On average, winter sports enthusiasts replace their helmets every five years. This is based on our experience. Replacing your helmet and goggles is also important because the plastic becomes brittle and fragile over time. Replacing them is also worthwhile from a safety perspective, because the systems are constantly being improved and offer even greater safety. The MIPS system is a good example of this. MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. In plain language: It’s a system designed to protect against impacts from different directions of movement or force. These different directions of force occur during impacts that strike the helmet at an angle. Here’s how the system works: To protect the brain, there is a fluid layer between the brain and the skull. When the head is struck, the resulting rotational force is dissipated by minimal movements of this fluid layer, preventing the force from being transmitted to the brain. MIPS is, so to speak, a replica of this layer. To achieve this, a movable second shell is mounted inside the helmet’s outer shell. This second shell rests directly against the head. Not all manufacturers have incorporated MIPS into their helmets yet; POC and Giro are pioneers in this field.
Goggles and visor helmets—one unit with the helmet
Customers like to coordinate their helmets and goggles in terms of function and style. Advice on the right goggles is therefore an integral part of buying a helmet. A crucial factor in choosing goggles is knowing the correct lens tint, as the wrong choice can pose a safety risk. In this regard, photochromic—or self-tinting—lenses are becoming increasingly popular; they adapt to ambient light and thus always provide good visibility. Full-face helmets are also becoming increasingly popular. These helmets are especially a blessing for eyeglass wearers, who used to have a hard time with conventional helmets paired with tight-fitting, separate ski goggles. But these helmets offer an advantage not only for eyeglass wearers but for everyone else as well: The field of vision under them is usually wider than that of ski goggles, and the visors don’t fog up as quickly.
