The Smartest Ski and Snowboard Helmets of 2025-26 Are Lighter, Safer, and Built to Rip

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This season’s ski and snowboard helmets are smarter, lighter, and tougher than ever—because your brain deserves more than just a hard hat. With MIPS tech to manage sloshy crashes, BOA fit systems that cinch with glove-on precision, and audio-ready ear pads tuned for storm day playlists, today’s helmets blend tech and comfort like never before. Brands are finally dialing in safety without forcing you to choose between breathability and bomber protection.

Whether you're threading tight couloirs or racking vert on the groomers, there's a lid here that fits—literally and metaphorically. And they keep your head warm without turning it into a sauna. Here are four of the best helmets to trust with your skull in 2026.

Looking for exhaustive reviews on more great snow gear? Check out the rest of Men's Journal 2025-2026 Ski Awards, where we’ve tested everything from outerwear to après-ski gear to bring you the best of every category—skis, gloves, boots, and more.

Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets of 2025-26 at a Glance

• Best Ski and Snowboard Helmet Overall:Smith Vantage 2
• Best Lightweight Ski and Snowboard Helmet:Atomic Four Amid Pro
• Best Ski and Snowboard Helmet for Music/Comms:POC Obex Connect
• Best Ski and Snowboard Helmet for Olympic-Level Protection:Shred Notion No Shock

Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets of 2025-26

Best Ski and Snowboard Helmet Overall: Smith Vantage 2 Helmet

It took over a decade, but the OG hybrid helmet finally got the glow-up it deserves. The new Smith Vantage 2 is the long-awaited sequel to one of skiing’s most trusted lids. Smith overhauled the shell with a new three-piece build: two bomber ABS upper panels fused with a lightweight in-mold lower shell to balance durability and weight, with reinforced protection where you’re most likely to take a hit.

Inside, KOROYD crumple zones—a matrix of welded tubes—compress on impact to absorb energy and reduce blunt-force trauma, while MIPS handles rotational hits. A BOA 360 Fit System dials in a custom fit, and AirEvac tech channels warm air from your goggles through the helmet to fight fog and regulate temp. With over 40 vents, overheating isn’t an issue.

The Fidlock buckle is glove-friendly ease. Pair it with the new Preview Goggle, which uses BirdsEye Vision tech and Smith’s AirEvac system for crystal-clear, fog-free performance and a perfect goggle-helmet seal.

Best Lightweight Ski and Snowboard Helmet: Atomic Four Amid Pro

Atomic’s been shaping ski history since the 1950s—gold medals, World Cup titles—and now the new Four AMID Pro helmet is the crown jewel of their freeride lineup and the go-to for the Atomic Freeski team.

This helmet is all about sending with confidence. The triple-threat of Hybrid In-Mold Construction, Holo Core “crumple zone,” and AMID (Atomic Multi-directional Impact Deflector) tech delivers a winning combo of comfort and protection--up to 40% more impact absorption than the norm, according to Atomic.

The low-profile, skate-inspired silhouette looks slick, but it's also loaded with features like Live Fit pads that form to your particular head shape, and the 360° Fit System that lets you adjust it over a hat or hoody. There’s a removable liner and goggle clip that actually works without a wrestling match. Pair it with the Four Q L HD Photo goggles for one of the best set ups of the season.

Best Ski and Snowboard Helmet for Music/Comms: POC Obex Connect

The POC Obex Connect is in a lane by itself--it’s essentially a full-on command center wrapped in a sleek MIPS shell. POC teamed up with the high-end audio brand, Harman Kardon, to deliver best-in-class sound with selectable EQ presets for music, voice, or bass. You can stream, call, and contribute to conference calls from the comfort of your chair lift meetings. “The one-touch, controls and voice assist meant I never had to strip off my gloves,” said another tester.  And you can create a private, phone-free group chat for up to 8 skiers or boarders, with a 1km range.  

Like with all POC helmets, safety comes first. There’s Mips Evolve for rotational impact protection, RECCO for rescue, and an NFC Medical ID in case things go sideways. The Obex Connect proves you can ride solo and still stay connected. POC makes some of our favorite ski goggles, but our top choices are the Retina Wide Ski Goggles.

Best Ski and Snowboard Helmet for Olympic-Level Protection: Shred Notion No Shock

Back when two-time US Olympic Gold Medal ski racer, Ted Ligety, was redefining what edge angles meant, he co-founded SHRED to build gear that blended standard-setting function and fashion. Fast forward, and the Notion NoShock helmet is their magnum opus—a confidence-boosting brain bucket that blends cutting-edge safety with classic freeride style.

The Smart Impact Protection System headlines the Shred Notion NoShock, combining the Rotational Energy System—a featherweight, low-profile solution that reduces the force of twisting crashes—with Slytech foam, a honey-comb cone-structured material that absorbs straight-on impacts. Add a hybrid shell that’s rigid up top, and lighter on the sides, and this lid balances bomber protection with all-day breathability. A 3-position vent switch regulates airflow better than your tour guide, while RECCO, XT2 anti-stink tech, and a Fidlock magnetic buckle round out the package. It’s a perfect matchup with the Gratify Goggles with Contrast Boosting Lens 2.0 ICE mirror lenses and you’re ready to shred like Ted.