Getting your kids ready for slope season? Shopping for their first helmet? Or, maybe they’ve outgrown their first helmet, and you’re looking for a helmet with a better fit? Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
Because in the following guide, we’re going to go over the 8 absolute best ski helmets for kids.
I’ve personally spent hours scouring the internet to bring you the following list of awesome children’s ski helmets. I’ve even gone one step further and broke them down by best premium, the best overall, and the best budget-friendly helmet.
Of course, I know that kids can be fussy, and your kid might not necessarily like the helmets I’ve chosen for the following list.
So, in order to provide you with a bit of extra shopping help, I’ve also included a handy buyer’s guide below, which explains everything you’ll need to know when shopping for children’s ski helmets.
But first, let’s dive into our list of the 8 best ski helmets for kids!
When Oakley sat down to design the Mod1 Youth Helmet, they certainly spared no expense when it came to planning for both style and personal safety at the same time.
Inspired by the classic skater-style, the Mod1 kids’ helmet by Oakley is ideal for any young skier or snowboarder that’s looking to conquer new mountains in style.
One super unique and innovative feature on the Mod1 is its Youth Fit Wheelie Wedge, which is designed specifically to help prevent the helmet from slipping backward on the child’s head.
However, it can also be removed for those young skiers who’ve gained a bit more experience and have grown into their helmet size.
Additionally, the Mod1 is designed to be both lightweight and have a “low-profile” appearance that can easily be strapped and adjusted on a child’s head using the Boa 360 Fit System.
The Mod1 helmet comes complete with additional ear pads and a removable liner.
With its endura-shell injected ABS construction, this Anon Define kids ski helmet is sure to keep your kid safe, while also looking as snazzy as possible out there on the slopes.
Additionally, it’s designed with a Boa Fit System, which makes adjusting your kid’s helmet as easy as turning a dial until it fits just right. Furthermore, the Anon Define is built using Strapper Keeper technology, which is specifically designed to help keep the helmet in place on your child’s head.
The Define also has a passive ventilation system, as well as a Fidlock Snap magnetic buckle, which can easily be clipped or unclipped with gloves or mittens on.
And finally, the best part about this helmet is that it comes with a pair of Anon Tracker Goggles, which have cylindrical lenses to help reduce distortion and improve peripheral vision in virtually all lighting conditions.
Looking for phenomenal safety, security, and style, all at an affordable price?
Then, look no further than the Giro Launch MIPS kids ski helmet, which features built-in impact-reducing technology, guaranteed to keep your child as safe as possible out there on the hills.
The Launch also features an in-form fit system, which allows users to adjust the size and fit of the bucket by adjusting a convenient dial located at the back of the helmet. Additionally, this helmet features passive, Super Cool Vents, which seamlessly draw air through the helmet for proper temperature regulation in any weather condition.
Lastly, this helmet also has a Vertical Tuning feature, which gives users even more control of the size and fit of the helmet. Giro’s Launch kids helmet is also designed to be compatible with Giro Chico and Rev snow goggles.
Next up, we’ll dive into our top 5 notable contenders, which all are carefully selected to bring you the best combination of style and safety on the slopes.
Whether your kid is just getting into skiing, or they’ve been tearing up the slopes since they were knee-high, the Pret Ripper X is sure to be a hit with the little ones.
Designed with an in-built MIPS protection system, the Ripper X’s interior liner will gently rotate in the event of a crash, which helps to significantly reduce the overall amount of force transferred to your little one’s head.
Like many other good quality kids helmets, the Ripper X has a Fidlock Snap Buckle, which makes use of a convenient, easy-to-use magnet to help keep your kid’s helmet strapped tight to their head.
And on top of all that, the Ripper X is built using Advanced Composite Tech, which is an amazingly lightweight polycarbonate material that’s ultra-strong at the same time. VTT1 Vent Tuning Technology provides adjustable venting, which can be adjusted to suit current weather temperature at any time of year. And, it’s also got an easy-to-use adjustment dial for the perfect fit every time.
Lastly, the Ripper X comes with a Static Wool Blend Liner, which provides amazing warmth and comfort, as well as anti-bacterial and moisture-wicking properties at the same time.
From Wildhorn, the Spire kids ski helmet is made using in-mold construction, which offers reliable, adult-worth safety and support all packed into a small, child-specific size.
Plus, it also has an adjustable dial fit system, which allows it to be adjusted to for virtually any size head on kids between the ages of 3 and 8.
This helmet is also ASTM-certified, which means you get the peace of mind knowing that your kid’s helmet has been tested to meet regulatory safety standards. Plus, the Wildhorn Spire also comes with a pair of premium, Nessie Moss ski goggles!
Lastly, the Spire also has built-in passive ventilation, as well as two additional liners, which can be used as your child outgrows the helmet.
This specially-designed Visor helmet from Salomon has a gorgeous black matte finish and is made using in-mold construction, combined with an internal EPS foam liner, to deliver the optimal comfort and protection your child needs all day long.
Salomon Grom with built-in Visor has a strong, lightweight, and durable design that uses a custom dial-fit system for quick and easy adjustments without your kid needing to remove their gloves. Plus, this helmet’s built-in visor is also designed using Salomon’s exclusive lens technology, which helps keep your kid’s visibility at its best out on the hills.
And finally, the helmet’s Airflow Concept helps with passive ventilation, and it also comes with a removable and washable liner.
If you want to make sure that your kid never loses their goggles again, make sure to think twice about the Salomon Grom.
With its lightweight, in-molded design, your child will barely even notice that they’re wearing this helmet on their head. However, it’s still designed to provide just as much safety and support as any other high-quality ski helmet for youth.
Complete with Smith’s DFS2 adjustable dial-fit system, as well as an extremely soft Tricot Liner, for additional warmth and comfort. Not to mention that this material is specifically designed to help wick away moisture and prevent sweat.
On top of that, the Zoom has built-in Airflow Climate Control to help prevent your kid from overheating while shredding down the mountain. So no matter how you look at it, your kid is going to be safe, comfortable, and stylish when they don this helmet.
If you’re looking for a helmet that offers both the safety and comfort your kids deserve, without sacrificing on style, make sure to check out K2’s Entity kids helmet.
Featuring K2’s patented passive channel ventilation system, this helmet is perfect for allowing plenty of cool air to flow between your kid’s head and the helmet’s shell to help keep them cool while they’re out shredding up a storm.
Plus, the helmet is also specifically designed with a goggle retention strap to keep their goggles right where they’re supposed to be. The K2 Entity is built with a hard-shell construction and a full-wrap interior liner, as well as a K2 dialed-fit adjustment system.
Finally, the Entity is also certified as a bicycle helmet, making it ideal for use any time of year.
The fact is that not all ski helmets are built with the same degree of quality or safety in mind.
So, even if you are able to find cheaper, more affordable helmets on the market, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to be best for a young skier. Therefore, make sure that you keep the following tips and considerations in mind when shopping around.
Simply referred to as MIPS, many modern helmets are equipped with this innovative safety feature, which is designed specifically to help reduce the amount of force absorbed by the head during an angled impact.
Basically, a MIPS helmet will have an additional low-friction layer placed between the shell and the liner.
With this feature, when the helmet is subjected to a severe impact, this low-friction layer allows the shell and the liner to rotate independently from each other. In turn, absorbing much of the shock, and reducing the overall amount of the impact that’s transferred to the head.
So with that in mind, especially if you’re shopping for a helmet for a younger child, it’s a good idea to look for helmets with a built-in MIPS system.
Aside from MIPS, you’ll also find that helmets from different brands are often built using different construction designs. However, there are still mainly only two types of helmet construction: hard-shell and in-mold.
Although there are some pros and cons to each type of construction, choosing between the two mainly boils down to user preference and their budget.
With a hard-shell construction, the helmet will be made from a hard, ABS-plastic shell, which will be connected to an interior EPS foam liner. Hard-shell helmets tend to be slightly heavier and also don’t always breathe as well. However, they’re generally more affordable and still provide adequate protection for out on the slopes.
On the other hand, helmets with an in-mold design are made using an extremely strong and lightweight polycarbonate shell, which is in turn, also connected to an EPS foam liner. This type of helmet design generally provides better comfort and ventilation. However, they’re also more expensive than most hard-shell helmets.
More important than any other buying consideration is to make sure that the helmet your child is wearing is the right size and fit for their head.
When a helmet is too small, it can be extremely uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time. On the other hand, if a helmet is too loose, it won’t provide proper head protection in the event of an impact or crash.
When worn, a child’s helmet should fit snug, without being uncomfortable or too tight.
To check this, first make sure that the front edge of the child’s helmet lines up with the eyebrows, tighten the strap until it’s just snug, but not pinching or digging into the skin. There shouldn’t be any large gap between your kid’s head and the helmet anywhere around the perimeter.
It’s also a good idea to get your child to shake their head around a bit to see if the helmet moves. If it does shift as they shake their head, it’s likely too big for their head.
Finally, it’s also a good idea to make sure that your child’s ski goggles fit properly with whatever helmet they’re trying on.
For more information on sizing, read our ski helmet fitting guide.
Without any type of ventilation, wearing a helmet for long periods of time can cause a person’s head to sweat.
Therefore, vents are often added to helmet designs in order to allow for better airflow between the helmet and the person’s head. In turn, this helps keep their head cool as they heat up during a fun day of skiing.
When shopping for kids ski helmets, you’ll generally find helmets with either active or passive ventilation systems.
As you might have guessed, an active ventilation system can be adjusted to allow for either increased or decreased airflow, while a passive ventilation system cannot be adjusted.
Although ski helmets are pretty straightforward, I thought it might be a good idea to include the answer to a few frequently asked questions surrounding children and skiing.
The short answer is no, kids are not always required to wear a ski helmet.
However, whether you’re skiing on a groomed hill or off-trail, a helmet is strongly advised for skiers of any age. Plus, the majority of today’s modernized ski resorts require all skiers and snowboarders to wear helmets at all times, no matter how young, old, or experience they may be.
Realistically, a child is capable of learning to ski as soon as they’ve developed enough coordination to walk, jump, and run, which is typically around 10 months to a year of age.
However, all children develop at their own rates, therefore, there’s no actual answer to how early a child is going to be able to pick up skiing. In fact, some children 2 years of age might have the dexterity and coordination of a child who’s twice their senior. So, it really all depends on the child’s personal development.
With that said, the earlier that a child starts skiing, the sooner they’ll be able to master carving down the slopes with ease!
At a bare minimum, your child is going to need a pair of skis, boots, poles, goggles, and a helmet.
However, it’s also important to remember to have warm, appropriate clothing for your child’s ski conditions, and a few other protective accessories, such as wrist guards, only help ensure even better safety and protection for your child.
Equipment isn't everything and there are important practices to follow to decrease the risk of injury. We recommend checking out our guide with 8 skiing safety tips to keep you safe.
At the end of the day, there’s virtually a limitless number of brand names, suppliers, and makes and models of ski helmets for children available on the market. And while this is great for giving you and your kids plenty of options to choose from, it also makes nailing down the best helmets a bit easier said than done.
With that said, I hope the top 8 kids ski helmets that we’ve discussed here today have helped you get a better idea of what’s currently available on the market. At the very least, make sure to keep the buying consideration we’ve discussed in mind while shopping around.
And if you have any further questions or concerns about buying ski helmets for your kids, don’t hesitate to visit your local ski and snowboard shop, drop us a message in the comments below.
Don't forget yourself either - your protection is equally important. Read our guide on the best ski helmets for men and women for picks that fit your needs.