One helmet, a whole winter of use — which is exactly why ski gear testers put 36 lids through a full season of resort storm days, spring tours and backcountry laps before picking the eight worth buying for 2027.
The overall winner is the Sweet Protection Switcher 2Vi MIPS ($300), praised for its adjustable rear dial, easy-to-remove ear pads, and interconnected front and top vents that came in handy during a 40-degree March day at Grand Targhee. One tester summed it up as the single helmet they'd pack for an international ski trip to Japan or Europe.
Budget buyers have a rare find in the Smith Rodeo MIPS ($105) — a sub-$100 helmet with MIPS is unusual — and it's also the most eco-friendly of the batch, built mostly from recycled materials. Vents stay open permanently, so it's better for bluebird days than blizzards.
Comfort-focused skiers get two Pret options: the Cynic 2 ($190) and Lyric 2 ($159), both around 417 grams with a magnetic chin buckle one tester called a must-have, plus pop-out ear grommets for warm days. The POC Obex BC MIPS ($300) is the versatile pick, with Recco reflectors and a Twiceme NFC chip that stores emergency medical info for rescuers — though at 530 grams it's the heaviest tested.
For backcountry touring, the Atomic Four Amid Pro ($220) was the lightest of the group at 380 grams and earned rave reviews from testers on long bootpacks. The Scott Flow Pro MIPS ($240) wins on fit and sound awareness thanks to its 360 Pure Sound tech, though venting is limited. Smith's Vantage 2 ($265) has the best ventilation of the lot — dual vent switches work with gloves on — and the Glade Boundary MIPS ($199) is aimed squarely at closing the gaper gap, with a Fidlock magnetic chinstrap.
Why should a traveller care? If you're booking a ski trip to Japan, the Alps or North America, the right helmet matters more than the right skis — you'll wear it every single day, in every weather. Most of these are genuinely all-rounders, so one purchase can cover a January powder trip and an April spring slush session. Frequent flyers should weigh the lighter models, since helmets can slide into a carry-on or helmet bag, and anyone mixing resort and off-piste days should look at the POC or Atomic for their touring-friendly weight and rescue features.
