Helmet or no helmet and why?

I have started wearing a helmet both in the BC and when riding the lifts. I skied for 28 years without one and only hit my head really hard once. I figured that it was worth the weight and cost. I don't ski much if any more conservatively in the BC than I do in bounds and I do find myself on steeper ground in the BC than I have found at most ski areas. I only wear it on the descent as I would get too hot on the skin.

My plug:

I'm a life long kiier. Had a pair of Fisher Price skis at 11 months. I've hit my head several times. So hitting head to hard objects...if you ski alot IS going to happen.

The helmet besides greatly increasing your chances of survival in an avalanche (10% cited above is huge if you think about it), also decreases minor injury and chances of injury. That was perhaps the biggest blessing I esperienced from a helmet: I've avoided quite a few goose eggs and headaches.

That said, I've amost completely stopped using one. For two reasons: 1)In the backcountry I make far fewer runs and 2) so far I think helmet comfort performance so far sucks big time. I sweat a lot and a helmet just isn't practical for me to wear all the time...so if i commited to using one I'd pack it up and wear it down.

Anyone found a helmet that has adequate ventilation?

I'm a life long kiier. Had a pair of Fisher Price skis at 11 months. I've hit my head several times. So hitting head to hard objects...if you ski alot IS going to happen. gon


I have never hit my head. Had both thumbs sprained, left knee partially ruptured MCL and torn meniscous on same knee. Dislocated shoulder. Numerous bumps and bruises, but no head bumps or concussions.

I wear a helmet. 2 years ago a group of us was up at Alpental and we were lapping International. It was glazed ice and MASSIVE moguls. One of our buds slid under the rope on his board. We told him to climb back but he took off telling us he'd meet us around the side. Instead he was greeted with a 10', 15', and then 250' International Cliff. He was seen falling and responded to by a doctor and two pro patrollers. Although he was dead, they managed to resusitate him and flew him to Harbor View. He eventually came out of his coma and made a full recovery. However, for me what stuck out the most was the massive amount of head trauma. The entire day he was making fun of the one guy in our group who was wearing a helmet. The next day I went out and bought one.

Now, I'm not going to argue semantics of what happened two years ago. He shouldn't of ducked rope. And a helmet won't necessarily save you from a 250' fall. But it can prevent head trauma, period. I've seen more than my fair share of that and therefore always wear my helmet...mountaineering, backcountry, inbounds...doesn't matter. I look at helmets like seatbelts...you hear about the exception stories, but they are very few and far between. I like to buckle up.

I wear a Giro Fuse and it has great ventilation options. I take it off skinning sometimes, but that's it.

I've worn a helmet just once while backcountry skiing. It was in March 1988 while descending into Goodell Creek from the southern Pickets. The snow was so terrible that even going very slowly I thought I might hit a tree. I haven't used a helmet while backcountry skiing since then, but I might do it if I was concerned about rock fall. I ski conservatively in the backcountry and I like to travel light.

I don't wear a helmet while lift skiing either. This might change eventually. We'll see.

I started wearing a helmet after my wife gave me one for Christmas several years ago. I was actually surprised how comfortable it was after years of wearing itchy wool toques. I don't believe that it interferes with my skiing in a lift area (with all of the known dangers that this environment presents). I usually bring a helmet on my summer trips because I'm always skiing in close proximity to rocks. I confess to the fact that I don't always wear it, probably for the same reason that I would like to be able to ride a motorcycle without a helmet. I rarely fall or crash, but I know what the potential cost would be. No one has ever accused humans of being rational creatures.