Sweet Protection website to learn more.

Giro Tor Spherical, £250 (11:45)
A very comfortable helmet that uses the MIPS Spherical system with a hybrid construction of hard-shell upper and in-mold lower. It has adjustable venting, a dial fit system, Fidlock magnetic buckle, Recco reflector.

Head Rachel and Head Radar – £200 (12:45)
A light, visor helmet with great functionality to fit with prescription glasses or lens can be removed. Uses Head’s Sphere Fit BOA system to adjust fit, adjustable venting, and excellent lens. Note that if you wear with goggles and no visor, there’s not goggle retainer. The Rev and Rita models are sold without the visor.

Salomon MTN Lab – £155 (14:00)
A multi-purpose light (400g) helmet certified for climbing and skiing, so a superb choice for ski tourers. Passive venting, dial-fit system, removeable washable Merino liner, separate summer liner, head-torch clips and an elasticated goggle retainer at the rear. It uses Salomon’s EPS 4D liner, so the EPS core of the helmet provides crumple-zone like features, making it 30% safety than the European standard.

Oakley MOD 1 – £85 (16:00)
A super-clean skater-inspired design. Light, BOA fit, washable liner and ear pads and available in a massive range of colours. If you want this style but with a brim or peak, the dual cert (ski and bike) hard shell Smith Holt at £80 is an excellent choice, at around 150g heavier.

Goggle Terminology:
UV protection (18:30)
What is VLT? (19:45)
When to change the lens (21:00)
How to clean the lens in goggles (23:00)
Cylindrical, spherical or toric lenses (24:30)

The Best Ski & Snowboard Goggles of Winter 2024

Smith 4D Mag - £320 (24:00)
Uses their ChromaPop lens, with magnetic lens swap feature from the S3 ChromaPop Sun Red Mirror and S1 ChromaPop Storm Yellow Flash low light lens. Comes with a zippered hard case, lens and a microfibre bag.

Dragon PXV Dennis Ranalter Signature Goggle– £165 (26:00)
The Lumalens Dark Smoke has a 23% VLT (S2) Toric lens, which works well for sunny days and when the clouds arrive. Comes with an extra Lumens Light Rose lens with 66% VLT.

Oakley Line Miner – £138 (27:15)
A medium fit product, also available in a Line Miner Large version. Available in a large range of frame and lens colour options, but the Prizm Saphire Iridium lens (Cat S3 13% VLT) is a stand-out. Silicon lined strap, triple layer face foam, microfibre bag and notches in the frame allow them to work over the legs of prescription glasses.

Bloc Boa – £45 (29:15)
The standard black has a Cat S2 spherical lens (19% VLT) and a silver mirror finish. For the price, with a UV400 lens, anti-fog coating, triple layer face foam and silicon lined strap, microfibre bag this is excellent value.

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