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Best Snowboard Helmets of 2023

JUMP TO: SMITH QUANTUM MIPS / OAKLEY MOD 5 MIPS / ANON PRIME MIPS / SMITH VANTAGE / SALOMON MTN LAB / GIRO NINE MIPS / SMITH MIRAGE MIPS / POC OBEX SPIN COMMUNICATION / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Rob Thijssen

The Short Version

The Long Version

Are you planning on carving some frozen lines on snowy mountains this winter?

Maybe you’re already packing for that snowboard trip?

Well, one item that should be on your gear list is a good quality helmet — because there is nothing more worth protecting than your noggin.

Believe it or not, until the nineties helmets were a not-so-hot topic of discussion. Luckily, people came to their senses and nowadays more than 80% of skiers and snowboarders use one. And we too believe everyone should use a helmet on the snow to minimize the risk of head injuries. After all, all you need is one good crash and your life can change forever.

But with so many manufacturers out there, it can be hard to decide on which one is best for you, let alone find one that fits. That’s why we’ve created this review article – to give you a round up of some of the best snowboard helmets available today and a few pointers on the specs to look out for.

So let’s dive straight in, head first this time!

If you love reading this review of the best snowboard helmets, then you'll likely love reading some of our other gear review pages:

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Construction and fit are vital – but sometimes the specs can get a bit technical. That’s why we’ve compiled a buying advice section that covers construction, ventilation, safety certification and fit.

Our buying advice section also includes a more detailed explanation of MIPS — the Multi-directional Impact Protection System — what it is and why it works.

Best Overall: SMITH QUANTUM MIPS

CONSTRUCTION: Hybrid

SHELL: High-impact ABS plastic

WEIGHT: 23 oz. (Size M)

PROS: Reliable, durable design. Ventilation is outstanding.

CONS: It’s one of the heavier helmets on the market

With the Quantum MIPS the designers at Smith have created a true gem of a helmet!

Its hybrid design consists of an in-mold construction back piece combined with a hard shell upper part. The lower exoskeleton acts as a type of roll-cage giving you increased protection when you hit the back of your head.

The Koroyd honeycomb material is installed throughout the entire helmet and absorbs 30% more impact than EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam while being extremely lightweight (it’s 95% air!). At the same time it allows plenty of airflow thanks to the two vents on top that can be closed on those very cold days.

The chin strap is what makes the Quantum MIPS really stand out from other models. Its magnetic Fidlock snaps into place with the maximum of ease and tightening the strap couldn’t be more smooth, even when you’re wearing bulky gloves. The absence of elastic bands or Velcro around the strap make adjusting a breeze.

The 360º BOA-system encompasses your entire head as opposed to a 180º version. This makes for a perfect fit every single time.

When you’re looking for maximum safety and comfort and you don’t mind spending the extra buck, the Smith Quantum MIPS is definitely your choice, even though it’s not the lightest model out there.

Best for Goggle Compatibility: OAKLEY MOD 5 MIPS

CONSTRUCTION: Hybrid

SHELL: ABS plastic

WEIGHT: 21 oz (Size S)

PROS: Highly compatible with many goggle brands

CONS: Although lighter than the Smith Quantum MIPS, it’s still quite heavy

The Mod 5 is Oakley’s top of the line piece of head protection. It came first in this category because of its interchangeable brim, which allows you to mix and match a wide variety of different goggle brands, ensuring a perfect fit.

As an avid freerider, you’ll want to have plenty of ventilation, and that’s exactly what the Mod 5 gives you. Warm air from your goggle is channeled through the helmet and out the exhaust slides on the back. They look a little like those supercharger inlets on a hot rod which shows that Oakley hasn’t lost its awesome designing skills.

Same as the Smith Quantum, the Oakley Mod 5 has a magnetic Fidlock which makes closing and opening easy as pie for your gloved hands. The same goes for the ventilation slide on the back. A 270º BOA-system doesn’t leave much room on the sides, giving you a snug fit without creating pressure points.

More affordable than the Smith Quantum, but with a little less ventilation options, you’ll still have a cutting-edge helmet that will give you confidence on those steep, challenging runs, in or out of bounds.

Best for Style: ANON PRIME MIPS

CONSTRUCTION: Hybrid

SHELL: ABS plastic

WEIGHT: 17 oz

PROS: Front ventilation ports force air into the goggle

CONS: It can feel a bit bulky

Anon has a reputation of integrating style in their products and with the Prime MIPS helmet they reaffirm that reputation. This is Anon’s highest-end helmet, although you don’t notice that in its price tag.

Like many other snowboard helmets, the Anon Prime MIPS features a hybrid construction of 50/50 in-mold on the sides and back.

The ventilation system consists of a total of 23 holes placed optimally across your head for maximum aeration. The holes can be opened and closed with a single slide on the back, and here is where Anon’s design team took it up a notch. A cool-looking feature is that the top section of the vents closes from front to back while the side vents close from bottom to top, which gives it that stylish touch.

The 360º BOA-system makes for a comfortable fit around your head while the magnetic Fidlock allows easy closing and opening of the chin strap.

Thanks to the easily removable ear pads you can fit a beanie and your goggles under it. All-in-all, the Anon Prime MIPS has a ton going on, but without that pinnacle price point.

Best for Ventilation: SMITH VANTAGE

CONSTRUCTION: Hybrid

SHELL: ABS plastic

WEIGHT: 17.5 oz

PROS: It fits lower on your head, giving it a low-profile fit

CONS: Traditional chin buckle

The Smith Vantage is the Smith Quantum’s little brother. The main differences are that it has about 50% less Koroyd material and it comes with a traditional chin buckle, which can be tricky to operate while wearing gloves.

Having said that, you do have options with the Vantage, as it comes gender-specific in both a MIPS version (men’s and women’s) and a regular version (men’s and women’s).

And a nice feature about the Smith Vantage is that it has a lower profile than many other helmets. In other words, it sits lower on your head. This is great if you want to wear your hood over your helmet. This way you don’t have an excuse to stay in on those snowy powder days!

It’s equipped with a 360º BOA-system, dual ventilation, removable ear pads, 21 vents and Smith’s Ultimate Integration Story. The latter provides optimum airflow throughout your goggles, even if you have the ventilation slides fully closed. This prevents your goggles from fogging up when you're slicing some pow!

Even though the Vantage is a step down from the Quantum, it’s an insanely comfortable and safe helmet, as we’re used to from Smith. Definitely worth the dime!

          Best for Backcountry: SALOMON MTN LAB

CONSTRUCTION: Hybrid

SHELL: EPS 4D

WEIGHT: 10.5 oz

PROS: Very lightweight and a lot of ventilation

CONS: Less comfortable than the other helmets in this review

The Salomon MTN Lab isn’t the most comfortable helmet, but then again, it isn’t designed with that as its main feature. Instead, Salomon created a product with the maximum amount of safety and least amount of weight. Perfect for when you’re skinning up the mountain and every ounce matters.

It is the lightest helmet on the market that exceeds the rigorous safety standards for both alpine skiing and mountaineering. This means it’s designed to protect you from impacts to both the side and the top of your head. Salomon’s very own EPS 4D construction absorbs 30% more shock than regular EPS, exactly what you want when rappelling down a couloir to get to those epic hidden backcountry gems.

It comes with a merino wool liner which can be changed for a lighter, summer liner or you can wear it without on those hot days, dropping the weight even more to a mere 9.5 oz.

This unique helmet isn’t for you when you’re staying in or close to the resort, but for those die hard splitboarders that want to earn every turn way out there in the backcountry and save every ounce in their kit whilst doing so.

Best on a Budget: GIRO NINE MIPS

CONSTRUCTION: In-mold

SHELL: Polycarbonate

WEIGHT: 15.4 oz

PROS: Great price to performance ratio

CONS: Might cause pressure points on forehead due to lack of 360º head adjustment

OK, maybe it's not actually a "budget" pick. But the Giro Nine MIPS comes in quite a few dollars cheaper than our other favorite picks. It was the world’s first ski helmet and more than a decade later it’s still going strong.

Its lightweight low profile silhouette makes you forget you’re even wearing one. The 100% in-mold construction is interlaced with 12 ventilation slides that keep your head cool on just about any type of run. Perfect for when you need to cool your head to amp yourself up before dropping in. Just slide the vents open and you’re ready to go.

The Giro Nine MIPS is a unisex helmet, with the Era being its women’s specific counterpart. The Nine is fully adjustable thanks to Giro’s own In-form Fit System which shapes it perfectly to your head with a simple twist of the dial at the back.

There’s really nothing special about this helmet, except that it does what a helmet should do: keeping your melon safer and comfortable. So if you’re looking for the perfect snowboarding helmet, but don’t want to spend the rest of the month rationing your food because you’re broke, the Giro Nine MIPS is a good option.

Best Women’s Specific: SMITH MIRAGE MIPS

CONSTRUCTION: In-mold

SHELL: Polycarbonate

WEIGHT: 15.9 oz (Size M)

PROS: Very fuzzy, comfortable ear pads

CONS: Vents on the side can’t be closed

The Smith Mirage MIPS is perfect for women that like to charge hard either in or out of bounds.

As in most Smith helmets, it features zonal Koroyd coverage which absorbs 30% more impact than the standard EPS foam, while at the same time allowing plenty of airflow through the 14 vents, which you can easily close with one hand by adjusting the slide on top. It comes standard with MIPS protection.

The comfortably positioned chinstrap, although equipped with a traditional buckle, has a soft Velcro jacket which doesn’t scratch the underside of your chin. Besides that you can remove the liner and ear pads for washing, so you can start fresh every time you’re out hunting for some powdery lines. It’s fully compatible with an audio system for when you want to stay connected or listen to some music on the mountain.

Smith’s own AirEvac™ creates additional airflow into your goggles, thus guaranteeing fog-free lenses, even when your eyes tear up from those breathtaking views the mountains offer.

Overall the Mirage MIPS is an outstanding and affordable helmet, without too many high-end features.

Best with Bluetooth Audio: POC OBEX SPIN COMMUNICATION

CONSTRUCTION: Hybrid

SHELL: Polycarbonate/ABS top shell

WEIGHT: 18 oz

PROS: Bluetooth ear pads for listening to music or making phone calls

CONS: A small amount of ventilation slots

The POC Obex SPIN Communication made its debut in 2019 and it’s back this year thanks to its great success.

The in-mold construction with an EPS liner, a polycarbonate shell on the sides and ABS top shell, puts this helmet right there at the top with other high-end manufacturers. POC uses its SPIN construction (Shearing Pad INside), which is similar to MIPS for added protection. The 360⁰ Fit System guarantees an exact fit thanks to the dial on the back which gives you about 2.5 inches of adjustment. To regulate temperature inside just crack open the vents.

The integrated powerful Beats by Dre® headset connects to your smartphone and a single push on the button lets you place or take calls, activate Siri or listen to some tunes. The POC Obex SPIN Communication is optimized to fit seamlessly with any POC goggle out there.

If listening to music during riding is important to you, and you’re tired of reaching for your phone every time it rings or you want to skip a song, make sure to put this helmet on the top of your Christmas wish-list!

BUYING ADVICE FOR SNOWBOARD HELMETS

Construction

Roughly, there are three types of construction methods that are being used today:

IN-MOLD: This technique fuses the foam liner directly onto the polycarbonate outer shell. Helmets with this construction method are generally lighter, thinner and more affordable.

HARD SHELL: Here, the outer shell and the inner energy-absorbing foam are made separately and combined afterwards. Hard shell helmets are more durable, give better protection but are also a little heavier.

HYBRID: As the name suggest, these helmets combine both construction methods. Typically, the top is made with hard shell and the back and sides with in-mold construction. That way you’ll have more protection and at the same time save some weight. These types of helmets are generally the more expensive ones.

It’s a good idea to first determine where you want to go riding. If you’re staying within the resort, an in-mold will probably do the job just fine. If you’re all about exploring the backcountry and are not afraid to take on some steep, challenging terrain, you might want that extra level of protection that hybrids and hard shells offer.

MIPS

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It has become more popular in recent years, and with good reason.

Here are the basics: A lot of brain damage is caused when your brain rotates inside your skull during impact. MIPS is an additional, low-friction layer on the inside that cuts out that rotational force to your brain by allowing the helmet to roll first.

Check out the video below for a quick demo:

 
 

Many helmets come in a MIPS version and a regular version. The good thing is that it’s not that big of a price difference when you choose the MIPS version.

And when it comes to protecting your head, the more protection, the better. So we’re absolutely in favor of paying a few extra bucks. Just look for the yellow dot!

Fitting Your Helmet

Helmets come in different sizes. To determine your size, you can measure the circumference of your head with a tape measure just above the brow line and ears. Alternatively, you can just try on different sizes in the store.

You have found the correct size when it fits snugly on your head without feeling tight. It should be positioned about one inch above the brow line so it protects your forehead. When you shake your head from side to side, it shouldn’t shift. Another test you can do is moving it back and forward with your hand. The skin on your forehead should move with it. You can always tighten the dial at the back for a better fit.

When you already have a goggle, it’s a good idea to try it together. There shouldn’t be a gap between the helmet and goggle nor should it push down onto your nose too much. The goggle should have a snug fit against the brim.

The chin strap’s job is to prevent your helmet from coming off in case of a high-impact fall. It should be tightened enough without giving you the feeling you’re getting strangled.

Ventilation

You can choose between active and passive ventilation and the number of ventilation slots. Active ventilation refers to slots you can open and close with a slider. Passive ventilation is open always.

Ask yourself how much ventilation you want. Splitboarders, freeriders and people who tend to get hot fast might opt for models with more ventilation.

Certification and Safety

Always buy a helmet that has the proper safety certifications. If in doubt, look inside under the liner for the ASTM sticker (US), or CE EN sticker (Europe). The ASTM site states: "Although a helmet that meets safety standards will help reduce the risk of some types of injuries to the head at slower speeds, the protection is limited."

Remember that wearing a helmet doesn’t make you invincible and all helmets are designed to withstand one single major impact. If your helmet shows any damage, inside or outside, it’s time to destroy it and buy a new one. Furthermore, experts recommend replacing your helmet every 3-5 years of use due to the breakdown of materials.

MORE INFORMATION

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