How to choose and fit a snowboard helmet

The first step when you pick a snowboard helmet is your head circumference. Bern’s buyer’s guide puts it simply: measure your head circumference and select the correct size. Our method:

1. Use a flexible tape measure. With only string, mark it and measure the string against a ruler.
2. Wrap it around your head about a finger’s width above your eyebrows, just above the ears and around the widest part at the back.
3. Keep the tape level and snug, not tight.
4. Measure two or three times and use the largest consistent figure, in centimeters if the chart uses them.

Head shape matters too. Some heads are rounder, others longer front to back, and brands suit different shapes. Trying helmets on, ideally in a shop, is still the best test.

Compare your measurement with the size chart for the exact helmet you want. Small, medium and large cover different ranges from brand to brand. If you’re between sizes, try both and keep the one that’s snug without pressure points.

Snow-sport standards to look for

Bern describes EN 1077 Class A as offering maximum coverage and Class B as a lighter construction with more ventilation. The same helmets are sold for skiing and snowboarding, so choosing ski and snowboard helmets works the same way: look for a snow-sport standard on the label inside and in the product details, and check which standards apply where you ride.

Smith’s helmet safety guide says a correctly sized helmet should fit snugly, with your head partly compressing the liner even before the straps are done up, and shouldn’t move on its own when you shake your head. It adds a skin test: shifting the helmet side to side or front to back should wrinkle the skin on your forehead.

1. Wear it level. The front sits low enough to protect your forehead without blocking your view, not tipped back.
2. Tighten the fit system. Many helmets have a dial or adjuster at the back; Bern recommends an adjustable retention system to fine-tune fit.
3. Do the shake test. The helmet should move with your head, not slide around.
4. Fasten the chin strap so it’s secure without choking you, and the helmet can’t roll forward or back off your head.
5. Wear it for a few minutes. A spot that aches now will hurt more by lunchtime.

Wear a thin, helmet-compatible liner or nothing underneath. A thick beanie changes the fit.

Smith lists integrating well with your goggles as part of choosing a helmet. Try the helmet with the goggles you’ll ride in and check that:

• there’s no large gap of bare forehead between the brim and the goggle frame;
• the helmet doesn’t push the goggles down onto your nose;
• the goggle strap sits around the outside of the helmet, often held by a clip at the back.

Matching brands can help, but plenty of mixed pairings fit well; what counts is how they sit on your face. For lens tints and frame sizes, read our goggle buying advice.

Smith’s replacement guidance says to replace a helmet after a crash or impact even if it looks fine, because absorbing an impact can weaken the materials. Without a crash, Smith says to replace it after 5 years of active use or 10 years from the manufacture date, whichever comes first. Other brands set their own schedules, so check yours.

• Find the manufacture date. Smith says to look for a small sticker inside, under the removable liner on helmets that have one, showing the month and year.
• Be wary of secondhand helmets: you can’t know their impact history.
• Store it well. Smith advises a well-ventilated place and avoiding attics, garages, car trunks and other spots with temperature extremes.

Smith’s care advice is to use a soft cloth or sponge with mild soap and water, avoid harsh cleaners and solvents, hand-wash removable pads and lay them flat to dry. Let the helmet dry fully before storing it.

A helmet reduces risk; it doesn’t make riding safe on its own. Ride within your ability and consider booking lessons as you progress. For the rest of your kit, from base layers to gloves, see our guide to dressing for the mountain and the first-day packing list.