Editor's Picks: The Best Ski Helmets of 2026

Staying safe on the mountain is no joke, and wearing a ski helmet is a great way to increase your margins for error. They have been shown to reduce the chances of a head injury by nearly 60 percent, one of the leading contributors of death following a ski crash. They protect from skull fractures and lower the likelihood of concussions or traumatic brain injuries, all of which aren't just season-ending injuries–they can be life-changing (and not in a good way).

Helmet tech has come a long way in the last few years, with widespread adoption of technologies designed to dampen the rotational forces that occur from a real-life fall–the most common one of these is MIPS, which nearly every helmet we tested featured. There’s also high-tech materials designed to make helmets feel nearly weightless while you wear them without skimping on safety, plus cleverly designed buckles and vents that greatly increase the comfort level by regulating temperature.

In other words, it should be a no-brainer to wear a helmet while skiing, but with so many excellent choices out there, it can be tough to choose which works best for you. Luckily, our team tested over a dozen different ski helmets from the best brands and these were our tester’s favorites going into the 2026 season.

How to Choose a Ski Helmet

The most important thing to think about when purchasing a new helmet is fit. If the helmet doesn’t fit well, it’s not going to be able to protect you as designed in a crash. Most helmets feature adjustable dials on the back to fine-tune fit, but make sure you’re starting off in the right place. If you’re buying online, most brands offer a fit guide on their websites–all you need to do is measure the circumference of your head using a measuring tape (measure about an inch above your eyes, around your forehead and above your ears).

Once you’ve locked in the fit, it’s time to consider what you’ll be using the helmet for the most. Any of the helmets we tested are appropriate for any type of skiing, but some are better suited for backcountry pursuits (lighter weight, more airflow, less padding), while others are best for daily use at the resort (more durable, warmer, might have extra features like audio).

Also, consider what type of helmet construction will suit you best: are you typically rough on your gear and want a super-durable helmet that can hold up to a few falls and bouncing around in your car's trunk or truck's bed? Or do you just want something lightweight to protect against a big fall? Different foam and construction types will better suit each need here.

With the rise in popularity of backcountry skiing and skimo racing, there’s been a noticeable rise in the amount of skiers wearing climbing helmets to ski. We've said this before, but ski helmets and climbing helmets are not the same, and in no way are designed to offer the same protection in a ski crash. Climbing helmets are designed to protect you from rockfall and bumping your head in a climbing fall. Ski helmets are designed to protect against high-speed crashes with rotation and must conform to ASTM F2040 and CE EN1077–standards set forth by North American and European governing bodies that specifically cover snow sports helmets. Simply put, if you're looking to protect your head, skiing in a climbing helmet is not a smart move.

Yes, there are a few ultralight helmets that technically conform to some certifications and have been marketed as appropriate for ski touring and climbing–but they still do not offer the same protection as a dedicated ski helmet for resort use.

Think about it this way: Would you wear a road bike helmet on a motorcycle? Didn't think so.

A Short Helmet Tech Glossary

MIPS: Stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. MIPS is a technology that most helmets use to manage rotational and angular impacts to the head. It allows the helmet to shift slightly when hit at an angle (which is likely during a tumbling fall when skiing) and better absorb impact forces. There are similar technologies from other brands like Wavecel, POC’s SPIN, Atomic’s AMID, and Shred’s Rotational Energy System. A somewhat prolific misconception about MIPS is that it stands for "multi-impact protection system." It is not designed to protect you multiple times. If you crash hard and your helmet is damaged, it's time to dispose of it. More on that below.

In-Mold Construction: This type of helmet construction shaves weight by molding the interior foam with a very thin outer layer of plastic. While offering similar protection against big impacts, these are typically less durable than injection molded helmets because they lack a hard plastic outer shell. This type of construction is common for all-mountain, freeride, and backcountry-focused models.

Injection Mold Construction: Similar to a construction hardhat, this type of helmet construction features a durable hard plastic outer shell (typically ABS plastic) bonded to foam inner layer (typically EPS or EPP foam). They tend to be a bit heavier than in-mold helmets, but offer better durability and are less prone to damage from small knocks and falls–like absentmindedly tossing them in the back of your car. These are a great option for park skiers, ski racers, and anyone who’s routinely hard on their gear.

EPP vs EPS Foam: EPP (or expanded polypropylene) foam is a type of foam used in helmet construction that feels “spongy” and softer. After it distributes and absorbs impact forces, it typically returns to its original shape. EPS (or expanded polystyrene) is a much harder and more brittle foam that absorbs energy by cracking and has been used in helmets for a long time.

When To Replace A Ski Helmet

Helmets don’t last forever. If you take a hard crash and your helmet is visibly damaged, even if you feel fine otherwise, it’s done its job and it needs to be replaced. Helmets work by cracking and deforming to absorb the impact of a crash, so once it takes a hard impact, it can no longer do its work. EPP foam tends to last a bit longer than EPS foam, which is much more brittle and will crack on impact. Generally EPP helmets can take a few small to medium hits before needing replacement. Those cracks and deformations can be tiny and hard to find, so take the time to inspect your helmet if you take a tumble–if in doubt, take it to your local ski shop for a professional opinion.

We subject our ski helmets to harsh mountain environments, huge temperature swings, and lots of sunlight. Because of that, the foam, plastic, and other materials inside a helmet degrade over time and lose their effectiveness. Even without a crash, most brands recommend replacing a helmet no later than every five years. If you ski 20+ days a year, we’d recommend replacing yours every three years.

About Powder’s Editor's Picks

Our Editor's Picks lists are collections of the skis, boots, outerwear, and other gear that stood out to us while testing. If you want to learn more about how reviews work at Powder, we’re very transparent about our process. These lists are constantly growing and evolving as we try new gear. If you’ve got a favorite piece of equipment that you think we should write about, let us know here. And, if you represent a brand or company and think your gear deserves a writeup, we’d love to get in touch.

Sweet Protection Trooper 2Vi MIPS

Norwegian action sports protection brand Sweet Protection just celebrated their 25th birthday, and the latest iteration of their iconic Trooper helmet is strong example of the brand's heritage in the helmet world. This feature-packed helmet features a carbon fiber and plastic outer shell, made with Sweet's 2Vi technology (their advanced way of durably putting all the helmet components together). Inside, 2-layer MIPS technology protects you from rotational impacts, plus a turn dial fit adjuster and magnetic Fidlock chinstrap buckle makes opening and closing the helmet a breeze. Unlike some other Sweet Protection helmts, we found that the fit is better suited for skiers with rounder heads.

Smith Method Pro MIPS

New last year for Smith, the Method Pro MIPS is a minimalist freeride helmet that takes advantage of Smith’s Koroyd honeycomb construction and ultralight in-mold EPS foam construction for protection. After testing it for another year, we're still blown away by how light this helmet is, and it has become a go-to backcountry helmet for several testers. With plenty of venting and a slightly larger-than-stated fit, the Method Pro is a good option to wear with a beanie or hat underneath. Goggles can comfortably go over or under the helmet. The magnetic chin strap buckle is a nice touch, making for fuss-free clipping especially when wearing gloves. This is as comfy and stylish as it gets from Smith, but the lightweight in-mold construction means this one isn’t quite as durable.

Scott Flow Pro MIPS

Scott makes pretty much everything when it comes to gravity-fed mountain sports these days, from skis, to bikes, to backpacks, to helmets and goggles (and much more). The Scott Flow Pro MIPS is a sleek freeride helmet that showcases Scott’s best helmet tech features in a stylish low-profile package. The helmet features a RECCO reflector, adjustable vents, temperature-regulating interior padding, a magnetic buckle, and a very effective fit adjust system that integrates into the MIPS layer to wrap around your entire head. Testers noted that the Flow Pro fits true to size.

Smith Vantage 2 MIPS

New this year for Smith, the long-popular Vantage all-mountain helmet finally gets an update. The updated version contains full Koroyd vented honeycomb construction, wrapped in a three-piece hybrid plastic shell that combines both hard ABS protection with ultralight in-mold construction in strategic areas. That's kind of a best-of-both-worlds scenario if you ask us. Inside, there's MIPS protection. Testers loved the light and low-profile nature of the helmet, and praised the twin airflow adjusters, magnetic chinstrap buckle and BOA-dial fit adjustment. With 40 air vents across the helmet, this is one of the best options if you typically run really hot while skiing.

Dakine Charger MIPS

Dakine came out swinging last year with their new Charger MIPS helmet, and after nearly two seasons of testing it, we're still impressed. It seems that Dakine did their homework, because this helmet features all the bells and whistles, plus all the safety features we expect from a high-end ABS hardshell helmet, and comes in at a very competitive pricepoint. That includes a MIPS liner, lots of recycled plastic and foam in the construction, a magnetic buckle, and plenty of vents for airflow throughout. Testers found this one to fit slightly larger than most, making it a good helmet to wear with a beanie or hat, and comfortably wear your goggles over or under the helmet.

Giro Taggert MIPS

Giro’s flagship freeride lid, the Taggert, is a sleek and stylish no-nonsense helmet that’s shockingly lightweight. The clean lines of the in-mold construction hide an innovative integrated fit system and passive venting, plus there’s built-in MIPS protection. The Taggert comes in a men's and women's fit. Testers note that the fit on the Taggert is very round, and found it runs slightly large.

POC Obex MIPS

POC’s Obex MIPS has proven to be a very popular choice among resort skiers for years now, and for good reason. It combines both hardshell and in-mold construction (a hard top, with lighter weight sides) to create a stylish helmet that offers durability, the highest levels of crash protection, and a reasonable weight. The current version of the helmet now uses a MIPS liner and features an ingeniously simple adjustable venting system. Additional tech features include a built-in RECCO reflector, and the Obex BC version features an additional NFC chip that first responders can scan to pull pertinent medical information you store on it via an app. POC’s sizing breaks for the Obex seem to fall in between where other brands’ do, so this is a good option to look into if you’re having trouble fitting other helmets.

Atomic Four AMID Pro Helmet

A few years ago, Atomic entered the helmet market with a pretty sweet freeride lid, and the current Four Amid Pro helmet is the most recent iteration of it. Featuring Atomic’s take on the multi-directional impact system, called AMID (Atomic Multi Directional Impact Deflector), the Four helmet is a high-end helmet with understated minimalist looks that would make an equally appropriate resort and backcountry-use helmet. The fit is a bit more oval than other helmets, but it runs true to size. Read more in our deep-dive review on the Atomic Four Amid Pro Helmet here.

Smith Summit MIPS

Despite being around for a few years already, as Smith’s first helmet designed specifically for backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering, the Summit MIPS is still a minimalist’s dream. It uses ultralight Koroyd construction, and features some non-standard features for a ski helmet, including extra vents, integrated headlamp clips, pack attachment tethers, no ear pads, and a very clever folding BOA fit adjustment dial. The Summit MIPS is triple-certified for ski standards and mountaineering helmet standards. We did a deep dive on the Cody-Townsend designed helmet, take a look at it here.

Sweet Protection Ascender MIPS

Sweet Protection's dedicated touring and ski mountaineering helmet takes the brand's expertise and sleek styling and shrinks it into an extremely low-profile package for technical backcountry skiing. The Ascender MIPS is a bit of a hybrid helmet between an ultralight climbing helmet and a more-protective ski helmet. Given the lighter construction and less coverage, we wouldn't recommend this for everyday resort use, but it's a great helmet for long days where you're wearing it on the ascent through technical terrain. The helmet features clips for securing a headlamp and goggles, plus a webbing strap system that stows away like it's not even there–ensuring the helmet takes up as little space as possible on your pack.

Mammut Haute Route

Mammut's Haute Route helmet is the only one on this list without MIPS, but like the Smith Summit and Sweet Protection Ascender, it's a dedicated backcountry touring and ski mountaineering option. Designed with skiers doing long, technical ski traverses in mind (like Switzerland's iconic multi-day Haute Route), the Haute Route helmet is designed to balance protection, breathability, durability and so-light-it-disappears weight. It features a hard ABS shell top for durability and rockfall protection with both EPP and EPS foam inside. The helmet is triple-certified for skiing, climbing, and cycling.