Helmets

[benjinyc]

I've had two serious head injuries not wearing a helmet and they were both:

1. park jump, 2 kids were sitting on the landing so I had to bail, there was a rider behind me and he crashed into me, the edge of his board hit my hairline and I ended up with 20 stitches
2. I was getting on the lift, the snowboarder (stranger) next to me lost control and pulled me down when she fell, the chair swung into the back of my head, I ended up with 12 stitches

I still didn't wear a helmet after those two incidents as they were rare in the nineties, BUT… I was in a serious surf accident 7 years ago which required me to have brain surgery (I have 3 quarters sized holes in my skull now), so I basically wear one. The only time I'd consider not is if I'm going splitboarding at one of my local trails, but at any resort, I'll have it on because I'm more worried about someone else hitting me.

[pow_hnd]

I've had two serious head injuries not wearing a helmet and they were both:

1. park jump, 2 kids were sitting on the landing so I had to bail, there was a rider behind me and he crashed into me, the edge of his board hit my hairline and I ended up with 20 stitches
2. I was getting on the lift, the snowboarder (stranger) next to me lost control and pulled me down when she fell, the chair swung into the back of my head, I ended up with 12 stitches

I still didn't wear a helmet after those two incidents as they were rare in the nineties, BUT… I was in a serious surf accident 7 years ago which required me to have brain surgery (I have 3 quarters sized holes in my skull now), so I basically wear one. The only time I'd consider not is if I'm in the backcountry alone, but at any resort, I'll have it on because I'm more worried about someone else hitting me.

Yea, I’d be wearing one if I was in your shoes as well.

[benjinyc]

not gonna lie, I really do/did enjoy riding with just a beanie and glasses on, it feels freeing and great. There was some initial resignation and meh feelings when I'd grab my helmet and strap it on, but I have to remind myself that I should just be thankful that I can still ride — my doctors said I never would.

[kimchi]

For me, really comes down to cost. Not monetary cost, but in terms of effort, time, and inconvenience. On a resort day, I put my bucket on in the morning and literally forget I'm wearing it unless I need it. I usually don't, but am glad I had one on every ~100 days of snow or so. If anything, I appreciate the extra warmth from the helmet.

The only instances I've ever regarded a helmet as a burden:

• Spring riding, because of overheating.
• Splitboarding, because I have to carry the damn thing on the way up.
• Traveling, because they're too bulky for inside luggage but bounce around annoyingly outside luggage.

I think I might have addressed those first two with a skate helmet I recently bought... significantly lighter, better ventilated, and more compact than my snow helmet. Not as good for dead of winter, probably better for those use cases.

[benjinyc]

Yeah, I wear one of those BMX/skate helmets from Giro, since I am wearing a beanie and have the goggles under the helmet I didn't need to get the version with ear warmers and goggle clips, which apparently jacks the price up 3x

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[kimchi]

Yeah, I wear one of those BMX/skate helmets from Giro, since I am wearing a beanie and have the goggles under the helmet I didn't need to get the version with ear warmers and goggle clips, which apparently jacks the price up 3x

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I'd just pony up the extra ~$50, especially if you have a history of traumatic brain injury. Part of the extra $$$ is for snow accessories (liner, ear muffs, etc.) but good chunk of what you're paying for is the MIPs system, which the study I linked earlier suggests does reduce risk.

The skate helmet I wear is the Bern Macon 2.0 bike helmet. It's relatively cheap, super lightweight and relatively low profile, has MIPs, and and is rated for various activites (bike, skate, snow-- although I think these are all self-attested certifications, so who knows).

[Viceroy]

I ride with a helmet most of the time. Have had a lot of concussions from skateboarding and mountain biking. Mostly just try to protect my head from injury these days. But on sunny, corn snow, spring days, ya just gotta let the hair blow in the wind sometimes.
Riding with a helmet is required where I work, so I’m used to just rocking it day in and day out there. I’ve gone through a few different buckets over the years and these days I’m pretty comfy in my Pret lid. It’s light, comfy, and I can tolerate seeing my reflection in it;)

I don’t get too fussed up about whether folks wear a helmet or not.

[Blessed420]

only thing i hate about riding with helmet is that when i want to wear goggles its really annoying to take them off and in finland you need them for like 10 seconds max going downhill.

and i have only one thing i need in a helmet is be it cycling or snowboarding is the ratchet on the back to make it fit perfectly on your head.

[Kevington]

I started wearing a helmet for the first time last season after skateboarding and snowboarding without one for 20+ years. It could just be coincidence but I got hurt more last season that I have for years. On some stupid slams that shouldn’t even have happened. I feel the helmet might be disrupting my spatial awareness and subconscious risk-management. Especially with those ear flaps on. It’s just my preference but I never understood people who ride with earphones. I want to hear the snow, wind, my board, other people etc. As many sensory impressions as possible from the environment that I am rapidly moving in. I got a TSG Fly helmet and it’s super light but my head still weighs 450g more than it used to. I think I’ll try to get used to it this season but I’m really not convinced it’s making the whole thing safer.

As a general observation there are waaay more clueless, inept and generally uncoordinated skiers and snowboarders zooming around in parts of the mountain they shouldn’t be than there were in pre-helmet times. I think the sense of safety a helmet (see also back protectors, padded shorts and butt turtles) gives people is a big part the cause of this.

[Kevington]

The helmet saved this guy from stitches and a headache for sure but would he even have got tail tapped if he only had his haircut to protect him?