What you need to know about ski helmets?
According to statistics, head trauma remains the leading cause of death on the ski slopes. In this regard, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of a ski helmet. However, it is a mistake to consider it a panacea for injuries. A ski helmet is more of the right protection for the right skiing. In this article, we will consider important questions, the answers to which will help you decide on the choice and purchase of a protective accessory.
A ski helmet is a basic need.
A ski helmet is a basic need for anyone who has stepped onto a ski slope. Special headgear for individual protection of a person's head has been known since ancient times. But as sports equipment for alpine skiing and snowboarding, it appeared on the market in large quantities only at the end of the 20th century.
Such a belated appearance is explained by a simple factor - there were no modern ski slopes, and therefore - there was no need for helmets. Ski slopes were quiet, and the snow was soft. But with the development of skiing technology, speeds quickly increased, and with them injuries. Alpine skiing received the prefix "extreme".
Today, the speed of descent even on the simplest piste easily exceeds 30 km/h. And on steep sections and off-piste, it is limited only by the courage of the skier and the laws of physics. Therefore, "why do you need a helmet?" is a rhetorical question. And yet...
Why do people wear helmets in the mountains?
The main answer to the question "why" is dictated by the main purpose of a ski helmet - to protect the head from injuries from impacts. On the slope, they are not uncommon and can be of different nature, for example:
- a blow from an ice cube from under the edges of skis;
- a blow from an unsuccessfully bounced ski pole, the ski itself or the bar of the ski lift;
- as a result of a fall or an unexpected collision with an inexperienced or "experienced" skier who has forgotten common sense at home;
- or the most common blow - a frame to the head on a chairlift.
If that's not enough, here are 5 more reasons:
Firstly, modern technologies for preparing ski slopes allow creating a table-shaped slope, on which there are no "heavy" hillocks, glades, or stones. The "cushion" is rolled so that it prevents ski poles from falling through even at positive temperatures. The slope gets an ideal sliding surface. Skiing speeds increase sharply, as a result - accidents and injuries.
Secondly, the close attention of the media to the issue of accidents at ski resorts once again emphasizes the urgency of the problem. Here are just a few examples:
- Michael Douglas - back injury in 1980.
- Natasha Richardson died tragically in 2009.
- Michael Schumacher is still fighting for his life after a severe injury in 2013.
- Jim Carrey could have repeated Schumacher's fate in 2014, but luckily fortune was on his side.
- Laima Vaikule in 2017 miscalculated her strength, fell and suffered a serious leg injury.
Thirdly, leading manufacturers of ski accessories offer beautiful, comfortable and functional helmets. They are many times more practical than any hat. Modern technologies allow making them as light, durable, reliable and, what is no less important, stylish as possible. Buyers are ready to pay for their safety and beauty "in one bottle".
Fourthly, many participants in the descent behave riskily, and not least because of modern equipment and gear. After all, it allows you to really do what was previously inaccessible. And as often happens, a person’s desire to test the limits of his own capabilities exceeds his ability to control himself. Unfortunately, there are often cases when unjustified risk of some leads to injuries and death of others. The presence of a helmet, if it does not exclude injury, then significantly reduces its severity and consequences (Schumacher would not have survived the fall if not for the helmet).
Fifthly, leading ski resorts are introducing rules requiring wearing a helmet while skiing. Insurance companies are not far behind: an injury while skiing without a ski helmet may not be considered an insured event.
Now it's time to get acquainted with the technologies and design features of helmets for safe skiing.
General design of ski helmets.
How and from what a ski helmet is made determines its basic properties and creates differences between one model and another.
Structurally, the helmet consists of three main parts:
- Outer shell. This is a fairly thin but very rigid "shell". Its task is to protect the soft inner shell from destruction as a result of impacts. The shell diverts the impact energy along the tangent of the helmet or distributes this energy over the entire area of the protective accessory. The material used for its manufacture can be polycarbonate, carbon, fiberglass, ABS plastic, kevlar.
- The inner shell is thick and soft. It dampens the impact energy, i.e. weakens and reduces its traumatic effect on the head. It is made of foamed polystyrene or polypropylene foam.
- The lining is a soft base that makes wearing the helmet comfortable. In addition to comfortable contact, the lining has antibacterial properties and good vapor permeability. It is made of plush. The removable design allows it to be washed.
And the fourth (not the main) layer can be removable headphones with a fleece lining.
Types of ski helmet construction.
The market offers a huge selection of helmets for any budget, but they are all divided by design type into three fundamentally different groups: HARDSHELL, IN MOULD and HYBRID.
HARDSHELL helmets - are common among beginners and extreme sports enthusiasts. This is a very durable design. It consists of an external ABS plastic and a glued shock-absorbing internal layer of EPS material. The outer layer is very thick. It distributes the impact well over the surface, stops penetrating point impacts, and can withstand repeated use. But such "impenetrability" has its price - it is a large (relative to the other two technologies) weight of the helmet and poor protection from concussions. Due to the rigid shape, the shell poorly weakens the impact, so the energy is almost completely transferred to the cervical vertebrae, poorly protecting the head from concussion.
IN MOULD helmets - for most skiers who do not challenge fate in search of adrenaline. These are lightweight and comfortable accessories that are ideal for constant use. They do not withstand multiple strong blows, but they will work out to the maximum that one unexpected blow for which they are worn all season. The design was called "laminate". The internal damping layer is the main load-bearing element here. On top, it is covered (laminated) with a thin layer of high-strength extruded polycarbonate (plastic), the task of which is to distribute the energy of a weak impact over the surface of the helmet in order to avoid premature destruction of the structure. At the moment of a strong blow, the shell bursts, the inner thick layer softens and absorbs the blow due to the destruction of the structure. This removes the peak load on the cervical vertebrae and weakens the effect of concussion.
HYBRID helmets are the golden mean, combining the strongest sides of the two previous technologies. In performance, such helmets are quite expensive, but only their hybrid design provides combined protection where it is most needed. They are not afraid of numerous frequent blows of branches. They are able to stop sharp stones on the way to the head, and at the moment of a strong blow - they will collapse and protect the head from shaking.
Purpose of ski helmets.
Each helmet, be it a motorcycle helmet, a snowboard helmet, a wakeboard helmet, or a kitesurfing helmet, is designed for specific operating conditions and impact forces. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to ski in a kitesurfing helmet, just as it is forbidden to use a snowboard helmet when riding a scooter.
A ski helmet is selected for specific conditions of use, regardless of whether you ski or snowboard.
- Slalom helmets must be rigid and durable. The design must include an arc to protect against poles and nothing extra.
- Helmets for snowboarding or alpine skiing outside of prepared slopes, usually outside the service area of the ski industry, must be durable, lightweight, with good ventilation and preferably a visor from branches and the sun. Almost always - these are HYBRID helmets.
- Ski tour helmets should be as light as possible, "plus" with good ventilation. As a rule, IN MOULD helmets are used for skiing outside civilized ski resorts.
- Those who enjoy park riding need a stylish HARDSHELL helmet.
- But for resort riding, it is preferable to use lightweight, comfortable and stylish IN MOULD helmets, including models with a visor.
And also, there are no ski and snowboard helmets. More precisely, you can find accessories with such names on sale, but the difference between a ski helmet and a snowboard helmet is only in design. As for the design, all helmets undergo a single safety certification system.
What is this helmet safety certification system?
Every helmet must have one of these international certifications:
- CEN 1077 (Common European Norm, CEN);
- F2040 (American Society of Testing and Materials, ASTM);
- Snell RS-98 (Snell Memorial Foundation).
If a helmet is certified, it has passed tests for pressure, temperature, and impact resistance at various speeds.
Is it worth buying a helmet if you can rent one?
When you are on a ski slope for the first time and you don't quite understand whether it's your thing or not, then renting a helmet is the best solution. You can test different options (open, closed, with a visor, without) to choose the most suitable one for a future purchase.
In all other cases, it is better to have your own protective accessory. And not only because your helmet will be perfectly adjusted to your head and mask, but also because you will know exactly how it was used, and therefore be confident in its effective protection in unforeseen cases.
So, if you have decided to buy your own helmet, what nuances do you need to know?
Shape, type of helmet, visor, visor, ears....
Weight of a ski helmet.
A normal weight of a helmet can be considered to be a mass within 500 grams for a children's accessory, and from 600 to 800 grams for an adult. If the model you like is lighter or heavier than the specified figures, then it is better to pay attention to another accessory.
Ski helmet size.
To determine the size, you need to measure the circumference of your head at the widest part (slightly above the eyebrows and ears).
- 51-55 cm is small, that is, a small size;
- 55-57 cm is medium;
- 58-61 cm is large;
- 61-64 cm is XL.
Ski helmet shape.
Can be rounded and elongated in the occipital part. The latter provides better aerodynamics on the descent.
Open (classic) or powerful closed (Full-face) helmet?
- The open helmet does not have permanent chin protection. The helmet is not as huge (voluminous), more versatile and widespread. It is loved by both ordinary skiers and fans of off-piste descents.
- A closed helmet provides better protection, but is less comfortable. As a rule, such a helmet is used by fans of freeride, ski cross and boarder cross, that is, those sports disciplines that require increased protection. However, closed helmets have a number of significant disadvantages: during active riding, they are poorly ventilated and optics fog up much more with them.
Visor
A small rigid element on the upper edge of the helmet can be of different lengths.
It protects well from the sun's rays and protects well from tree branches. But there is a nuance - you won't be able to move the mask "on your forehead" in a helmet with a visor.
With or without a visor?
A special visor made of particularly strong glass to protect the eyes from snow dust, UV rays, and headwind - a good alternative to a ski mask.
A helmet with a visor is especially good for those who ride in glasses with diopters. Very convenient to use: with a slight movement of one hand it easily folds onto the top of the helmet. Among the disadvantages - it does not fit tightly to the face (cold and snow blow in), there are difficulties with replacing the visor, the visor is more capricious in care.
Hard or soft ears?
The former provide better protection from the cold and from falling, but ventilation and audibility in a helmet with hard ears are worse, plus the helmet design itself is more bulky. Helmets with hard ears are chosen by fans of fast skating.
"Soft" are more comfortable: a helmet with soft ears weighs less and provides good hearing. But for comfort you pay with worse protection from cold and impacts.
Active and passive ventilation.
There are many openings on the surface of the helmet, front and back. Through them and the air channels of the helmet, there is an influx of fresh air under the mask and between the head and the helmet. This effectively prevents heat accumulation and ensures optimal ventilation.
A helmet with an active (adjustable) ventilation system (Thermostat control technology) has a special slider (lever) on top of the helmet to control the opening and closing of the vents. The adjustment can be two-position (open / closed) or multi-position. Very convenient when riding for a long time and actively. For relaxed and short riding, a helmet with passive (non-adjustable) ventilation is quite suitable.
Helmet fixation system (Boa® Fit System technology)
Ensures the ability to easily, quickly and securely adjust and fix the helmet on the head, as well as effortlessly remove it after use.
Run System adjustment system.
The "classic" technology with an adjustment ring at the back of the helmet allows you to quickly and easily select the optimal and comfortable fit of the accessory depending on the size of your head.
You will find a large selection of modern high-tech ski helmets in the online store freever.ua
Freever ski helmet is 3-in-1: comfort, ergonomics and safety.
The entire line of ski helmets from the leading Ukrainian manufacturer of clothing and accessories for sports and outdoor activities is based on three key areas: comfort, ergonomics and safety.
Freever men's, women's and children's ski helmets have a stylish and original design, are made using the latest materials and innovative technologies, and meet international quality standards for this category of goods.
We wish you to choose the most comfortable protection and ski without falling! And remember, any ski helmet does not provide a 100% guarantee of safety, but significantly reduces the risk of injury on the slope.
